Today’s picture: Native trees next to the Study Centre, Massey University, Auckland

Part 1: Today's word

A principle is a basic idea in a topic, which explains or controls all the other ideas. If you agree something in principle, it means you agree about the basic point, although you still want to negotiate the details. In politics, principles often mean moral beliefs about what’s right and wrong.

The complicated import regulations go against the principle of free trade.

For more examples, go to Unit 6 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?

The Head of Department accepted the proposal in principle, but asked for more details about its implementation.

It is not appropriate for members of the board to make individual statements on this matter, since all of us accept the principle of collective responsibility.

According to the principle, formulated by Pythagoras more than 2000 years ago, that the square on the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the square on the other two sides.

Such expenditure, therefore, would infringe the cost-benefit principle that we should take no action unless its marginal benefit is at least as great as its marginal cost.

Part 3: Practice Questions:

What techniques do you use to remember the basic principles of the subjects you’re studying?

What basic principles separate the main political parties in this country?

Would you be happy, in principle, to stay in this city in the long term?

Part 4: Kiwi Quiz Question

Which New Zealand city is twinned with Shanghai?

Auckland
Wellington
Christchurch
Dunedin

Part 5: Today’s online reading: It’s a wrap

This is an article about an English family’s experience trying to live without plastic for a month

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7591751.stm

Vocabulary for the article:

to demonise / versatile / not geared up / nappies / foresaw / did not materialise / to forego / fare / to relent / to concoct / disposable / to dwindle /

Questions for the article:

1) Does she believe plastic is a harmful material?

2) How many plastic items does her family usually consume in one month?

3) Did the family succeed in living without any plastic products for a month?

4) How has she changed her attitude to disposable packaging?

5) Which non-plastic alternatives were not successful?

_________________________________________________________

Today’s Musical Intro & Outro: from Colombia
“Los sabanales” by Calixto Ochoa. From the CD “Tropical Sounds of Colombia”. 1990”: Fuentes
_________________________________________________________