Today’s picture: Another scene from the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, May 2008

Part 1: Today's word

The basic meaning of ‘analyse’ is to break something down into different parts so that you can study it better. We often talk about analysing a problem, an issue, a situation etc. It can also be written ‘analyze’ – especially in American English. We normally use the word to talk about what we are researching. The noun is ‘an analysis’ The sample was sent to the laboratory for analysis’. This has an irregular plural ‘analyses’.


Our company analyses shopping habits of consumers in order to provide retailers with marketing information.

At this stage, the company is still analysing the causes of the problem and won’t be making any public statement until this analysis is complete.

Three separate analyses were carried out in order to ensure the accuracy of the results.

For more examples and practice, go to unit 2 of www.academicenglishgenerator.com

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 analysed history, geography and sociology at school, but unfortunately, economics wasn’t an option for us.

The data was analysed using SPSS in order to establish correlations.

We need to sit down together and analyse the situation carefully before jumping to any conclusions.

The research team is analysing samples obtained from Antarctica in order to investigate global warming.


Part 3: Practice Questions:

How carefully do you analyse your assignment questions?

How would you analyse your performance in your tests?

How comfortable are you with statistical analysis of data?

To see my presentation on analysing assignment questions, go to: www.youtube.com/masseyslc

Part 4: Kiwi Quiz Question

Which of these sentences about the New Zealand population is NOT true?

There are about half a million Maori in New Zealand
There are more men than women in New Zealand
About two thirds of the NZ population are ethnically European
More than a fifth of New Zealanders were born overseas

Part 5: Today's online reading:

Sleeping soundly boosts memory (from BBC)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7504798.stm

Vocabulary for the article:

sound(ly), consolidate, optimum, enhance,

Questions for the article:

How many participants took part in the study?
What was the independent variable in this study?
What were the two dependent variables?
How did the researchers measure the difference in performance between the two groups?
Which important question needs further research?
What proportion of British adults get enough sleep?

Today's musical intro and outro: from USA
'Take Five' by Dave Brubeck Quartet. From the CD 'Time Out'. 1959: Columbia Records

See a live performance of this track from 1961 at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwNrmYRiX_o

And, if you like jazz music, come along to our free jazz performances in the Staff Lounge of the Study Centre, Massey University, every Tuesday at 5pm!