Today’s photo: Another scene from the pre-match entertainment at the All Blacks vs England rugby match at Eden Park, Auckland, June 14th 2008

Part 1: Today's word

‘Encompass’ is a formal word and it’s used to say that something will cover a wide range of different topics or items. It’s quite often used in the introduction to a research report or presentation. If something is 'all-encompassing', it means 'comprehensive' - in other words, it covers all possible aspects.

For more examples and exercises go to: www.academicenglishgenerator.com Unit 1

Part 2: Test

Here are four sentences with our word of the day - but only three of them are correct. Which is the odd one out?

The meeting is expected to encompass people from a wide range of backgrounds and interests.

The conference will encompass a number of themes ranging from management to finance.

Her research encompasses both international and domestic marketing.

Gardner’s (1985) model of motivation was clear but did not encompass all the relevant aspects of this complex topic.

Part 3: Practice Questions:

Will your degree course encompass a wide range of different subjects?

Which aspects would you expect a short introductory course to your country to encompass?

Part 4: Kiwi Quiz Question

Which of these is NOT a New Zealand university?

Canterbury
Manawatu
Victoria
Lincoln

Part 5: Today's online interview

International – science
Smart Animals (from Radio New Zealand)
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights

Vocabulary for the article:

breed / larva / central nervous system/ dumb / wimp / inherent / novel / peers / side-effects


Questions for the article:


1) When does Tad Kowecki believe natural selection favours the development of greater intelligence?

2) Why did the researcher choose fruit flies?

3) Because intelligence itself is too complex to study, which aspect does he focus on?

4) What two experimental procedures are mentioned?

5) Which side-effects were noticed in the smart flies?

6) What two explanations were given for the lower performance of the smarter flies?

7) What is similar and different about the relationship of costs and benefits of intelligence in fruit flies and humans?

8) How much of an infant’s energy is used to run his or her brain?

9) Which factors does Tad believe drove the development of humans’ large brains?

Today's musical intro: from Mali, W. Africa

Doni Fo by Nahawa Doumbia. From the CD 'Mangoni', 1993, Sterns Africa