BBC Learning English

Video Words in the News

14 May 2014
The active office



Video Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2014
Page 1 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com




Transcript:
Not the gym, but the office.

British researchers believe sedentary work can increase the risk of heart
disease.

They're trying to make people change their habits.

Children are taking part in the experiment too. In this school, some pupils take
lessons standing.

Meetings might never be the same again. Next time you take a stand, why not
do it standing up?



Vocabulary:
sedentary
sitting down most of the time; not doing much physical activity
heart disease
medical condition affecting the heart
habits
things people do regularly, often without much active thought
experiment
scientific test that is done in order to discover or confirm something
take a stand
express an firm opinion, often opposing the currently accepted view

Watch the video online: The active office http://bbc.in/1mTOPTo


Video Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2014
Page 2 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com


Exercise:
Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from
news reports.
Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence
correctly.

sedentary / heart disease / habits / experiment / take a stand


1. Living alone is linked to ________ that are bad for health. For example,
eating poorly and having less motivation to be physically active can be a
consequence of being physically isolated.

2. "I get a sense of euphoria every time I stand up," she said. "When someone
is sitting down the whole time not only does the spirit die but the body
begins to die. We are not meant for a ________ life."

3. Though it is only a simple game, rock-paper-scissors is seen as a useful
model for studying competitive behaviour in humans - in financial trading
for example. A previous ________ found that players unconsciously mimic
the actions of their opponents - a surprising result because advantage is
usually gained by acting differently.

4. Many studies have sought to explain why there is a low incidence of
________ in France, despite many of its inhabitants eating a high-fat diet.

5. Union members have voted to ________ against the risks of wearing high
heels in the workplace in favour of more "sensible shoes". Delegates at the
TUC congress in Liverpool backed a motion requiring some employers to
carry out risk assessments about workers' footwear.






Video Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2014
Page 3 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com


Answers:

1. Living alone is linked to habits that are bad for health. For example, eating
poorly and having less motivation to be physically active can be a
consequence of being physically isolated.

Source: Loneliness 'on the rise among elderly'
http://bbc.in/1iMTUgQ

2. "I get a sense of euphoria every time I stand up," she said. "When someone
is sitting down the whole time not only does the spirit die but the body
begins to die. We are not meant for a sedentary life."

Source: Ted 2014: Meeting the real bionic man
http://bbc.in/OEEgYQ


3. Though it is only a simple game, rock-paper-scissors is seen as a useful
model for studying competitive behaviour in humans - in financial trading for
example. A previous experiment found that players unconsciously mimic the
actions of their opponents - a surprising result because advantage is usually
gained by acting differently.

Source: How to win at rock-paper-scissors
http://bbc.in/1nPaIHb

4. Many studies have sought to explain why there is a low incidence of heart
disease in France, despite many of its inhabitants eating a high-fat diet.

Source: Red wine health benefits 'overhyped'
http://bbc.in/1g2JdHF

5. Union members have voted to take a stand against the risks of wearing
high heels in the workplace in favour of more "sensible shoes". Delegates at
the TUC congress in Liverpool backed a motion requiring some employers to
carry out risk assessments about workers' footwear.

Source: Unions take 'stand' on stilettos
http://bbc.in/1iNgyWf