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International Students NZfrom the Student Learning Centre at Massey University, Auckland, |
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deter
November 05, 2009 02:53 PM PST
Today’s picture: A podcaster reaches the end of the Auckland half-marathon, undeterred by aching legs! Part 1: Today's word If you deter someone from doing something, you make them less likely to do it because they know that they’ll suffer. For instance, prison is supposed to have a deterrent effect because people should be less likely to commit crimes if they think they might go to prison. Deterrence is only an effective strategy of course if people are able to control their behaviour and know about its possible consequences. Click here
Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The possibility of completing their degree courses several months early acts as a major deterrent for students to continue studying during summer school. High taxation and uncertainties about government policy act as a deterrent to foreign investors. A highly visible burglar alarm box should act as an effective deterrent to any potential intruders. Such an insignificant penalty acts as no real deterrent to those youngsters attracted by the excitement of wrongdoing. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you believe that longer prison sentences are necessary to act as a deterrent to criminals? What kinds of deterrents exist to control cheating in university exams? Part 4: Vocabulary Focus Collocation is a very important part of vocabulary. It means which words go together. Here is some practice based on the vocabulary in today’s listening. Match the verbs with the nouns the go with.
infringe
a question
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question How many glasses of wine are recommended as the safe weekly limit for women in New Zealand? For more information see National Addiction Centre Report Part 6: Today’s online listening This is a very interesting discussion from ABC Radio (Australia) about addiction. It features a High Court judge, a neuroscientist and a moral philosopher. Vocabulary for the article: a double-edged sword
Questions for the listening: 1) What proportion of cannabis users will become addicted? just under one in ten
2) Dan Lubman describes addiction as ... a frightening social disease
3) David Hodgson believes the view of addiction as a brain disease can be taken into account by judges when deciding if a crime has been committed
4) David Hodgson believes that punishment should be given to those who deserve it
5) Jeanette Kennett points out that people’s autonomy is limited by .. criminal responsibility
6) Dan Lubman explains that drug addiction reduces the brain’s response to .. everyday pleasures
7) One serious psychological consequence for drug users is .. complete loss of self-control
8) David Hodgson believes that .. people still have a free will despite all contingencies
9) Dan Lubman refers to research which shows that addicts .. are unable to regulate their behaviour
10) Jeanette Kennett argues that deterrence is ineffective in controlling drug addiction because drug addicts are unable to think rationally
11) Dan Lubman argues that an effective treatment for drug addiction depends on putting addicts in ... an environment with limited stimulation
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November 03, 2009 04:05 PM PST
Today’s picture: Fog in Christchurch For poetry makes nothing happen: it survives
From In Memory of W.B. Yeats by W.H. Auden Part 1: Today's word If you nurture a person, a plant or a project, you give it/them the care and support, needed to develop. It’s important that an organisation has a culture which nurtures young talent, so that new members feel encouraged to learn, to be creative and to contribute to the organisation. The ‘nature versus nurture’ debate is an important one in philosophy and sociology. It is about what is more responsible for the way people are – is it their nature or is it the way they have been ‘nurtured’ by their parents and society? Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The young tomato plants are carefully nurtured in a greenhouse before being transported to the garden centre. The club has a reputation for nurturing young players, but lacks the resources to keep them once they become successful. He was remarkably gifted as a young pianist, but failed to nurture into a professional musician, due perhaps to a lack of motivation and encouragement. As a teacher, I try to nurture a sense of self-esteem, respect for others and intellectual curiosity in my pupils. Part 3: Practice Questions: In relation to criminals, which side of the nature-nurture debate do you tend to take? Did your teachers nurture your sense of self-esteem and curiosity? Part 4: Vocabulary focus there’s nothing to it
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question How are people raising money for Men’s health as part of Movember this month? Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with the philosopher Anne Kirwin, from AUT University, Auckland. She’s talking about the idea of ‘nothing’ in past and present day thinking. Vocabulary for the article: void
Questions for the article: 1) Which of these does Anne Kirwin use as an analogy to explain the importance of intervals? music
2) What is it called when there are a few seconds of silence on the radio? frozen sound
3) Which of these systems of belief focuses on the importance of emptying the mind? Nihilism
4) In Zen Buddhism, the ability to experience nothing is considered ... a significant challenge
5) Cognitive psychologists have shown that people have a natural tendency to notice ... additions more than deletions
6) The Christian view of the value of worldly experience is shaped by a belief in .. martyrs
7) Having less to do as a result of the recession has made people more anxious
8) Modern life has relatively little ... extra time
9) Situational habitualisation explains how people adjust their rate of speaking to their conversation partner
10) The example of conversations in hospitals illustrates .. the postponement of people-rich times
11) One practical application of Anne Kirwin’s philosophy is .. sharing her most profound thoughts with her students
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grammar Focus: Two different ways to use ‘would’ In a previous podcast, we looked at the most common meaning of ‘would’ – for imaginary or unreal situations. Here is an example from today’s listening: If it wasn’t for the recession, most people would be getting busier and busier. In fact, there is a recession and people are not so busy – so this sentence is about imagining a different situation. However, ‘would’ can be used in a completely different way, to talk about past habits. Here is another example from today’s listening: Harold Pinter would make his lines so that the pause between the words was the most significant. Here, ‘would make’ means that he normally did this in the past. This use of ‘would’ is quite common when we talk about our childhood, but it can only be used with actions. So, you can say, ‘When I was a child, my granddad would take me fishing every weekend’ but you can’t say, ‘When I was a child, I would have a toy car’ – ‘take me fishing’ is an action, but ‘have a toy car’ is not. Which of these uses of ‘would’ are correct? 1) When I was at University in the 1980’s, I would grow a beard just to see what it was like. 2) For my first job, I would cycle about 10km to work every morning and evening, whatever the weather. 3) When I first came to New Zealand, I would drive from Auckland to Invercargill, so that I could see the whole country before deciding where to settle down. 4) My favourite teacher, Mr Paul, would start nearly every lesson with some kind of game based on what we had studied in the previous lesson. 5) I used to spend a lot of time with my grandmother because she would like to tell me funny stories about the old days. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s Video suggestion 1:
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November 01, 2009 08:49 PM PST
Today’s picture: Early summer scene from Christchurch What Skill is in the frame of Insects shown?
Greatness in Little - Richard Leigh (1675) Part 1: Today's word If a situation is stable it means it is not changing much and, in particular, isn’t becoming worse. So, for instance, it’s important to have a stable currency so that people can be confident about planning for the future. If a person has a stable temperament, it means they are not moody and tend to stay calm. In chemistry, if elements are stable, it means they don’t react very much, so that their state tends to stay the same. If a situation is very unstable, it may be necessary to do something to stabilise it. For example, when a patient is admitted to hospital, it may be necessary to wait until their condition becomes stabilised before the surgeons can think of operating. And, of course, there has been a focus on the stabilisation of the world economy over the last year or so. interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The main attraction of a fixed-rate mortgage is the opportunity to stabilize personal outgoings over an extended period. The value of the Brazilian currency was stabilized against the dollar for several years in the 1990s in order to control inflation. The plants play a major role in stabilizing river banks and preventing them being washed away by the current. The political and security situation will need to be stabilized in order for free and fair elections to be held in the country. Part 3: Practice Questions: What chemical elements are particularly unstable?
Part 4: Vocabulary Focus Divide these words into two groups: words which mean ‘very small’ and words that mean ‘very big’ tiny
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What has just become illegal to do while driving in New Zealand? Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with Professor Peter Schwerdtfeger from here at Massey University, Albany. He talks about what we know about the world of atoms and subatomic particles. Vocabulary for the article: the holy grail Questions for the article: 1) Which particle helps to stabilise atoms? electron
2) Which of these is a component of a proton? a quark
3) Which of these is an example of an element existing in its ‘pure’ form in nature? quartz
4) Nitrogen atoms are unstable on their own because ... they have undergone chemical bonding
5) Chemical reactions ... involve a rearrangement of the shell
6) Which of these is NOT one of the four fundamental forces of nature? gravity
7) Which of these scientists was one of the pioneers of quantum theory? Heisenberg
8) Which of these aspects of an electron cannot be determined? its charge
9) Which of these scientific ideas is especially strongly demonstrated in relation to gold? the special theory of relativity
10) Electrons in the inner shell of a gold atom are travelling at great speed and therefore .. are unstable
11) Peter Schwerdtfeger is critical of .... the focus on practical applications of research
12) Which force is particularly responsible for the solid quality of materials? gravitational
Today’s media link:
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October 27, 2009 06:43 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Spring bluebells Part 1: Today's word A stimulus is something that is designed to make something else happen as a response. So, for instance, an interesting research report will act as a stimulus for more research in the same area. Like many other Latin words ending in –us, the plural is irregular – it is stimuli. Many governments have announced fiscal stimuli to encourage more consumer spending – for instance, by giving people a discount if they exchange their old car for a new one. In psychology, the study of stimuli and responses is especially associated with behaviourism, for example, the famous experiment of Pavlov, where dogs were conditioned to respond to the stimulus of a bell ringing (because it was associated with food). Click here
Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? I was rather surprised by her negative stimulus to my proposal, since she had encouraged me to develop it. It is hoped that the new prize will be a stimulus to research in this important field. The students were advised to treat the questions as a stimulus for exploration of their own ideas on the subject. The new Free Trade Agreement is expected to provide a stimulus for growth in educational exchanges. Part 3: Practice Questions: What fiscal stimuli have been used by governments to encourage economic growth? Part 4: Vocabulary focus get your money’s worth
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question With which Asian country has New Zealand signed a new Free Trade deal ? Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview with Dr Neville Bennett about the implications of the weak US dollar for the world economy Vocabulary for the article: bail out
Questions for the article: 1) What evidence is there that the US dollar is in decline? Fewer dollars are being bought by major central banks
2) Which of these is a reason for the low value of the US dollar? higher personal savings in the US
3) Which of these currencies is pegged to the US dollar? Chinese Yuan / RMB
4) How long does the effect of a recession output last on average? 7 years
5) What advantage does Dr Bennett believe that New Zealand has compared to the US? Better public services
Today’s news story:
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October 22, 2009 08:34 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Mountains near Marlborough, taken through an airplane window, October 2009 I saw Eternity the other night,
from ‘The World’ by Henry Vaughan Part 1: Today's word The configuration of a system is the particular order or pattern in which it has been designed to work. It’s used in computing to talk about the way the system has been set up. It’s also used in art to talk about the way different shapes and patterns have been put together. Click here
Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? By analysing the particular configuration of rocks, it was possible to determine the sequence of volcanic events in the region. This particular bone configuration is nowadays only found in birds. The project requires close configuration in order to organise its various components in a common purpose. By mapping the current configuration of the universe and applying physical laws it is possible to determine its approximate age. Part 3: Practice Questions:
Part 4: The Idiomatic Five a shooting star
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question How many visitors does Auckland’s Stardome Observatory receive every year? Part 6: Today’s online listening This is a major public lecture by the Scottish astronomer, Brian Boyle, director of a project in Australia to build the world’s largest radio telescope (the Square Kilometre Array). Vocabulary for the article: feeble
Questions for the article: 1) Why is Galileo such a famous scientist? He was the first to use a telescope to view the stars
2) The new radio telescope will pick up in one day the same amount of information as ... spoken in the history of the world
3) Brian believes that astronomy will move into ... a knowledge age
4) Radio telescopes are able to detect ... gas
5) Pulsars are so dense that one teaspoon of matter from a pulsar would have .. five times the mass of every person on earth
6) Compared to normal light, radio waves are much .. stronger and sharper
7) The new radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), will comprise .... several thousand radio antennas
8) Apart from a strong scientific community, what other key factors make Australia and New Zealand good locations for this project? climate and political stability
9) How much of the universe is made up of normal matter? 25%
10) The SKA may provide evidence of which prediction by Einstein? gravity waves
11) The SKA could also be used to detect .... the number of planets in the solar system
12) How long is the SKA predicted to last? 50 years
13) Moore’s law predicts that computing power will double every decade
14) How will the SKA be powered? solar or geothermal energy generation
15) Recently, Australian schoolchildren have used the existing radio telescope to ... film a supernova
16) The new radio telescope, the SKA Pathfinder due to be ready in 2012, will be _______ times more powerful than existing other radio telescope? 100
Grammar Focus: Unreal present / future Quite often we imagine a different – unreal – present or future. Here is an example from the lecture: If you had radio eyes and looked up at the heavens, you would see a very different picture to the one we see with our own eyes. Really we don’t have radio eyes and we don’t see a different picture. Brian is asking us to imagine an unreal present. The grammar is: If + past tense (in one half of the sentence)
One other thing to remember is that in these sentences, it’s more common to use ‘were’ instead of ‘was’, especially in the common expression ‘if I were you’. Complete these example sentences, using the unreal present or future (it’s also called ‘the second conditional’) 1) If it (not be) Labour Day next Monday, we (have) lectures. 2) I (not wear) that shirt, even if you (give) me a thousand dollars. 3) I (not do) that if I (be) you. 4) If I (not have) to finish this assignment I (be) able to travel this weekend. 5) I (probably join) you for a bungee jump if I (not be) so scared of heights. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s news story:
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October 19, 2009 07:06 PM PDT
Today’s picture: South Island scene When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes
Part 1: Today's word If you inspire someone, it means you give them great confidence, belief and motivation to do something. The ability to inspire your team is an important component of leadership – inspirational leaders are especially important in hard times or when changes are needed. If you feel inspired, you’re able to do things well without worry or tiredness. Let’s hope you feel inspired in your exams! Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Inspired by her example, many other scientists have begun using a similar methodology. I hadn’t studied much, but fortunately I inspired myself on the day of the exam. He has a wonderful gift of inspiring students to do their own research. After hearing the music, I felt inspired to take up the guitar again. Part 3: Practice Questions: Have you had any inspiring teachers?
Part 4: Phrasal Verb Review Here are five extracts from today’s listening. Fill in the missing words – the meaning of the phrasal verbs is given at the end to help you. 1) T.H. Huxley was turned ______ for a Professorship at Sydney. (refused)
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What public holiday is celebrated in New Zealand next Monday (26th October)? Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview with an inspiring science teacher from La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. Questions for the article: Who was Thomas Huxley? What attitudes do science students generally have towards academic writing? What assignment do Dr Lawlor’s students have to do? How does she give them feedback on the assignment? How do the students know what grade they have got? Why does Dr Lawlor believe good writing is so important for scientists? Grammar Review: Unreal Past Look at this example from the listening: It is possible that if he had not defended and supported Charles Darwin in London during the last half of the 1800s, I would not be teaching evolution and genetics at all. I would certainly be teaching it in a different way. In fact, Huxley defended Darwin. So Dr Lawlor is imagining a different past – an unreal one. In the second half of the sentence, she imagines a different present. In fact, she is teaching evolution, but she imagines, as a result of that change in the past, she wouldn’t be teaching evolution now. The grammar is: If + past perfect tense (had done) in one half of the sentence and then ‘would’ / ‘might’ or ‘could’ (followed by ‘do’ ‘have done’ or ‘be doing’) in the other half. Complete these other sentences – all of which include the unreal past. 1) If I (not come) to New Zealand, I (not see) a haka.
3) Leeman Brothers (not go) bankrupt if their senior managers (behave) more ethically. 4) I (not start) working for Massey University if I (not see) an advertisement in The North Shore Times. 5) General Motors (close down) if the American Government (not step) in with a bail-out package. Today’s online site:
Today’s Video suggestion:
October 15, 2009 04:28 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Transparent wave – Christchurch Art Gallery Part 1: Today's word Transparent means ‘see-through’. So for example, some elevators have transparent walls so that people don’t feel too claustrophobic inside them and it’s common to wrap food in transparent plastic film so that you can see what is inside. We also use transparent for processes which are completely open and public. So, it’s important that promotion is a transparent process, so that everyone can see that it’s fair. Transparency has become one of the major objectives of democratic systems. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The new rules, though transparent, were rather vague and difficult to interpret. The new material is as transparent as glass, but warmer to the touch and with greater strength and flexibility. The new system provides for efficient and transparent access to the decision-making process. Her dress was certainly eye-catching, particularly as it became virtually transparent in the light of the sun. Part 3: Practice Questions: How transparent is the grading of your university assignments and exams? Do you believe Government has become more transparent as a result of new technology? Part 4: Phrasal Verb Review Is this theme catching ___ ? Kraft developed a competition where people had to come ___ with a name for their new snack. The company chose the best four flavours and then had to work ____ how to manufacture them. Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which team does New Zealand need to beat in Wellington on November 14th in order to reach the Soccer World Cup finals for the first time in over 25 years?
Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview from Australian radio with Professor Angelina Rousseau from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. She discusses the new phenomenon of crowd-sourcing and its implications for the field of design Vocabulary for the article: backlash Questions for the article: 1) What mistake did Kraft make in the launch of their new product i-snack 2.0? Failure to use crowd-sourcing to elicit feedback before launching the product
2) How did Kraft deal with the negative feedback after the launch? They withdrew the product from the market
3) Smiths use of crowd-sourcing was more ... short-term
4) These two examples support which approach to design? participatory
5) What is new about crowd-sourcing in design? It includes audience participation
6) Professor Rousseau argues that designers need greater knowledge management skills to respond to a more ... technologically-advanced customer base
7) What is the response of the design community to crowd-sourcing? suspicious
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October 13, 2009 08:39 PM PDT
Today’s Picture: Scene from Christchurch Art Gallery Part1: Today’s Word: If you diagnose an illness or disorder, you find out what exactly is wrong with someone. Diagnosis is usually carried out by a doctor – or sometimes by a specialist consultant. You can also diagnose faults in machines, software etc – by finding out what the fault is and what caused it. Like ‘crisis’, ‘analysis’ and ‘thesis’, ‘diagnosis’ also has an irregular plural – the ‘sis’ changes to ‘ses’. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Earlier diagnosis of breast cancer has boosted survival rates over the last two decades. More than ten percent of the participants were diagnosed with depression and there was no significant correlation between this diagnosis and ethnicity. The doctor diagnosed a course of antibiotics to be taken twice daily after meals for fourteen days. When these symptoms present, before diagnosing depression or dementia, it is wise to find out more about social and behavioural factors, such as alcohol intake. Part 3: Practice Questions How do doctors gather evidence on which to base their diagnoses? Part 4: Vocabulary Review Expressions with ‘mind’ have a lot on your mind
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What percentage of the population of Auckland have Asian ethnicity? Part 6: Today’s online listening Click on ‘Today’s Online Listening’ to open the page and then you can click on the play button or on ‘Mp3 download’ This is a short interview and text from Australian Radio about a revolutionary way of diagnosing mental illness. Questions for the listening: 1) Which of these is a key advantage of the new probe? greater accuracy
2) The new probe can be used to diagnose .. a range of psychiatric illnesses
3) The locus coeruleus is part of the inner ear
4) The probe could be especially useful in diagnosing types of .. depression
Today’s news story:
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October 12, 2009 08:42 PM PDT
Today’s Picture: Spring Flowers in Christchurch Part 1: Today's word ‘Deteriorate’ is a more formal way of saying ‘get worse’. It’s the opposite of ‘improve’. If conditions on the road are deteriorating, you probably ought to stay at home. And deteriorating relations between countries may lead to conflict, if nothing is done about it. The noun is ‘deterioration’. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The situation in the city centre has deteriorated, with gunfire reported from several areas. Changes take place in the sensory area too, with noticeable deterioration in sight, hearing and taste from the middle years on. The firm deteriorated its market position through an ill-conceived promotional campaign and poor distribution. Relations between the Church and State deteriorated as the educational reforms were implemented. Part 3: Practice Questions: In what ways has the economy deteriorated over the last year? Is your local environment deteriorating? If so, what can be done to arrest or reverse this deterioration? Part 4: Vocabulary Review a skeleton in the cupboard
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which Indian cultural festival took place in Central Auckland last weekend? More information here Part 6: More information Today’s online listening This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with Professor Jean Fleming from Otago University. She gives some fascinating information about our bones. Questions for the listening: 1) Which of these is mentioned as a benefit of bones? improvement of blood supply
2) Which of these is a common misconception about bones? they are not living tissues
3) Which of these is found in long strings which reinforce bone? calcium
4) Osteoblasts and osteoclasts work together to control the level of .. calcium
5) How many years does it take for your whole skeleton to be renewed? 40
6) Which of these groups of people would benefit most from a high calcium diet? young female marathon runners
Today’s media link: a visual guide to the skeleton, from the BBC Today’s Video suggestion: Dry Bones performed by the Delta Rhythm Boys ________________________________________________________________ derive
October 01, 2009 09:49 PM PDT
Today’s Picture: Cherry Blossom in Christchurch, September 2009 Part 1: Today’s Word: ‘Derive’ means to get something from something else – especially ‘energy’, ‘income’ ‘satisfaction’. It’s also used when we talk about the original meaning or source of a word or custom. So the word ‘science’ is derived from the Latin verb ‘to know’. The company derives most of its profits from intellectual property. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Students wishing to derive high marks on this paper need to pay attention to the presentation as well as the content of their assignments. These cells derive their energy from the break-down of simple carbohydrates. The custom of putting a tree inside the home at Christmas is said to derive from ancient beliefs in the special powers of evergreen plants. It has been estimated that more than 50% of the local population derive their income from financial services. Part 3: Practice Questions Do you derive much satisfaction from writing assignments?
Part 4: Vocabulary Review extra time
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question David Tua and Shane Cameron will soon be involved in one of New Zealand’s biggest sporting occasions. In which sport? Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with Professor Dennis MacCaughn of Otago University. He talks about the different ways of counting time and distance used in different cultures. Questions for the listening: 1) Where does the tradition of measuring time in units of 60 derive from? China
2) What is the derivation of the seven-day week? phases of the moon
3) Approximately how long did it take the 360 day calendar to become right again? 12 years
4) The Egyptians were so concerned with time-keeping because of the need to predict ... eclipses
5) Which of these cultures was more positive about numbers like 13? the Greeks
6) What is the derivation of Imperial Measures, like inches, feet, pounds, stones and fathoms? astrology
7) What number is ‘three score and ten’ in old English measurements? 70
8) Which of these measurements is different in Ireland? a furlong
Today’s news story:
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September 29, 2009 09:45 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Stream in Tongariro National Park, September 2009 Part 1: Today's word If something oscillates, it moves back and forward between two positions again and again. So, if a person oscillates between two choices, it means they keep changing their mind. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The fuel gauge was clearly unreliable, as the needle oscillated between ‘full’ and ‘empty’ If the system becomes blocked, it may be necessary to oscillate the parameters manually until normal functionality returns. As the examinations approached, her mood oscillated wildly between the extremes of hope and despair. Minor fluctuations in voltage will cause the signal to oscillate, which will trigger the alarm sensor. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do your moods oscillate between hope and despair as exams approach? Which devices do you know which depend on oscillation? Part 4: The Vocabulary Review: Complete the words in these five sentences using words covered in recent podcasts. 1) The PenFriend is an optical device allowing people with _____aired vision to read audio labels. 2) In the public sector, ______teeism , whether due to sickness, low motivation or other causes, is a significant cost to the public purse. 3) In our society, there is still a sti_______ associated with people wearing hearing aids. 4) They were discussing the unforeseen complexities and ram_________ of medical care for elderly people. 5) In her novel, she doesn’t deviate from plain English nor use many met______ Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question New Zealand was struck by a minor Tsunami today after a major earthquake near which Pacific Nation? Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with a researcher Leigh Signal, from Massey University’s Sleep/Wake Centre. The programme covers the science of sleep and the different kinds of sleep a person typically experiences. Vocabulary for the article: predominant
Questions for the article: 1) The researcher places an electrode behind the participant’s ear because this area of the brain... is not very active
2) Rapid Eye Movement [REM] sleep is associated with ... higher levels of physical activity
3) High-quality sleep mainly depends on ... extended periods of REM
4) Disturbed sleep frequently comprises ... too much stage 1 and stage 2 type non-REM sleep
5) Neurone activity when someone has their eyes closed is ... at a lower level
6) When neurones fire between four and eight times a second, this is an indication that the person is .. awake but with their eyes closed
7) What sort of process is falling asleep? relatively sudden, like an on-off switch
8) Synchronised waves with large amplitude are associated with .. Stage 3 and 4 non-REM sleep
9) REM sleep occurs predominantly in .. the mid-period of sleep
10) The relationship between body and brain in REM sleep is described as .. paradoxical
11) Sleepwalking is associated with .. REM sleep
Today’s news story:
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September 25, 2009 04:56 AM PDT
Today’s picture: Rocks and Moss on Mount Ruapehu, September 2009 When you’re down and troubled And you need a helping hand
You just call out my name, And you know wherever I am
If the sky above you Should turn dark and full of clouds
Song by James Taylor and Carole King Massey Albany health and counselling centre
Part 1: Today's word A metaphor is a way of explaining an unfamiliar thing by using a much more familiar thing. So, for example, organisations are often described using the metaphor of the human body – management is the head, workers are the hands etc. Abstract topics like time, arguments, feelings are very often explained through concrete metaphors. Arguments are often expressed through the metaphor of fighting - We talk about winning an argument, taking a position. Time is can be explained through the metaphor of a river and strong feelings through the metaphor of fire. Some of these metaphors are very common in many cultures, but others are different, so it’s important to try to notice those in English. And if you use them, be careful not to mix metaphors. Someone who says ‘The test going to be a real battle but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it’ doesn’t make sense because he’s using a mixed metaphor – if someone starts by using the metaphor of fighting, they should continue by saying, for instance, ‘I won’t settle for anything less than victory’ instead of changing to the metaphor of a journey. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The desert island in Robinson Crusoe is often seen as a metaphor for the condition of man, cut off from civilization. The lecturer used the metaphor of the nuclear and extended family to explain the relationship between the internal and external environment of business. The verbs we use to talk about time – spend, save and waste – show how much we depend on the metaphor of money to make such an abstract concept meaningful in our culture. One of the most effective parts of the presentation was when the lecturer showed a wonderful metaphor of a building. Part 3: Practice Questions: Does your language use the metaphor of money to talk about time – for instance, by using the same verbs - ‘save, waste and spend’ – for both? Do the metaphors used for people in English – for example, beaver, pig, workhorse, rat – have the same meaning in your culture? Part 4: The VocabularyTest
pretext pretence precedent precondition 2) The new way children are taught to read will be successful if teachers' commitment doesn’t w _________. waft wade wane waste 3) Migrant workers can even get free Kiwi slang classes where they learn that “hunky-________” means “everything is fine”. monkey dory dumpty hefty 4) The fruit suppliers need fast delivery times because their goods are ___________ perishable sensible volatile vulnerable Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Nearly 2000 people have attended the tangi for Sir Howard Morrison. What is a tangi? More information here Part 6: Today’s online listening This is a programme from Australian radio which discusses depression and features an interview with Phillip Mitchell, the Professor of Psychiatry from the University of New South Wales. Vocabulary for the article: lethargy
Questions for the article: 1) What proportion of Australians are depressed? 5%
2) What metaphor did the MP, Andrew Robb, use to describe his depression? a black dog
3) Andrew Robb’s depression was described as one of ‘diurnal variation’ because .. it was stronger at certain times of the day
4) What metaphor does the presenter use for people who like to stay up late at night? an owl
5) Depression is ... a combination of several different feelings
6) In the workplace, depression is associated with ... low performance
7) Professor Mitchell believes that Andrew Robb’s treatment could include .. prozac
8) Apart from medication, Andrew Robb’s treatment may include .. CBT
9) What proportion of Australians with clinical depression are receiving treatment? 60%
10) Professor Phillips believes that Andrew Robb’s case will contribute to the ........... of depression awareness
11) People with depression may be afraid of ramifications from ... insurance companies
12) The reaction of fellow politicians to news of Andrew Robb’s condition has been .. sympathetic
Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
September 22, 2009 11:08 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Farm Preserves (from Christchurch) Part 1: Today's word A precedent is a similar event that has happened in the past. So, if something is without precedent, it means that it’s completely new and nothing similar has happened before. You can also say it is unprecedented. In British law – and systems like New Zealand which follow the same principles, precedent is very important. This means that important decisions in past cases are used as the basis for decisions in new cases. This is an important way of maintaining consistency of application of law over time. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Many critics felt that allowing the Minister to escape punishment was setting a very dangerous precedent, not only for other politicians but for society in general. Apple has been responsible for a series of important technical precedents in the fields of personal computing and mobile entertainment. The unprecedented success of the Far Right in the European elections has caused a good deal of soul-searching among traditional parties across the political spectrum. The status of English as a global language of academic research and business is not, of course, entirely without precedent; Latin once served similar purposes across the Western world at least. Part 3: Practice Questions: What areas of the economy have been experiencing unprecedented growth over the last few years? What kinds of things do lecturers avoid doing because they don’t want to set a precedent? Part 4: Vocabulary Review Here are some more sentences including academic vocabulary from September’s podcasts. I’ve given you some of the letters in the missing words – see how many you can complete. 1) Their research takes a hol _________ view of the vacuum cleaner, including its acquisition, functions and social significance. 2) Broks neatly summarised the par________that his area of supposed expertise, neuropsychology, was at the same time the subject about which he felt the most profound ignorance. 3) Her novel was an intro___________ narrative where every event is reflected in the mirror of the main character’s mind. 4) Rather than taking mineral supplements and vitamins, she recommended a balanced diet including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables – after all, the whole is greater than the s_________ of its p_________ 5) Evidence of the Big Bang has acc ___________ to the extent that no serious astronomer doubts it. Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What is regarded as the most important technological innovation in New Zealand’s history? Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with the economic historian, Dr Neville Bennett. He explains very clearly New Zealand’s worst recession and what lessons we can learn from it for the challenges we face today. Vocabulary for the article: wane
Questions for the article: 1) The boom between the 1850s and 1880’s was mainly due to ... industrialisation in New Zealand
2) What was the main cause of the New Zealand depression between 1873 and 1895? Britain’s comparative advantage
3) Why does Dr Bennett view railway-building in the 1880’s as a precedent for the bank rescues in 2009? they both benefitted private individuals
4) Which of these had a terrible effect on the whole New Zealand economy during the 1880s? immigration
5) Which of these factors meant that the benefits of refrigeration were slow to emerge? low profit-margins
6) How does Dr Bennett feel about the long-term prospects for economic growth in New Zealand? cautious
Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
September 16, 2009 07:39 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Sculpture at Lake House, Takapuna I am: yet what I am none cares or knows,
Into the nothingness of scorn and noise,
I long for scenes where man has never trod;
Part 1: Today's word A paradox is an idea or situation that seems impossible because it includes two ideas or elements that contradict each other. A very old example of a paradox states that you can never close a door because each centimetre of distance the door travels can be divided infinitely and it is impossible to travel an infinite distance in a finite time. Although of course, we all know that we can close a door, it makes you think and question your assumptions. And that is the main purpose of paradoxes. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The idea that drinking hot tea can cool you down seems kind of paradoxical. I’ve often wondered about the apparent paradox of people watching sad films when they want to cheer up. I found statistics totally paradoxical until I had a really good teacher at university who helped me make sense of the whole thing. It’s something of a paradox that comedians, who seem to possess the gift of making others happy, often seem to lead such miserable lives themselves. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you know any everyday paradoxes, like the one about drinking hot drinks in order to cool down? Some people find it paradoxical that governments are pumping money into banks, while at the same time trying to create better financial discipline in the sector. Do you agree? Part 4: Focus on idioms Here are some examples of idiomatic language in the interview with the neurologist from part 6. Which is the correct word needed to complete each sentence? 1) There’s no central control system in the brain. It’s all over the _________ town shop house 2) Although that’s true, I can’t really get my ________ around it. head brain mind 3) You need that biological machinery to make you ________ over beep switch tick 4) Neuroscience and neuropsychology has come on in___________ leaps and bounds swings and roundabouts ups and downs 5) My __________ is that some time in the future we’ll find ways to repair damaged brain. clue hunch sense 6) I think that the ethical issues are the ________ of the whole matter. root branch trunk 7) Mostly, clinicians are pragmatic folk and they _________ through step wade muddle 8) I’d put my ____________ on it that’s what they will find. money hand life Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Today, the New Zealand geographic board has ruled that the spelling of one of New Zealand’s towns must be changed. Which town is it? More information here Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with the British neurologist, Paul Broks, author of ‘'Into the Silent Land: Travels in Neuropsychology' (Atlantic Monthly Press). They talk about the brain and the self. Vocabulary for the article: enlightening
Questions for the article: 1) Paul Broks believes the main challenge for neuroscience in the 21st century is to determine the relationship between the brain and .. the world
2) What does Paul Broks believe makes us the same person today as we were yesterday? stories
3) Those psychologists and neurologists that reject the notion of an inner essence are .............. theorists? body
4) What effect has this rejection had on scientists who believe in it? confusing
5) Francis Crick’s theory is that feelings, emotions and thoughts... are no more than the behaviour of neurones
6) Robert’s change of personality had .............. causes psychological
7) The true cause of his change of personality was found when he ... developed epilepsy
8) Robert wasn’t given the choice of whether or not to have his condition treated for ... ethical reasons
9) Paul Broks points out the difficulty of translating ........... back into neurone activity? perception and cognition
10) The more optimistic element of his book is evidence of .. humanity
11) What is Paul Brok’s view of the ability of psychotherapy to change people? sceptical
Today’s poem: I am by John Clare Today’s Video suggestion:
September 14, 2009 04:03 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Cape Brett, Bay of Islands, New Zealand Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star, Has had elsewhere its setting, And comes from afar: Not in entire forgetfulness
William Wordsworth Part 1: Today's word A holistic approach considers the whole of an issue, including the context, and not only one particular part. A holistic approach to health, in particular, considers both the mind and the body. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? He called for a more holistic view of dentistry, as an integral part of overall health, rather than seeing people as walking sets of teeth. The holistic course comprises 8 core papers, 10 papers connected with the chosen major and 2 elective papers chosen from outside the discipline. The course aims to develop a holistic understanding of design within its social, historical and cultural context. Her more holistic concept of the issue fitted well with the qualitative research methods she employed. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you take a holistic view of your own health? Do you feel you’ve developed a holistic understanding of your field (eg business studies, history etc) during your studies? Part 4: Language Focus Spoken English is full of ‘filler’ phrases used to make information less sharp and to create a relationship with the listener. Here are some examples from today’s listening – I’ve put in some gaps below. See if you can choose the correct ‘filler’ from the alternatives given for each sentence below: 1) Generally, everyone does ________ fit in. a) sort of b) right c) like 2) We’ve been here ___________ 28 years. a) quite b) sort of c) like 3) Different agencies know about us. __________, we’re quite unique .. a) Yet b) Yeah, no c) I mean 4) The question is, _______, what do you want to eat? a) you know b) I say c) I see 5) Anecdotally, people have been saying for centuries how therapeutic it is getting outside, ________ vitamin D a) a heap of b) a bit of c) a lot of 6) You can grow it and eat it yourself, ________ a) I mean b) you know c) it figures 7) People are becoming more aware of environmental problems and they’re ____ “What can I do about it?”, you know. a) so b) as c) like 8) And people are finally starting, _______, to do something about it. a) you know b) I see c) yet Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question The Undie 500 car rally from Christchurch to Dunedin led to rioting and arrests, mostly of students from the University of Otago. What kinds of cars participate in the rally? cheap
Part 6: Today’s online listening This is a programme about an interesting community gardening project for people who’ve experienced mental illness Questions for the article: 1) Long-term depression is said to be linked to deficiency of which vitamin? B3
2) A British study found that one family-sized pizza contained 18 tablespoons of ... sugar
3) What skills are the participants in the project expected to learn? independent working
4) Many visitors to the farm describe it as .......? an oasis
5) Which condition is linked to a lack of vitamin D? SAD
6) Which Government Ministry funds the project? Social Development
7) The involvement of local community members, as well as people who’ve been mentally ill, is described as a ___________ situation win-win
8) Which of these objectives is given as an explanation for the boom in community gardening? greater control of food
Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
________________________________________________________________ accumulate
September 10, 2009 06:01 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Lake Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand Thought for the weekend "Everything that's already in the world when you're born is just normal; anything that gets invented between then and before you turn thirty is incredibly exciting and creative and with any luck you can make a career out of it; anything that gets invented after you're thirty is against the natural order of things and the beginning of the end of civilisation as we know it until it's been around for about ten years when it gradually turns out to be alright really.
Douglas Adams Part 1: Today's word When something accumulates, it slowly builds up. It’s often used to talk about evidence, as in the first example below, so it’s a useful word to talk about research. In finance, it’s often used with words like ‘wealth’ ‘capital’ and ‘debt’ to talk about gradual growth.
Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Over the next century, the city traders accumulated considerable wealth, mostly in the form of gold. I’m impressed at how quickly the library building has accumulated over the last six months. Over millions of years, these deposits accumulated and, under pressure, formed the fossil fuels we are now dependent on for much of our energy. Gamblers, perhaps, believe too absolutely in the old saying: speculate to accumulate. Part 3: Practice Questions: What possessions have you accumulated during your time in this country? In which areas have you accumulated most useful knowledge or expertise? Part 4: Grammar Focus Verbs followed by gerund and/or infinitive Delete the form which is not possible. If both forms are possible, leave them both. Examples Do you ever threaten walking / to walk out of your job? (correct answer: to walk)
1) Do you really miss sleeping / to sleep in your own bed? 2) Do you mind living / to live in someone else’s home? 3) Would you mind staying / to stay in New Zealand for more than a year? 4) Is there anything in your room that needs repairing / to repair? 5) Do you need buying / to buy any new clothes during the next month? Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question
One Tree Hill
More information here Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview with an astronomer, Alan Gilmour, from Mt St John observatory in the South Island of New Zealand Vocabulary for the article: Questions for the article: How old is the sun? Where did the sun come from? How many elements existed at the beginning of the universe? How long is the Sun expected to continue shining? What’s the temperature in the middle of the Sun? Which elements can only be created by a supernova? What are we made of? How much stronger is the sunshine now than when the Earth first formed? How long has there been life on earth? Which will be the best planet for human life in a billion years time? How big will the Sun grow in 7bn years’ time? Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
September 10, 2009 12:05 AM PDT
Today’s picture: Parc de la Boverie, Belgium Part 1: Today's word If people or systems are fallible, it means that they are not perfect and make mistakes. It’s important to back-up your data because no system is infallible – in other words, no system is perfect. The fallibility of the world’s financial system was shown during the recent credit crunch and this led to calls for greater regulation and government intervention. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The underlying themes of her novel are the fallibility of human nature and the redeeming power of love. No one checked the accuracy of the figures because we regarded the programme as infallible. Unfortunately, I lost marks for my assignment because the grammar was fallible in several places. I still prefer the warm fallibility of human operators to the cold reliability of a machine. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do your lecturers come across as fallible human beings? Have you suffered because of the fallibility of a system? Part 4: Vocabulary Test Complete the sentences with words that appeared in the last few podcasts. 1) Of course the politician was friendly – he needs your vote! Honestly, sometimes you are so na _ _ _ 2) Customer service is the corner _ _ _ _ _ of our business. 3) You aren’t automatically included in the health insurance scheme when you join the company. You have to _ _ _ in. 4) The crisis in the Middle East led to a sp _ _ _ in the oil price. 5) I decided to go on an organised tour of Vietnam, because booking all those hotels and buses on my own was too much has _ _ _ . Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question According to a recent survey, a quarter of New Zealanders drove last year after ... drinking alcohol
Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview from Australian Radio with the famous behavioural economist Dan Ariely. Vocabulary for the article: mind-boggling
Questions for the article: 1) Dan Ariely argues that people are fundamentally and predictably .... irrational
2) Dan Ariely uses the example of house-buying to illustrate ... the need for professional advice
3) Dan Ariely’s original research was into ... pain
4) The auction exercise was used to illustrate ... the influence of your first decision
5) The beer experiment shows the strong influence of ... taste
6) What effect did the price reduction have on the placebo effect of a treatment? in increased it
7) His research with college students showed that ... young men have less respect for women than they say they do
8) Which of these theories accepts the fallibility of human nature? behavioural economics
Click here and then on ‘show transcript’ to read the interview. Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
September 03, 2009 11:31 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Chalet at Whakapapa Skifield, August 2009 Part 1: Today's word If you are naive, it means that you don’t have much experience of life in general, or of some aspect of life, and so you are easily influenced or tricked. If someone, for instance, seems to believe everything they see in an advertisement, you might say to them, “Don’t be so naive!”. Of course, one of the major aims of university study is to develop critical thinking, which is the opposite of naivety. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? This misconception is based on the naive belief that observation does not change the nature of what is being observed. I was surprised at how naive she was in auditing, considering that she had a degree in the subject. That seems to be a pretty naive view of what is clearly a complex issue with many potential causes. She gave a rather naive account of the incident, which suggested a complete lack of understanding of its implications. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you feel you’ve been naive in any of the decisions you’ve taken this year?
Part 4: Test of Academic and Colloquial language 1) You can reveal more about your likes and dislikes by taking the various quizzes that p___ up [on Facebook]. 2) [People will get] greater control over who can acc____ and use their personal details 3) Anyone on Facebook can det___________ their privacy level 4) If I’m seeing an ad that you’ve honed and ref________ so it’s perfect for me, then you’ve caught me with my defences down 5) These tougher rules on personal data .. Facebook is pha______ them in over the next year or so 6) .. being able to absolute tar_____ advertising to an individual ... 7) Are we still rather na_____ about how we use these things? 8) Young people seem to be supremely untroubled by this pros_____ (of giving away their personal data) Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What percentage of New Zealanders use the social networking site, Twitter? Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview from Australian Radio (ABC) about Facebook and especially, privacy and advertising. Vocabulary for the article: cornerstone
Questions for the article: 1) What is the cornerstone of Facebook’s business model? 2) What was the value of their business deal with Microsoft? 3) What’s the real ‘bone of contention’ regarding Facebook? 4) How can you ensure that your data on Facebook is relatively private? 5) What did the Privacy Commissioner in Canada insist that Facebook does when people delete their accounts? 6) How many Facebook users are there? 7) How does the company People Browser get their information? 8) What might Facebook users see as a quid pro quo of having a profile? 9) What major demographic difference is there between Twitter and Facebook? Grammar: Double Comparison This grammar is used to show that one change causes another change. Here is an example from the listening. The older you get, the more concerned about this you become. See if you can complete these other examples. The younger you are, .....
Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
September 01, 2009 08:01 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Historical village, Howick, Auckland (thanks to Satareh for the photo) Part 1: Today's word A residue is the part of something which is left after the rest has been used. So, for example, pesticides are chemicals which are used to kill insects which could harm crops like potatoes and corn. However, residues of pesticides may be left on the crops themselves and could harm people if the levels are too high. One major reason people might choose organic food is to avoid such residues. The adjective is residual – so residual income is what is left after the main spending has been done. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Please remove any food residue from cooking utensils before placing them in the dishwasher. A good skin cleanser is recommended in order to remove make-up residue as well as dirt and sweat. Used batteries must be carefully placed in the residue for safe disposal. After deductions for death duties and expenses, the residue of the estate was divided among his living relatives. Part 3: Practice Questions: Are you concerned about the residue of pesticides in your food? Part 4: The Idiomatic Test Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given. Here is an example: She made a spontaneous decision to leave home. (spur)
1) Where to hold the conference remained an obstacle between the parties. (block)
2) I wasn’t able to say anything during the meeting. (edgeways)
3) My sister told me that the film is worse than people have been saying. (up)
4) It’s a well-known fact that a glass of water leads to a reduction in appetite. (edge)
5) She was taken aback by the news of her redundancy. (hit)
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What do New Zealanders rate as the best smell to have in a home? freshly-baked bread
More information here Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview with the Massey University Professor Ralph Sims on the topic of biofuels and energy efficiency Vocabulary for the article: spike (example: Remember when the price of food spiked before the recession) Questions for the article: 1) Which of these organisations does Ralph Sims belong to? Auckland University the IPCC the Nobel Committee 2) What proportion of global fuel demand is currently met by liquid biofuels? 10 % 5.0% 1.5% 3) What was the relationship of biofuel production and the higher food prices in 2008? biofuel prices rose as a result of higher food prices
4) Ethanol from sugar cane is considered relatively ethical because ... it has little impact on the labour market
5) Why isn’t forest residue being converted into biofuel? technical issues
6) Ralph Sims sees a lot of potential for New Zealand to export ... pellets made from forest residues
7) Burning biofuels is better for the environment than burning fossil fuels because ... C02 emissions are reduced by 90% compared to natural decay
8) Why is New Zealand not phasing out traditional light bulbs? public opposition
Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
August 31, 2009 10:01 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Sunset at Mt Ruapehu, August 2009 Part 1: Today's word A connotation is a feeling or idea that is suggested by a word. Words can have negative or positive connotations. So, for example, the word ‘home’ will carry positive connotations of comfort and security for most people. Connotations vary between people. So, for example, the word ‘feminist’ may have negative connotations for some people and neutral or positive connotations for others. It is important to know if the words you’re using in your writing have positive or negative connotations, so that you can ensure that you’re conveying the right message. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? He disliked the word ‘amateur’ because he felt it had connotations of lack of discipline or expertise. The organisation preferred to use the word ‘appropriate’ in order to avoid the moral connotations of ‘correct’. The replacement of the word ‘passenger’ with ‘customer’, with its more commercial connotations, signified a cultural shift in public transport. Business communication needs to be based on clear messages without any connotations. Part 3: Practice Questions: What connotations does the word ‘Kiwi’ have for you?
Part 4: Vocabulary Review Complete the words to fill the gaps in these sentences. All of these words have been covered in recent podcasts. The owners designed a new logo to diff ____________ their shop from its regional counterparts. Our two cherry trees are in flower at the same time and we hope the bees will pol __________ them effectively. She should have kept t __________ of her blood pressure before going to see the general practitioner. If those gardeners want to be hired, they should be prepared to p _______ their weight. He was a good looking man, a successful banker, and he wanted to marry her but she knew nothing of his m _________past. He was tempted by the job but it was in the g ______ area between public and private spending. The dairy farmers, opposed to the new production q _____, were seeking compensation from the Government. According to a general agreement and except for olive oil, there was a low t ________ on vegetal oils. Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Why are New Zealanders behaving altruistically today (September 1st )? More information here Part 6: Today’s online listening This is a short interview with an Australian writer, Mem Fox, who talks about why she changed her name. Vocabulary for the article: hassle
Questions for the article: 1) Apart from writing, what other job does Mem Fox have? 2) Why did people think it was funny when she got married? 3) How old was she when she changed her first name? 4) Is her ‘real’ name an ordinary one or an unusual one? 5) What connotations would her name have for Dutch people? 6) When does she have to use her ‘real’ name? You can also read a transcript of the interview here Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
August 26, 2009 05:15 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Scene from Mt Ruapehu, August 2009 Part 1: Today's word Detriment is a more formal word for harm caused as a direct result of something, especially in the expression ‘to the detriment of xxxx’. To suffer a detriment is the opposite of to gain a benefit. So, for example, exercise is beneficial, whereas smoking is detrimental to your health. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The methods used in the factory emphasised speed and volume to the detriment of safety and hygiene. Her behaviour caused a good deal of detriment to her family and friends over a long period. More students are working during their studies to the detriment of their academic achievement and engagement in university life. An entertainment licence was rejected on the grounds that the noise and traffic would be to the detriment of neighbouring residents. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you know anyone who is working or doing other activities to the detriment of their studies?
Part 4: The Idiomatic Test Write one word only which can be used appropriately in all three sentences. Here is an example: The question of who flew the first airplane is a _______ of contention between the USA and Brazil.
The correct word is ‘bone’. The first two are idioms; the third is the basic meaning of the word.
2
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question
Tom Cruise
Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview from Australian Radio with a leading Canadian graphic designer, David Berman, who talks about why graphic design matters and why ethics is important in this field. Vocabulary for the article: clientele
Questions for the article: 1) What is David’s main argument for the importance of graphic design in the 21st century? its influence is much greater due to technological developments
2) What does David describe as the cause of the biggest problem in the world today? climate change
3) How are graphic designers involved in making the problem worse? arguing against policies of sustainability
4) Why is the Coca-Cola logo so effective? it’s innovative
5) The greatest effect of good graphic design is on people’s .. memories
6) What objection does David have to the use of sexual images in advertising? immorality
7) David believes that graphic designers should be certified in the same way as architects because ... their work has the potential to cause great harm
8) If David’s idea is implemented, over 5m hours a week will be spent by graphic designers worldwide working ... on charitable projects
Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
________________________________________________________________ fragile
August 12, 2009 11:16 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Fragile flowers in Russell, August 2009 Part 1: Today's word If something is fragile, it’s easy to break. So, for example, delicate computer equipment or objects made of glass are often fragile. You can also talk about the fragility of other things that can be broken. For example, a fragile agreement may easily be broken. And if someone has a fragile ego, it means they lack self-confidence. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Unfortunately, many of the best vases of the Ming period can only be seen in China as they are too fragile to be sent overseas for exhibitions. The company lacked investment capital and was fragile to takeover from larger overseas firms. The collapse of Leeman Brothers and its huge global impact was a graphic illustration of the fragility of the world’s economic system. The fragile coalition between the two parties appears to be holding, despite the unease of some party members. Part 3: Practice Questions: What is your most fragile possession? Do you know anyone with a fragile ego? Do you know of any fragile agreements or treaties between countries? Part 4: The Idiomatic Test I was hoping to talk to the boss about my new project, but the meeting was so busy that I never got a look. I think you’ve really hit the nail on the head there. That’s exactly what we need to do. I wasn’t really sure I was doing the right thing, but looking back, I’m happy I put my doubts behind me and took the dive. I had reached a dead end in my research and had to start the whole thing over again from scratch. He may not be the most charming man, but at least you know where you stay with him. I stood like a sore thumb in my jeans and sweater among all those bankers. I’m sorry to say, you’re not pushing your weight and we’re going to have to let you go. Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which of the following is NOT one of the research interests of the staff in the Information Technology Group at Massey University? virtual communities
Part 6: Today’s online listening This is a short programme from the BBC about computer security and hacking. Vocabulary for the article: hacker
Questions for the article: 1) The US Government is seeking 10, 000 people to work in ... cyber-security
2) Recent cyber-attacks against the US resulted in ... bodily harm
3) One underlying problem for the US is ... the low numbers of IT students
4) What example was given of the fragility of web services we rely on? Twitter being for political purposes
5) What does ‘hacking’ consist of’ according to Mitt Altman, the founder of the hacker space, Noisebridge? securing, destroying and replacing systems
6) Mitt Altman’s most successful hacking invention allows people to ... replace their confusing remote controls
7) Why does Mitt argue that users should be able to hack into the Apple i-phone? they own the product
8) According to Bill Thompson, what features do hacking groups share with artists’ studios? they are illegal and misunderstood
Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
August 19, 2009 04:29 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Huka Falls, near Lake Taupo, New Zealand Part 1: Today's word If something is embedded, it means it’s fixed firmly in something else so that it becomes a part of the larger object. Sometimes after an accident, people have pieces of glass embedded in their skull that can be very difficult to remove. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Five distinct processes are embedded within the project management life cycle: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. Vygotsky viewed the mind, not as a self-contained organism, but one that was deeply embedded in the social environment. The crystals are generally found embedded in metamorphic rock formations. His main critique of SWOT analysis is that it is embedded within a backward-looking culture of conservatism, inappropriate in a fast-moving globalised business world. Part 3: Practice Questions: What different applications are embedded within Microsoft products? Part 4: The Idiomatic Test I had to hit him. He was a ___ for it!
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question How many lakes are there in New Zealand? between 100 and 1000
More information here Part 6: Today’s online listening This is a 15-minute interview on Australian Radio with an English writer, Wendy Barnaby. She discusses the idea of water wars and explains the role of water in international trade. The interview contains useful ideas about globalisation, economics and history. Vocabulary for the article: self-sufficiency
Questions for the article: 1) What did the World Bank vice-President forecast in the 1990’s? water wars
2) What do most people assume you need in order to have water security? economic diversification
3) Embedded water means the water ... in deep basins
4) How many tonnes of water are embedded in one tonne of grain? 10
5) Embedded water is also known as . ...... water. virtual
6) According to Wendy, how did Singapore solve its water shortage? desalination of sea water
7) What has the role of water been in past wars? a primary cause of conflict
8) How does Wendy feel in general about the future of water? cynical
Language focus: collocation Collocation means words which go together. It’s a very important part of fluency in a language. When you learn new words, pay attention to the words they naturally go together with. For instance, we say ‘heavy traffic’, not ‘big’ or ‘intense’. Here are some collocations from today’s interview. I’ve given you the first letter of the missing word – see if you can complete them. They're using some other country's water to m ______ their own needs. And for some countries, the difference is really d ___________. On balance, Jordan imports a volume of embedded water which is five times greater than its own annual renewable resources. As poor countries diversify their economies, they turn away from agriculture and c ___________ wealth from industries that use less water. The water supply that used to sustain Singapore is now only enough to s ____________ 5% of its rich-country needs But it's h _____________ surprising that the rest of us should h _____ warnings from sources that seem to be authoritative. [Politicians] f ___________ the illusion that their economy has been doing well; ... when relationships are good ...... countries co-operate o ________ water. Egypt is now co-operating w ______ other countries in the Nile basin. Today’s news story:
Today’s musical suggestion:
August 19, 2009 12:22 AM PDT
Today’s picture: Sullivan’s Bay, Mahurangi (thanks to Satareh for this one!) Part 1: Today's word A dimension is an aspect of a situation, especially one which has an important impact on your attitude. So, for instance, you could say that distance education took on a whole new dimension with the invention of the internet. In other words, an important aspect was added which changed the basic character of the internet. When you are researching or analysing a social or business issue, you could look at the cultural, psychological, or ethical dimension in order to gain a more complete understanding of the issue. You may also come across the word dimension in mathematics, where it just means the length, width and height of an object. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Learning a bit of the Maori language added a whole new dimension to her experience of New Zealand culture. Her research focused on the effects on family life of a specific social dimension: the increased use of online networking. The vast dimensions of the scheme made it necessary to employ a specialist project management team. The researchers could have considered the sociological dimension of the issue. Part 3: Practice Questions: Have any of your assignments asked you to consider the cultural, ethical or social dimensions of a specific issue?
Part 4: The Idiomatic Test It's like water off a duck's b ___
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which of these is a well-known New Zealand fashion designer? Trelise Cooper
More information here Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview on Australian Radio with a PhD researcher Bianca Price, who has researched the impact of how good-looking a sales assistant is perceived to be on purchase decisions. Vocabulary for the article: intimidated
Questions for the article: What was the research question? Are women less likely to purchase clothing when they perceive the sales assistant as being more attractive than they are? Where did the researcher get the idea from? Where was the research published? What were the research methods? What were the findings? What theory did she use to explain her findings? What practical implications may the research have? --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Young women) are more p __________ to eating disorders. Women are con ___________ with a number of images from the media. The emphasis on attractiveness for these young women can det____________ their social network, it can det__________ whether they find a relationship You’re dealing with two dim ______________ here ... Women asp ______ to be a celebrity. Firms will want to ass__________ those images with their particular brand or product The v ______ majority of (clothing) stores are targeted towards young women. Women who don’t per________ themselves as attractive may be det__________ (from shopping in stores with attractive sales assistants) A lot of men would enc__________ difficulties (with a similar situation) Grammar Focus: Expressing tendencies ‘will’ doesn’t only refer to the future in English. It is often used to express a general tendency – it has a similar meaning to ‘tend to’ and is often used as an alternative. Both ‘tend to’ and ‘will’ are also used with adverbs like ‘generally’ and ‘typically’ to make the tendency a little weaker. This is an important grammar point if you are describing trends or habits – and when we are talking about people and society, we need this grammar a lot, since the real world is not black and white, but many shades of grey. Here are a few examples from today’s listening: Men tend to like buying things off better looking women. In fact, they’ll go out of their way to buy things they don’t need. Women and women will generally be more competitive with each other. Women tend to value their attractiveness. Women will generally focus on their appearance first and foremost. Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
August 16, 2009 06:12 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Magnolia in bloom behind the Study Centre, Massey University Albany Part 1: Today's word Vulnerable people or things are easily hurt or attacked and therefore need protection. So, for example, if your computer may be vulnerable to viruses if you don’t have the correct software installed to protect it. Young children and the elderly tend to have a higher vulnerability to infection, so need special care. And at times, everyone is emotionally vulnerable – for example, if you’ve had some bad experiences, you may feel vulnerable because your confidence is low. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Despite their superior firepower, Western troops were vulnerable to attacks from roadside bombs. The system is vulnerable to frequent attempts by hackers to obtain our customers’ details, which has required significant investment in the most powerful protection available. Self-help and community groups can help vulnerable people to develop the social networks they need to survive and prosper. Companies that depend on single products or services will always be vulnerable to threats from the external environment, such as copycat brands or changes in regulation. Part 3: Practice Questions: Which kinds of people have been most vulnerable to the effects of the HN1N (swine flu) virus? Which businesses have been most vulnerable during the current credit crunch?
(not) get a word in edgeways / edgewise
a can of worms
rub (sb) up the wrong way
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Valerie Vili won a gold medal for New Zealand in the World Athletics Championship today – in which event? Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview from Australian Radio (ABC) about empathy in animals with the leading biologist Franz de Waal. To listen to the programme, just click on ‘Today’s online listening’ above and then click on ‘download audio’. The interview is the second item in the programme, so you can go forward five minutes or just click on the line about 2 cm from the left. If you click on ‘show transcript’, you can also read the interview. Vocabulary for the article: altruism
Questions for the article: 1) In what way was Charles Darwin different from many modern biologists? He believed animals evolve through natural selection
2) What does Franz de Waal believe is the main evolutionary advantage of empathy? it helps us care for vulnerable infants
3) What kind of neurones seem to be involved in empathy? motor
4) What research methods did Franz de Waal use in his work on apes? observation and grounded theory
5) What comparison does Franz de Waal make between apes and politicians? playing tricks
6) What appears to be the evolutionary advantage of blushing? it warns others not to trust the person who is blushing
7) The cruel way apes treat non-group members shows that empathy is .. not consistent
Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
Today’s Musical suggestion: Everybody Hurts by REM ________________________________________________________________ prosperity
August 12, 2009 07:04 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Sunset in Russell, Bay of Islands, August 2009 Part 1: Today's word If a person or society is prosperous, it means that they have a good income, based on successful business. One important aim of governments, therefore, is to increase overall prosperity. The meaning of prosperous is similar to affluent. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Increasing traffic congestion and pollution is one of the unfortunate side-effects of increasing prosperity. High levels of debt may threaten the long-term prosperity of the economy. It is important to evaluate the prosperity and conditions of any new post before entering into contract negotiations. New Zealand’s prosperity has always been based on strong agricultural exports. Part 3: Practice Questions: What is the prosperity of your country or city based on? What are the main ways in which governments aim to increase the prosperity of their people? Part 4: The Idiomatic Test Here are some sentences using some of the idioms we’ve covered over the last few months. Which ones are correct? And how can you change the other ones to make them correct? I’m not sorry I broke his nose. He was asking me for it. I may be going to Europe on business but it’s still up in the air. I’m happy to hear that staff morale has improved, but I have to remind you that the bottom line is sales, which are still low. The award took me completely by surprise and I had to come up with an off-the-cuff thank-you speech. Nowadays people hardly bat an eyelash when they hear scandals about the Royal Family. I think that allowing only 30 minutes to get from the airport to the city centre cuts it a bit fine. Actually, an hour is more realistic. It took over a year until our hard work really began to pick fruit. I’ve been pulling my hair out over this new software. I just can’t work out what the problem could be. If you’re so fed up with your colleague’s punctuality, you’ll just have to get it out with her. There’s no point letting it go on like this. I was never really able to talk to my dad about leaving home, but I’m so glad I managed to have a face-to-face with him before he died. Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which is the main region in which New Zealand’s aid agency NZAID works? Africa
Part 6: Today’s online listening This is a short programme about the success and limitations of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (ACOA) in increasing prosperity in Africa. Vocabulary for the article: tap the potential
Questions for the article: Esther Betts, an African farmer 1) She would like help in ... importing American seeds
2) She feels that the American Government could help African farmers.. to meet international quality standards
Brian Kaguro: International Aid worker 3) His main criticism of AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) is that ... its scope is too limited
4) He feels that in order to succeed, there needs to be an adjustment to ... financial aid
Rosa Whitaker: Former US Trade representative 5) Her main defence of AGOA is that oil exports aren’t a dominant part of the scheme
6) What is her main belief about quality standards for agricultural imports from Africa? they are likely to be relaxed in the long-term
Today’s news story:
Today’s Video suggestion:
August 10, 2009 04:27 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Bay of Islands, August 2009 No man is an island entire of itself; every man
Meditation 17 by the English poet John Donne (1624) Part 1: Today's word A compromise is a kind of agreement where both sides accept that they can’t have everything they want. When the sides finally agree, they reach, come to or arrive at a compromise. You can also use compromise as a verb. So, for example, Trade Unions may need to compromise on the timing of a pay increase in order to secure the amount they were looking for. But it’s important to avoid compromising your principles or beliefs. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The Unions and Management have agreed to a last-minute compromise to avert costly industrial action. A compromise was reached where the sign was written in both languages, with the English and Maori versions given equal prominence. Foreign policy has to strike a delicate compromise between national interest and political principles. Both sides were willing to sign the compromise after days of difficult negotiations. Part 3: Practice Questions: Have you had to make any compromises in your studies? For example, your subject, your university, your timing? Have you ever reached a compromise with your parents? For example, about the use of the car, your social life or appearance? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five keep sb on their toes
put two and two together
What is the name of the team from Wellington which competes in the Australian A-League soccer competition (which started its new season last weekend)? Knights
Part 6: today’s online listening This is a short interview from the BBC about free trade and the growing number of disputes. It features leading international trade lawyer, Gary Horlick. The interview runs from 1.44 – 7.22, as part of a general business programme. Vocabulary for the article: to blow hot and cold
Questions for the article 1) One reason there are more trade disputes during a recession is ... it’s easier to show you have been harmed
2) The ‘Buy America’ clause is a compromise between ... National and local government
3) Gary Horlick argues that the ‘Buy National’ concept is ... expensive
4) President Obama has a difficult decision about whether to impose a quota on Chinese ... tyres
5) Gary Horlick is sceptical about the argument that .... Reducing emissions needs global co-operation
6) How does Gary Horlick feel about the completion of the Doha Round of Free Trade negotiations? optimistic
Today’s news story: from India
Today’s Video suggestion: from the USA
August 10, 2009 02:11 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Hot-Rod Differentiation in Russell, New Zealand Part 1: Today's word Differentiation means making things different. So, for example, differentiated instruction means that different students receive different information according to their needs and interests. In marketing, it’s important that brands are clearly differentiated in the minds of the consumers. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? He argued that societies were no longer differentiated so much by traditional social class, as by education and participation. The organisation evolved from a highly-differentiated workforce to one where each highly-skilled member was expected to multi-task as required. Market segmentation involves analysis of the total market demand into particular segments, so that consumers can be differentiated and therefore targeted more effectively. The course differentiated from my expectations in several respects, particularly in its extensive use of online learning. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you feel the criteria for distinction, pass and fail are clearly differentiated? How do restaurants differentiate their brands? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five in the teeth of
ram it down sb’s throat
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Last weekend’s telethon raised money for the
Part 6: today’s online listening This is a short interview with two scientists, Peter Dearden and Rosanna McCartney, from the University of Otago. They’ve been researching how honey bees are able to produce two distinct kinds of females. Vocabulary for the article: pollinate
Questions for the article: 1) The evidence shows that the type of female bee produced (Queen or worker) depends on ... nutrition
2) Rosanna’s research looks at .. the early differentiation
3) What’s the total development time of a worker bee? just over a week
4) What is the effect of royal jelly on the developing bees? switching on and off specific genes
5) The researchers have differentiated the RNA from the two types of bee by ... colour
6) The newer technology of high-throughput sequencing provides them with ... more data
7) The next stage of the research will involve .. completing the genome of the honey bee
8) The active ingredient of royal jelly which leads to the development of Queen Bees is ... a specific molecule
9) Developmental plasticity is ... their broader research topic
10) Geneticists are becoming more interested in the role of ... the genome
Today’s news story: from the Pacific
Today’s Video suggestion: from the USA
August 06, 2009 03:12 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Scene from the Study Centre Building, Massey University, Albany, August 2009 Part 1: Today's word If two things are aligned, it means that they are organised so that they are both in a straight line or, more generally, that they match well together. So, for example, it is important that a company’s policies and strategies are closely aligned with their mission statement. In research, it is important that your methods are aligned with your research questions. If things are not aligned, there is a danger that they will contradict each other and the whole organisation or project will not work effectively towards a common goal. So, it is important that goals, methods and actions are in alignment. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The company was faced with the challenge of aligning its production methods with its philosophy of sustainability. The organization underwent a process of close alignment in order to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in its environment. An integrated strategy is required so that information systems are closely aligned with the needs and goals of the business as a whole. An effective supply chain depends on close alignment of the systems of the supplier and the customer. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you feel that the aims of your courses are closely aligned with the teaching methods and assessments? How closely are you studies aligned with your future plans? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five a stumbling block
to follow suit
stand / stick out like a sore thumb
have a sweet tooth
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What is the unemployment rate in New Zealand? Part 6: Today’s online listening This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with the leading economist Sir Howard Davies. He is the director of the London School of Economics and a board member of Morgan Stanley bank. He talks about how he believes the world can move out of the current economic crisis Vocabulary for the listening: poacher turned gamekeeper
Questions for the listening: 1) When targeting inflation, governments need to take account of the costs of credit and ... commodities
2) Howard Davies criticises the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England for having ignored ... The CPI (Consumer Price Index)
3) Alan Greenspan argued that ... asset prices would contract gradually
4) Howard Davies believes that asset prices need to be ... scientifically determined
5) Howard Davies admits that he was mistaken about ... banks’ need for large amounts of capital
6) Howard Davies argues that increasing bank reserves will lead to .. a reduction in interest rates
7) How much of a bank’s assets should be held as equity capital? 8%
8) Setting higher reserves for banks should also make them more .. competitive
9) Howard Davies believes interest rate rises do have a significant effect on the economy because ... most people do not have fixed rate mortgages
10) Howard Davies believes that pre-emptive action by Governments will be .. normal
11) His main criticism of monetary policy over recent years is that it has been too ... speculative
12) What does Howard Davies believe will be a major factor in slowing down economic recovery in countries like Britain? a high balance of payments deficit
----------------------------------------------------------- Grammar focus: is / are to do In formal English, you can use is / are to do to talk about future possibilities. It’s used to talk about situations where a person can influence their future – not to talk about the weather etc, which are out of our hands. Here is an example from the recording. More soul-searching is necessary about the causes of the financial crisis if the world is to stage a convincing recovery. Questions: What will you need to do over the next year if you are to pass all your papers? If New Zealand is to reduce its high unemployment rate, what does it need to do? Today’s news story: from New Zealand
Today’s Video suggestion: from the UK
August 02, 2009 06:10 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Latin American dance champions, performing in Devonport, NZ last Saturday Part 1: Today's word A criterion is a standard which is used for assessing something. So, for example, customer service is an important criterion for the retail sector. Criterion is a Greek word and it has an irregular plural, criteria. Because there are normally several criteria which are used when assessing something, the word is usually found in the plural. For instance, safety, fuel-economy, comfort and performance are important criteria when choosing a car. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The interviewers seemed to like me but unfortunately I didn’t pass the company criteria. What criteria are we going to use for our selection procedure? All applications which meet the criteria listed above will be considered by the selection panel. The route of the new road was decided by carefully applying three basic criteria to the four proposals: operational effectiveness, environmental impact and cost-effectiveness. Part 3: Practice Questions: What criteria did you apply when choosing your course? What criteria are used by your lecturers in assessing your assignments? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five on the spur of the moment
know where you stand
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question How many visitors arrived in New Zealand during the last 12 months just over half a million
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a short programme on micro-finance, questioning to what extent it really helps the poor Vocabulary for the article: counter-intuitive
Questions for the article: Mohamed Younus interview 1) Who are the typical clients who borrow from Grameen Bank? 97% women women
2) What evidence does Mohammed Younus use to show that microfinance works? poverty-reduction
Report from Zambia 3) Why are the interest rates so high in Zambia? costs of infrastructure
4) Which of these may lead to lower interest rates in Zambia? reduction in the number of borrowers
Critical research into microfinance 5) What ‘counter-intuitive’ finding came out of the research in the Phillipines? the number of businesses owned by borrowers reduced
6) What factor seemed to determine the outcome of lending? gender
7) Which form of micro-finance does Dean Karlan recommend? micro-credit
8) What does Dean Karlan think is the main criterion by which micro-finance should be judged? sustainability
Today’s news story: from New Zealand
Today’s Video suggestion: from the UK
July 30, 2009 10:06 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Mosaic on a kindergarten wall in Bayswater, Auckland Part 1: Today's word If you dispute something, you argue about it. So, for instance, you might dispute someone’s authority or rights to do something. You might also dispute any claims they make. This is very common in academic argument. If an issue is in dispute, it means that negotiations are still going on and the issue has not yet been resolved. If something has been proved beyond dispute, it means that the evidence is so strong that everyone would have to accept it. Likewise, if something is so clear that no one could argue about it, then it is indisputable. Her commitment to the company is indisputable. Ownership of the site is disputed, which has made development impossible. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? I do not dispute the fact that the project has faced a number of difficulties; what I do dispute, however, is the claim that it is fatally flawed. I agree with your general findings but strongly dispute that the problem was deliberately caused. Residents of the village do not pay taxes since it is located in the no-man’s land of the disputed border between Chile and Argentina. She disputed the manager’s account of events on the grounds that the manager wasn’t actually in the room when the incident took place. Part 3: Practice Questions: Have you ever disputed grades awarded for your academic work? Are there any long-running border disputes in your region? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five lull sb into a false sense of security / give sb a false sense of security
to be in sb’s shoes
on the spot
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What is New Zealand’s position on the Happy Planet Index? 10th
For more details, click here Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interview with Nic Marks of the New Economic Foundation. He criticises the use of GDP as a way of measuring the performance of different countries and explains a new measure, the HPI, which he feels is more suitable for this purpose. Vocabulary for the article: think-tank
Questions for the article: 1) Which of these is one of the three principles of the New Economic Foundation? sustained growth
2) GDP became significant during and after the Second World War as part of a move to ... reduce expenditure
3) Marks criticises the use of GDP because of its lack of attention to sustainable development and ... invisible earnings
4) He feels that the reporting of GDP in general news programmes is .. inappropriate
5) The HPI .... has been adopted globally
6) The global footprint measure indicates that New Zealanders ... have significantly more living space per capita than the world average
7) The data on happiness... was based on detailed interview and observation
8) The main reason why New Zealand has a relatively low HPI is ... the high consumption of resources
9) Marks’ feels that low consumption of resources and a high level of happiness are ... highly compatible goals
10) What is Marks’ defence against the charge that measurements of happiness are subjective? qualitative measurements can be objective
Today’s news story: from New Zealand
Today’s Video suggestion: from the USA
July 28, 2009 05:58 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Sculpture from Lake House, Takapuna Part 1: Today's word cultural heritage means the art, places, buildings, customs and traditions which are valuable for a particular society. So, for example, New Zealand’s cultural heritage includes elements of Western culture, as well as the indigenous culture of the Maori and the other communities which have come to New Zealand, such as Pacific Islanders and Chinese. Cultural treasures are the most valuable part of this cultural heritage. So, for England, for instance, the cultural treasures include the Alfred Jewel, the magna carta, the works of Shakespeare etc. The Maori word for cultural treasure is taonga. In the Treaty of Waitangi , Maori were promised ‘full and undisturbed possession of their land, forests, fisheries and all their treasures. Taonga in New Zealand include waiata [songs], places of special cultural significance, such as the Waikato River , designs, such as the Koru and the Maori language , called Te Reo. Maori language week celebrates the key role which Te Reo, Maori language, plays in the cultural heritage of New Zealand. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The Government needs to do more to preserve the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples before it is too late. Although his parents had left him several million dollars, he had managed to spend his entire heritage by the age of 25. The rich history of samba is a key element in the cultural heritage of Brazil. The network of villages forms a valuable part of the heritage of the region, which is under increasing threat from urbanization. Part 3: July’s words Here’s a short test to see how many words from the last month you’ve remembered! First see if you can complete the missing words – then check below and find the correct word (I’ve given you the first letter, which will make that part much easier!). If you can’t remember, take a look back at the podcasts over the last month – all the words are there! She loved to mim _ _ her friend's accent. [copy - especially to make people laugh] We travelled to see her mother, whom we found less rob _ _ _ than before. They studied the to _ _ _properties of many chemicals. Conditions had worsened in the rural hin _ _ _ _ _ _ The Government is full of tec _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _recruited from the top universities but lacking in practical experience. They wanted their clients to keep up with the expo _ _ _ _ _ _ _ growth of market data. She failed to include an att _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _to her original source, which led to accusations of plagiarism. The decision to transfer a patient to an area of less intense care is often a col_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ one, involving the full range of medical staff. The new drug can significantly inh _ _ _ _ the growth of cancer cells. The advertisers were accused of including sub _ _ _ _ _ _ _ messages in their campaign in order to influence the consumers without them even being aware. Clayton Weatherston was said to be suffering from nar _ _ _ _ _ _ _ because he had an exaggerated sense of his own importance, but the jury still found him guilty of murder. He tried stopping suddenly, but found no tan _ _ _ _ _ evidence of people following him. Mimic Robust Toxic Hinterland Technocrats Exponential Attribution collaborative Inhibit Subliminal Narcissism
Part 4: The Idiomatic Five run-of-the-mill
to play (it) safe
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question The Maori population of New Zealand is approximately half a million. How many of them are fluent in Maori language [Te Reo]? Part 6: Today's online listening and speaking This is a set of short and fun, interactive exercises on the basics of Maori language (Te Reo) in honour of Maori Language week. And if you click on the left of the page, you can also find out more about Maori culture, listen to some Maori songs etc. Today’s news story: from New Zealand
Today’s Video suggestion: from New Zealand
July 26, 2009 09:49 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Strange creature (a friendly dragon, maybe?) encountered at Lake House, Takapuna Part 1: Today's word If you allude to someone or something, you mention them in an indirect way. It’s common for films, books and pictures to contain allusions to other works of art. This means, for instance, the writer, director or artist has deliberately included some features that make reference to a famous scene from an earlier film etc. Of course, because they are indirect, allusions can be very difficult to notice if you are not experienced or are not a member of the culture. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? She alluded to our earlier disagreement, but fortunately she seems to have accepted the outcome. He mentioned some technical problems with the project; I assumed he was alluding to the new software. The scene where the boy calls up to the girl on a balcony is an obvious allusion to Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. She alluded to me about the problem rather than explain the issue openly. Part 3: Practice Questions: Have you noticed any allusions to earlier famous films when you’ve been watching a movie? Do you find it hard to follow some of the cultural allusions in your lectures or course books? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five to be on the right track
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which part of New Zealand has reached the finalists of the new seven wonders of the world? Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a short presentation from the BBC about the unique lizards known as Komodo Dragons by the famous British biologist and television presenter David Attenborough. Vocabulary for the article: docile
Questions for the article: 1) The 16th century book describing dragons was published in .... China
2) These descriptions of dragons can’t have been based on lizards or crocodiles because ... they were unknown to the writer
3) The Komodo lizards were called dragons by ... medieval travellers
4) David Attenborough first came across a Komodo dragon ... early on in his career
5) There were once even larger lizards in ... Indonesia
6) When David Attenborough first heard local people’s claims that dragons attack people, he was ... suspicious
7) What did adult komodo dragons eat before people arrived on the island? buffalo
8) Female Komodo dragons are parthenogenetic, which means they ... don’t need males to reproduce
9) Parthenogenesis is associated with ... slow takeover of new territory
Grammar check: Sentence inversion Sentence inversion means that the subject and verb are inverted, so that the subject comes after the verb instead of in its normal place before. Sentence inversion is a common way of making questions – for example: Are you sure?
Only if a male contributes to the genetic make-up of the young, will there be variation. Not only was he rude, he didn’t even pay his bill. No sooner had she left the room than they started talking about her. Hardly had I opened my mouth when he interrupted me again. .......................................................... Here is a short grammar exercise on sentence inversion for you. Transform these sentences, beginning with the given word and using sentence inversion. The room was cold and the shower didn’t work.
I left the house and it started raining.
She left university and started her own business.
You can only see such a wealth of unspoilt nature here in New Zealand.
She was a talented artist and a successful businesswoman.
Today’s news suggestion: A cute animal story from Japan
Today’s Video suggestion: from New Zealand
July 23, 2009 07:52 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Presentation on Vocabulary Teaching Part 1: Today's word A discrepancy is a difference between things that should be the same. So, for example, it’s a problem if there is a discrepancy in the company books when the accountants check them or if there is a discrepancy between statements given by witnesses of a crime. In New Zealand, the discrepancies between the Maori and English versions of the Treaty of Waitangi caused a lot of misunderstanding and conflict. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? There are a few key discrepancies between the Harvard and the APA referencing systems. If there is any discrepancy between the payments recorded and the supporting documentation, this must be noted and discussed with the client. Although the country has seen impressive economic growth, there is a growing discrepancy between the regions. The discrepancy between job titles and actual responsibilities in the organization meant that the survey method produced invalid results. Part 3: Practice Questions: Is there any discrepancy between the numbers of students enrolled on your course and the numbers who actually attend lectures? What do researchers need to do if there’s a discrepancy between the predicted and the actual results of an experiment? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five it’s in the pipeline
fall into place
to blow sth out of (all) proportion
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question In which part of New Zealand is Waitangi, where the Treaty between the Crown (British Government) and the Maori Tribes was signed in 1840? Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a set of six interviews with children around the world talking about how the economic crisis is affecting them, their families and their communities. If you click on the link above it will open up the page and then you need to press play under each photo of the children. Each interview is about 5 minutes long. Match the sentences below to the country the children come from. One of her favourite shops has closed down He’s worried he might have to leave school She feels she has to do better at school Her dad is busier because of the increase in crime He has to wait longer to get nice things from shops Her parents won’t discuss their financial problems with her He describes the vicious circle of crime She notices more homeless people on the subway Her uncle gives them less pocket money Do you know enough about swine flu? Try this interactive quiz from the BBC Today’s Video suggestion: from New Zealand
July 21, 2009 04:29 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Postgraduate students preparing a poster presentation for Organisations and Management Part 1: Today's word Empirical research is based on evidence. So that means that it focuses on gathering data and then analysing the data in order to support its conclusions. Empirical methods include experiments (especially in the natural sciences and in psychology) and surveys, interviews, focus groups and discourse analysis (widely-used in the social sciences). Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The claims were interesting but have not been supported by reliable empirical evidence. Empirical studies have provided some support for the ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ approach to dementia. It is important to review existing empirical literature before conducting one’s own research studies. Data-first approaches, such as Grounded Theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) might be considered the most empirical of all social science research methods. Part 3: Practice Questions: Have you conducted any empirical research yourself?
Part 4: The Idiomatic Five put / stick your oar in
open-ended
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which of these is a well-known New Zealand economist? Tony Alexander
Click here to see his regular reports on the NZ economy Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a 3 minute presentation from the BBC by the Nobel-Prize-winning economist George Ackerlof. He explains his suggestion for dealing with the current economic crisis. Vocabulary for the article: a blip
Questions for the article: 1) Ackerlof starts out by stating that one objective of economic and fiscal policy should be ... comparative advantage
2) The second major objective should be ... more accessible credit
3) What does Ackerlof mean by a ‘cat-in-the-hat’ approach to the current crisis? We need to be ready to try a number of solutions until one works
4) Ackerlof believes economists need to pay more attention to .. ideological debate
Today’s online grammar exercise:
Today’s musical suggestion: from those dim and distant days of my youth
July 19, 2009 04:07 PM PDT
Today’s picture: My niece Mary at SnowPlanet [indoor ski centre] – 20 minutes from Massey Albany I’d love some feedback on the Podcast. So I’ve made up this short online survey. It should only take you five minutes or so to complete. If you give your name and email at the end, I will enter your name in a draw for a $25 New Zealand book token. Part 1: Today's word To inhibit a process is to limit something or slow it down to make it weaker. If a person feels inhibited, they’re embarrassed to do something, especially in public. So, sometimes people give the excuse of wanting to drink in order to ‘lose their inhibitions’ – in other words, to be less embarrassed or shy. The drug doesn’t cure cancer but it inhibits its spread. As the course progressed people lost their inhibitions and began to discuss the issues more freely. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The chemical is thought to inhibit the ability of viral enzymes to reproduce. It was argued that the current telecommunications monopoly inhibits innovation in the sector. Lack of this hormone may inhibit growth in the crucial early stages of human development. My boss inhibited me from participating in the project. Part 3: Practice Questions: What factors might inhibit the growth of this country’s economy? What advantages or disadvantages might there be in losing your inhibitions? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five breathe down sb’s neck
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question The tri-nations rugby tournament started in Auckland this weekend with a victory by New Zealand over Australia. Which other country takes part in the competition? Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a 15 minute interview from Radio New Zealand with Dr Jean Fleming from the University of Otago. She explains the difference between viruses and bacteria and how the body can fight infection. Vocabulary for the article: replicate
Questions for the article: 1) What interesting event do they chat about at the beginning of the interview? an earthquake
2) Which of these is NOT true about viruses? they are 100 times smaller than bacteria
3) Bacteria can spread very quickly because of their ...
4) We are likely to contract bacterial infection from water which has ... a high coloform count
5) Your ‘bacterial fingerprint’ means ... the unique combination of bacteria in or on your body
6) The harmfulness of bacteria in your gut partially depends on ... your mood
7) Stomach problems associated with bacteria are caused by .. cholera
8) Why does she think the new cholera vaccine may not be available in New Zealand? it’s genetically modified
9) A vaccine works by ..... protecting the body against bacteria
10) Antibiotics work by .... resisting infection by bacteria
Today’s Video suggestion: from the USA
July 15, 2009 05:44 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Bella, the mysterious, manipulator of Sunset Road! I’d love some feedback on the Podcast. So I’ve made up this
Part 1: Today's word When you define something, you say exactly what it is or what it means. It’s important to define your terms early in an essay or report. In order to do this well, you need to analyse your assignment question and identify the topic word or expression. This should be defined in the opening paragraph. You can normally find a definition of this topic word in your textbook or recommended reading – don’t use a normal dictionary or Wikipedia! You can find out more about analysing assignment questions in my online presentation. Defining features are those qualities that make a person or thing special and different from the others. So, if you say that originality is what defines a good essay, you mean that originality is the most important quality that makes a good essay different from an ordinary one. By the way, to find out more about the defining qualities of a good essay, have a look at Ken's presentation. And if you are looking for a good online dictionary to find definitions and examples of new words, try this one. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? One reason many people found the referendum question ambiguous was that ‘smack’ was not clearly defined. One of her less significant defining features was her ability to keep calm under stress. The team needs clearly-defined roles if it is to function effectively. The defining elements of scientific management are precise analysis and measurement of job functions by external experts. Part 3: Practice Questions: What are the defining features of a good lecture? How would you define the words ‘work’, ‘friendship’ and ‘intelligence’? Part 4: Review of Common Idioms Here’s a short review test of some of the idioms we’ve covered over the past weeks. Choose the best alternative to complete the gaps in the sentences below. Each of them contains a common idiom. 1) We opened the first cybercafe here, but several other people have got in on the __________ in the last year. bandwagon trend wave act 2) I think the parents of these young criminals have a lot to answer __________. for about to back 3) The practice may seem a little unethical, but let me assure you, it’s totally above _________ table board desk shelf 4) Hey, I’ve got a __________ to pick with you. Is it you who keeps leaving the door of the building wide open? nose scab row bone 5) I wish I could persuade him to stop smoking dope, but it’s like I’m hitting my head against a __________. brick wall iron bar oak door goal post 6) ‘Is anyone dealing with these faxes?’ ‘Don’t worry. I’m on the __________.’ case job head hot seat 7) She was so used to her son bringing strange guests home that she didn’t __________ when he arrived back with a couple of transvestites one night. bat an eyelid shrug her shoulders
8) I think that old photocopier is about to give up the __________. spirit angel ghost soul 9) We may not like the takeover deal, but in these economic times, we’ll just have to __________ and bear it smile grin laugh frown 10) Did you hear that Andy’s been laid off? It was a real __________ after all the work he put into that company. poke in the eye pat on the back
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which university seeks to become New Zealand’s defining University? Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a five-minute interview from Radio New Zealand with a researcher from the UK who has investigated the effect of cat’s purring on their owners. I’ve provided a short task for you on the meaning, followed by a review of some of the academic vocabulary you’ve heard in previous podcasts. If you click on the ____________ in those questions, it will take you to the original podcast or page in the Academic English Generator. It’s important for you to review this common academic vocabulary, so that you can use it with more confidence in your own writing. Vocabulary for the listening: subtle
Questions for the listening: 1) What was the purpose of the study? to investigate a correlation between the sound of a cat’s purr and its effects on humans
2) How many participants were there in the study? 10
2) What was their main finding? their hypothesis was confirmed
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Academic Vocabulary Review Researchers have xxxxxxxxxx what cat-lovers have long suspected known determined confirmed clarified Your moggy [cat] is deliberately xxxxxxxx you to gain attention and food. attracting constraining manipulating devoting Researchers ... identified a cat purr which xxxxxxxxxxxxx a cry similar to a human baby’s. resembles incorporates embeds modifies That solicitation purr has turned out to have a small cry ____________ in it. embedded perceived offset possessed .. the thing that xxxxxxxxx these solicitation purrs ... defined differed comprised appealed .. the thing that xxxxxxxxxx .... the pleasantness/urgency rating of the cry interpreted differed determined obtained .. whether the cry was xxxxxxxx as ‘urgent’ classified featured embedded manipulated When you run this through one of them wave-form xxxxxxxxx things ... attribution accrual analysis application Today’s Video suggestion: from the UK
July 12, 2009 04:03 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Signpost in Westport, New Zealand I’d love some feedback on the Podcast. So I’ve made up this short online survey – It should only take you five minutes or so to complete. If you give your name and email at the end, I will enter your name in a draw for a $25 New Zealand book token. Part 1: Today's word If something is tangible, it’s real and important, especially when we talk of ‘tangible benefits’ or ‘tangible improvements’, which are real, important and noticeable. In accounting, ‘tangible assets’ are those physical things which have value in a business, such as equipment, stock etc. The opposite is ‘intangible’ Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The stimulus package is already bringing about tangible improvements in the local economy. This organisation needs tangible leadership if it is to survive the current downturn. There is tangible evidence of a shift in attitudes towards ageing. What are the tangible benefits of switching to online banking? Part 3: Practice Questions: What are the tangible benefits of studying at university? Have there been any tangible improvements in your neighbourhood over the last few years? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five be at loggerheads
not get a look in
be wide of the mark
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What was the New Zealand currency before the dollar was introduced in 1967? The New Zealand Pound
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a short interview from Radio New Zealand about an Australian town which is launching its own currency, the Baroon Dollar Vocabulary for the article: hinterland
Questions for the listening: 1) Baroon is the name of the local ... lake
2) The scheme is especially designed to support local banks
3) Which word does Dr Crawford use for money or business which is not kept local? sewage
4) The local area is seeing a growth in ... the dairy industry
5) The baroon dollar is described as a local .. credit crunch
6) There was some opposition in the town to the involvement of ... a major national retailer
Today’s Video suggestion: from the USA
July 09, 2009 04:45 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Michael Savage Memorial, Kohimarama, Auckland I’d love some feedback on the Podcast. So I’ve made up this short online survey – http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8z2tWq5snRuqjl1wfBtcTw_3d_3d It should only take you five minutes or so to complete. If you give your name and email at the end, I will enter your name in a draw for a $25 New Zealand book token. Part 1: Today's word Aesthetics is the study and enjoyment of beauty. So, if something is aesthetically pleasing, it means it’s beautiful. Normally, aesthetically pleasing objects also have harmony and balance. Designers have to consider the aesthetics of products like cars, home electronics, furniture etc as well as their functional efficiency. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The products are also aesthetically packaged for maximum customer appeal. The clean, functional lines of the furniture make it aesthetically suited to modern environments. The new design is attractive but, unfortunately, too aesthetically impractical for mass production. Preserving native bush produces not only an ecologically sustainable environment but actually a more aesthetically pleasing landscape. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you find Massey’s buildings aesthetically pleasing? Do you think you were strongly influenced by aesthetic considerations when you bought your car or media player? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five a kick in the teeth
laid-back
along the lines of
sleep like a log
Which city was voted New Zealand’s most beautiful in 2008? Dunedin
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is 15 minute presentation by the Professor of Mathematics at Otago University, Dennis McCaughan. He talks about the Golden Ratio. Vocabulary for the article: ratio
Questions for the article: 1) In which of these areas is the Golden Ratio important? statistics
2) The pentagon was especially valued by ... the American government
joining up the ends of the points
4) Why is it thought that temples, such as the Parthenon, were built according to the Golden Ratio ? aesthetic reasons
5) The Golden Ratio is similar to Pi because .. it is close to 22 divided by 7
6) The sides of a Golden Rectangle ... conform to the Golden Ratio
Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
July 06, 2009 04:58 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Scene from Lake House, Takapuna I’d love some feedback on the Podcast. So I’ve made up this short online survey – http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8z2tWq5snRuqjl1wfBtcTw_3d_3d
Part 1: Today's word When you manipulate people, it means you influence or control them in a clever (and usually) dishonest way in order to gain an advantage. So, politicians are often accused of being manipulative – in other words, that they manipulate the public in order to gain support for their own ‘agendas’. The media is also often accused of manipulation – usually because they have ‘twisted’ the facts to support their own position, or maybe asked unfair questions to try to make someone say something that will help the sell the newspaper sell more copies. Manipulation can be positive but only when you’re talking about the skilful use of equipment etc. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The company was accused of manipulating the figures in order to hide the financial problems from investors. The evolution of opposable thumbs allowed our ancestors to manipulate objects and increase their control over their environment. Your first draft is basically fine, but you’ll need to manipulate the conclusion, as it doesn’t flow well from the preceding argument. She used her charm to manipulate her friends – only to abandon them as soon when they no longer served her needs. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you know any manipulative people?
Part 4: The Idiomatic Five hold your own
dig yourself into a hole
get / let sb off the hook.
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which song by Irish group U2 has a New Zealand connection? City of Blinding Lights
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a short presentation from the moral philosopher, Susan Nieman, on the value of giving people compliments Vocabulary for the article: pinpoint
Questions for the article: 1) Susan Nieman believes that people don’t give enough compliments because of ... ignorance
2) One negative use of compliments is to ... people threaten
3) Susan argues that there’s nothing wrong in feeling that your best efforts are ... successful
4) Susan concludes with the argument that compliments are a way of valuing what’s .... in the world. good
5) Arundhati, from India, feels that she wants ... from her friends more compliments
6) Frank, from the USA, pointed out how ..... Bill Clinton was at giving compliments. creative
7) Susan concedes that her habit of giving compliments ..... comes from her American upbringing
Can you complete these everyday expressions used in the programme Are you ready? Tell us what you’ve come ___ with
Today’s Video suggestion: from Ireland
July 05, 2009 05:22 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Common spaces in Auckland: Takapuna Beach, June 2009 Click here to complete a five-minute survey on how you use and what you think about this podcast. You could also win a NZ book token for your efforts! Part 1: Today's word If something is robust, it means it’s strong and unlikely to break. So, if you are sending electrical equipment through the post, it’s important that the packaging is robust. If a person has a robust constitution, it means they are tough and don’t get ill often. Robust attitudes are also strong and show determination. And if researchers produce robust findings, it means that they’ve been very careful in their methods and there are no obvious weaknesses. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The Minister presented a robust defence of his Government’s handling of the economy. It’s a robust paper, probably more suitable for advanced students with a good basic grounding in the subject. She argued that the economy was sufficiently robust to withstand the current downturn. The shed will have to be of robust construction as it will be in an exposed position. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you have a robust constitution?
Part 4: The Idiomatic Five come to a head
lose your head
a heart-to-heart
be heavy going
not know what hit you
What’s the average distance people travel to work in Auckland? Part 6: Today's online listening: This is the last in the series of lectures by the American Professor Michael Sandel. Here he argues the need for a new politics of the Common Good. Click above to listen to the lecture while you answer the questions below. The actual lecture is just under 25 minutes long – it runs from 4.50 till 28.25 – the rest of the recording is an introduction and a question and answer session. Vocabulary for the article: impeachment
Questions for the article: 1) Sandel’s main criticism of cost-benefit analysis is its .... ineffective implementation
2) Sandel also criticises the cost-benefit analysis of cell phone use while driving because it is too ... scientific
3) Sandel disagrees with the view that the main aim of governments is to correct ... market failure
4) Sandel concedes that at its best, what he calls ‘market-mimicking governance’ can satisfy us as ... citizens
5) Sandel believes that one basic reason for the rise of market-dominated politics is that economics was seen as ... value-neutral
6) In a Politics of the Common Good, Sandel believes that consumer preferences should be ... widely respected
7) Sandel argues that a robust democracy needs more ... common spaces
8) Sandel argues that ethics and altruism are like .. precious resources that need to be conserved
Today’s Video suggestion: from Canada
July 02, 2009 04:27 PM PDT
Today’s photo: Me recording my podcast Part 1: Today's word If something grows exponentially, it means that it keeps growing faster and faster. Social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, have experienced exponential growth rates, though the growth tends to tail off after a few months. Click here for more practice. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? After the Big Bang, the universe is thought to have experienced a sustained period of exponential growth. Digital music has been an exponential field over the past few years, with high levels of innovation and market penetration. The exponential increase in global travel over the last few decades has heightened the risk of pandemics. Unfortunately, the exponential growth in the company’s sales was not accompanied by the necessary restructuring and staff development. Part 3: Practice Questions: Apart from social networking, which other fields have experienced exponential growth over the last few years? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five get out of hand
change hands
to have the upper hand
have it in for sb
have it out with sb
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which controversial 2004 Act of Parliament about ownership of New Zealand’s coastline is expected to be repealed by the new Government? Part 6: Click here for more practice.
This is an interview from the BBC about freeconomics – the business model used by many online companies Vocabulary for the article: attribution
Questions for the article: 1) Which of these versions of the book will be offered free?
2) Google uses a ‘max’ strategy to ...
3) Which mistakes did Chris make when writing the book?
4) What economic principle is Wikipedia [and this podcast!] based on?
5) Which of these products follows the freemium approach?
6) Moore’s Law refers to the exponential growth in ...
7) The younger generation is accustomed to ...
8) Chris’s own company uses a freemium approach to market its ...
Today’s musical suggestion: From the UK / Zambia
June 30, 2009 05:35 PM PDT
Today’s picture: My niece Olivia, celebrating her first Holy Communion in Madrid last month I'd love some feedback on these podcasts! Click here if you can spare 10 minutes to complete a brief online survey. Part 1: Today's word If something is contingent, it means it’s not absolute – it depends on the situation. So, for example, acceptance onto a university course could be contingent on results obtained in an examination. And any plans for outdoor events are likely to be contingent on weather conditions. A contingency is something (normally bad) that may happen in the future – so planning needs to take into account contingencies. Sometimes organisations keep a contingency fund so that they have enough money if things go wrong. The noun ‘contingent’ can also mean a large group of people. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Given the tight economic situation, any salary raise will be contingent on increased market share. The company built up a substantial contingency fund to cover the fixed costs of the venture. Government approval of the grant was contingent on the organization meeting a number of conditions. Socially responsible citizens accept that the privilege of owning a car is contingent on limiting its impact on the environment. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you have any contingency plans? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five go against the grain
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question
Click here for more information Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a 25 minute lecture about genetics and morality from the famous American professor, Michael Sandel. Vocabulary for the lecture: a dissenter
Questions for the article: 1) Why were the parents in Michael Sandel’s first case criticised? they aborted their baby because it was deaf
2) Which new medical advance may be marketed for people in their sixties and seventies? cognition-enhancers
3) Which social problem does Michael Sandel highlight in China and some parts of India? in-vitro fertilisation
4) Michael Sandel argues that parental love should not be contingent on ... giftedness
5) Michael Sandel cites Singapore as a country which has implemented some ...... policies eugenics
6) Michael Sandel describes parenthood as a school for ... responsibility
7) Michael Sandel argues that our awareness of the contingency of our gifts makes us more willing to ... work hard to succeed
8) Michael Sandel’s underlying message is that societies should become more ... accepting
Today’s Video suggestion: from the UK
June 28, 2009 08:50 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Watch your speed on the luge track in Queenstown, NZ Part 1: Today's word A correlation between two sets of data means that there is an association between them. For example, there is a strong positive correlation between motivation and academic performance. This means the higher the motivation, the higher the results. On the other hand there is a negative correlation between hours of part time work and academic performance. This means that the more hours a student works in a part-time job, the lower their academic performance tends to be. If the sets of data are weakly correlated, it means that the correlation is still significant (because it’s not simply a matter of chance), but the effect is not very strong. If you are conducting quantitative research, you’ll need to show both the strength and the significance levels of any correlation you investigate. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The researchers found a strong negative correlation between offending and the number of friends a person has. This comprehensive research project confirmed the strong correlation between diet and life expectancy. Research into the correlation of the disaster and its long-term effects is continuing. Previous studies have found only a weak correlation between English language proficiency and performance at university. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you see a clear correlation between the amount of effort you put into your studies and the grades you achieve? Do you believe that income and satisfaction are strongly correlated? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five put your foot in it/ your mouth
give up the ghost
give as good as you get
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question How many bolts of lightning hit the north of New Zealand in last night’s storm? Read more about the storm here Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a short report about a study into the effects of having such a low driving age in New Zealand. Vocabulary for the listening: shed light
Questions for the listening: 1) How many participants are there in this Otago University study? 2) Is it a longitudinal study? 3) What particular correlation are they investigating? d age and crash 4) What takes place when the researchers find out one of the participants has been involved in a crash? 5) Is there anywhere in North America where the driving age is lower than in New Zealand? 6) How much more likely are teenage drivers to be involved in a crash than middle aged drivers? up to 7 7) What two changes are going to be considered by Parliament later this year? Today’s Video suggestion: from the USA
June 23, 2009 07:00 PM PDT
Today’s picture: The Reader – a statue in a garden next to Takapuna Beach Part 1: Today's word Eliminate is a more formal way of saying ‘get rid of’. So it’s used to talk about ending all kinds of problems. It’s often used with words like ‘risk’, ‘danger’ and social problems which people generally don’t want. If you want to say 'get rid of gradually', then you might also be able to use 'phase out'. This government will do all it can to eliminate homelessness. Since the elimination of human error is impossible, it’s essential that all work must be subject to careful review. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The development of online services has eliminated the need for much time-consuming and expensive paperwork and meetings. We’ll need to eliminate the old photocopier to make space for the new one. It’s hoped that a more complete testing programme will eliminate – or at least greatly reduce - drug-taking within the sport. With the complete automation of the process, the risk of human error has been effectively eliminated. Part 3: Practice Questions: Has the government actually succeeded in eliminating any significant social problems? Could your university or department do more to eliminate waste? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five not lift a finger
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which sea creatures have been visiting Auckland Harbour today? check the story here Part 6: Today's online listening: This is short programme from the BBC about useful suggestions for academic reading skills Which of the following sentences were included on the programme as suggestions for effective academic reading: Make sure you read everything on your reading list Start by skimming through the titles and sub-titles Ask other students for suggestions on which books to read Sometimes read slowly and other times read fast Always check new words in the dictionary Read the introduction and conclusion before the middle Reduce the number of fixations when you read Today’s Video suggestion: from Norway
June 21, 2009 05:09 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Lake House, Takapuna, June 2009 Part 1: Today's word If you are sceptical [skeptical in American English], it means that you are unwilling to believe something because you don’t find the evidence very convincing. It’s quite common that new ideas are greeted or treated with scepticism, which means that the community isn’t immediately convinced that they are true or valuable. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? I’m sceptical about the chances of the team gaining promotion this year. These claims need to be treated with scepticism until more convincing evidence is put forward in their defence. It was an innovative, sceptical theory which challenged accepted scientific understanding of the issue. She remained sceptical about the effectiveness of military intervention in such circumstances. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you feel sceptical about: the reality of global warming?
Part 4: The Idiomatic Five an eye-opener
face to face
cut it fine / cut things fine
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Yesterday, June 21st was the Winter Solstice in New Zealand. How many hours of daylight were there? Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a 10 minute talk about one of the world’s most interesting animals, the platypus, by the famous British biologist and TV presenter, David Attenborough. [The talk starts on 00.59!] Vocabulary for the article: gullible
webbed feet
Questions for the article: 1) Why does David Attenborough start his talk with the topic of mermaids? early explorers thought the platypus was a mermaid
2) Why was the platypus given another scientific name? flat feet were not its most distinctive feature
3) Why does David Attenborough compare the platypus’s bill to a metal detector? it has a similar shape
4) Anatomically, the platypus seems to be a link between ... birds and reptiles
5) David Attenborough became interested in the platypus thirty years ago as part of ... A TV programme about evolution
6) The film of the platypus hatching was incomplete because of ... human error
7) His recent project succeeded in filming a platypus .. hatching from an egg
Click here to see a short film of the platypus and its cousin, the echidna (thanks to Monique for sending me this link) Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
June 18, 2009 09:29 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Another autumn scene from my friends Glenys and Denise in Christchurch Part 1: Today's word To become or to grow accustomed to a new situation is a more formal way of saying ‘to get used to it’. So, for instance, it takes time to become accustomed to university life. If you have a verb after ‘accustomed to’, it needs to be in the –ing form (just like ‘get used to doing something’). So, since living in New Zealand, I’ve become accustomed to having late night phone calls with my family back home in Europe. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? He spoke with the authority of someone accustomed to giving instructions. In the old days, the department accustomed to receive several applications for each place on the course. Unemployment meant giving up those everyday luxuries we had grown accustomed to. One eventually becomes so accustomed to hearing church bells that one barely notices the noise after a few months. Part 3: Practice Questions: What changes in lifestyle have you grown accustomed to over the last year? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five take the edge off (your appetite etc)
at the end of your tether (UK/Aus) rope (US)
put sth down to experience / chalk sth up to experience
(not) see eye to eye
not bat an eyelid
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which kinds of people are celebrated across the world and in New Zealand on June 20th? Click here to see a short announcement about this by the American actress, Angelina Jolie Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an episode of 'Asian Report' from Radio New Zealand which focuses on the refugee resettlement programme and the role of volunteers. Vocabulary for the article: asylum
Questions for the article: 1) How many refugees and their family members are accepted by New Zealand each year? about 50
2) What is John Parker’s involvement with refugees? voluntary settlement assistance
3) Which of these forms of support does John mention providing to the Burmese refugees in Nelson? translation
4) How does John describe the attitude to the refugees towards talking about their past experiences? enthusiastic
5) What does John describe as being ‘luck-of-the-draw’? employment opportunities
6) How did Noulien, the 14 year-old girl feel when she first attended school in New Zealand? relieved
7) How did John first hear about the possibility of helping refugees? personal invitation
8) John understands the importance of support for settlement in a new country because of his ... extensive reading
9) How does John describe the general attitude of the community towards the refugees? accepting
Click here for more information on volunteering for refugee services in New Zealand Today’s musical suggestion: from New Zealand
June 16, 2009 08:19 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Tree with berries, Christchurch, June 2009 (thanks to Glenys for the photo) Click on 'play' above to hear today's programme Part 1: Today's word Predominant means the most common, most noticeable or most powerful one of a number of different varieties or factors. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Interaction is the predominant feature of the so-called ‘web 2.0’ sites. Taxation is, of course, the predominant means of raising finance for Government spending. The project began as a rather weak response to market pressures, but became increasingly predominant as the months passed. Research in psychology is still predominantly quantitative, despite the growing awareness of its limitations. Part 3: Practice Questions: What are the predominant features of your work or study? What’s your predominant feeling about the current economic downturn? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five make all the difference
get your foot in the door
down-to-earth
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What is the current New Zealand strategy for dealing with the outbreak of the new form of influenza? prevention
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a short programme about the new influenza – the H1N1 virus (often called ‘swine flu’). The programme includes two interviews: one with a New Zealander who is recovering from the flu and the other with someone responsible for the national health strategy. Vocabulary for the article: to contract (an illness)
Questions for the article: 1) Susie contracted ‘swine’ flu while travelling in ... Mexico
2) Which of these symptoms did Susie experience from ‘swine flu’ that she hadn’t experienced with flu previously? a runny nose
3) What gave Susie most relief from her symptoms? special flu medicine
4) During her period of isolation ... she had to stay alone in her own flat
5) Susie’s main complaint concerns .. the necessity of her isolation
6) According to Fran MacGrath, H1N1 cases in New Zealand are predominantly .. associated with overseas travel
7) The underlying aim of the containment strategy is reversing the current upward trend of cases
8) A move to a management strategy will mean ... an end to the policy of school or class closures
9) Based on historical records, it’s likely that this first outbreak of H1N1 flu ...
10) According to Fran MacGrath, tamiflu is an effective treatment .. for the H1N1 flu if taken early enough
Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
June 14, 2009 06:26 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Scene from Berinzenne, Belgium (kindly supplied by Monique Sauvage) Part 1: Today's word Altruism is the opposite of self-interest. Altruistic behaviour aims to help other people or to contribute towards the common good, without receiving any direct benefit yourself. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Business sponsorship is not merely altruistic, but may fulfil important commercial objectives. He argued that a moral foreign policy needs a strong element of altruism, rather than focusing exclusively on national interest. The organisation provide strong financial incentives for altruistic projects that would benefit the community. Voluntary organisations are hopeful that altruistic behaviour will be strengthened rather than weakened as a result of the credit crunch. Part 3: Practice Questions: Have you engaged in any altruistic activities this week? It has been argued that businesses work more efficiently if they are motivated only by self-interest? Do you agree? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five be in the dark
be out of your depth
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question How did Australian Rugby League players show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness last weekend? Click here for images Part 6: Today's online listening: Vocabulary for the article: spurious
Questions for the lecture: 1) A character in which TV series is said to have been based on Professor Sandel? Bro’ Town
2) Why does Professor Sandel describe economics as a spurious science? It has no theoretical foundation
3) The underlying argument of this series of lectures is for a public discourse based on ... individual self-interest
4) What does Professor Sandel identify as the underlying view of morality held by Western Governments over the last thirty years? economic growth is inevitable
5) What is the basic flaw with the ‘greed critique’? markets depend on self-interest
6) What is the main focus of Professor’s Sandel’s critique of markets over the last 30 years? their inefficiency
7) Professor Sandel uses the proposal for a market in refugees as an example of how markets... act as an unfair mechanism
8) What is the main point underlying Professor Sandel’s examples of the Israeli pre-school, the tourist in the Grand Canyon and polluting companies? the ambiguity of financial penalties
9) The relative success of blood donation in the UK is attributed to .. commercialisation
10) How does Professor Sandel summarise the main mistake made during the last 30 years? market economy
Today’s musical suggestion: from the UK
June 11, 2009 09:42 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Auckland seen from Michael Savage memorial, June 12 2009 Part 1: Today's word Hindsight means looking back, knowing now what you did not know then. We usually use it to express regrets, for instance, ‘In hindsight, I would never have sold my home’. In other words, looking back and knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have done it. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? With the benefit of hindsight, it seems obvious that the plan would never work. Her hindsight into the problem was much appreciated. With the wisdom of hindsight, I realise my excessive coffee drinking must have contributed to my anxiety. In hindsight I probably shouldn’t have chosen that particular combination of papers. Part 3: Practice Questions: In hindsight, would you change any of the subjects you chose at university? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five be on the case
to be at cross purposes
off the cuff
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question The American duo Simon & Garfunkel are playing in Auckland this weekend. Which of these is one of their hits? Bridge over Waitemata Harbour
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with the famous British psychologist and writer, Edward de Bono. He is one of the best-known experts on creative thinking. Vocabulary for the article: pioneer
Questions for the article: 1) What form of thinking does Edward de Bono define as ‘the habitual route to an obvious solution’? vertical
2) Edward de Bono believes that creative thinking has not been a part of .. Eastern philosophy
3) Edward de Bono’s idea of taking bugs from the stomachs of kangaroos and transferring them to cows is presented as a creative solution to ... diseases
4) Edward de Bono’s idea of a new kind of house purchase contract is designed to ... increase personal responsibility
5) Edward de Bono thinks that governments should have a Minister of .... sustainability
6) Edward de Bono argues that creativity in businesses is limited by the desire for ... sustainability
7) What is the major component of the current global financial crisis according to Edward de Bono? real economic conditions
8) Edward de Bono believes that one solution to the credit crisis would be to treat ‘toxic assets’ as .. debts
9) Edward de Bono argues that the current financial downturn is an opportunity for .. umbrella-makers
10) Edward de Bono was impressed by the Indian man’s idea that parents should have an extra ... tax
11) Which of these countries was NOT mentioned by Edward de Bono as having introduced his ideas in schools? New Zealand
12) Which of the six hats in Edward de Bono’s model is concerned with the emotions? black
13) What is Edward de Bono’s attitude towards computers? positive
14) Edward de Bono points out that, in hindsight, any great idea is .. strange
Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
June 10, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Auckland seen from an unusual perspective – the top of Mount Eden Part 1: Today's word A perspective is a way of looking at something – your point of view. An economist, a sociologist and a psychologist will tend to have a different perspective on social issues. It’s similar to the words ‘standpoint’ and ‘viewpoint’. A less formal word is ‘angle’. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Sky Tower is the highest perspective in Auckland, offering uninterrupted views of the whole city and nearby mountains.
You need to try and view your company from the perspective of existing and potential customers. Their research offers a new and unique perspective on the value of different forms of advertising. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you see things from a different perspective now that you are a university student? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five the best / greatest thing since sliced bread
be banging/hitting your head against a brick wall
be on the brink of sth
be on (or in) the cards
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Next week, New Zealand’s soccer team, The All Whites, will be playing in a major tournament in South Africa. What is it called? Part 6: Today's online listening: This is another programme in the BBC series on academic listening. This short programme focuses on some useful marker phrases that are important to hear and understand in lectures. There are some questions on the recording. Here is one extra question for you. Which of these marker phrases is not mentioned in the programme? although / nevertheless / furthermore / on the other hand / in conclusion Today’s musical suggestion: from New Zealand / Scotland
June 07, 2009 07:37 PM PDT
Today’s picture: The daunting project to construct a new library in the middle of the academic year nears completion! Part 1: Today's word If a task is daunting, it makes you feel anxious because you know it will be a big challenge. Examinations can be daunting, but if you find out what you need to do in the test and revise the key information step-by-step, they should become manageable. Massey students who find they are suffering from a lot of stress at this time of year will find sympathy and practical support at the
Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Giving my first public presentation of my research was a daunting prospect, but good preparation and encouragement from my supervisor helped me through it. Although problems are daunting to their highest level in years, we remain confident in our ability to meet our targets. Meeting the daunting challenge of launching a new business in the midst of a deep recession will require 100% commitment from everyone in the team. Statistical analysis and interpretation of this huge amount of data is undoubtedly a daunting task for an inexperienced researcher. Part 3: Practice Questions: What is the most daunting personal or professional challenge facing you this year? Do you find public speaking a daunting prospect? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five push the boat out
have a bone to pick with you
get to the bottom of
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question When did people first settle in New Zealand (according to most evidence)? 3200 years ago
For a summary of the evidence on this click here Part 6: Today's online listening: This is the fourth programme in the BBC series on how to listen to lectures. It contains useful advice about what to listen for in the introductions to lectures. Complete the missing words in these selections from the programme. We argued that the first section, the introduction, is c __________ because this is where the speaker s __________ the scene and o ____________ the content of their talk The first part of a lecture has a number of functions. Speakers use the
The sort of ingredients you might find in the introduction – apart from the lecturer giving an idea of the organisation so the student knows when different sections are finishing and starting – perhaps the d ___________ of key terms, the scope of the lecture, how much work students will have to do by themselves after the lecture is over. And perhaps why the lecturer is interested – it's often s _____________ to know why people are enthusiastic about a subject, and what personal relationship they’ve got with it; Even though lectures play a key role in university teaching, many students find
Good note-taking technique is a matter of confidence. It's no good trying to write down
Today’s musical suggestion:
June 04, 2009 05:04 PM PDT
Today’s picture: My colleague Cathy planting a tree at Massey University, Albany, June 5th 2009 Part 1: Today's word When you acknowledge something, it means you are completely open about it, with no attempt to hide or ignore it – especially when you show that you accept the existence or importance of a person, thing or idea. So, for example, if you acknowledge that there is a problem, you let people know that you accept there is a problem. If you acknowledge the receipt of a letter, it means that you show or tell people that you have received it – nowadays, many email servers send this acknowledgement automatically. In academic writing, it’s important to acknowledge your sources by referencing them appropriately. And if someone has helped you in writing a long report or thesis, you can include their name in the acknowledgements section at the front, which is a kind of ‘thank-you’. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Ferdinand de Saussure is generally acknowledged as the founder of modern linguistics. Frankly, I opted for qualitative research mainly because I didn’t acknowledge statistics at the time. Please accept this small gift as an acknowledgement of our appreciation for your hard work over many years. It is important to acknowledge the inherent limitations of surveys as a research tool. Part 3: Practice Questions: Which researchers or writers are acknowledged as the founding figures in other disciplines, such as management and sociology? What weaknesses or limitations would you acknowledge in your study skills? Part 4: The Idiomatic Five give sb a bell
blow-by-blow
to be above board
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Today, June 5th is Arbor Day in New Zealand. What do people do on Arbor Day? Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interview with a leading New Zealand ecologist, Matt McGlone. He talks about the relationship between biodiversity and climate change. Vocabulary for the article: ecosystem
Questions for the article: 1) Which of these is an aspect of climate change that could have a negative impact on vulnerable species? biodiversity
2) Why does Matt McGlone think the tuatara should be able to adapt to warmer temperatures? it has begun laying deeper eggs
3) It is hard to know how the rock wren could adapt because .. they cannot be observed directly
4) Why do most scientists think the tree lines in the New Zealand study haven’t changed as much as expected as a result of global warming? winters have been too cold to sustain summer growth
5) Which of these is NOT one of the other threats to biodiversity in New Zealand mentioned by Matt McGlone? imported garden plants
6) What is Matt McGlone’s overall view about the most appropriate policy on climate change and biodiversity in New Zealand? A clear and separate policy is needed on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity
7) What does Matt McGlone believe is the most appropriate metaphor for understanding biodiversity? a mechanism
Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
June 02, 2009 08:58 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Nuclear-free Hobbiton Part 1: Today's word If a project or business is viable, it means that it has everything necessary to survive. Changes in the external environment can threaten the viability of businesses or even whole industries, as has been the case with the American automotive industry over the last year. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The government is actively seeking viable transport options to improve access to the city. Based on a careful evaluation of the pilot project, it was decided that full-scale production was not commercially viable. The team needs to raise its viability if it is to convince the university to provide increased funding. Falling enrolments are threatening the viability of less popular courses. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you believe that solar and wind power are viable alternatives to fossil fuels (oil, coal and gas)? Do you think that completing a university degree in New Zealand will continue to be a viable option for international students? Part 4: The idiomatic five have a lot to answer for
get (or leap or jump) on the bandwagon
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question How much of New Zealand’s electricity is produced from nuclear energy? Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interview about nuclear power from Radio New Zealand with Professor Ralph Sims from Massey University Vocabulary for the article: a prototype
Questions for the article: 1) In what way is France unique in nuclear power generation? It is the country which is most heavily dependent on nuclear power
2) The basic fuel for nuclear power stations is ... relatively cheap
3) In what form is the energy produced by a nuclear reaction? heat
4) Ralph Sims believes that nuclear power ... results in up to 5000 fatalities per year in China
5) Stockpiles of nuclear waste ... are being maintained in Finland, France and Nevada, USA
6) Nuclear fusion is produced from readily-available supplies of helium
7) Ralph Sims believes that nuclear power plants ... are not a viable alternative in small countries
Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
________________________________________________________________ credible
May 27, 2009 06:47 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Chocolate brownie (with banana) - home-made by my niece, Mary Part 1: Today's word If something is credible, it is convincing and so, easy to believe and respect. Credibility is important in many areas of life, including law, business and research. For instance, a credible witness needs to give clear answers to questions, showing a good recall of the key events. And in business, it’s important that any offers or bids that you make are credible, since potential partners will not want to take unnecessary risks. In academic writing, it’s important to use credible sources to support the claims you make in your essays and reports. Generally, journal articles have greater credibility than internet sources because they are normally produced by experts, they are based on research, they include a critical review of previous research and they are peer-reviewed. That means that before publication, each article is sent to three other experts, whose evaluation and detailed comments are then sent back to the original author who then revises the article. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The quantitative research course will help students to analyse and interpret numerical data in order to draw credible conclusions. Despite his relative youth, he gave a credible performance as King Lear in the recent award-winning London production. The ANOVA results indicated a weak correlation between the variables (p = 0.078) but this did not reach statistical credibility. He argued that prison sentences were necessary as a credible deterrent to hardened criminals. Part 3: Practice Questions: How could you improve the credibility of the sources you use in your academic writing? Do you think you could be a credible witness in a court of law? How do advertisers seek to enhance their credibility in the eyes of consumers? Part 4: Really useful idioms take XXXX into account and take account of XXXX
get in on the act
be out of action
be up in the air
all in all
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which of these well-known international chocolate manufacturers has a large factory and visitors’ centre in Dunedin, New Zealand? Hershey
Click here and here for more information about New Zealand chocolate manufacturers Part 6: Today's online listening: This is in interview from Radio New Zealand with Paul Martin, the author of a book about the pleasures of chocolate Vocabulary for the article: malnutrition
Questions for the article: 1) Why do we have a predisposition to like chocolate? it’s high in calories
2) This predisposition is problematic because ... it is associated with pleasure
3) Addiction is fundamentally a case of uncontrolled ... pleasure
4) Premium quality chocolate tends to... have a higher sugar content
5) Consumption of chocolate during periods of sadness is likely to lead to .. self-medication
6) What is the main point of the analogy Paul Martin makes between chocolate and wine? they shouldn’t be too sweet
7) When chocolate was first exported to Europe it was used for what purposes? medicinal
8) Why was chocolate mainly commercialised by companies belonging to religious groups such as the Quakers? they were granted a monopoly over its production
9) Studies conducted into the Cuna Indians, who consume large quantities of chocolate, support the claims that chocolate ... reduces cardio-vascular disease
10) What attitude does Paul Martin have towards the idea that some people are ‘chocoholics’? sympathetic
Today’s musical suggestion: from Canada
May 26, 2009 09:20 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Autumn Leaves – outside the Study Centre, Massey Albany Part 1: Today's word If something appeals to (verb) you, it means you like it or want to have it. So, for example, extramural or distance education appeals to students who have busy lives or those who live a long way from a college. An appealing (adjective) argument is one which seems attractive and makes you want to agree with it. You can also say that the argument has a good deal of appeal (noun). Appeal has other meanings, especially in Law – you can check these in a good dictionary, like the MacMillan or the Cambridge online dictionaries Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The new course is expected to have a widespread appeal among international students. Despite his parents’ objections, his strong appeal to music led him to give up his business studies and concentrate on becoming a composer. Country and Western music has a broad popular appeal which transcends national and social boundaries. The study set out to explain the continuing appeal of smoking, despite its cost and negative effects on health. Part 3: Practice Questions: What is New Zealand’s main appeal for people considering emigrating here? Which performers have a broad popular appeal in New Zealand (or in another country you know well)? Which kinds of music do you find most appealing – and why? Part 4: The Phrasal Test – part 10 1) (you realise) it ………. to you
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which form of creativity is being celebrated in New Zealand during the month of May? music
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interview from the BBC with the Chinese pianist Lang Lang Vocabulary for the article: a prodigy
Questions for the article: 1) What first introduced Lang Lang to the appeal of playing the piano? The Cultural Revolution
2) What kind of challenge did he have to overcome in order to win his first piano competition? psychological
3) How many hours did he use to practise piano on a school day at the age of seven? just under three hours
4) Which of these difficulties did he face during his early months in Beijing? his father was unable to live with him
5) For what reasons did he stop playing the piano for a while when he was in Beijing? psychological
6) He attributes his success in interpreting Chopin at the age of thirteen especially to ... technical ability
7) What did his American teacher suggest would be a good way to become famous? Winning a number of international competitions
8) When Lang Lang plays Chinese music he ... uses elements of Western classical piano playing
9) Lang Lang has set up a foundation in order to .. inspire classical pianists
Lang Lang’s autobiography is called Lang Lang - Journey of a Thousand Miles and his most recent CD is a collection of Chopin Piano Concertos Today’s musical suggestion: from China
May 25, 2009 08:35 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Student at the Massey Albany Cultural Fair, 2009 Part 1: Today's word Emerge (verb) means to come out or become known. So, for example, you can talk about problems or issues emerging from a situation. The emergence (noun) is when something first comes to public attention. 2009, for instance, has seen the emergence of Twitter as a major form of social networking – Twitter has existed for a few years already, but only came to the general attention of the media around the world in 2009. If something is just beginning to be noticed, then it is emergent (adjective). Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Having coded the interview data and then grouped it into categories, three major issues emerged. It later emerged that the company had, in fact, been losing money for years, despite the apparently healthy balance sheets presented to shareholders. If we consider the full range of sociocultural factors, a more complex picture of literacy begins to emerge. The team failed to emerge the data to a wider audience, which meant that their important findings were largely overlooked. Part 3: Practice Question: Apart from Twitter, what other social networking innovations have emerged over the last few years? Part 4: The Phrasal Test – part 9 Complete these phrasal verbs – the meaning is given in brackets
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question The Glenn Schaeffer Prize is New Zealand’s richest award for emerging writers. How much does the winner receive? $15, 000
For information on all New Zealand writing prizes, including those especially for university students, click here Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interview from the BBC with the emerging Chinese writer and film-maker, Xiaolu Guo Questions for the article: What made Xiaolu Guo’s experience in Beijing a challenging one? What style did she write her English novel in – and why? There are many other programmes in this series, with questions, vocabulary and explanations here Today’s musical suggestion: from Canada / Mexico De cara a la pared – face against the wall by Lhasa de Sela Click here for more details of this emergent international star
May 24, 2009 09:46 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Jubilee Tower, Christchurch Part 1: Today's word Chronological means in the order in which things happened. Normally, stories are told in chronological order, starting at the beginning and going through the actions step by step until the end. Of course, sometimes in films, they start in the middle and then go back to an earlier time – this is called a flashback. Apart from stories, chronological order is normally followed in giving directions and instructions and when writing the procedure section of a research report. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Please refer to the time line (appendix A) for a chronological overview of the project as a whole. The team comprises (in chronological order): Paul Matthews (60 years old – Senior Consultant), Mika Watanabe (46 – Research Officer), Bob Manahere (42 – Public Relations) and Sue Reynolds (27 – Administrative Assistant). Careful forensic analysis allowed the police to reconstruct the chronological sequence of the day’s complex events. The exhibition will follow the traditional chronological format, beginning with the artist’s earliest known works, even before she left her home town for art school. Part 3: Practice Questions: Have you structured any of your reports in chronological order? What are the potential drawbacks of following chronological order in an essay? Part 4: The Phrasal Test – part 8 Some of these sentences are correct, but others contain errors. Identify the ones which are correct and change the ones which are wrong Why did you have to go and mess things up? It took me ages to make it look neat. No one owned up to having poured paint over the teacher’s car. You ought to put in for a pay rise. Bill Gates set off to produce personal computers at a price anyone could afford. It’s time we all stood up for the new boss. He’s just a big bully! I was completely taken in by his lies. I think you ought to tone down your complaint, if you want it to be taken seriously. I’ve worn off three pairs of trainers preparing for the Auckland Marathon. She wrote off her car in an accident, which she fortunately survived. Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Can you put these events in chronological order? Massey University’s Albany campus opened
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a short programme from the BBC on how lectures are organised. Task for the listening: Complete this summary of lecture organisation, based on the listening. You’ve been given the first three letters of the missing words: Typically, things are in three parts .. there’s a kind of introduction, giving the pur________ and bac __________ to the topic and the plan of the lecture. The bod _____ of the lecture, in which exa _________ are given, perhaps ideas out _________ and con ___________ and then a conclusion in which the various ideas are eva ___________ and perhaps the lecturer gives their own opinion .... Most lecturers approach their material in one of three ways: in the first, the lecturer presents a seq ______ of events in the order of happening .. we intuitively recognise that when we’re reading or listening and it’s rea ____________ , we know what to expect, we can ant_________ what’s going to come next .... there might be a division of ideas, a kind of mat_________ ... Another very common way of organising texts, both spoken or written, is the situation – problem – solution – evaluation for________ .... the next step is to offer a more refined solution and so on, in a cyc _________ process Click here for useful listening practice (with vocabulary) from the BBC Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
May 21, 2009 09:38 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Korean students at the Massey Albany Cultural Fair, May 2009 Part 1: Today's word ‘Liaise’ is to work together – especially in the planning stage of a project. It’s often used with the word ‘closely’ if the partnership is a very good one. It can also be written 'liase'. It’s important that marketing managers liaise with a full range of colleagues to ensure everyone is aware of the company’s policies. Effective child protection requires close liaison between schools, social services and, in some cases, the police and community groups. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? They decided to liaise on their own instead of wasting time waiting to hear from all the other interest groups. The researchers hope to liaise with European and American teams on a new generation of software. We will liaise with our colleagues in Sydney to make sure that everybody is involved in the new developments. The police are liaising closely with local community groups to deal with the problems of rising crime in the area. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you enjoy liaising with other students on projects? Do you feel there’s effective liaison between the different teachers and administrators involved in your course?
Part 4: The Phrasal Test – Part 7 Some of these sentences are wrong? Can you identify and correct them? 1) At first they threatened to call in the police, but they backed up when they realised they were in the wrong.
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which of these is a popular – and very generous - bank in New Zealand? NatWest
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interesting news report about two people who received millions of dollars in their Westpac account Vocabulary for the listening: put into receivership
Questions about the listening How much did the bank customers ask for?
What would you do if it happened to you? Today’s musical suggestion: from the UK The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde by Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
May 19, 2009 10:49 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Intrinsically good hospitality from Saudi students, Massey University Albany, International Cultural Fair, May 2009 Part 1: Today's word An intrinsic part or quality of something is an essential feature – it belongs to the thing itself . It cannot be added or taken away. So, if something is intrinsically good, it means that it’s good in itself, not just because it has good effects on something else. For instance, according to one view of ethics (the universalist or deontological view ),actions are intrinsically good or bad. Another view (a consequentialist or teleological view), goodness isn’t intrinsic to actions themselves, so you can only evaluate actions in context and their goodness or badness depends on the consequences they have on other people. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? It has been argued that a commitment to sustainability is intrinsic to organizational success. It is unsurprising that participation in the training programme was limited, as the employees viewed it as having little intrinsic value. Our research focused mainly on the intrinsic environment of the club, since our resources were not sufficient to investigate the wider social setting. The firm wrongly believed that by focusing on the intrinsic quality of the product itself, a market would somehow emerge of its own accord. Part 3: Practice Questions: What intrinsic qualities do you bring to your subject? Is it possible to say that any actions are intrinsically wrong? Part 4: The Phrasal Test - Part 6 1) The scientists had to s _______ a _______ their personal interests in order to work effectively as a team.
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question “English Language Partners” is an organisation which offers migrants to New Zealand individual help with English language in their own homes. How much do migrants pay for this service? For more information, click here Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with Philippe Legrain, a British expert on migration, who is visiting New Zealand and has given presentations at the English Partners National Conference and here at Massey University Vocabulary for the article: a prerequisite
Questions for the article: 1) Philippe Legrain argues that his own ethnic diversity .... is a prerequisite for understanding other cultures
2) Philippe Legrain argues that higher productivity is associated with ... economies in developing countries with uniform cultures
3) Philippe Legrain argues that diversity is essential for teams to produce .. consensus
4) Philippe Legrain argues that increasing diversity in the workforce is particularly important for New Zealand companies now because of ... legal requirements
5) Philippe Legrain concedes that societies which are not diverse can achieve economic progress if ... their economies are based on well-established technological industries
6) Philippe Legrain uses the examples of Barack Obama and Sergei Brin to argue that ... a more effective points based system is needed
7) Philippe Legrain points out that one major economic benefit to developing countries (such as Samoa) from migration of their citizens to developed countries (such as New Zealand) is ... overseas aid
8) Philippe Legrain cites the case of Polish migration to the UK in support of ... less control of migration
9) Philippe Legrain believes that demographic changes in developed economies will lead to ... the growth in environmental refugees
Today’s musical suggestion: from Scotland
May 17, 2009 04:55 PM PDT
Today’s picture: kiwi clock at Christchurch Tram Station Part 1: Today's word Insight is a clear understanding of a complicated issue. We say that someone has insight if they often show this kind of clear, deep understanding. One of the main purposes of a lecture is to give you an insight into a particular problem or theory. If you show a clear and original understanding of a problem in your writing, your lecturer may well comment you’ve produced insightful work. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Her work provides a valuable insight into the minds of criminals. Can you give me a quick insight into the subject, so I can look into it in more depth later? The documentary focused on rather trivial issues in his private life and provided little insight into his artistic achievement. Her profound insight into the culture informed both her critical writing and her popular fiction. Part 3: Practice Questions: Which lectures do you recall that provided you with a real insight into a problem or theory? What’s the most insightful comment that you’ve ever received on your writing? Part 4: The Phrasal Test – part 5 1) The new professor’s dynamic style w ______ d ______ very well with the new students.
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question
Jane Campion
Part 6: Part 6: Today's online listening: This is part 2 of a short series from the BBC on how to listen better in university lectures and classes This is part 2 of a short series from the BBC on how to listen better in university lectures and classes Vocabulary for the article: daunting
Questions for the article: 1) Which of these is NOT one of the reasons given for attending lectures? you can get an overview of the main points
2) Which of these is described by Christine as the main challenge for students in lectures? the echo of the building
3) Which of these is a marker phrase used by lecturers to signal the structure of the lecture? ‘turning now to ...
4) How does a lecturer signal that he/she’s starting a new topic? falling intonation
5) Which of these is NOT recommended as a listening strategy during lectures? preparing in advance
Today’s musical suggestion: from Poland (composer) and China (pianist) Chopin nocturne opus 27 performed by Lang Lang
May 13, 2009 01:24 AM PDT
Today’s picture: Massey University Albany Library – old and new Part 1: Today's word ‘Assume’ is a more formal word meaning ‘guess’. It can also mean ‘accept’ – especially in the expression ‘to assume a responsibility’. However, it can also be used for any theory or principle which is accepted without analysing or questioning it. It’s very common to do this in research reports, because you can’t research everything and, in order to make predictions, you need to imagine some elements of the situation. For example, ‘The model presented here assumes a steady inflation rate of 5%’ and ‘Assuming a continuing rise in electricity demand, Auckland will begin to suffer shortages by 2015.’ The noun is ‘assumption’. When you critique research, you will often question the assumptions made by the other researcher. For example, ‘Brown’s 2006 study assumed that domestic students had English as their first language. However, that is not strictly accurate.’ I wrongly assumed she was American because of her accent. Actually, she’d only been to college there.
Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? ‘I assume this is your first day on the job’, she said, noticing the look of confusion on my face. For the sake of argument, let's assume that everyone has perfect knowledge of their first language - although, as we shall see, this claim can be challenged on a number of grounds. Is it fair to assume that as the manager you have full access to all company information? After finding clear evidence in his file, I assumed he was telling the truth. Part 3: Practice Questions: Before you started your course, what assumptions did you make about ... the way of teaching?
Part 4: The Phrasal Test – part 4 Academic research c _______ f ______a good deal of patience and hard work as well as interest in the subject. Have you ever c ______ a ______ a book called ‘How to make friends and influence people’? This college could d _____ w ______ some new computers. When we insisted that the government provide us with more information, they f ______ b _______ o ______ the old excuses about national security. Unfortunately, our research project f ______ t ______ due to a lack of funding. I'm trying to f _______ o ______ why the results vary so much each time I run the experiment. Unfortunately, her report was f _______ a _______ and never looked at again. He was so busy in the laboratory that he didn’t
Conferences are important opportunities for researchers to g ______ t ______ and discuss their findings. Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Who are we hoping will open the new library building at Massey University, Albany? Helen Clark
Part 6: Interview with our own campus librarian, Valerie Cohen, here at Massey University, Albany Vocabulary for the article: a steep learning curve Questions for the article: 1) What happened in 1993? Valerie started working as a librarian
2) What incorrect assumption is often made about library work? It is demanding
3) What arrives by truck five times a week? up to twenty-five new books
4) How do extramural students obtain library books? they can be requested from their nearest library
5) Why is the beginning of the first semester a special time for the library? They offer one-to-one support
6) Which of these innovations will be incorporated into the new library building? audio-visual facilities
Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
May 12, 2009 12:31 AM PDT
Today’s picture: Scene from the United States Museum (photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institute and Flickr Commons) Part 1: Today's word Legitimate has a narrow meaning which is when something is right and proper according to laws or customs. So, for instance, ‘legitimate business expenses’ are those expenses which can be claimed according to the rules. A wider meaning of ‘legitimate’ is when some behaviour is considered fair and reasonable. So, for instance, you could say that illness is a perfectly legitimate reason to ask for extra time to complete an assignment. A government may need to defend its legitimacy if it is challenged. They can do this in various ways – for instance, by showing that they have popular support or that they have gained power in the normal way. In fact, all claims can be challenged and so it is often necessary, to defend the legitimacy of the claim – even in academic writing. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The legitimacy of their claim to customary ownership of the land has been challenged by other tribes. Post-modern approaches to sociological research call into question the legitimacy of the scientific method. Regardless of her good intentions, the excessive legitimacy of her spending was severely criticized. The legitimacy of this restraint of trade is likely to be challenged in the courts. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you know any examples of governments whose legitimacy has been called into question? Do you know of any cases of illegitimate expenses claims? Part 4: The Phrasal Test – part 3 19) Do you know anyone who’s been stood ______ on a date?
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which famous Maori leader challenged the legitimacy of the early British rule in New Zealand by cutting down the flagpole? More information about this can be found here Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with James Cuno, an American academic who has interesting views about the role of museums with the regard to national and global history and culture Vocabulary for the article: antiquity
Questions for the article: 1) Cuno argues that descent is one way in which governments seek to increase their ... legitimacy
2) Cuno argues that national claims on culture have the negative impact of ... weakening
3) Cuno argues that modern states such as Afghanistan and Turkey cannot claim ownership of the historical culture of their geographical regions, because culture is ... temporary
4) Cuno feels that the most negative aspect of national cultures is their effect on ... globalisation
5) What kind of national culture does Cuno believe to be legitimate? inclusive
6) Cuno believes the original purpose of the British Museum was linked to .. imperialism
7) Cuno argues that museums have a right to keep artefacts from far-away cultures in order to ...... protect national identities
8) Cuno uses the analogy of advanced healthcare to argue that ... all nations should have access to encyclopaedic museums
9) Cuno believes that visitors to museums... are given an interpretation by the museum
10) Cuno believes that individuals .... need to reject their own national culture
Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
May 10, 2009 09:09 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Massey University Coat of Arms – ‘May Learning Flourish’! Part 1: Today's word If a process is optimized, it means it’s improved so that it works as well as possible. An optimal (or optimum) solution is the best one that can be found. Optimisation of a process involves a careful evaluation of the current methods and a careful consideration of the effects of modifications and alternative strategies until the best solution is found. Click here
Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The recession means that funds for new equipment are simply unavailable, making it even more important to improve the optimization of current technology. An automatic optimization feature matches system response to the varying demands of the end-user, reducing energy costs by up to 50% during its life cycle. The so-called ‘intelligent management’ system focuses on the optimization of resources and is therefore particularly appropriate in conditions of scarcity. Optimisation of the VX Video Driver achieves higher levels of graphic performance through reallocation of memory from other systems. Part 3: Practice Questions: What time of day do you reach your optimal level of performance as a student? How can students optimise their limited study time? Part 4: The Phrasal Test – part 2 11) Where do teenagers normally hang ______ in your town?
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Sunday May 10th was Mothers’ Day in New Zealand. What percentage of New Zealand women in their forties have at least one child? 38%
More statistics about New Zealand mothers here Part 6: Today's online listening This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with mathematics professor Andy Philpott from Auckland University. He talks about the important practical applications of operations research, a form of mathematical modelling, Vocabulary for the article: algorithm
Questions for the article: 1) Which organisation has the team of Philpott and Everett saved millions of dollars? an airline
2) Which of these is mentioned as an application of operations research? staffing of airlines
3) Which of these is a true description of operations research? it produces optimistic solutions to problems
4) Developments in which area led to extensions of their model? commercial
5) Interest in the University of Auckland’s operations research work has ... exceeded expectations
Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
May 06, 2009 08:11 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Support desk for international students at Massey University, Albany Part 1: Today's word A pitfall is a mistake or trap that is common in a particular situation. The word comes from ‘pit’, which is a hole which you can dig in the ground. In traditional societies, one use of pits was to trap animals. What you would do is dig a pit where you think animals were likely to pass and then cover the pit with branches. When the animal stepped on the branches, it would fall and be trapped. So pitfalls in modern life have both these elements – they are very basic and simple, and so, it’s rather embarrassing if we are caught by them. But at the same time, they are hidden, so if you don’t pay any attention, you are almost certain to make the mistake. Common pitfalls of essay-writing, for instance include not answering the question, not following a clear structure, not producing a step-by-step argument, not referring to sources. Our job at the Student Learning Centre is to help you avoid these common pitfalls – you can see some of our advice in our presentations on YouTube Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? I am well aware of the potential pitfalls of going into a business partnership with my best friend. Critiquing research methodology is one of the major pitfalls of postgraduate writing. The Flying Start programme basically covered all the major pitfalls to avoid in your first year at uni. Unfortunately she stumbled right into the number one pitfall for beginning researchers – collecting meaningless data! Part 3: Practice Question: What do you think are the major pitfalls which students need to avoid? Part 4: The Phrasal Test 1 Complete these questions with a suitable adverb or preposition. 1) Did you ever use to answer your parents ______ when you were a teenager?
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What have just been banned in the New Zealand city of Wanganui in order to combat crime? patches
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a short introduction to English for Academic Purposes from the BBC. It includes opinions of experts as well as a range of international students. Vocabulary for the article: tips
Questions for the article: 1) Which of these issues was NOT mentioned by students as a challenge in academic English? the different accents of the lecturers
2) Which of these is NOT likely to feature within an EAP course? vocabulary
3) According to Simon Williams from London University, many international students suffer from overload, which affects their ability to focus on .. language
4) Which of these strategies is NOT recommended by Simon Williams? memorising texts from the internet
5) Which of these strategies is NOT recommended by the international students themselves? re-reading familiar books in an English version
6) What was the main point highlighted by the two stories about ‘Rocky’? the importance of dictionary use
Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
May 04, 2009 04:11 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Tram Tracks in Christchurch – which way to go? Part 1: Today's word If you are rational, you make decisions based on reason, not emotions. A rational person carefully analyses the causes and effects, the advantages and disadvantages and makes a logical choice based on their values or objectives. Many traditional models of human behaviour, including economic theories, assume that people are basically rational. However, these models don’t explain decision-making very well, because most people do not actually make fully rational decisions. Many modern behavioural theories are based on the concept of bounded rationality which looks at the more limited role that rationality plays in decision-making and at the
Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? It’s hard to see any rational explanation for his decision to resign. Given the information and technology available at the time, their beliefs in the causes and treatment of illness can be seen as perfectly rational. Let’s all calm down and look at this problem rationally. The problem turned out to be not physical at all and presumably had rational origins. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you generally make rational decisions about what to study or buy? Part 4: The Phrasal Three work on something
wrap something up
write sth off accept a loss / destroy a car
From tomorrow, I’ll be giving you some quizzes and questions on phrasal verbs covered during the last few weeks. Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What is the average pay per hour in New Zealand? $ 14.56
For an overview of the key facts about New Zealand society, economy and culture in 2009, click on New Zealand in Profile Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a short interview, from the BBC, with a well-known behavioural economist, Dan Ariely, who talks about the irrational way most of us make money decisions. Vocabulary for the article: heuristics
Questions for the article: 1) Why was 2008 ‘a good year for behavioural economics’? 2) What’s the basic reason people make mistakes with money? 3) What rules of thumb do we use to make decisions about money? 4) What two major mistakes do people make in trying to reduce spending? 5) How do supermarkets take advantage of shoppers’ irrationality? 6) What is Dan Ariely’s main advice about improving the way we spend our money? Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA and Europe
May 03, 2009 11:45 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Pizza Preparation at the Ferguson Bar, Massey University, Albany Part 1: Today's word If a custom, product or idea originates somewhere it means that it came from there. Its origins can be found there. So, for example, it is believed that chocolate originated in Mexico. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The company originated the concept of just-in time production, but was unable to fully implement it for complex socio-cultural reasons. The majority of plants seen as having potential medical uses originate in the rainforests of the world. Many of the customs of the modern university, such as its academic dress, originated in the monasteries of medieval Europe. Chess is thought to have originated in India, though it may have been refined in Persia before being transmitted to the West by Arabs. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you know where your favourite sports or games originated? Part 4: The Phrasal Four take off
be worn out
wind up
wipe out
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What colour shirts will the New Zealand All Blacks be wearing for their match against France in Marseille this November? white
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interview from Radio New Zealand with an American professor who has written a book about the history of the Pizza! Vocabulary for the article: pungent
Questions for the article: 1) The pizza originated in ... Rome
2) One of the original basic pizza toppings was .. tomatoes
3) Why was the tomato used as a pizza topping at a time when it wasn’t popular in the rest of Europe? local growing conditions were more favourable
4) In 1889, Queen Margarita decided to try a pizza because .. it was commonly praised by travellers
5) Pizza was typical of much nineteenth-century Italian food in that .. it provided a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fibre
6) The average American eats about how many slices of pizza a week? one
7) Pizza was often eaten on Fridays ... because workers had the afternoon off
8) The 1960’s in the USA saw the beginning of ... experimentation with different ingredients
the Italian-American community is widespread there
10) Which pizza-related product has grown into a $1bn business in the United States? pizza delivery
11) Dominos Pizzas targeted particular towns for their delivery business mainly because of their potential customers’ ..... nutritional needs
______________________________________________________________ Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA / Italy
April 28, 2009 02:58 PM PDT
Today’s picture: New Zealand’s volatile landscape – Craters of the Moon, near Taupo Part 1: Today's word If a situation is volatile, it means it is very unstable and so tends to change quickly and without warning. In chemistry, substances that are volatile can be dangerous – for example, they might suddenly explode. When there is a crisis in the world, it tends to cause volatility in oil prices and on the financial markets. Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Unfortunately, the manager had a rather volatile personality, which made life in the office exciting but very unpredictable. Manchester United defeated Tottenham in a volatile encounter earlier today, during which the lead changed hands three times. Although sales fluctuated from month to month, there was, nonetheless, an underlying volatility, which was a basis for long-term growth. In a volatile market, companies may seek to have their share offers underwritten in order to guarantee a sale. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do any of your friends have volatile tempers?
Part 4: The Phrasal Five turn up
walk out
warm up
wear off
wear out
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which position does Auckland hold in the list of the world’s best cities to live in? Part 6: Today's online listening This is an interview from the BBC World Service with the leading Indian-born Management thinker, C. K. Prahalad (sorry for my mispronunciation of his name!) Vocabulary for the article: parsimonious
Questions for the article: 1) C. K. Prahalad believes that managers need strategic __________ clarity
2) Which of the following is NOT one of the strategies C. K. Prahalad recommends managers in the auto-industry to adopt in order to survive the current crisis? move core skills to other tasks
3) Which of these is the main source from which C. K. Prahalad synthesised his management theories? economic principles
4) C. K. Prahalad believes that managers in developing countries tend to be more ... risk-averse
5) For what reasons was Prahalad’s advice initially rejected by the CEO? operational
6) Why did he sell off his own company? to guarantee a healthy return for his investors
7) The current situation in the world has led to ... unstable markets
8) “Velcro organisations” ... need constant restructuring
9) One positive effect C. K. Prahalad sees coming out of the recession is .. learning
10) C. K. Prahalad believes that in order to work effectively, market forces require .. individual greed
11) What point does C. K. Prahalad make by referring to Cambridge? the decline of Western capitalism
Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
April 26, 2009 05:37 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Hot dog on a stick – not the most nutritious Kiwi foodstuff Part 1: Today's word Nutrition is the process of taking in food etc in order to make your body work effectively. If a particular food item is good for you, you can say it is nutritious. Important nutrients which we derive from food include proteins and vitamins. Of course, the problem with our diet is that often food items are delicious but far from nutritious! Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Not only is the fruit known to be nutritious, but it is believed by the local people to possess special protective powers. Not only are there fewer plants available during the winter months, but those that can be found are less nutritious. Canned baked beans, though a convenient and nutritious foodstuff, provide little benefit to the body. Unfortunately, the children tended to go for junk food items, high in cholesterol, sugar and additives to the more nutritious alternatives provided by the event organisers. Part 3: Practice Questions: Is nutrition an important part of the curriculum in primary or secondary schools? How nutritious is your daily diet? Part 4: The Phrasal Five treat someone to something
trip someone up
turn into something
turn someone on / off
turn out
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Why has a group of pupils from our local secondary school, Rangitoto College been put in quarantine? Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interview with Professor Jean Fleming from the University of Otago Medical School. She’s discussing the role of the small intestine Vocabulary for the article: depiction
Questions for the article: 1) The main role of the stomach is ... preparation for digestion
2) How long does food – or its waste products - normally stay in the body? a few hours
3) Where does the signal come from to let the processed food pass into the intestine? the duodenum
4) The small intestine is called ‘small’ because .. it’s relatively narrow
5) The main role of the small intestine is to ... crush food and filter out bugs
6) The main role of bile is to ... help the body break down fats
7) Which of these components of food is NOT broken down by the small intestine? fats
Today’s musical suggestion: from the UK
April 22, 2009 04:33 PM PDT
Today’s picture: an Anzac soldier (from the Australian War Memorial Collection – accessed from Flickr Commons) Part 1: Today's word ‘Significant’ is a more formal way of saying ‘important’ and special. But take care using this word when you write your reports because when you talk about statistics, the word ‘significant’ has a more exact meaning (above a certain level of probability)or instance, it is quite common for research articles to report significance at the 0.05 level. There has been a significant improvement in productivity in the agricultural sector.
Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing. Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? A significant amount of research has been done in this area, but results so far have been inconclusive. The price rises are expected to have a significant impact on demand in the short term. It’s highly significant for all staff members to lock their offices when they leave, as there have been a number of thefts from the office recently. Her research revealed statistically significant variations between motivational levels of staff in the two groups. Part 3: Practice Questions: Anzac Day, next Saturday, has a special significance for Australians and New Zealanders. Do you know of any such days in other cultures? Do you feel you’ve made significant progress in your English this year? Part 4: The Phrasal Five throw up
tidy up
be tied up
be tied down
tone down
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Saturday April 25 is a National Holiday in New Zealand and Australia. The day commemorates the landings at Anzac Cove in 1915? Where is Anzac Cove? Here is a short film showing scenes from the Anzac Campaign Part 6: Today's online reading This is an article which explains the background and significance of Anzac Day. Vocabulary for the article:
Questions for the article: What was the main strategic aim of the Anzac landings in 1915? How long did the campaign last? How successful was the campaign? Which nation lost the greatest number of soldiers? Which campaign saw the greatest loss of New Zealand lives? What kinds of attitudes are associated with the Anzac campaign? What are the symbols of Anzac Day? Where and when do Anzac Day commemorations take place? When can shops open on Anzac Day? * sorry, on the recording, I said April 26th - I got confused! Today’s musical suggestion: from New Zealand
April 21, 2009 06:42 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Students from Hong Kong at the Massey University Cultural Fair, 2008 Part 1: Today's word
It’s important that marketing managers liaise with a full range of colleagues to ensure everyone is aware of the company’s policies. Effective child protection requires close liaison between schools, social services and, in some cases, the police and community groups. Click here for interactive exercises Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? They decided to liaise on their own instead of wasting time waiting to hear from all the other interest groups. The researchers hope to liaise with European and American teams on a new generation of software. We will liaise with our colleagues in Sydney to make sure that everybody is involved in the new developments. The police are liaising closely with local community groups to deal with the problems of rising crime in the area. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you enjoy liaising with other students on projects? Do you feel there’s effective liaison between the different teachers and administrators involved in your course? Part 4: The Phrasal Five take apart
be taken in
take something in
think ahead
think something over
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Australia is the number one trading partner of New Zealand. In which position is China? For more information about China-New Zealand trade click here Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a short programme about a New Zealand University Professor, Bill Wilmott, who is taking his family back to visit his birthplace in Sechuan Province, China Vocabulary for the article: impetus
Questions for the article: 1) How many distinct ethnic nationalities are there in China? 2) Which kind of organisation does Eric (from Beijing) work for? 3) When Bill was a child, what was it like to live in Sechuan province? 4) What was the diet like for Chinese peasants back then? 5) What scandal did his father discover? 6) What disease is associated with a traditional farming practice in China? 7) Why couldn’t the family go on to visit his home town of Chengdu? 8) Why did Bill visit Kunming for the first time when he was 11? 9) What does Bill recall when he visits the market in Kunming? 10) Why did Bill have to drink castor oil when he was a child? 11) Why has China contributed so much to gardens around the world? 12) What did Bill’s grandson especially enjoy? 13) What shocked his daughter most? 14) Why was Bill Wilmott especially honoured during his visit? 15) What particular Chinese fruit does Bill mention? For more information about the New Zealand-China Friendship Society, click here Today’s musical suggestion: from China
April 20, 2009 10:58 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Duck and sculpture in New Plymouth Part 1: Today's word When two people, or two sides of an argument are reconciled, they found common ground between them so that they are no longer in dispute or conflict. If there has been a long dispute, the two sides may enter a reconciliation process, where they discuss their differences, as well as areas they can agree on and they find a way of living together without conflict. Reconciliation doesn’t necessarily mean complete agreement – sometimes even when the two sides can’t agree on everything, they can still dbe reconciled if they ‘agree to disagree’ and end their conflict. Click <here for interactive exercises Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? It is difficult to reconcile these two opposing interpretations of the event. It was hard to reconcile his calm and easy-going personality with the hard-headed business strategy he had developed. The negotiations were long and sometimes bitter, but in the end both sides reconciled and agree to stop the fighting. In setting interest rates, the central bank attempts to reconcile the needs of borrowers and those of lenders. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you know of any successful cases where two bitter enemies have achieved reconciliation and resolved a long-standing conflict? Part 4: The Phrasal Five stand someone up
start up
step up (the pressure etc)
be taken aback by something
take after someone
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which of these approaches to offending is related to reconciliation? Restorative justice
Part 6: Today's online listening or reading This is another episode in Charles Handy’s series on Management Gurus. In today’s presentation, he discusses the theories of the European partnership of Trompenaars and Hampden Turner. Vocabulary for the presentation: dilemma
Questions for the article: How did Trompenaars and Hampden Turner research cultural differences? What’s the difference between universalist and particularist cultures? How does management differ in these two kinds of culture? Which mistake did Handy make with the Chinese dealer? How many different dimensions does their cultural model have? What are the main strengths and weaknesses of individualistic cultures? What are the main strengths and weaknesses of communitarian cultures? How did IBM manage to reconcile the two cultures in their reward scheme for salespeople? Today’s musical suggestion: from the UK
April 19, 2009 09:58 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Being fleeced Part 1: Today's word An anecdote is a story people tell about something interesting that happened to them. So anecdotal evidence means information that a researcher has obtained informally, by listening to people’s stories. But it hasn’t been checked for reliability or validity. Click <here for interactive exercises Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The researchers used random sampling and a double-blind research design to produce convincing anecdotal evidence on the health risks associated with kite-surfing. There is a growing amount of anecdotal evidence to suggest that business confidence is beginning to rise. Little is known about the reproductive habits of the species except for anecdotal evidence gleaned from hunters. Anecdotal evidence suggests that working while ill actually has a counter-productive impact on the organization. Part 3: Practice Questions: Have you told your family any anecdotes about your travels?
Part 4: The Phrasal Five spin off
splash out (on something)
split up
spread out
stand by (someone or a statement)
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Which United Nations conference has been boycotted by New Zealand (as well as the United States, Canada, Germany and some other countries)? Part 6: Today's online listening: This is a short report from Radio New Zealand about the growth of pyramid selling schemes in China Vocabulary for the article: swindle
crack down on Questions for the article: Why does the anti-Pyramid scheme activist know so much about them? How do the operators persuade people to invest? What is the reaction of the authorities towards pyramid schemes? Who are the main targets of pyramid schemes? How many victims are there now – and could there be in future – in China? Today’s musical suggestion: from Mexico (writer), Spain (performer)
April 15, 2009 10:03 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Cafe in Lyttleton, near Christchurch, New Zealand Part 1: Today's word When you seize something, you take control of it suddenly or without hesitation. It’s important to seize opportunities, for instance. During armed conflicts, it’s common for one side to seize control of a town or strategic target. When the army seizes control of the government, this is known as a military coup. A famous Latin phrase ‘Carpe Diem’ is translated into English as ‘Seize the day’ – and this means that it’s important to seize opportunities when they come up rather than delaying until it’s too late. Click here for interactive exercises Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Military officers have tried to seize power three times during the last decade, but on each occasion their attempt has been thwarted. Over the course of the last two decades, the company has steadily seized a dominant position in the mining industry. After the interval, Arsenal seized the initiative with a more attacking line-up, which swiftly turned the game in their favour. During the police raid on the gang headquarters, more than 10 kilos of Class 1 drugs were seized and several arrests were made. Part 3: Practice Questions: Have you seized any opportunities over the last year? In which countries has the army seized control of the government, the court or the media over the last year? Part 4: The Phrasal Five shop around
show someone round / around
show up (turn up)
show somebody up
skim through
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Two motorcyclists were recently stopped by New Zealand police for exceeding 200 kph. What excuse did they give? they needed a coffee
Part 6: Today's online listening and reading This is a presentation from the BBC about Bill Gates by the well-known Management writer and thinker, Charles Handy. If you click above, you will open up the webpage. Then you can click on ‘Listen to the radio programme in full’. You will need a suitable media player installed on your computer – for example, the free basic player from www.real.com Vocabulary for the article: preach
Questions for the article: 1) According to Charles Handy, the first lesson we can learn from Bill Gates is that good managers are good .... teachers
2) Bill Gates has been successful because ... he’s a technological genius
3) What major development did Gates misunderstand in his first book? globalisation
4) Which strategy did Bill Gates follow in his deal with IBM? Aim for a high gross margin
5) DNS is a key component of .. the knowledge organisation
6) Gates’ reorganisation of Microsoft was inspired by .. traditional management theory
7) Which of these is NOT one of the five E’s of Microsoft organisational culture? Enrichment
Today’s musical suggestion: from the UK
April 14, 2009 09:06 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Satchmo’s Cafe, Lyttleton (port of Christchurch) Part 1: Today's word If you transcend borders, barriers etc, it means that you are not limited by them. So, for instance, it is said that the works of great writers like Shakespeare and Dickens transcend their own culture because they are appreciated by people in many different times and places. Click <here for interactive exercises Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The beauty of the design was that it seems to transcend its function as a piece of furniture and make a statement about harmony and sustainability. The modern corporation transcends national borders, of course, and is the foundation of a global, rather than merely American, Japanese or European culture. The focus of the research was transcended in order to encompass a wider range of emerging issues in the global marketplace. Though clearly a romantic comedy, the film transcends its genre in embodying deeper themes of life and death. Part 3: Practice Question: Do you think it’s possible for works of art to transcend their culture? Part 4: The Phrasal Five see to something
set about doing something
set something aside
set back
set out
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Massey University, Albany and Victoria University, Wellington are home(s) to the New Zealand .......? Symphony Orchestra
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interview Lucinda Barlow, the spokesperson for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra Vocabulary for the article: audition
Questions for the article: What is unique about the way this new orchestra has recruited its members?
Today’s musical suggestion:
April 08, 2009 09:19 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Auckland Harbour Part 1: Today's word When you’re pragmatic, you try to address problems in a practical, realistic and flexible way, instead of sticking too closely to rules. This way of dealing with problems is known as pragmatism and a person who follows it is a pragmatist, rather than an idealist. A pragmatist is always ready to compromise. A famous pragmatic view of politics, for example, called it ‘the art of the possible’. The management followed a pragmatic approach in their dealings with their business partners, Click here for interactive exercises and Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? The legislation certainly looks good in theory, but we will have to wait and see what its pragmatic effect might be. One disadvantage of the highly pragmatic ethos within the organizational culture was that underlying principles were never really debated and policy development was uneven. We are not especially interested in the academic qualifications of the candidate, but feel their problem-solving experience will make them more capable of rigorous and pragmatic decision-making. She added that hers was an essentially pragmatic view of the issue and we might be wise to seek further research on the issue. Part 3: Practice Questions: Do you tend to follow fixed principles or take a pragmatic view towards life, relationships and work? Would you regard New Zealand culture as essentially a pragmatic one? Part 4: The Phrasal Five
rule out
run into
see off
see through
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question Michael Cullen, the Minister in charge of the New Zealand economy in the last Parliament is to leave and join which organisation? The United Nations
Part 6: Today's online listening and reading The above link will open up the BBC page. To listen to the presentation, click on ‘Listen to the radio programme in full’. You will need to have a suitable media player installed on your computer. If you don’t have, you can download the basic player from real.com You can also read the transcript of this presentation here This is a presentation by the management guru Charles Handy about the work and ideas of Michael Porter – famous for his theories of competitive advantage and his ‘Five Forces’ model Vocabulary for the article: fad
Questions for the article: 1) Michael Porter’s academic success is underlined by .... the worldwide influence of his publications
2) Porter’s career has been characterised by ... increasingly complex theories
3) Which of these is NOT one of the three generic strategies described by Porter? cost reduction
4) Porter’s model of strategies, industries and forces .. was considered to be over-complex for practical use
5) Charles Handy argues that Porter ... prioritises one generic strategy
6) Porter argues that clusters ... depend on fierce domestic competition
7) Which aspect of Porter’s theories has been both criticised and seen as a major reason for their appeal? complexity
Today’s musical suggestion: from the UK
April 07, 2009 09:51 PM PDT
Today’s picture: Jeremy Bentham Part 1: Today's word 'Utilise' is a more formal and technical way of saying use. It’s especially common when talking about technology or resources. You can also write it 'utilize'. Our training program utilises the latest software.
Click <here for interactive exercises Part 2: Test Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out? Within a capitalist economy, money markets and price mechanisms determine the allocation and utilization of resources. The organization needs to work towards full over-utilisation of the equipment in order to maximize efficiency and output. Utilisation of the system was found to vary widely between different departments, which may relate to the different subcultures within the organization. The overall increase in customer satisfaction may be attributed to a better utilization of staff resources to meet the varying demands of our clientele. Part 3: Practice Question: Are the resources within your university or workplace fully utilised? Part 4: The Phrasal Five put someone down
put in for something
put (it) on
put someone out
put someone up
Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question What is ‘The Edge’ in Aotea Square, Auckland? a theatre
Part 6: Today's online listening: This is an interview with Anne Kirwan from AUT University, Auckland about the English philosopher Jeremy Bentham – the founder of Utilitarianism Vocabulary for the article: prodigy
Questions for the article: 1) What is Jeremy Bentham’s ‘auto-icon’? 2) Why did the University of London agree to keep this ‘auto-icon’? 3) What are the two ‘masters’ of people, according to Bentham? 4) What is the basic definition of morality in Utilitarianism? 5) Why did Bentham prefer to use the term ‘well-being’ instead of happiness? 6) What two kinds of ‘well-being’ are there? 7) What criteria did Bentham suggest for the measurement of consequences? 8) Did Bentham’s view consider the issue of sustainability? Today’s musical suggestion: from the USA
April 06, 2009 08:27 PM PDT
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