http://www.en-learning-blog.com/Improving your English with English Listening Material and Dication TestsRainbowSoft Studio Z-Blog 1.8 Spirit Build 80605en-GBCopyright English Learning Blog Rights Reserved.Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:08:35 +0800hegansen@gmail.com (admin)http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Dating.htmlWed, 06 Jan 2010 08:24:28 +0800http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Dating.htmlDownload-Audio
What’s the proper age for boys and girls to start dating? And will there be objections from their parents?
Silvia, Xi'An
Do you still remember your first love?

It's almost impossible to resist love when you're a teenager.
What was it like for you?

During a lifetime, we could fall in love many times, but the first rush of love always has a special place in our hearts.

While we explore the idea of love and enjoy the feeling of happiness, our parents could be experiencing something else entirely.

They may feel protective and anxious about their loved ones.

Helen: Hello. This is Ask About Britain from BBC Learning English. I’m Helen.
Feifei: 我是冯菲菲， 大家好。 欢迎收听英国问答 Ask About Britain, 我们在这个节目中
专门回答有关英国文化习俗的各种问题。
Helen: Our question today is from Feifei’s home town.
Feifei: 是吗？有人从我家乡西安向我们提问？What’s the question?
Helen: It’s from Silvia and she would like to know what’s the proper age for
boys and girls to start dating? And will there be objections from parents?
Feifei: 这个问题很有趣， Silvia 想知道在英国男孩们和女孩们什么时候开始谈朋友？家长
们会不会反对？
Helen: Let’s hear from Sally first, here she tells us about her first boyfriend.
Insert
In my case, my first boyfriend was when I was 16 and he was 21. And we dated for
about two months, and then he moved to a different city. So we broke up.
Feifei: Sally 16 岁的时候，交了她的第一个正式男友。
Helen: She was 16 and he was 21.
Feifei: 他们俩年龄上差了5岁，这不是很好吗？
Helen: But sadly it didn’t work out. They dated for two months and he moved to
a different city.
Feifei: 他们正式交往了两个月就吹了 they broke up，原因是男孩搬到另一个城市去了。
What a shame!
Helen: It is. But we all know it’s very rare for first love to last a long time.
Feifei: Anthony 的工作是负责举办展览会, 他回忆起他的first love.
Insert
I must have been about twelve, thirteen? But it wasn’t serious dating, it was
holding hands and that’s it. Nothing serious till I got a bit older, probably about 17.

Helen: Oh, isn’t that sweet. Anthony’s met his first love when he was about
twelve or thirteen.
Feifei: 十二三岁的年龄，那不还是小朋友吗。不算正式的谈朋友，最多也就是牵牵手。
Helen: When he got older, then things became more serious for him.
Feifei: Anthony 说他17 岁以后才开始正式的交女朋友了。
Helen: Nicola started dating a little bit earlier.
Insert
I guess I had my first boyfriend about 15 or so. But it was very innocent, it was a
lot of hand holding, it was all quite cute.
Feifei: Nicola 说她大概是15 岁的时候碰到了她第一个男朋友。
Helen: She says that it was very innocent.
Feifei: 很天真无邪的 very innocent. 很多时间两人都是手牵手。
Helen: It was all quite cute.
Feifei: 很可爱的cute. 看来英国人大多数都是在青少年期间开始谈恋爱的，你说是不
是？
Helen: Yes, most young people would start going out with their first
boyfriend or girlfriend between 13 and 16. That’s what teenage years
are all about. Falling in love and have your heart broken.
Feifei: 那么让我们来看看 Silvia 的第二个问题， 家长们对孩子们谈恋爱有什么看法？
他们会反对吗？
Insert
I don't think parents can prevent children from falling in love, I don’t think that’s
something that you can really stop. I think some parents might try to protect their
children. But I think a lot of kids are going to do whatever they want to without
their parents’ approval. But they probably prefer to have their parents’ approval.
Helen: I agree with Sally, parents can’t prevent children from falling in love.
Feifei: 尤其是在西方社会，家长是不可能阻止孩子们谈恋爱的。不过有些家长可能会想
方设法保护自己的孩子在感情上不受伤害。
Helen: I think that’s not going to be very easy. We all know how rebellious
teenagers can be and love is something we all have to learn for
ourselves.
Feifei: Sally 说孩子们想谈恋爱的时候是不会考虑到家长同意还是不同意的。
Approval 就是同意，认可。

Helen: What about Anthony’s parents, were they worried about him having
girlfriends?
Insert:
No not at all. They were obviously used to the experience. You know you’re going
to fall in love, and they know it’s going to end in tears at some point and you’re
going to fall in love again, It’s all an experience.
Feifei: Anthony 的父母很放松。用他的话来说这都是人生经历，it’s all about
experience.
Helen: His parents know that he’s going to fall in love and then it’s going to
end in tears at some point and he’ll fall in love again.
Feifei: 他的父母知道他会坠入爱河fall in love, 但不久就会以眼泪收场, end in tears.
这个过程然后又会再重复。所以他们根本就不担心。
Helen: They’re very used to the experience.
Feifei: Nicola 有两个孩子，她认为作为家长，她所能做的是帮助她的孩子们做出正确
的选择。
Insert:
You’ve got try and give them the tools to cope with it well. So they’re not
infatuated or they’ll deal with it the right way. That’s probably my job as a mother.
So for example, what I consider a completely inappropriate person might not be, I
have got to allow them to judge for themselves. But I’ve got to be there to support
them, I don’t want to alienate them by preventing them doing it.
Helen: Nicola believes that it’s about giving children the tools to cope with
falling in love.
Feifei: 我想她的意思是怎样让孩子们来正确的看待爱情这回事儿。
Helen: So that they’re not infatuated with someone.
Feifei: Infatuated 迷恋某人。
Helen: If Nicola feels someone is inappropriate, she’ll let her children judge
for themselves, rather than stopping them in the first place.
Feifei: 如果Nicola 觉得她的孩子交了不合适的朋友， inappropriate 就是不般配，不
合适，那么她会让孩子们自己去做出决定to judge for themselves.
Helen: But she’ll be there to support them, she doesn’t want to alienate
them by preventing them doing it.
Feifei: 有需要时，她会提供支持和援助，但是她觉得如果强行阻止孩子们的行动，会让
他们离家长更远. Alienate 就是关系疏远。

Helen: Nicola has offered a very good parenting tip to me. I’m sure I’ll be
thinking about the same when my son Lenny reaches puberty.
Feifei: 好了，希望今天我们回答了Silvia 同学的问题，英国人什么年龄开始谈恋爱和
家长们的看法。 大家有机会可以登陆我们的网站 www.bbcukchina.com ，下
载更多的精彩节目。
Helen: Thanks for listening and see you next time.
Feifei: 我们下次节目再见。
Glossary
rare 少见的，少有的 innocent 天真无邪的
rebellious 叛逆的 prevent 防止
approval 同意，认可 end in tears 以眼泪收场
infatuated 迷恋 inappropriate 不适合
alienate 关系疏远 puberty 青少年发育期]]>BBC Englishhttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Dating.html#commenthttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/http://www.en-learning-blog.com/feed.asp?cmt=3785http://www.en-learning-blog.com/cmd.asp?act=tb&id=3785&key=ae669f91hegansen@gmail.com (admin)http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/British-Values.htmlWed, 06 Jan 2010 08:20:26 +0800http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/British-Values.htmlDownload-Audio
What's the attitude of British people towards life values?
Viola, China

What do British people value?
What does it mean to be British and what are the things people in Britain value?

There are lots of stereotypes linked to British people.

The most common image people have is a man wearing a bowler hat and reading the Times newspaper.

The Americans also think Brits have very bad teeth.

And many countries think the British are very reserved and polite.

In this programme Feifei and Helen find out more about British people’s life values.

They ask several British nationals what values they think modern British people have and what kind of things they hold dear to their hearts.

Helen: Hello. This is Ask About Britain from BBC Learning English. I’m Helen.
Feifei: 大家好，我是冯菲菲。欢迎收听英国问答 Ask About Britain, 我们在这个节目中专
门回答有关英国文化习俗的各种问题。
Helen: Viola sent us a thoughtful question about British people’s values in life.
Feifei: Life value 人生观。Viola 同学问英国人对人生有什么看法？ What’s the
attitude of British people towards life value?
Helen: I think this is not an easy question to answer. We all have different
ideas about what’s important to us in life.
Feifei: 是啊，大家的观点肯定有所不同，一个人的看法不可能代表所有的人的看法。
Helen: So, we’ll ask a few people what they think about British people’s attitude
towards life. First let’s hear from Amy.
Insert
So I would say that British people are governed a lot more than other cultures, in
terms of what is right and quite traditional values. We’re quite proud as a culture,
and I think we get embarrassed very easily by things, we’re not very brash.
Feifei: Amy 觉得英国和其他一些国家相比，英国人受到的约束更多一些。Govern 就是管
理，管制。
Helen: People have set ideas of what’s right and what are traditional values.
Feifei: 英国人对什么是正确的，什么是可以接受的行为比较重视。同时英国人也尊重传统的
观点 traditional values.
Helen: Amy also mentioned that British people are quite proud, they pride
themselves on being British.
Feifei: Proud 自豪，骄傲；pride 自尊心，自豪。英国人很自豪，以自己是英国人为荣。
Helen: But even small things can easily embarrass British people, they’re not
very brash.

Feifei: Embarrassed 觉得不好意思，尴尬的。有时候很小的事情就足以让英国人觉得难为
情，不好意思。英国人不是很轻率类型的人，brash 就是做事轻率，鲁莽，没礼
貌。
Helen: That’s Amy’s view on what British people are like. Let’s hear from Ben.
Insert
I think people are still concerned for their family and their friends and just trying to
make their lives as good as they can. People work very hard in the UK. I think we
have some of the longest working hours in Europe. And people are working to try
and improve their lives, and to try and improve the lives of the people they love.
Feifei: Ben 是一名演员，他说当代英国人对家庭和朋友还是很重视的， they’re
concerned for their family and friends.
Helen: People are doing their best to try to make their life as good as they can.
Feifei: 和欧洲其他国家相比，英国人的工作时间还是很长的。大家都想让自己的家人们过
上好日子。
Helen: Ben’s friend Simon has his own take on British life values.
Insert
I think so, I think we bear it, but we also whinge an awful lot about it, but I think,
in a way that is characteristic of us. I think there’s a tendency for other countries
and cultures to perceive us as quite glum and maybe a little bit miserable really.
But our dryness and resilience and stoicness I think is probably what sets us apart
from other nations. And that’s something that I personally am proud of.
Feifei: Simon 形容英国人对生活总是会有些抱怨， whinge 就是不停的抱怨，这是英国人
的特征之一。
Helen: To moan about life and to whinge about life is one of the characteristics
of Brits according to Simon.
Feifei: 所以很多其他国家的人会觉得英国人看上去老是闷闷不乐的 glum, 或者是有些意志
萧条，忧郁的miserable.
Helen: But in fact Brits are not always like that, they’re different to other
nations’ perception. British people have a dry sense of humour, they’re
resilient and stoic.
Feifei: Simon 对英国人的形容还挺复杂的。他说英国人特有的干幽默 dry sense of
humour 是其他人不能完全领悟的；另外英国人不怕挫折，适应力强 resilience,
而且性格还很坚忍 stoic.
Helen: Simon is very proud of these characteristics of Brits.
Feifei: 我们还能听到其他英国人对生活的看法吗？
Helen: Anthony thinks the number one important thing in life is health.

Insert
Health, as long as you are healthy, you go out there, you meet people, you enjoy
them and take every moment as it comes.
Feifei: Anthony 认为健康是最重要的，有了好身体，就有机会多出去结交朋友，把握机会
to take every moment as it comes.
Helen: For Nicola, family comes first.
Insert
For example, for me, it would be my family, my work, my country, it would be
making sure everyone’s ok. But my family would probably come first, but that
might not be the same for everybody so I can’t really comment for the whole of the
UK. It would be very different.
Feifei: 在Nicola 的生活中家庭，工作和国家都很重要。和大多数人一样，她也把家庭放在
第一位 family comes first.
Helen: I think wherever we come from, or whatever nationalities we are, there
are certain life values we share. But we have differences too.
Feifei: 英国人的价值观是什么，希望透过今天中几位英国人的个人观点，使大家对英国人
的价值观有了一些了解。
Helen: That’s all from us. Please visit our website: www.bbcukchina.com for
more Ask About Britain programmes.
Feifei: 我们下次节目再会。
Helen: Bye bye.
Glossary
brash 轻率，鲁莽 to bear 承受
whinge 抱怨，唠叨 glum 闷闷不乐的
moan 埋怨，嘀咕 resilience 有弹性，恢复力
stoic 坚忍 humour 幽默
proud 自豪 pride 自尊心
]]>BBC Englishhttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/British-Values.html#commenthttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/http://www.en-learning-blog.com/feed.asp?cmt=3784http://www.en-learning-blog.com/cmd.asp?act=tb&id=3784&key=51f1d06bhegansen@gmail.com (admin)http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Rather.htmlWed, 06 Jan 2010 08:13:50 +0800http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Rather.htmlDownload-Audio
How to use the word "rather"? I am often confused by its various usages.

Chen Lianlian


What is the meaning of the word rather? Well, it has various meanings

depending on the context in which you use this word.

这个词有多种意思，所以很难用一个汉语词来概括。 不过本节目将通过大量的例句来说明这

个词的多种意思和用法。

Rather is one of the most frequently used words in English but how do

people actually speak it?

In this programme you will get the opportunity to listen to lots of examples of

how British people speak the word rather in daily conversations.

You can also try out some sentence translation exercise while listening to this

programme and see if you can get it right.

Good luck and enjoy!

If you have a question about English, email our team at questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk. We may answer it on this programme.

Yang Li: 大家好，我是杨莉，欢迎收听《你问我答》。今天我将通过大量的例句来回答Chen
Lian Lian 提出的一个问题，即如何使用rather 这个词。
Insert
How to use the word "rather"? I am often confused by its various usages.
--Chen Lian Lian
Yang Li: The word rather is spelt r-a-t-h-e-r rather 这个词有多种意思，所以很难用一个
汉语词来概括。 I can’t tell you the exact translation of the word because it
all depends on the context in which you use this word. 不过我想通过大量的
例句来说明这个词的多种意思。
Yang Li: 第一点，和动词连用, 意思是宁愿。
Insert
I would rather not go. I would rather be with you for Christmas.
Yang Li: 以上两句话中的rather 都是宁愿怎么样的意思，我宁可不去；我宁愿和你一起过圣
诞。
Insert
I would rather not go. I would rather be with you for Christmas.
Yang Li: 第二个用法可能是最常见的，就是把 rather 和形容词连用，表示程度 to a certain
or significant degree.
Insert
A: I’m starting my Italian lessons next week. I need a good dictionary. What do you think
of this one?
B: That’s a rather difficult one for a beginner. Let’s see… try this one. It’s easier.

Yang Li: 对于初学者来说这本字典有点儿太难了。Rather difficult, quite difficult. 下面是第
二个例句。
Insert
A: Did you have a good journey?
B: The train was rather too crowded for a comfortable journey I’m afraid. But I suppose
that’s quite normal during rush hour, isn’t it?
Yang Li: 你旅途顺利吗？后者回答说火车有点太拥挤了，不太舒服 rather too crowded for a
comfortable journey. Now I am going to test you. 想想下面这句话怎么说。我
试了试你给我的新鞋，不过有点太紧。
Insert
I tried the new pair of shoes you gave me but they are rather tight.
I tried the new pair of shoes you gave me but they are rather tight.
Yang Li: Number two 他讲话太快我听不明白。
Insert
He spoke rather too quickly for me to understand.
He spoke rather too quickly for me to understand.
Yang Li: Did you get it? 太紧是 rather tight, 讲话太快就是 rather too quickly. Let’s
move on.
Yang Li: 下面是第三个用法，意思是，说得更恰当点，more precisely or more exactly.
Insert
A: He got home late last night, or rather early this morning.
Yang Li: 他昨天半夜，更准确地说，今天一清早才回到家。
Insert
A: He got home late last night, or rather early this morning.
Yang Li: 再看一个例句。
Insert
A: How is your Spanish friend, the one we met last Christmas?
B: You mean Jose? He's my sister's friend really, rather than mine.
Page 3 of 3
Yang Li: 你那位西班牙朋友怎么样？对方解释说，啊，你是说 Jose? 其实，更准确地说，他是
我姐姐的朋友。
Yang Li: 第四个意思也是今天我们要讲的主要用法，是用rather来表述一种倾向，与其...不
如…更好， indicating one’s preference in a particular matter. 请听例句。
Insert
A: Which team would you rather support? Man U or Chelsea?
B: Of course Manchester United.
Yang Li: 你支持哪个队？曼联还是切尔希？此句中的 rather 表示讲话人的倾向。另外我们还经
常听到 rather than 这个固定用法，意思是，而不是…请听例句。
Insert
A: You are a good chess player, aren’t you?
B: Well I like to play Chinese chess rather than international chess.
Yang Li: 你象棋下得不错吧？对方回答说，我喜欢下中国象棋，而不是国际象棋，rather than
international chess.
Insert
A: Would you like a Cappuccino or latté?
B: Mmm, I think I’d like to have a cold drink rather than coffee. It feels rather hot in here.
Yang Li: 喜欢喝那种咖啡？对方说他更想喝冷饮，rather than coffee 而不是咖啡。因为他觉
得很热 it feels rather hot in here. 注意第二个 rather 表示程度，相当热，是副词
rather hot.
Insert
A: Would you like to go to the pub with me for some jazz?
B:I'd rather stay at home this evening if you don’t mind. I’m rather tired.
Yang Li: 愿意跟我去酒吗? 对方说我更想呆在家里，I’d rather stay at home. 因为我挺累的
rather tired很累，相当累。
Yang Li: 好，到此为止我介绍了 rather 这个词的四个主要用法。大家不妨在今后的阅读中多
多注意 rather 这个词的用法。Hope you get to use the word rather, rather
well in the future. Goodbye.]]>Q and A of the Weekhttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Rather.html#commenthttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/http://www.en-learning-blog.com/feed.asp?cmt=3783http://www.en-learning-blog.com/cmd.asp?act=tb&id=3783&key=b0924ad4hegansen@gmail.com (admin)http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Pop-in.htmlWed, 06 Jan 2010 08:11:08 +0800http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Pop-in.htmlDownload-Audio
[MP3]upload/2010/1/Pop-in.mp3[/MP3]
Yang Li: Hi. I’m Yang Li.

I said "pop over for a cup of tea", not "pop into a cup of tea!"
Diarmuid: And I’m Diarmuid.

Yang Li: And you’re listening to Authentic Real English. 在这里我们带大家学习英式英语中的一些通俗表达。 And today’s word is, Diarmuid?

Diarmuid: Actually, really sorry Li, I’m just going pop out for a minute.

Yang Li: Eh?

Diarmuid: Yes, sorry… just popping out.

Yang Li: Ok, see you in a second. Hmm, Diarmuid 说他需要 pop out, pop out这也是我们今天要学的新词。 当我们说 pop out, 意思就是出去一小会儿，马上就回来。我想 Diarmuid 马上就会回来的，说到就到。

Diarmuid: Hi Li, I’m back.

Yang Li: Oh, good.

Diarmuid: So, what’s our word for the day?

Yang Li: I’ve already explained it. Pop, as in pop out.

Diarmuid: Great – that’s a really common expression. I just popped out for a few seconds there and came back.

Yang Li: 就像 Diarmuid 说的那样，pop out 是一个非常实用的表达，非常普遍。



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Examples


A: Where’s Arthur? I wanted to tell him something.

B: Oh, he’s just popped out. He’ll be back in a minute.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Yang Li: Pop 这个动词还有很多其他有用的表达.

Diarmuid: Yes, you can also pop in.

Yang Li: 如果你想具体表明你到哪里去一小会儿，那么你就可以说 pop in.

Diarmuid: And you can also pop over.

Yang Li: Pop over 就是从一个地方到另一个地方，一般是短距离。Over 在这就有过去的意思。



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Examples

A: Can I come and see you?

B: Yes, pop over any time.


A: You remember Mark?

B: Yes.

A: He’ll be popping in later.

B: Great.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Diarmuid: So that’s it for today’s programme, but do listen out for these phrases in future: pop out.

Yang Li: Pop in.

Diarmuid: And pop over.

Yang Li: 别忘了你可以在我们的网站上学到更多有用的词汇和表达，我们的网址是

Diarmuid: www.bbcukchina.com.

Yang Li: Bye for now.

Diarmuid: Bye! ]]>Real Englishhttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Pop-in.html#commenthttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/http://www.en-learning-blog.com/feed.asp?cmt=3782http://www.en-learning-blog.com/cmd.asp?act=tb&id=3782&key=6c5609b8hegansen@gmail.com (admin)http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Get-the-Hump.htmlWed, 06 Jan 2010 08:06:42 +0800http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Get-the-Hump.htmlDownload-Audio
Diarmuid: Hi I'm Diarmuid.

Feeling out of sorts? Maybe you've got the hump
Yang Li: (unhappy) And I'm Yang Li.

Diarmuid: You OK today Yang Li? You sound a bit down.

Yang Li: Nah, I'm OK, just annoyed about my new camera.

Diarmuid: What happened?

Yang Li: It's broken.

Diarmuid: Really? That's annoying, you only bought it yesterday.

Yang Li: Yes, and I was so looking forward to taking pictures today. The weather's perfect.

Diarmuid: Sounds like you’ve got the hump.

Yang Li: Tell me about it. 今天我们要学的新词语是 to get the hump 意思是让人窝火的。 Hump 原意是骆驼脊背上的驼峰， 不过我们不清楚这个短语究竟和骆驼有什么关系。



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Examples

A: Do you know where Mike is? I want to ask him something.

B: Mike? He’s still in his room in a bad mood. He’s had the hump all morning.

A: I really don’t think that dress suits you.

B: What? It’s my favourite!

A: Oh, sorry. Don’t get the hump. I just think you look better in purple.



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Yang Li: So, you can use this phrase in different ways: he's got the hump.

Diarmuid: He had the hump yesterday.

Yang Li: And, that really gave him the hump.

Diarmuid: You're sounding a bit better Yang Li anyway. Let's have a look at that camera.

Yang Li: Here you go…

Diarmuid: Why don't you just press… There you go.

Yang Li: Eh, it's working!

Diarmuid: Looks like it.

Yang Li: Great, thanks Diarmuid. You are a star!

Diarmuid: Goodbye hump.

Yang Li: And goodbye everyone. Oh, 不要忘了登陆我们的网站，跟踪新内容 www.bbcukchina.com.

Diarmuid: Bye for now.

Yang Li: Bye.
]]>Real Englishhttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Get-the-Hump.html#commenthttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/http://www.en-learning-blog.com/feed.asp?cmt=3781http://www.en-learning-blog.com/cmd.asp?act=tb&id=3781&key=3560a22ahegansen@gmail.com (admin)http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Disabilities-in-Old-Young-Studied-in-Developing-Nations.htmlMon, 28 Dec 2009 22:27:59 +0800http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Disabilities-in-Old-Young-Studied-in-Developing-Nations.htmlDownload-Audio
A new study suggests that dementia, not blindness, is the leading cause of disability in the elderly. Another shows the relationship between disability and a lack of nutrition and education in children. Transcript of radio broadcast:

A study says dementia is more widespread in the developing world than has been recognized
This is the VOA Special English Development Report.

A new study says the leading cause of disability in older people in low and middle income countries is dementia. The researchers disagree with the World Health Organization which says blindness and other vision problems are the leading cause.

Dementia is a loss of intellectual ability that affects memory, learning, attention, thinking and language skills. People with dementia may forget family members or not know what day it is. Sometimes they become angry or sad, hear voices, or see things that are not there.

Renata Sousa from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London and other researchers wrote the new report. Their study looked at the causes of disability among fifteen thousand people age sixty-five or older in seven countries. The countries were China, India, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico and Peru.

The team found that dementia was the largest cause of disability in the elderly in areas other than rural India and Venezuela. Other major causes were stroke, loss of use of arms or legs, arthritis, depression, eyesight problems and gastrointestinal problems.

In low and middle income countries, heart disease and cancer get much of the attention given to chronic diseases. The researchers say increased importance should be given to chronic diseases of the brain and mind. As populations age, societies will have to deal with more and more cases of dementia.

The study says the elderly are nine percent of the total population of low and middle income countries today. But their numbers are growing quickly. They are expected to reach twenty percent of the total population by the middle of the century.

The study appeared in the Lancet medical journal which published a special issue on disability. A separate study of eighteen low and middle income countries dealt with children.

It found that in almost half the countries, children who were not breastfeed were much more likely to have a disability than those who were. The same was true of those who did not receive vitamin A supplements and those who were underweight.

Children who did not take part in early learning activities or attend school were also more likely to be disabled than those who did.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States and UNICEF did the study.

And that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by June Simms. I'm Steve Ember.]]>VOA Special Englishhttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Disabilities-in-Old-Young-Studied-in-Developing-Nations.html#commenthttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/http://www.en-learning-blog.com/feed.asp?cmt=3780http://www.en-learning-blog.com/cmd.asp?act=tb&id=3780&key=abf62a65hegansen@gmail.com (admin)http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Saying-Goodbye-to-2009-Hoping-for-a-Better-2010.htmlMon, 28 Dec 2009 22:27:57 +0800http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Saying-Goodbye-to-2009-Hoping-for-a-Better-2010.htmlDownload-Audio
We ask some Americans what they will be doing to celebrate the New Year. Transcript of radio broadcast:

Numbers arrive, on pedicabs, to be placed atop Times Square in New York for the New Year's Eve ball drop welcoming 2010
VOICE ONE:

Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Shirley Griffith. This week on our program, we find out how some people will be welcoming two thousand ten.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

So what do Americans do New Year's Eve? Hillary Huesman is from South Carolina.

HILLARY HUESMAN: "I get dressed up. I look to go out. I'm usually single, and that is usually not a problem. This year I'm still making my plans. I haven't quite confirmed them yet, but probably a hotel ballroom-type scenario, black-tie event."

At a black-tie event, the men dress in tuxedos or dark suits and the women wear fancy dresses.

Hotels in many cities have special deals for New Year's Eve: dinner, Champagne and a party. Then people get a room for the night. That way, no one has to worry about drinking and driving home.

VOICE TWO:

On New Year's Eve, some communities in the United States hold what are called First Night celebrations. These are events where no alcohol is served. The celebrations include things like music performances, art displays and fireworks.

Boston, Massachusetts, held the first First Night celebration in nineteen seventy-six. Since then the idea has spread internationally.

VOICE ONE:

Some people might not have firm plans yet for New Year's Eve, but others know exactly what they will be doing. Joe is a twenty-one year old student at the University of Virginia.

JOE: "I don't really do a whole lot. I normally just spend time with family, go out to eat, hang out, wait for the ball to drop on TV."

Joe is talking about America's best known celebration on New Year's Eve. Hundreds of thousands of people crowd into Times Square in New York. They count down the final seconds to midnight as they watch a brightly lit ball slide down a pole on top of a tall building.

(SOUND)


A couple welcoming 2009 in Times Square
The first New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square took place more than a century ago. The ball was made of iron and wood and it was lit with one hundred lights. Today the ball is larger and covered in more than two thousand crystals.

VOICE TWO:

Two other traditions for welcoming the New Year are a midnight kiss and an attempt to sing a song that almost no one knows.

"Auld Lang Syne," by the eighteenth century Scottish poet Robert Burns, is a song about friends and remembering times long ago.

(MUSIC)

A new year is a good time to start fresh -- and, for some people, a time to seek good fortune in the year ahead.

In the American South, for example, people might prepare a dish known as "Hoppin' John." They make it with black-eyed peas and ingredients like bacon, rice and vegetables. Eating it at the New Year is thought to bring good luck.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

On New Year's Day, some families in the United States invite friends and relatives to an open house. Jill Cooper from Santa Fe, New Mexico, gave us a description.

JILL COOPER: "They're family parties, big open house-y kind of parties with lots of cookies -- too many cookies --and punch and eggnog. And houses are decorated, and you see your friends and you bop from party to party."

But that is not all she and her family like to do to celebrate the New Year.

JILL COOPER: "We try to do something outside 'cause we live in Santa Fe and we live right in the mountains. Everybody wants to go for a wonderful hike and start off with fresh air and all the things we're going to have in our lives the whole next year. And then we drop in on parties."

VOICE TWO:

Some families like to take it easy on January first and enjoy a quiet day of rest. Twenty year old Malia is from Virginia.

MALIA: "I usually sleep in because we stay up late on New Year's Eve. And my family, we usually eat the leftovers of the desserts that we make for New Year's, or New Year's Eve and stuff, so. But, just relax, mainly."

But New Year's Day is anything but a day of rest for John Worster (WOO-ster), who lives in Idaho.

JOHN WORSTER: "I offer Catholic Mass, 'cause I'm a Catholic priest by profession, and so it is actually the feast day of Mary, Mother of God. And so we begin our Catholic way of understanding new year by just thanking God for Jesus' mother, Mary. On New Year's Day, after church we'll go out and sit in the goose pit and do some hunting for Canada geese and also ducks."

VOICE ONE:


University of Illinois cheerleaders and float at the 2008 Rose Parade
On New Year's morning, millions of television viewers watch the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. The parade includes marching bands and horseback riders. But the parade is most famous for its motorized floats. They come in all shapes and sizes, but they are all covered with flowers.

In Southern California, the weather on New Year's Day might be cold. But the skies are usually sunny and dry, even as other parts of the country might experience snowstorms.

A local group created the Tournament of Roses festival in Pasadena in eighteen ninety. The festival later expanded to include the parade and a big game in college football.

The champion teams from two college athletic conferences play in the Rose Bowl Stadium. This Friday, the Buckeyes of Ohio State University will play the University of Oregon Ducks.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Will you be making any New Year's resolutions? Hillary Huesman from South Carolina has a few in mind.

HILLARY HUESMAN: "I'd like to solidify my romantic relationship, lose twenty-eight pounds. I'd like to travel a lot more in twenty-ten. Two thousand nine was a long year -- struggled financially, like most of America. So I'm looking for prosperity in twenty-ten."

VOICE ONE:

Malia from Virginia does not make too many resolutions. She says she does not want to disappoint herself when she fails to keep them. Joe, the University of Virginia student, is of a similar mind.

JOE: "I'm not a believer in resolutions for New Year's. I think that resolutions come when they need to throughout the year, when you decide that someone needs a change."

VOICE TWO:

What about John Worster, the Catholic priest?

JOHN WORSTER: "I make a New Year's resolution every year and usually by the third or fourth of January it's already been broken, so...(Laughs).

REPORTER: "What kind of resolutions are those?"

JOHN WORSTER: "Oh, usually to lead a healthier lifestyle by eating better food and not drinking so much, so ... (Laughs)"

VOICE ONE:

Jamar Negron, a high school student from New Jersey, has a few resolutions for two thousand ten:

JAMAR NEGRON: "I'm a fencer, so my New Year's resolution is just to become better at fencing. And better in the general sense: become better in schoolwork, become a better person, become a better writer -- become as best as I can be in all aspects of my life."

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Holiday planning can be difficult when business has to come before pleasure.

We did interviews near the Capitol building here in Washington. One of the people we met happened to be the wife of a newly elected senator. Jill Cooper is married to Tom Udall, a Democrat from New Mexico who entered the Senate this past January.

When we talked to her earlier this month, their plans for the New Year were still open.

JILL COOPER: "There was a chance that we would go on a trip to India and Afghanistan, but apparently we're not doing that. Since he's in the Senate and we don't know what's going to happen with the health care bill, he may not even be home. If we're home, we'll probably have dinner with friends."

VOICE ONE:

We give the last word to Jamar, the high school student from New Jersey, and his hopes for two thousand ten.

JAMAR NEGRON: "Prosperity. Strength. Confidence. Equality. Good fortune. Goodwill. That everything will work out for the better. That I'll leave no stone unturned, and that I'm able to go to sleep at night with no regrets at what I've done."

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Our program was written by Nancy Steinbach and Mario Ritter and produced by Caty Weaver. Tell us your resolutions and hopes for two thousand ten, and what you will be doing New Year's Eve. Post your comments at voaspecialenglish.com -- where you can also find transcripts, MP3s and podcasts of our programs. I'm Shirley Griffith.

VOICE ONE:

And I'm Steve Ember. We wish you all happiness and good fortune in the New Year, and hope will join us again next time for THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English.]]>VOA Special Englishhttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Saying-Goodbye-to-2009-Hoping-for-a-Better-2010.html#commenthttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/http://www.en-learning-blog.com/feed.asp?cmt=3779http://www.en-learning-blog.com/cmd.asp?act=tb&id=3779&key=10a2173fhegansen@gmail.com (admin)http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Israel-Praises-Army-Killing-of-3-Palestinian-Militants.htmlMon, 28 Dec 2009 22:25:05 +0800http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Israel-Praises-Army-Killing-of-3-Palestinian-Militants.htmlDownload-Audio
The incident occurred amid intensifying efforts for a prisoner exchange.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen during the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, 27 Dec 2009
Israel is praising a deadly military operation in the West Bank that angered the Palestinian Authority. The incident occurred amid intensifying efforts for a prisoner exchange.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the army for gunning down three Palestinian militants on Saturday in the West Bank town of Nablus. The raid came two days after the militants allegedly killed a Jewish settler in a roadside ambush.

Mr. Netanyahu told the Cabinet one of the gunmen had been freed from an Israeli prison under an amnesty deal, highlighting the risks of an emerging prisoner swap with the Islamic militant group Hamas that rules the Gaza Strip. Israel has agreed in principal to release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a captive soldier held for more than three years in Gaza.

Responding to criticism of the lopsided deal, Mr. Netanyahu said there would be no compromise in the war on terror.

He said Israel's policy on terrorism is clear, it would respond aggressively to any attack.

But the Palestinian Authority is furious over the Israel raid, which took place in territory under its control. Palestinian spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeineh called it an assassination.

"This is a damaging act from the Israeli government, and it is going to lead to more instability, more violence," he said.

Mr. Netanyahu said he will fly on Tuesday to Egypt, which has been mediating between Israel and Hamas on the prisoner swap. The Prime Minister will meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. ]]>VOA Newshttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Israel-Praises-Army-Killing-of-3-Palestinian-Militants.html#commenthttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/http://www.en-learning-blog.com/feed.asp?cmt=3778http://www.en-learning-blog.com/cmd.asp?act=tb&id=3778&key=282a4eeehegansen@gmail.com (admin)http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/European-Airport-Security-Boosted-While-Britain-Investigates-Suspects-Past.htmlMon, 28 Dec 2009 22:21:48 +0800http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/European-Airport-Security-Boosted-While-Britain-Investigates-Suspects-Past.htmlDownload-Audio
As the criminal investigation gets underway, there are many more questions than answers regarding the attempt to bring down an Amsterdam to Detroit airliner on Christmas Day.

Luggage transport passes parked police vans at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 26 Dec 2009
As airport security is strengthened in Europe, a search of the last known London residence of the man who has been charged with trying to blow up a trans-Atlantic jetliner has been launched.

As the criminal investigation got underway, there were many more questions than answers regarding the attempt to bring down an Amsterdam to Detroit airliner on Christmas Day.

One key facet will be to determine if the man charged with the attack, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, acted alone or in concert with others.

Terrorism expert Dr. Sajjan Gohel is from the London-based think tank, the Asia-Pacific Foundation. He says finding that out will be crucial.

"Whether this was an act of terrorism conducted by al-Qaida central or that of a lone wolf acting independently, we will have to wait and see for the investigation and what comes out of that, but we do know that al-Qaida and their affiliates have a crazed obsession in targeting the aviation industry," said Dr. Gohel.

On Sunday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said at this stage there is nothing to indicate the 23-year-old Nigerian was part of a larger plot, but much more questioning will follow.

One effect of the attempt to blow up flight 253 is increased security at international airports in Europe.

Something Sajjan Gohel says passengers will just have to get used to.

"There is going to be disruption," he said. There is going to be delays. There is going to be greater scrutiny and in security and unfortunately we are just going to have to accept this, that this has become an inevitable part of our lives now whenever we travel abroad, especially for trans-Atlantic flights."

Graham Simpson is the operations director at Britain's busiest hub, Heathrow Airport.

"We are incurring some delays like all other airports are around Europe," he said. "But we are working very hard with the airlines to minimize those delays. Currently delays are averaging around one-hour and that is for flights that are going out to the U.S."

Passengers are being encouraged to check ahead with their airlines, to arrive an hour earlier than normal and to bring only a single carry-on bag with them.

Meanwhile in London, the multi-million-dollar apartment where Abdulmutallab lived during his days as mechanical engineering student at University College between 2005 and 2008 continues to be searched by police forensic teams. Computers and hard drives in particular are being scrutinized in fine detail.

It is part of a larger investigation aimed at trying to identify those individuals he was in contact with. ]]>VOA Newshttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/European-Airport-Security-Boosted-While-Britain-Investigates-Suspects-Past.html#commenthttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/http://www.en-learning-blog.com/feed.asp?cmt=3777http://www.en-learning-blog.com/cmd.asp?act=tb&id=3777&key=bac26527hegansen@gmail.com (admin)http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Nigeria-Orders-Increased-Airport-Security-after-Failed-US-Plane-Bombing.htmlMon, 28 Dec 2009 22:19:21 +0800http://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Nigeria-Orders-Increased-Airport-Security-after-Failed-US-Plane-Bombing.htmlDownload-Audio
The Nigerian government has enhanced security checks at its airports after a young Nigerian man tried to blow up a U.S. airliner.
Nigerian Information Minister Dora Akunyili told reporters a range of measures have been introduced to boost security at airports in response to the failed attack.

Cars drive to Murtala Mohammed in Lagos, Nigeria 26 Dec. 2009

"We want to assure everybody that our airports are very safe, having just passed American Investigation and Security Administration audit in November 2009. However, in the light of the new development, we have reinforced our security systems in all our airports," she said.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian student with alleged links to al-Qaida, tried to detonate explosives just before a U.S. jetliner landed in Detroit on a trip from Amsterdam Friday. Abdulmutallab began his journey in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos.

The Nigerian government ordered security agencies to investigate the incident and said they would cooperate fully with the American authorities.

Abdulmutallab is the son of a prominent Nigerian figure. The father had reported his concerns about his son's extreme religious views to the U.S. embassy in Abuja.

Information Minister Akunyili described the 70-year-old former government minister and top banker as a responsible and respected Nigerian with a true Nigerian spirit.

"The man in question has lived outside Nigeria for a while. He sneaked into Nigeria on the 24th of December 2009 and left the same day. The father, Alhaji Umar Mutallab, who is a responsible and respected Nigerian with a true Nigerian spirit, had earlier reported his concerns about his son's activities to the relevant American authorities. His father had expressed his shock and regret over his son's actions," she added.

The attempted bombing by a Nigerian of a U.S.-bound flight has provoked sharp reactions in image-conscious Nigeria. The government was quick to condemn the incident involving its national. Several Islamic groups have also denounced the attempted attack.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation, roughly divided between Christians and Muslims.

Some Western diplomats have expressed concern about the rise of violent Islamic extremism in Nigeria.]]>VOA Newshttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/english/Nigeria-Orders-Increased-Airport-Security-after-Failed-US-Plane-Bombing.html#commenthttp://www.en-learning-blog.com/http://www.en-learning-blog.com/feed.asp?cmt=3776http://www.en-learning-blog.com/cmd.asp?act=tb&id=3776&key=e9f448a7