International Students NZ

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
synchronised

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
plays an important role in sleep management
dictates changes in muscle tone during sleep

2) Rapid Eye Movement [REM] sleep is associated with ...

higher levels of physical activity
dreaming
near-paralysis of the cerebral cortex

3) High-quality sleep mainly depends on ...

extended periods of REM
frequent alternations between REM and non-REM sleep
a balance of different types of sleep

4) Disturbed sleep frequently comprises ...

too much stage 1 and stage 2 type non-REM sleep
extensive and tiring periods of deep sleep
inability to dream

5) Neurone activity when someone has their eyes closed is ...

at a lower level
more disorganised
more under control

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
asleep
awake and with their eyes open

7) What sort of process is falling asleep?

relatively sudden, like an on-off switch
gradual and cyclical
slow but one-way

8) Synchronised waves with large amplitude are associated with ..

Stage 3 and 4 non-REM sleep
Deep REM sleep
Disturbances in Stage 2 non-REM sleep

9) REM sleep occurs predominantly in ..

the mid-period of sleep
the second half of sleep
the early stages of sleep

10) The relationship between body and brain in REM sleep is described as ..

paradoxical
embedded
differentiated

11) Sleepwalking is associated with ..

REM sleep
growth
youth

Today’s news story:
School stars enjoy good health

Today’s Video suggestion:
Nightswimming by REM
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