英语每日一听 | 每天少于5分钟

For many of us, online shopping has made the process of purchasing goods a far simpler and more fluid process. No longer do we have to head to the shops to browse and peruse various objects, wandering round endless aisles, before finally settling for the first thing we saw. These days, we find the item we want or need online, click on it, and check out its description and user reviews. If it fits...

Let’s face it – most of us can’t resist a cup of tea or coffee sometimes. They’re a perfect pick-me-up and comforter. But there are alternative beverages, so why have we chosen these as our go-to drinks to soothe our hectic lives? And which one is superior? 让我们面对现实吧——我们大多数人有时无法抗拒一杯茶或咖啡。它们是完美的提神剂和被子。但是有替代饮料，那么为什么我们选择这些作为我们的首选饮料来舒...

Many of us love live music – listening to the singer belting out classics we love to sing along to. But while it can be lots of fun nodding our heads to the tunes booming out, it can also harm our hearing. Studies suggest that one in ten adults have had their hearing damaged by loud noises or music. So why is loud music damaging, and what can we do to prevent it from harming our ears? 我们中的许多...

How good are you at maths? Some people love the challenge of algebra or enjoy working out number puzzles such as Sudoko. Maths is all around us, from working out how to split the bill after a meal, to calculating your household bills. But many dread the moment when they have to deal with numbers and figures and feel a real sense of worry and confusion. It can seem daunting, but this ‘maths anxiety...

What’s the first thing you remember doing? It could be playing with your friends at school, or going to a birthday party and eating amazing cake. Most of us have a treasured early memory of our childhood, but can we really believe those vivid memories? Did those special moments really happen – or did we make them up? 你记得做的第一件事是什么？可能是在学校和你的朋友一起玩，或者去参加生日聚会吃美味...

When you were at school, were you ever told to stop daydreaming and concentrate? It was easy for your mind to wander if you weren’t interested in what you were learning or if you had better things to think about. Staying focused can still be a challenge in adult life, but understanding how to do it, and knowing what is distracting you, can help. 当你在学校的时候，你有没有被告知要停止做白日梦并集中...

There are many different types of houses in the UK. You may see detached, semi-detached, terraced houses or even end-of-terrace houses on a typical street. You might see mansions in more affluent parts of town, or people residing in bungalows, preferring to live a life without stairs. Quaint cottages may dot the countryside, while heading to the cities you could see any number of types of flats, i...

We’ve all been there. One minute you’re searching for something serious, like a recipe for dinner, or something for work, and the next you’ve been sucked in by endless videos of cats doing funny things after seeing a catchy title in your suggested videos column. They’re compelling, engrossing and captivating, and you can end up spending hours watching kittens make funny noises or mistiming jumps....

When you go on holiday, where do you like to stay? Do you like the luxury of a five-star hotel, the convenience of a self-catering apartment or do you prefer the freedom of sleeping under canvas? If you haven’t tried the latter, maybe you should join the increasing number of people who are enjoying the simple pleasures of camping. 当你去度假时，你喜欢住在哪里？您是喜欢五星级酒店的奢华，还是自助式...

Are you good with your hands? Many of us like to make things which we can use or give as gifts. Crafting is certainly a hobby that’s seen a resurgence, and those who pursue it claim getting creative improves their mood. 你的手好用吗？我们中的许多人都喜欢制作可以使用或作为礼物赠送的东西。手工制作无疑是一种重新流行的爱好，追求它的人声称获得创意可以改善他们的心情。 The recent lockdowns caused by the...

Do you know the names of the people who live next door? Chances are you live next to someone, but do you actually know them? Sadly, the only time we do seem to hear about people’s neighbours is when things go wrong – hearing people say things like they have the neighbours from hell! So, what does go wrong? 你知道住在隔壁的人的名字吗？你可能住在某人旁边，但你真的认识他们吗？可悲的是，我们似乎唯一一...

We all know driving can be stressful. One minute you’re minding your own business and the next someone cuts you up. Manoeuvres like that can be annoying and irritating, but for some of us, it can make us incandescent with rage. So what is road rage, and what things can cause it? 我们都知道驾驶可能会有压力。前一分钟你在管自己的事，下一分钟有人打断你。像这样的动作可能会令人讨厌和恼火，但对于我们中的...

There aren’t many parents who would say that raising children is easy. For many people, having children can force parents to choose between career and family. Sometimes it comes down to finances – sending a child to nursery or hiring a nanny can be a huge financial burden that is unsustainable, while others may feel it’s better to be a hands-on parent. These days, more and more men are choosing to...

Bath or shower? How do you prefer to keep yourself clean? Whatever your daily ablutions, we know it’s important to have good personal hygiene. Nobody wants to smell, and nobody wants to catch your odour! A shower can bring you certain other benefits, but how often should we wash ourselves under a watery spray? 浴缸还是淋浴？你喜欢怎样保持自己的清洁？无论您的日常沐浴方式如何，我们都知道保持良好的个...

One thing we always remember from our childhood is our favourite teddy bear. This soft, ragged toy was our comfort and companion. As we grow up, we normally give up our childish ways, and our furry friend often ends up in storage or at a jumble sale. But that’s not the case for everyone. 我们从小就永远记得的一件事是我们最喜欢的泰迪熊。这个柔软、破烂的玩具是我们的安慰和伴侣。随着我们的成长，我们通...

How bored are you? Having nothing to do, or doing the same task again and again, can certainly be demotivating. And if boredom persists, you can lose your lust for life, and it can even affect your mental health. But does being bored have to be boring? 你有多无聊？无事可做，或者一次又一次地做同样的事情，肯定会让人失去动力。如果无聊持续存在，您可能会失去对生活的渴望，甚至会影响您的心理健康。但是无...

Who do you count as your friends? From our BFF to a work mate, it’s good to have someone to chew the fat with or offer comfort and support. But when it comes to friendship, is it more important to have quantity or quality? 你认为谁是你的朋友？从我们的 BFF 到工作伙伴，有人一起咀嚼脂肪或提供安慰和支持是件好事。但是说到友谊，是数量重要还是质量重要？ The recent isolation we have endured due to the cor...

Sometimes life doesn’t seem to play fair. It blindsides you at the most inopportune moments, and even if we can learn to grin and bear the ups and downs, they can take their toll on our psyche. So rather than suffer in silence or let these things get you down, maybe there is another way: what if humour can help you get through the dark times? 有时生活似乎并不公平。它在最不合时宜的时刻让你措手不及...

There’s one thing for certain – we’re all getting older. And while the older amongst us may be no spring chickens any more, growing old gracefully is no bad thing. And with age comes wisdom. However, as the world population ages, will there be enough people to replace our younger selves? 有一件事是肯定的——我们都在变老。虽然我们当中的老年人可能不再是春鸡，但优雅地变老并不是一件坏事。随着年龄的增长...

It’s the middle of winter, and the prospect of warm sunny days is a long way off. For some of us, it’s the most depressing time of year, where daylight is limited and the weather is often miserable – this is when the winter blues set in. So what can be done to lift our spirits? 现在是隆冬，距离温暖晴朗的日子还有很长的路要走。对于我们中的一些人来说，这是一年中最令人沮丧的时候，日光有限，天气通常很...

What’s your favourite genre of film? For many people who love being petrified, or scared out of their wits, by jump scares that answer will be horror. Whether it’s splatter films, wastelands in the apocalypse, monsters like demons, zombies, vampires, werewolves or phantoms, there’s something to suit everyone’s taste. But just why do people enjoy watching these terrifying films? 你最喜欢的电影类型...

We are all aware of the effect greenhouse gas emissions is having on our planet and the efforts needed to tackle climate change. Most of us are doing our bit to minimise our impact on the environment, but despite our collective effort, are we doing enough to achieve net zero by 2050? 我们都知道温室气体排放对我们星球的影响以及应对气候变化所需的努力。我们大多数人都在尽自己的一份力量来尽量减少我们对...

Do you like to bury your head in a good book? Getting absorbed in a good story is a great way to relax. It improves your literacy, and, according to some experts, it’s good for your health as well. Studies show that it can increase our emotional intelligence as we understand a range of perspectives and motivations. But despite these benefits, does the way we consume a story make any difference? 你...

It’s difficult not to admire the talent of a skilled musician. Whether it be a pianist, flautist or cellist, these individuals have shown dedication and passion over a long period of time to reach the highest levels of performance. But they say it’s never too late to learn. So what are the benefits, for both children and adults, in learning a musical instrument? 很难不钦佩一位技艺高超的音乐家的才...

Weddings are expensive affairs – there’s nothing new or surprising in that statement. When we talk about the costs of a wedding, we often think about the financial toll on the person paying for it. The outlay on tiered cakes, the dress with a long train, appliques and veil, and canapes at the reception can all add up. But what about the guests? The cost to your friends and family to attend. 婚礼是...