Let a smile be your umbrella

From July till September some streets in Águeda (a Portuguese town) are decorated with colorful umbrellas. More than 3000 have been hung with wires.

Today it is rainy here and I'd like steets in our town to be decorated in that way!)

There are some phrases in English with word 'umrella'. For example: under the umbrella. 

I liked 'Let a smile be your umbrella'. The origin of this phrase is a song 'Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella ' (1928).

Unemployment is a Global Problem

2,500 young Italians compete for one job

Around a third of young Italians are out of work.

For some, going the distance in their job search means taking a special bus up and down the country to reach interviews.

They're all competing for the same job – and only one of them will succeed.

Video journalist: Sofia Bettiza

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-43007377/2500-young-italians-compete-for-one-job

Brazilian economy

Brazil is one of what we call the 'BRIC' countries, along with Russia, India and China. Many people believe these economies will play a big role in beating the global financial crisis.

These countries are attracting a lot of foreign investors. But is Brazil a good place to invest your money? Rob and Grace talk about making money and teach some business-related vocabulary.

This week's question:

What's the name of the Brazilian currency? Is it:

a) the Brazilian peso
b) the real
c) the guarani

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

• 
  
• Audio (4.9 MB)
• Text

notes

pieces of paper money

at a crossroads

(here) at a point in time when it could do well, but a lot needs to change first

anti-inflation

against inflation; inflation is the continuous increase in prices of goods and services

to build on

to use success to do things and become even more successful

interest rates

percentage a bank or company pays you when you give them your money, or the amount it charges you when you borrow from them

profit

money you earn after you pay costs

risky

dangerous; having the possibility of something bad happening

For postgraduates

Here

Career

1.  Most people spend a third of their lives at work and more time with their colleagues than with their families or friends. Therefore, it is important that people enjoy their work as much as possible: and enjoying work means choosing the right career in the first place.
2. Choosing a profession is a whole process that begins with a dream and continues through education. In the life of every young person, there are always older people with a share of responsibility. Parents, friends and teachers can all have a big influence on a person's future choice of profession.
3. When planning your future career, it is important to look at how realistic your choice is, to gather as much information as possible to have a full picture of what the job you want to do. Maybe you tend to think that everything depends on luck and circumstance, but in reality, most situations are predictable and can go the way you want them.

Укажите, какой части текста (1, 2, 3) соответствует следующая информация: Older people have influence on young man’s choice of profession.

Определите, является ли утверждение “The realistic view on future profession is very important”верным (‘true’, ‘false’, ‘not in text’).

Озаглавьте текст:

Choosing a Profession

World Professions

My future occupation

Purple tomatoes

Would you eat a purple tomato? What if it had health benefits? Scientists have developed one that could be on our shop shelves soon.

This is the latest example of genetically modified food - food that has been changed from its natural form. There are many reasons for growing GM food, and Rob and Finn discuss some of them in the programme.

They also explain some vocabulary related to growing these 'artificial' crops.

This week's question:

When was the first genetically modified food first sold commercially? Was it in:

a) 1974

b) 1984

c) 1994

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

• Audio (4.9 MB)
• Text

artificial

made by people, copying something made in nature

genetically modified

having its genetic structure changed for a particular purpose (sometime shortened to GM)

genes

parts of the DNA in a cell that control the physical development or characteristics of an individual plant or animal

resist

fight against

pests

insects or small animals that damage crops

cultivated

developed to be grown on farms

pigment

natural substance that gives colour

antioxidant

a natural chemical that slows down the decaying process

significant

important or noticeable

affordable

not expensive

distrust

not trusting or believing someone or something

ripening

becoming fully grown or ready for eating

Coffee addiction

Do you have a strong need to keep drinking coffee? Scientists are warning about the effects of being addicted to caffeine - the stimulant found in coffee.

In 6 Minute English, Rob and Finn talk about the dangers of drinking too much coffee, and look at some language associated with addictions.

This week's question:

Which country drinks the most coffee per person? Is it:

a) Egypt
b) Finland
c) Italy

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

• Audio (4.9 MB)
• Text
• 
  

addict

someone who likes doing a particular activity very much and they can't stop doing it

consuming

eating or drinking something

in moderation

(here) not drinking too much

aroma

pleasant smell

caffeine

natural substance found in tea and coffee that makes you feel awake

stimulant

substance that makes you feel more awake when you eat or drink it

psychoactive drug

a drug that affects how a person feels and sometimes how they behave

insomnia

medical condition where you are unable to sleep

indigestion

a pain in your stomach when it can't process the food you have just eaten

high blood pressure

blood flowing around your body at a higher pressure than is normal

lethargic

having little energy

withdrawal symptoms

physical and mental effects of stopping doing a regular activity

BELIEVE VS. BELIEVE IN

The word 'believe' means 'accept as true; take to be true' 

Examples: We didn't believe his stories from the War. I believe you. I believe they will arrive shortly.


"To belive in" has the meaning 'to have firm faith (especially religious faith), confidence, or trust'

Examples:  I believe in your ability to solve the problem. I don't believe in ghosts. My children still believe in Father Christmas.

If you believe in an idea or policy, you think it is good or right: We believe in freedom of speech.

IDIOMS:
believe (one's) ears is to trust what one has heard.

believe (one's) eyes is to trust what one has seen.

Can you answer the question now? DO YOU BELIEVE IN ALIENS?

(The image is from www.myhappyenglish.com)

Dealing with boredom

Do you feel sad when life isn't challenging enough?

Bored? You're not alone. Everyone from factory workers to pilots experience a feeling of boredom: feeling unhappy and uninterested in what they are doing. Some people get bored because they have nothing to do. But is it always a negative emotion or can it push you to do something different?

Rob and Finn discuss how to deal with boredom and teach some related vocabulary. We promise you won't be bored!

This week's question:

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest continuous dramatic performance was held in New Jersey, in the US, in 2010. But do you know how long the cast for The Bald Soprano was on stage for? Was it for about:

a) 8 hours

b) 17 hours

c) 23 hours

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

• Audio (4.9 MB)
• Text

to yawn

to open your mouth wide and take air in and out slowly; usually a sign of boredom or tiredness

stimulating

making someone excited and interested in something

restless

unable to sit still because you are bored or worried

to cope with

to deal with a situation successfully

stuck in a rut

become too fixed in one kind of job or situation in life

to stave off

to stop or keep away an unpleasant feeling

to spur on

to encourage someone to do something

Learn a thousand foreign words

Could you learn to speak 1,000 words from another language?

British people are lazy linguists – they don't tend to learn foreign languages. A campaign is now encouraging everyone in the UK to learn at least 1,000 words of another language.

Daily Activities

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Moscow's TsUM Creating China-Friendly Store to Grow Profits

• The Moscow Times
• Feb. 04 2016 19:14
• Last edited 19:14

NVO / Wikicommons

Mercury, the luxury brand distributor that manages Moscow's TsUM department store, is developing a tourist shopping tour to increase the number of Chinese customers, the RBC news website reported Thursday.