The benefits of doing nothing ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Some animals evolved to do nothing. And if it’s good enough for animals, would being lazy work for humans too? That’s what Beth and Neil talk about as they teach you some useful vocabulary.

❓❓❓This week's question
What is the slowest moving animal on earth?
a) the giant tortoise
b) the three-toed sloth
c) the koala

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
✔️kick back
stop doing things and relax completely

✔️industrious
hard-working

✔️colony
group of certain animals, birds or insects that live together

✔️productive
able to produce a lot for the amount of resources used

✔️necessity is the mother of invention
(idiom) meaning that if you really need to do something, you will think of a way of doing it

✔️switch off
stop worrying or thinking about something, and relax

[Cover: Getty Images]
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#learnenglish #bbclearningenglish #lazy #ants

[NguyễnPhươngQuỳnh-ft]

I'm a Vietnamese high schooler, and as an Asian teenage girl, I'm always under strain of pleasing my parents and keeping pace with my peers. It seems hard for me to have a lie-down sometimes, that's why I'm often under the weather. I truly dig about this channel, it's an effective way for me to not only switch off but also equip myself with necessary words and phrases which do wonders for my work at school. Thanks a lot BBC

[trangdieu.c]

VOCABULARY FROM VIDEO “The benefits of doing nothing”
1. Exhausted: extremely tired
2. Be (as) busy as a bee: to be moving about quickly doing many things
3. Colony: a country or area controlled politically by a more powerful country that is often far away
4. Paradox: a situation or statement that seems impossible or is difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts or characteristics
5. Algae: very simple, usually small plants that grow in or near water and do not have ordinary leaves or roots
6. Kick back: stop doing things and relax completely
7. Industrious: hard-working
8. Colony: group of certain animals, birds or insects that live together
9. Productive: able to produce a lot for the amount of resources used
10. Necessity is the mother of invention: (idiom) meaning that if you really need to do something, you will think of a way of doing it
11. Switch off: stop worrying or thinking about something, and relax
17.06.2023 VIETNAM
ALL THE BEST FOR YOU

[lka]

0:26 kick back
0:33 be as busy as a bee
0:36 worker bees
0:41 be always on the move
0:55 evolve
1:13 work up
1:18 to louch around
1:32 three-toed sloth
2:01 motionless
2:19 ant colonies
2:24 5:25 industriousness
3:03 step in
3:55 stimulation
3:56 switch off
4:25 proverb
5:12 algae, coats
5:42 nessesity is the mother of invention

[nowdarius]

After working long hours, I felt exhausted, as busy as a bee in a bustling colony; however, I realized the paradox that even though I was drained, I found solace in the algae-green park, where I could kick back, appreciate nature, and switch off from the demands of the world. It reminded me that being industrious doesn't always mean being productive; sometimes, taking a break is a necessity, as it is said, "necessity is the mother of invention."

[aLươngThịHồngNgọc]

It has been more than 1 week since I sit a high school graduation exam. That's unforgettable memories cuz I almost bury in letters, numbers, vocabulary, formulation....even be burnt out and gave up my dream. But having finished the final test, I realize wow, I can be industrious more than I think. And now, I am enjoying my rest days, kicking back but sometimes have butterflies in my stomach cuz I can't stop switching off about my upcoming results. Now for me, everyday is Sunday

[MuhtorbekRozimboyev]

These podcasts are increadibly useful for English learners. I'm grateful🙏I'm from UZBEKISTAN

[straynight-vv]

Hello! I've created a set of IELTS Listening practice questions based on the news transcript. I encourage you to try them out to enhance your English listening comprehension skills.

1. Multiple Choice: What did Neil say he had done during his day?

a) Attended meetings and went shopping
b) Attended meetings, went shopping, and picked up the kids from school
c) Stayed at home relaxing​

2. True/False/Not Given: According to the speaker, most animals spend most of the time doing nothing at all.​

3. Short Answer Question: Why, according to the speaker, do some animals spend a lot of time doing nothing?​

4. Multiple Choice: What is the name of the animal that sleeps up to 20 hours a day according to the discussion?

a) The rock ant
b) The giant tortoise
c) The lion​

5. Short Answer Question: What animal is being studied by Professor Dan Charbonneau?

6. True/False/Not Given: According to Professor Dan Charbonneau, about half the ants in a colony are inactive at any given time.

7. Multiple Choice: What is one theory as to why some ants in a colony are inactive?

a) They are lazy
b) They are reserve ants
c) They are injured​

8. Sentence Completion: Dr. Sandi Mann believes that productivity is and boredom can lead to

9. Multiple Choice: According to the discussion, what is the slowest moving animal on Earth?

a) The giant tortoise
b) The three-toed sloth
c) The koala​

10. Summary Completion Question: Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each space.

The news discusses the concept of laziness in both animals and humans. The speaker mentions that many animals spend a significant portion of their time doing nothing, and that some species, like ants, have large portions of their populations remaining inactive. These inactive ants may serve as in case of disease or disaster. Professor Dan Charbonneau, who studies the behavior of ants, and Dr. Sandi Mann, a psychologist, provide their perspectives on the topic. Dr. Mann suggests that being is overrated, and that boredom can lead to She proposes that boredom might be the mother of invention, a twist on the familiar idiom that is the mother of invention.


Answer:

1. b) Attended meetings, went shopping, and picked up the kids from school
2. True
3. Because finding food and shelter is hard work.
4. c) The lion
5. The rock ant.
6. True
7. b) They are reserve ants
8. overrated, inventions
9. b) The three-toed sloth
10. reserve ants, productive, inventions, necessity

[ShahnajSultana-vrld]

Thank you BBC for providing such a lovely information. I would like to do nothing in order to switch off.

[Huyn]

Vocabulary (8/7/23)
1. Be busy as a bee (a)
2. Be always on the move (a)
3. Motion (n) >< Motionless (n)
4. Industrious (a): hard-working
5. Kick back (phr v): to stop doing things and relax completely
6. Switch off (phr v): to stop worrying or thinking about something and get relaxed
7. Evolve (v): develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form

[НатальяАнисимова-лц]

I can't doing nothing, even now I'm trying to improve my English with this video

[Neo-szbj]

Thank you for class.　I understood the importance of taking breaks very well.

[humeraejaz]

I love learning and knowing everything that I don't know.

[monteio]

Listening direct from Brazil. Thanks BBC from England and hugs for all.❤

[pulse]

I love the graphic of the videos ♥️
The Titans of the past praised to take a lot of rest, it is ok to work hard, but having a proper balance between free time and work is even better.

[LAURABUSTOS-muwt]

I love your podcasts, an effective way for learning english by mean of real facts.

[carlosjulianpenagos]

It's necessary to doing nothing, because your mind rest, when you come back to work or study you feeling great. In the last 2 months, I've been meditating to think clearly, it's fantastic habit.

[Amy-uvgm]

These podcasts are increadibly useful for English learners. I'm gratefulI'm from UZBEKISTAN

[Anglais-facile]

I am a big fan of 6 mn English. best way to learn English.

[FatenAhmed-]

I used to hear English accent for long period of time when I started hearing British accent again it seems so strange...unfamiliar to my ears ...listening to all different accent is important to level up in the language ❤...Thank you for the 6 min 🎉

[АдильХамитов-эп]

Such a good video. Honestly I don't work but I want to get a new job. Sometimes it's hard to not work for me. I do nothing and it makes me sad. It feels like I spend my time in a bad way. The reason why I do nothing is social medias like YouTube and Instagram. In my opinion we need to break down from social medias to be more active and positive. That's a bad habit and I want to destroy it. The reason why I get bored is social medias again. Thanks BBC😊👍