Stress in the workplace

A surgeon and a pilotRob And Neil discuss a rise in the number of people suffering from stress in the workplace.

The question is: According to a survey carried out this year, what is considered to be the most stressful job? Is it:

a) A commercial airline pilot

b) A school teacher

c) A surgeon

Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!

-Written text_pdf


-Vocabulary to understand the text:


a feeling of tension and worry


being unavailable


difficult, hard


people who are paid to work for somebody

taking its toll

causing suffering, harm or damage

public sector

part of the economy that is controlled or supported financially by the government

organisational change

replacing the structure of a workplace with a different one

job security

the probability of someone keeping their job for a long time


jobs which will stop existing

a strategy

a plan to achieve something


professional advice about a problem, often relating to mental health

Handwriting for the modern age

FontsRob and Cath talk about fonts and how the choice of fonts can indicate what type of person you are.

The question is: Do you know which language the word ‘font’ originates from? Is it:

a) Spanish

b) German

c) French

Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!

-Written text-pdf


-Vocabulary to understand this text:


different styles and sizes of letters that are used in printing or typing

an array

a group or collection of things or people, often large or impressive


the way of preparing and arranging printed material, especially designing how text will appear when it’s printed


the art of producing beautiful handwriting often using a brush or a special pen


simple and basic


qualities or features that are typical of someone or something


concerned with reducing suffering and improving the conditions that people live in


efficient and effective


disliked very much


light-hearted, full of confidence and energetic

Aboriginal bones

Aboriginal art (left), Aboriginal woman (right)Rob and Cath talk about why it’s important that Aboriginal bones, which were kept in museums, are being returned to their people.

The  question is:

Where in your body would you find the humerus bone? In your:

a) leg

b) arm

c) head

Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!

-Written text-pdf


-The vocabulary to understand the text is:


A native of a country or region is somebody who was born there.


An object which is of interest to archaeologists, usually something made by humans.


The people we are descended from: our parents, grandparents, etc.


People who originally belonged to a place.


To look after something for someone.


Extreme unhappiness, pain or upset.


A formal or religious event, such as a wedding or a burial.


Actions which are traditionally carried out in a particular situation or ceremony.


Something that makes you feel very emotional.


To put your arms around somebody or something.


A group of people who work together to persuade an organisation to do something.


William and KateRob and Stephen talk about new changes to ancient laws about succession in the British monarchy.

The question is: This is a royal question! Can you tell me which King did the current British Queen, Queen Elizabeth the Second, succeed? Was it:

a) King George the Fifth

b) King George the Sixth

c) King Edward the Eighth

Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!

-Written text-pdf


-The vocabulary to understand the text is:


act or process of following in order or sequence


a king or queen who reigns over a country


gives up a position of being a king or a queen


no longer useful or relevant


a positive opinion of someone or something


preference of something or someone over other similar things or persons

ruled out

prevented from happening or from being possible


important in history


changes and improvements to the law, social system or institution


carrying out a plan, system or law


Barack Obama and Nicolas SarkozySarkozy told Obama that the Israeli Prime Minister was a liar. It was a private conversation. The only problem was the microphone was turned on. Find out about this and other political gaffes with Neil and Callum.

The question is: A question about Presidents. Who is the President of Germany? Is it:

a) Angela Merkel

b) Christian Wulff

c) Jurgen Klinsmann

Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!

-Written text-pdf


-The vocabulary to understand the text is:

political gaffes

something a politician says or does which wasn’t meant to be heard and causes embarrassment or offence


heard something without meaning to or without the speakers’ knowledge

ethically unsound

below the standards of their profession


a politeness and respect for someone or something


a person with strong and unreasonable opinions which they won’t change despite evidence

the final nail in the coffin

the last in a series of events leading to the failure of something



Night Skies

Stars in the night skyThe best places to see stars are the darkest places on the planet, like deserts and mountain tops. Recently, it has been discovered that Exmoor National Park, in south-west England, is one of the best places in the UK to see stars because it’s so dark there at night. It’s even been awarded special protection status. Find out more about this with Neil and Callum.

The question is: how many moons has the biggest planet in the solar system, Jupiter, got? Is it:

a) 1

b) 12

c) 64

Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!

-Written text-pdf


-The vocabulary to understand this text is:

light pollution

artificial light at night which makes the night sky lighter and means stars can’t be seen very well


describes the way light from stars seems to shine strongly then weakly


an object which moves around a larger object in space

star gazer

someone who enjoys looking at stars

realm of opportunity

chances to explore a certain area of interest

amateur astronomers

people who study the stars as a hobby

TV Addicts

A man walking past televisions in a shopMost people can’t imagine life without TV, yet it’s only 75 years since regular broadcasting began. 

The question is: how many hours a week on average does someone in the UK watch television? Is it:

a) 20 hours

b) 30 hours

c) 40 hours

Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!

Written text-pdf


The vocabulary to understand the text is:


someone who can’t stop doing something (usually something harmful like taking drugs but also time-consuming activities like watching TV)


a method of communication, such as radio, TV or newspapers


a method of sending messages over long distances using radio or electric signals

to settle for (something)

to accept something less than you hoped for


relating to what can be seen


new or being tried for the first time


relating to powers that we cannot understand


companies that produce things

high definition

a new, high standard for TV quality

spoilt for choice

a phrase meaning to have too many options or things to choose from