Is technology going too far? I think much of it is now used to keep an eye on our every movement and to listen in on our every thought. The other day I walked into a shop and was faced by a TV screen enticing me with details of a special promotion fo
英语听力精选进阶版
Let me ask you a question: Have you got a car? I own a small car: it's a Nissan Micra. I bought her seven years ago from a local car dealer here in London. Although I have been the owner of a Toyota Corolla, a Nissan Sunny and a Honda Accord, this li
英语听力精选进阶版
If you think you have two left feet but would love to be a good dancer then why not try your hand at dancing? That's exactly what I did five years ago and I immediately got the bug; I have stayed hooked ever since. To me, dancing is a magical experie
英语听力精选进阶版
What did you want to be when you were growing up? A teacher? A doctor? An astronaut? What do you need to do to achieve your dream job? Perhaps you think that studying well and then going on to work hard will get you the career you want. We are consta
英语听力精选进阶版
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Perhaps you'd like to sample fine cuisine in France, experience the ancient splendour of the Egyptian pyramids, or breathe the pristine air of the Himalayan mountain range? Well, if you s
英语听力精选进阶版
I couldn't sell a stove to an Innuit. I work hard but I am not very entrepreneurial. I admire people like Richard Branson, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. They set up and grew their own profitable companies when they were very young. It got me wonder
英语听力精选进阶版
Have you ever had a punt? I was brought up to believe that you make your own luck but I admit that I buy the occasional lottery ticket. I have won a million pounds but only in my dreams. The odds are high and the money I spend on tickets is worth it
英语听力精选进阶版
As an English teacher, I've been lucky enough to travel to many countries all over the world. I've seen people celebrating everything from the arrival of new babies to the delivery of new cars. I've attended weddings, parties and religious celebratio
英语听力精选进阶版
Were you constantly bored as a child? Maybe that helped you to develop your innate ability to be creative. Boredom can be a good thing for children, according to Dr Teresa Belton, researcher at the University of East Anglia's School of Education and
英语听力精选进阶版
Do you drink a lot of coffee? The water boiling in the kettle, the aroma, the first mouthful from the cup in the morning so many people see it as part of a ritual that it inspired an expression in English: 'Wake up and smell the coffee!' I read the o
英语听力精选进阶版
I miss my sugar! I've decided to go on a diet to lose weight and I had to give up pastries and cakes. It's difficult because I have a sweet tooth and I love cream cakes. Not having treats can be good for your health. I've heard that a whole family in
英语听力精选进阶版
How would you feel if the letter you penned carefully and posted to your favourite star ended up in the recycling bin? That's where unopened fan mail sent to singer Taylor Swift was found in Nashville. Swift's management said it was an accident, but
英语听力精选进阶版
A new survey has confirmed that the number of regular drinkers of wine in France is in decline, and some traditionalists fear that the beverage seems to be losing its iconic role in France's cultural heritage. In 1980, more than half of adults were c
英语听力精选进阶版
It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday. I was going to meet an old university friend I hadn't seen for years, and was really excited to hear all his news. My train was running a little late, but that was no big problem - I could text him to say I would b
英语听力精选进阶版
Are you a good dancer? We all know it's awkward not to be aware of the latest cool moves, but 200 years ago this could have meant social disaster! A fictional ball from Jane Austin's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice was recreated for a BBC programme. I
英语听力精选进阶版
What's wrong with having three parents? I'm happy with two but maybe it would have been a case of the more the merrier. The role of parents is not only to give us love and guidance, but also to pass on genetic code. A few particular healthy genes wou
英语听力精选进阶版
Did you have a very strict teacher at school? I did. I'll never forget 'Mr Grumpy'. If you didn't get your geography right, you would wish to run to the end of the earth to be far away from him. That tall man with a very loud voice knew how frighten
英语听力精选进阶版
It only takes a few seconds of the original 1943 'English by Radio' theme tune and I'm dreaming about 1940s Britain. Crackly violin melodies build to a strong, confident finale, reassuring the listeners that we are safe in the hands of the BBC. Now,
英语听力精选进阶版
Are you looking for love? When you want to impress a potential girlfriend or boyfriend, you take great care with your appearance and try to be on your best behaviour. But what about your grammar? Do you check if you are using verbs and commas properl
英语听力精选进阶版
I loved action movies when I was a kid. And I nagged my mum to allow me to go to bed late so that I could watch the ones broadcast after the watershed. They were more interesting. She didn't want me feeling sleepy the following day but she always rel
英语听力精选进阶版