English: The European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Scottish researchers say how people use emails can be matched with bird behavior. They have put email users into 12 categories. The night owl is a midnight emailer who forgets that people want to have time off. The peacock tends to put everybody in copy, even if they don’t need to know. The woodpecker is constantly checking for new mail. The team concluded that the perfect emailer is the robin, who tries, if possible, to speak to people in person.
Listen below
Read by Annette
Study the words
matched with– compared to
time off– free time
tends to– has the habit of doing
in copy– to people who are not the recipients
concluded– said (in the end)
in person– face to face
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Do the takeaway test: which email bird are you
Related Articles:
- Are you a pesky crow or a popular robin? Researchers match email patterns with types of bird (telegraph.co.uk)
English: A commuter cyclist in the London morning rush hour, kitted out in specialist cycling gear (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is making plans for an elevated cycle route over London and a group of architects has produced sketches of what the SkyCycle route will look like. Cyclists will pay a small fee (about £1) to use it. Entrances and exits will only be at certain locations, like train stations, so it will be like a cycling highway in the sky.
The number of cyclists in London has more than doubled in recent years. However, the roads are busy and dangerous and there are a number of deaths and hundreds of serious injuries every year. The SkyCycle route will reduce commute time and increase safety levels for cyclists.
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Read by Martine Holt, Easi (East Midlands English Accent)
Study the words
Mayor– the head of local government
Elevated– raised, high up
Sketches– drawings, pictures
Fee– charge, price
Locations– places
Highway– motorway
Doubled– multiplied by two
Deaths– people killed
Injuries– damage to the body
Commute time– time necessary to get to work
Do the takeaway test: Cycling Highway in the Sky
Listen on audioboo (and subscribe to itunes podcast) here
Related articles
- A Network Of Elevated Bike Lanes For London (fastcoexist.com)
- Boris ponders cycle lane in the sky between stations (thetimes.co.uk)
Oktoberfest dirndl (Photo credit: 24oranges.nl)
Organisers of the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich are concerned that they may not be able to supply enough beer. The problem is a shortage of bottles. German brewers wash and reuse bottles up to 50 times and rely on users to return their empties. A warm summer this year has resulted in a sharp increase in beer consumption and not enough bottles have been returned. Brewers are urging drinkers to bring them back as soon as possible. In the meantime they have stopped producing certain types of beer.
Listen below
Read by Annette
Study the words
Concerned – worried
Supply enough– provide a sufficient quantity
Shortage– when there is not enough of something
Brewers– beer makers
Rely on– depend on
Empties– empty bottles
Sharp increase– big rise
Urging– strongly encouraging
Listen on audioboo (and subscribe to i-tunes podcast) here
Do the takeaway test: German Beer Bottle Crisis
Related Articles:
- Germany’s real crisis: Oktoberfest beer shortage looms (bottomline.nbcnews.com)
Would you live in your car for a month?
A 22-year-old Canadian man, Tanner Zurkoski, is living in his car for a month. The experiment was organised by Evergreen, a charity that tries to make cities more liveable. It aims to show people from Toronto how much time they waste commuting every year: that’s 82 minutes every day, on average, or a whole month per year. Commuting causes stress and can have a negative impact on the health of workers.
The solution to this problem could be an improved public transport system and the promotion of cycling and walking. In fact, less that 30% of inhabitants walk, cycle or use public transport to go to work.
During the day, Mr Zurkoski makes videos of his experience and posts them online. At night he pulls down the back seat and sleeps in parking lots. Fortunately, he is allowed to leave the car to use the bathroom.
Listen below
Read by Crissy, Learning English Matters (Canadian accent)
Study the words
Charity– aid organisation
Liveable– pleasant to live in
Aims-intends
Waste– use in a way which is not useful
Commuting– travelling to work
Impact– effect
Health– well-being
Improved– made better
Parking lots– car parks
Listen on audioboo (and subscribe to i-tunes podcast) here
Do the takeaway test: man living in car for a month
Related articles
- 1 guy in 1 car for 1 month – 24/7 (metronews.ca)
I-phones can do all sorts of things like telling you what the weather is like in Kuala Lumpur, making movies, and monitoring your heart rate. Now you can even use your i-phone to open a bottle of beer. You will, however, need to purchase a special case with a built-in bottle-opener. ‘Opena’ was launched by an Australian company with the help of Kickstart, a funding program for creative projects. Tens of thousands of them have since been shipped all over the world and fans include actor Ashton Kutcher and TV chef Jamie Oliver. After purchasing, make sure you learn some cool moves from the website video to impress friends at your next barbecue.
Listen
Read by Tina Williamson (Australian Accent)
Study the words
heart rate- the speed at which your heart beats
even- adverb which indicates something unexpected
purchase- buy
built-in- incorporated
launched- put onto the market
funding- financing
shipped- delivered
make sure- be certain to
cool moves- movements that make you look good
Do the takeaway test: can your i-phone do this
Listen on audioboo (and subscribe to itunes podcast) here
Tiny Texts 