This is a podcast which picks up a few interesting things that have appeared in the news in recent weeks. In this episode we have stories from around the world all about animals.

In our first story, we learn that a little puppy was grabbed by an alligator in the USA. You read more about it here:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/23/man-rescues-puppy-from-alligator-without-dropping-cigar

In our second story, we find out about an elephant that fell into a well in India, and you can learn more by following this link:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/22/elephant-trapped-in-indian-well-rescued-in-12-hour-crane-operation

In our final story, we hear that some of the animals in London Zoo are feeling lonely. You can find out more by watching this video:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-london-54967076

Worksheet Answers:

1. D    2. B    3. B

This is a podcast which picks up a few interesting things that have appeared in the news in recent weeks. In this episode we have stories on the environment, science, and archaeology.

In our first story, we learn about possibilities Australia to become a clean energy superpower in the Asia-Pacific region. You read more about it here:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/14/green-giants-the-massive-projects-that-could-make-australia-a-clean-energy-superpower

In our second, we discover that if global warming does destroy our planet, there are plenty of other planets we might be able to go to, and you can learn more by following this link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/05/science/astronomy-exoplanets-kepler.html?surface=home-discovery-vi-prg&fellback=false&req_id=949876966&algo=identity&imp_id=681924965&action=click&module=Science%20%20Technology&pgtype=Homepage

In our final story, we hear about new discoveries of ancient coffins in Egypt. You can find out more here:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-15/egypt-unveils-ancient-coffins-statues-found-in-saqqara/12884648

Worksheet Answers:

1. B 2. C 3. A

© Martin Parsons, 2020

This is a podcast which picks up a few interesting things that have appeared in the news in recent weeks. In this episode we have something on health, science and the environment.

In health, we learn that indigenous people are probably the best people to give advice and help other indigenous people with the coronavirus.

You listen and learn more about this by listening to this interview:

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/fiona-stanley-feature-interview/12785302

In science we discover that octopuses can ‘taste’ with their arms. You can learn more here:

https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)31149-1?utm_source=EA

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2258515-octopuses-taste-their-food-when-they-touch-it-with-their-arms/

And finally, in the environment we learn that sugar gliders in Australia are more diverse that was previously thought. Read more about these lovely animals here:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/06/two-new-greater-glider-species-discovered-australias-biodiversity-just-got-a-lot-richer

Worksheet Answers:

1. C   2. C   3. A

This is a podcast which picks up a few interesting things that have appeared in the news in recent weeks. In this episode we have two stories from world news and one from science.

In our first story, we discover that Tokyo is installing transparent public toilets in parks and other places. What is going on? Find out here:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/18/loo-with-a-view-transparent-public-toilets-installed-in-tokyo-parks

In our second story, we learn about how the sense of smell in animals can get a great help for us, in detecting landmines, or in detecting the coronavirus. And you can read more by following these links:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/25/magawa-the-landmine-detection-rat-given-gold-medal-for-bravery

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/24/close-to-100-accuracy-airport-enlists-sniffer-dogs-to-test-for-covid-19

Finally, we hear a humorous story about companies misusing words from another language. Learn about their mistakes here:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/07/beer-brand-and-leather-store-unwittingly-named-after-maori-word-for-pubic-hair

Worksheet Answers:

1. C   2. D   3. B

© Martin Parsons, 2020

This is a podcast which picks up a few interesting things that have appeared in the news in recent weeks. In this episode we have three stories related to the coronavirus.

In our first story, we hear about a wonderful new test developed by scientists at Monash University in Australia. You read more about it here:

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-research/australian-researchers-invent-20-minute-coronavirus-blood-test-idUKKCN24I0OR

In our second, we discover that the lack of human activity caused by the coronavirus has been ‘seen’ by seismologists around the world. And you can read more by following this link:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2020/07/23/human-seismic-noise-coronavirus/

In our final story, we consider the environmental problems caused by disposable masks. Find out how to make your own cloth mask here:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/26/what-kind-of-face-mask-is-best-against-coronavirus

Worksheet Answers:

    1. B    2. D    3. B

©Martin Parsons, 2020

This is a podcast which picks up a few interesting things that have appeared in the news in recent weeks. In this episode we have two stories from science and one on sport.

In our first story, we learn that our bones are much more important to our health than just holding our bodies together. You read more about it here:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jul/04/does-the-key-to-anti-ageing-lie-in-our-bones

In our second scientific story, we discover that one human year is NOT seven dog years, like we always though. To work out how old a dog is in human years, you need to do this calculation: human age = 16 ln(dog_age) + 31. And you can read more by following this link:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jul/02/every-human-year-not-equivalent-to-seven-dog-years-scientists-find

In our story on sport, we hear that the football has started again in Australia. Find out how Essendon are going and learn more by following these links:

https://www.essendonfc.com.au/

https://www.afl.com.au/

Worksheet Answers:

1. B 2. D 3. C

These videos introduce a new YouTube channel, 'The Beard of English, and describe various English idioms and expressions.

This video is on the expression, 'tuppence a dozen' or 'a dime a dozen'. You can check it out on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH2fbNQNUB4

These videos introduce a new YouTube channel, 'The Beard of English, and describe various English idioms and expressions.

This video is on the expression, 'sooner or later'. You can check it out on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b22JLum51bU

This is a podcast which picks up a few interesting things that have appeared in the news in recent weeks. In this episode we have something on health, geology and science.

In health we discover that the coronavirus kills more men than women, and that a lot of medical research is biased in favour of men.

You read more about this important story here:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/25/why-does-covid-19-kill-more-men-than-women-researchers-grapple-with-gender-mystery

In geology, we hear the story of a subsistence farmer in Tanzania suddenly hitting it rich.

You can read more about this story here:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/25/small-scale-miner-finds-biggest-tanzanite-gems-in-history-worth-33m

And finally, in science, we learn that hummingbirds (and other birds) can see colours in ultra-violet light.

You can read about it here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/science/hummingbirds-color-vision.html

Worksheet Answers:

1. B 2. D 3. A

This is a podcast which picks up a few interesting things that have appeared in the news in recent weeks. In this episode we have something on sport, science, and the environment.

In sport, we find that a group of Sumo wrestlers saved a woman from drowning in Tokyo.

You learn more about this story here:

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200611/p2a/00m/0na/019000c

In science, we learn about the wonderful ways that lasers are being used to learn more about the world around us.

You can read more about this story here:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jun/03/maya-structure-discovered-mexico-lidar-aguada-fenix

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/05/science/ocean-biology-larvaceans-lasers.html

And finally, in the environment, we see that pangolins, which are on the brink of extinction, are being saved from poachers and re-introduced to the wild.

You can read about it here:

https://theconversation.com/back-from-extinction-a-world-first-effort-to-return-threatened-pangolins-to-the-wild-138621