BBC Podcasts

Introduction Can ginger shots, turmeric and cold water swimming boost your immune system? Georgie and Neil hear from experts and teach you some vocabulary. This week's question How many colds does the average adult get in the UK each year? a) 2-3 b) 4-5 c) 7-8 Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Vocabulary rage bait social media content designed to provoke an emotional reaction so that people engage with the content thereby generating income for the online creator the more (X)… the more (Y)… as one thing (X) happens repeatedly, another thing (Y) happens more as a result incite encourage someone to do or feel something unpleasant or violent; stir up; provoke; rouse manipulative trying to influence or control someone to your advantage eyeballs the number of people viewing a particular website, television programme etc. biases feelings, often hidden or unconscious, either for or against an idea or a group of people

Introduction How do people make money from rage bait? Beth and Phil discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. This week's question Both 'clickbait' and 'rage bait' contain the word, 'bait', but what is its actual meaning? Is bait: a) a strong feeling of anger? b) food put on a hook to catch fish or animals? or, c) a piece of computer software? Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Vocabulary commodity a raw product that can be bought and sold varieties different types of one thing appetite strong desire or demand get on board agree to do something and get involved with doing it give it a go try doing something tangible real and measurable; not imaginary

Introduction Over half the world’s population eats rice and there's growing demand for it, so is it possible to grow rice in a more eco-friendly way? Beth and Neil discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. This week's question How much water is needed to grow one kilogram of rice? a) 1,000 to 3,000 litres? b) 3,000 to 5,000 litres? c) 5,000 to 7,000 litres? Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Vocabulary chinwag a long and pleasant conversation between friends enriched improved by having something else added to it survival instinct the human instinct to do something in a dangerous situation to stay alive build bridges improve relationships between people who are very different or do not like each other tittle-tattle talk about other people's lives that is usually unkind, disapproving, or untrue talk over (someone) silence or drown out someone by talking more loudly, forcefully, and persistently than them

This week's question In 2012, a competition in Latvia broke the world record for the longest telephone conversation. How long did this record-breaking conversation last? a) 24 hours and 4 minutes? b) 54 hours and 4 minutes? c) 84 hours and 4 minutes? Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary breakthrough sudden, dramatic and important discovery a number of (something) several or many; used to add credibility to what you are saying Nothing to see here! used to encourage people to move or look away from something, or to stop them from paying it much attention hijack take control of something that does not belong to you for your own advantage blind to (something) completely fail to notice or realise the threat of something re-educate teach somebody to think or behave in a new or different way

Introduction Could a cancer vaccine soon be a reality? Beth and Neil discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. This week's question Which disease did the first successful vaccine treat? a) flu b) polio, or c) smallpox Listen to the programme to hear the answer.