BBC Podcasts

Key words and phrases: contain limit ✏️ The attacking army were able to surround and contain the enemy quickly. provocation an action that could lead to an angry reaction ✏️ The military exercises near the border were the provocation that led to war. deception tricking someone into believing something that isn't true ✏️ Deception is easier when people trust you.

The story North Korea has launched a missile which they claim flew at over 12 times the speed of sound and travelled 1500km. The South Korean military says that they believe the claims from North Korea are exaggerated. Hypersonic missiles, which travel more than 5 times faster than sound and can change direction, are much harder to intercept. Only China, Russia and the US are currently thought to have this technology. Some people suspect that Russia is helping North Korea to develop advanced missile technology in return for troops to fight in Ukraine. News headlines North Korea says new hypersonic missile will 'contain' rivals BBC Acting president condemns N. Korea's latest missile provocation The Korea Times N. Korea's claim of hypersonic missile launch likely 'deception': S. Korean military Yonhap

Vocabulary young at heart (idiom) think and behave in a youthful way, in spite of your age positive attitude feeling hopeful, confident and focused on the good aspects of life rather than the bad ones twin studies scientific research using sets of twins to investigate the roles of genetics and environment in human development Mediterranean diet food typically eaten by people living around the Mediterranean Sea, such as fresh vegetables, olive oil and fish communal meal occasion when people sit down together to eat, talk and share a meal multigenerational household people from two or more generations of the same family living in a house together

Introduction How can we stay healthy in old age? Beth and Phil discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. This week's question The oldest recorded person ever to have lived was a woman who was born in 1875, and lived to 122. But which country was she from? Was it: a) Japan b) France or, c) Italy? Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

get out of my comfort zone This expression means to do something new that you don't feel confident or comfortable doing. push myself to + verb We use this expression to say 'make yourself do something difficult'. I pushed myself to speak at my choir concert. pull off + noun/gerund We use this expression to mean 'achieve something difficult'. We really want to pull off buying a house next year, but it's going to be tricky! stick to + noun/gerund Use this expression to mean keep doing something, especially if it's something difficult. I'm going to try to stick to limiting my screen time to one hour a day. I'm on my phone far too much! there's no getting away from it + noun/gerund + is the only way. We use this expression to say that there is no alternative to doing something difficult to achieve something. There's no getting away from it, hard work is the only way to learn a language.

Things you want to do I really want to start + noun/gerund Use this to talk about something that you think would be good to do. I really want to start some new hobbies in 2025. I really want to start cooking different things next year. I'm thinking of taking up + noun/gerund Use this expression for something that you are considering starting. 'Take up' means to start doing something. I'm thinking of taking up dance lessons I'm thinking of taking up swimming. It's great exercise! I thought I might + verb You can also use this expression for something that you are considering doing. We both thought we might do some swing dancing. I thought I might take a cookery class. Personal change I want to be more + adjective Use this with an a characteristic that you want to have in the future. I want to be more engaged and dedicated to my plans. I want to be more active. I'm going to join a gym. Every year I promise myself + clause Use this with something that you often try or want to do, maybe unsuccessfully. Every year I promise myself I'll become a better language learner. Every year I promise myself I'll visit somewhere new. Usually, I manage it. Hopefully, I can be the person who + clause Use this expression to say what you hope to be like in future. Hopefully I can be the person who finishes all his plans. Hopefully I can be the person who doesn't get scared by challenges. Challenges

Vocabulary arrive at (a number or statistic) calculate; decide on it after doing calculations take grip on take control of pretty much almost; almost completely ballpark figure a number which is a guess but an acceptably accurate approximation dehydration condition of not having enough water in your body so that you feel ill or weak symptom sign or feeling in the body showing the presence of an illness or a condition

Introduction How much water do you drink every day? Is it enough? Beth and Phil discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. This week's question What percentage of our blood is water? Is it: a) around 80% water? b) around 90% water?, or, c) 100% water? Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Key words and phrases: stroll walk in a relaxed way for leisure Shall we go for a stroll in the park after work? pinpoint find the exact number or position of something It's difficult to pinpoint why I feel so happy today. Maybe it's the weather! walk away from (someone or something) take oneself out of a situation that is difficult I walked away from my last job because the commute was too long.