Making Diet Resolutions Stick

Making Diet Resolutions Stick
with Jonathon E. Stewart
Why make a diet resolution if you can't keep it for more than a week? Try these tips to keep you in check and make your weight loss resolution a habit you keep with you all year long.

Transcript: Making Diet Resolutions StickHey guys - Jonathon Stewart here for About.com. Getting into the habit of eating healthy, nutritious foods will not only help you to lose weight, feel better, and live longer, it will also give you the self-confidence of knowing you can create a positive change in your life. But how do you make a resolution about your diet that you'll actually stick to? Easy-peasey, japanesey! Check it out.
View Your Diet Resolution as a Lifestyle Change First, don't think of what you're doing as restricting yourself from anything. If you're trying to lose weight or cut inches off your body, or just eat more healthy, nourishing foods, think of the endeavor as a change in lifestyle - not as something that you have to eliminate from your life, temporarily or otherwise. This includes making sure that your diet has variety - don't limit yourself to just eating grapefruit in the morning, or cottage cheese at lunch. Take some time to research healthy foods that are high in nutrition and low in fat or excessive carbohydrates, and head to the grocery store with a list. Think of it as a new food exploratory adventure!
Set Realistic Diet ResolutionsNext, be realistic about the goals you set for yourself. With the help of your doctor, a nutritionist, or some well-thought out research online, make a plan and write it down, along with short and long term mileposts. If you're slimming down, aim for losing a half pound to two pounds a week at the most, and be sure to chart your progress as you go. Making an ongoing list of things that you look forward to doing, and how you plan to feel when you reach your goals can help to keep you focused as well. Spend a little time each day specifically concentrating on your new you, and feeling good about yourself as you go.
Find a Diet Resolution Buddy You might also think about recruiting a buddy who shares a similar resolution with you - a spouse, sibling, or good friend can be a great person to plan meals with, just don't let their downfalls suck you in. They should be there to support your success, not the other way around.
Be Aware of Diet Temptations Be able to identify trouble spots that are likely to kick you back into old eating habits, like Tuesday Wing Night after work, or the coffee shop where you once indulged in a daily triple-fat venti mochacino. Find new routines to support your new healthy eating habits, and remember that in every moment, you are in control of what you put in your body. Because the only person who's guiltily stuffing that bacon-wrapped hot dog into your mouth at 3am is you.
Remember to Bounce Back Finally, don't be discouraged by setbacks. There's every likelihood that you may stumble, just don't let it knock you off track. Get back up, dust yourself off, redouble your resolve, and never look back. And before you know it, you really will be a new you.

Thanks for watching! To learn more, visit us on the Web at About.com.

THE OTHER MEDICINE

Every year, one in five of us tries some sort of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) - what's the attraction? And what do we get out of it?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/other_medicine_transcript5.shtml

Should we regulate complementary and alternative medicine?

A quarter of the UK population has tried some form of complementary therapy - the most familiar being acupuncture, osteopathy and homeopathy.Osteopathy and chiropractic are regulated, but there is no body that regulates complementary or alternative medicine - and there is no law that says you have to be qualified to practice. The government has just announced it's to look into herbalism and acupuncture and propose statutory regulation, but that leaves a whole raft of therapies with no control. Last Friday Reginald Gill, who called himself a wellness practitioner, was sentenced to a year in prison for deception under the Trades Descriptions Act. He claimed he could cure cancer. Sheila Cracknell tells Jenni how she took him to court after her son Stephen died. So what sort of regulation would prevent quacks setting up as therapists and how can we be sure what works and what doesn't? Edzard Ernst, Profesor of Complementary Medicine at the Peninsula Medical School of the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth and Jayne Goddard, President of the Complementary Medical Association join Jenni to discuss

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2004_10_mon_01.shtml

Britons keen on complementary medicine

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2952969.stm

WHO warns on alternative medicine

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3831931.stm

Comparisons

A Review of comparison:
Comparative structures

• to a higher degree:
Boston is smaller/safer than New York.
Living in the centre is more fashionable these days.
• to the same degree:
Congestion in London is (just) as bad as it is in Paris.
He's as good a policeman as his father was.
Both cities are equally beautiful.
• to a lower degree:
The city is not as/so safe as it used to be.
It's not such a safe city as it used to be.
That's not such a good idea. (implied: as you might think)

2 Superlative structures
Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world. Prison is the most/least effective way of dealing with such cnmes.

B Modifying comparisons
1 To express a big difference, we can use:
• a great deal, (quite) a lot, considerably, far, (very) much + comparative
It's much easier to get around today.
• by far (and away), easily + superlative
This is easily the best book I've ever read.
• nothing like, not nearly, nowhere near as ... as
Graffiti is nowhere near as serious a crime as murder.
• just about + superlative
He's just about the nicest person I know. (= extremely nice)

2 To express a small difference, we can use:
• barely, a bit, hardly any, a little, scarcely (any), slightly, somewhat + comparative
The house is scarcely bigger than a rabbit hutch.
• nearly, not quite as ... as, much the same as ...
The city is much the same as it was 50 years ago.

C so/such;too/enough (result)
so + adjective + that-clause
The demonstration was so peaceful that most of the police left·
• such a + adjective + noun + that-clause
It was such a peaceful demonstration that most of the police left.
• too + adjective (+ for) + to-infinitive
It was too dangerous (for us) to go out at night.
• (not) adjective + enough (+ for) + to-infinitive
It wasn't safe enough (for us) to go out at night.

D Other types of comparison

1 Repetition of the same comparative form to emphasise increase or decrease:
I'm getting colder and colder / more and more anxious.

2 the ... the to say how a change in one thing affects another:
The more I see you, the more I like you. The less you know, the better.
The longer we stand here in the rain, the worse I feel.

3 To contrast two similar qualities:
His behaviour was more strange than suspicious. (His behaviour was strange rather than suspicious.)
I'm not so much angry as relieved.

E as versus like
1 like + noun = similar to
He looks like a criminal. (but he's not)

2 as + name of job, etc. = role, function
He works as an 'extra' in films. (That's his job.)

F Ways of expressing preferences
We sometimes use comparative forms when expressing preferences:
I'd want/prefer to pay an on-the-spot fine rather than go to court.
I'd (far) sooner/rather live in Chicago than New York.

Past tense for hypothetical meanings: Wish/if only etc.

Past tenses for hypothetical meanings
We use past tenses after the following expressions to describe situations in the present, past or future which are imagined or unreal:

wish / if only, It's (high) time, would rather/sooner, would prefer, as if/though, suppose/supposing, what if

A wish / if only
1 We use wish / if only + past when we want a present situation to be different:
I wish / If only we had more money. (but we haven't)
I wish I was (formal: were) a bit taller. (but I'm not)
2 wish + would is used to express a wish for something to change in the present or future.
• We often use it to criticise or complain about someone or something:
I wish Peter would wear smarter clothes. I wish the weather would improve.
• I wish + would cannot be used to refer to oneself:
I wish I could (not would) stop smoking. (but I can't)
• We cannot use would for an impossible change:
If only the earth was (formal: were) square.

Note
Notice the difference between wish and hope. If we hope something will happen, we believe it is possible and likely:
I hope they will come. (= I want them to and I think it's likely.)
I wish they would come. (= I don't believe it's likely.)

3 We use wish / if only + past perfect to express regret about a past situation:
I wish we'd had something to eat earlier. (but we didn't)
If only I hadn't missed my appointment. (but I did)

4 Differences between wish and if only.
• if only is usually more emphatic than I wish.
• We can put a subject between if and only for emphasis:
If only you / If you only knew what I've been going through.

B It's time
We use this expression to say that something is not happening and it should be:
It's (high) time you gave up playing computer games. (You should give them up!)

C would rather/sooner, would prefer
I'd rather / I'd sooner you didn't ask me for any more money. (Please don't!)
I'd prefer it if you didn't ask me for any more money.

Notes
• If the speaker and the preference are the same, we use an infinitive, not the past tense:
I'd rather/sooner watch TV. (not Fe watch)
I'd prefer to watch TV (not-watch)
• We can also say I'd prefer you not to go.

D as if/ as though
• We use the past after as if/as though to indicate that the situation is unlikely:
He acts as if/though he was (formal: were) a teenager. (In fact, he's in his thirties.)
• We use a present tense to indicate that something is likely:
He looks as if/though he is a teenager. (And he probably is.)

E suppose/supposing, imagine, what if
We use these expressions to ask about an imaginary situation in the present or future, and its possible consequences:
(just) suppose/supposing/imagine you won the lottery, how would you spend the money?
What if you had hurt yourself-what would have happened then?

CONDITIONALS

Conditionals
1 Zero conditional: real events/situations, things which are always true
If means the same as when.
• present + present
If / When I work late, I always get home tired.
• past + past
If / When the weather was bad, we used to stay indoors.

2 First conditional: possible or likely events/situations (future)
If + present + modal verb / present continuous (with future meaning) / going to / imperative
If it snows tomorrow, the match willlmaylcould be cancelled / I'm staying at home.

3 Second conditional: unlikely or unreal situations (present or future)
If + past + would/could/might + infinitive
If you met your favourite actor on the street (unlikely), what would you do?
If I became President (but I won't), I'd build more hospitals. (in the future)
If I were you (but I'm not), I'd take warm clothes. (= advice)

4 Third conditional: unreal/impossible past situations
If + past perfect + wouldlcould/might + have + past participle
If we had known about the blizzard, we wouldn't have set out. (but we didn't know)
If you had listened more carefully (but you didn't), you would have understood. (= criticism)

Mixed conditional structures combine the verb forms from two different conditional patterns. The most common combinations are:
• unreal past + unreal present
If we hadn't got lost, we'd be there by now.
• unreal present + unreal past
If I were a more ambitious person (but I'm not), I'd have become a politician.

Other conjunctions can be used to introduce conditions:
• unless (= if ... not or only if)
Unless the weather improves, we will have to cancel the game. (If the weather doesn't improve ... )
She won't go to sleep unless you tell her a story. (She will only go to sleep if you ... )
• providing/provided (that), on condition that, as/so long as (= only if)
Note
These conjunctions are not used with the third conditional.
I'll lend you the money providing (that) you pay it back. I'd lend you the money as long as you paid it back.
• but for (= if it had not been for, if ... not)
But for your warning, we wouldn't have realised the danger. (If it had not been for your warning, / If you had not warned us, ... )

• whether ... or not (= it doesn't matter which of these situations )
Whether governments like it or not, they have to give more aid to the developing world.
• suppose/supposing, what if (used to talk about imaginary situations)
- The present tense suggests the condition may be fulfilled:
What if your plan fails, what then?
- The past tense suggests the condition is unlikely:
Suppose you won the Lottery, what would you do?
• assuming that (= in the possible situation that) Assuming (that) you're right, we should turn left here.
• in case (as a way of being safe from something that might happen)
Take your umbrella in case it rains.
• otherwise (= if not)
Let's hope the weather improves. Otherwise (= If it doesn't), we'll have to cancel the picnic.
D Omission of if
If can be omitted and the auxiliary verb moved in front of the subject (inversion). this structure is formal.
• should suggests that the condition is unlikely:
Should you ever find yourself in Oxford, we would be glad to see you. (If you should ever ... )
• were suggests that the condition is unlikely:
Were the company to collapse, many people would lose their savings. (If the company collapsed ... )
• had
Had I known earlier that you wanted to join the team, I'd
have put your name on the list. (If I had known ... )
My horse would have won had he not fallen at the final fence. ( ... if he had not fallen ... )

Conditional sentences

The first conditional
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode24/languagepoint.shtml?postcard_dropdown=Episodes&x=7&y=11

The second conditional
www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1159_gramchallenge38/

The third conditional
www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv356.shtml

mixed conditionals
www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv344.shtml

Inversion in conditional sentences

Is the sentence Hadn't it been for?...(as an alternative to Had it not been for?...) correct or incorrect?

www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv342.shtml

Climate change

US scientists have reported that humans have had a significant influence on the earth's climate over the last ten thousand years. This report by Richard Black:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/031224_witn.shtml

More people recycle their rubbish

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4240000/newsid_4244700/4244776.stm

Hear story

Q&A: Eco-towns

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7481457.stm

Prosecution vow for fly tippers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6225803.stm

Illegal dumping of rubbish in the Welsh countryside is a growing problem, according to environment officials.

Spain plans to build casino city

Reading
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8020523.stm

The Spanish region of Aragon is due to approve a law that would allow the biggest casino and entertainment centre in Europe to be built.
The planned complex near the village of Ontiñena has strong local support despite giant casino operators in Macau and Las Vegas struggling with the economic crisis.
Danny Wood reports.

Watch the video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8019874.stm

Organic food

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/food_matters/organicfood.shtml

Food Idioms

http://www.learnenglish.de/vocabulary/foodidioms.htm

St George's Day

The St George's Cross is the national flag of England

The 23rd April is St George's Day and all over England people are proudly celebrating their patron saint and their country. Britain's population is extremely diverse and is made up of many different cultures and nationalities, so what makes someone feel British? Join Kate and Jackie as they discuss national identity and the different ways of defining it?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2009/04/090423_6min_st_george_page.shtml

In Praise Of Slow Food

"Slow food" is more of a philosophy than a cuisine -- it's defined by how a meal is prepared, and how it should be enjoyed. It's also the name of an international movement, founded in Italy, with more than 65,000 members across the globe. NPR's Jacki Lyden speaks with Corby Kummer, author of a new book on the movement. View three "slow food" recipes.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1152040

Learning English with Obama

.

The speeches of the new United States President Barack Obama are proving to be a popular aid to learning English in Japan. A special compilation has gone on sale, quickly becoming a national bestseller.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2009/02/090223_witn_obama.shtml

Vocabulary notebooks and word maps

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1143_exams/page10.shtml

Vocabulary Mind Map

According to Wikipedia, a mind map is 'a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea' .
Mind maps are a great tool for organising and learning vocabulary. You can draw them by hand or create them on your computer.

Maximize the power of your brain.Tony Buzan Mind Mapping

Bob Marley: The Man, The Myth, The Brand

More than 25 years after his death, the singer is still the king of reggae — and a counterculture icon. Now, his family is looking toward its own legacy. Last month, family members announced an ambitious plan to capitalize on the Marley legend by introducing a line of Marley-branded products, including salad dressing and a video game.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101674745

Family and relationships.

Single Children Families

Are only children the way of the future?

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show a steady rise in the number of only children. How does being an only child affect us? Does it create a more motivated adult, a spoilt adult or make no difference. What are the long term consequences of smaller families for us as a society with an ageing population? Sheila McClennon is joined by Damon Syson, journalist and father of one, Ann Richardson, a psychotherapist specialising in single child adults, and an only child herself, and Anastasia De Waal Head of Family and Education at Civitas, and youngest of five.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/03/2009_14_mon.shtml

Writing a report

Model answer.
From: Advanced Expert CAE: Ed. Pearson/Longman

Writing an article

Model Answer

From: Advanced expert CAE. ed. Person/Longman

Marie Douglas-David demands $100m divorce settlement

Read the following article and then watch the video.

Ms Douglas-David's expenses include $4,500 for clothes, $8,000 for travel, $700 for limousine service and $1,570 for horse care
A 36-year-old countess is demanding that her husband double her divorce settlement to $100 million (£69 million) as she hasn’t enough to cover weekly expenses of more than $53,000. Marie Douglas-David wants to tear up /tɛər/a postnuptial agreement with George David– formerly one of the most respected chief executive officers in American corporate life, and 30 years her senior – under which she would receive just $43 million.
She says she was coerced ( pressure) into signing the agreement by her husband, the former head of United Technologies Corporation, who is worth an estimated $329 million, during their six-year marriage.
The Swedish countess, previously an investment banker, says she has no income and has listed her weekly expenses in a court document. These include $4,500 for clothes, $1,000 for hair and skin treatments, $1,500 for restaurants and entertainment, $8,000 for travel, $700 for limousine services, $2,209 for an assistant, $1,570 for horse care and $600 for flowers.
Accusations of infidelity, bullying and extortion have been flung (thrown) back and forth (backward and forward)at the divorce hearing in a Connecticut courtroom this week as the pair have fought for the sympathy of the judge.
The couple met when Countess Marie Douglas, a descendant of Grand Duke Ludwig I of Baden, was 30 and an asset manager for Lazard Asset Management, investing in United Technologies stock. Mr David, who had divorced his first wife and mother of his three children several years earlier, built United Technologies, the Connecticut-based conglomerate that owns a wide range of businesses from aerospace manufacturing to lifts, into an international success.
The couple joined the New York charity set and jetted around the world. They separated initially in 2004, allegedly over her infidelity. In 2005, after a series of reconciliations, the couple signed a postnuptial agreement giving Ms Douglas-David $43 million should they divorce. Mr David, 67, was accused in court of coercing her to sign it by preying (being a victim of) upon her fears of being divorced and childless.
William Beslow, a prominent New York divorce lawyer, who represented Marla Maples in her divorce from Donald Trump, said his client thought that she was in “a loving, sound(untroubled) marriage” when her husband pushed her into signing the deal. “He put a [figurative] gun to the back of her head,” Mr Beslow told Judge Stephen Frazzini in his opening statement.
Ms Douglas-David wants nearly $100 million in cash and shares, plus about $130,000 a month in alimony(maintenance) payments. Her expenses include maintaining a Park Avenue apartment and three homes in Sweden.
Mr Beslow accused Mr David of pushing his wife into quitting her job so that she could travel and entertain with him. “He ridiculed her as a professional. He diminished her self-confidence,” he said. Mr Beslow said the final straw for his client came in 2008, when she found e-mails disclosing an affair between her husband and a younger woman.
Mr David’s lawyer, Anne Dranginis, accused Ms Douglas-David of nagging (criticizing) and hounding(acosar) her husband with “extensive, long diatribes”(criticism ) over little things “like how he held his fork or how he drafted (designed) invitations”.
Mr David, who stepped down (resigned) as United Technologies chief executive in 2008, argues that he and his wife have already fulfilled some of the terms of the agreement, and that she had tried to have it enforced during a previous court case. He says those facts support the agreement’s validity and is asking the judge to uphold (preserve) the agreement and order his wife to vacate their Park Avenue apartment.
In his court filings, Mr David said that he spends more than $200,000 a week, including $95,943 to own and operate his 90ft yacht. He spends $18,042 a week on charities, $7,491 on travel, $7,125 on entertainment, $2,500 on clothing and $1,773 on food.
Outside court, Ms Douglas-David said: “I’m just very sad that we are where we are.”

tear up: to cancel or annul

formerly:previously

Her senior: older or elder

back and forth: the back-and-forth movement of a clock's pendulum.

Jetted:to transport by jet plane

Quit:to cease from doing something; stop

the last straw
The last in a series of grievances or burdens that finally exceeds the limits of endurance: “The management has given me nothing but trouble since I took this job, and now they've cut my benefits! Well, that's the last straw: I quit!” It comes from an old expression, “the straw that broke the camel's back.”

to diminish:to make or cause to seem smaller, less, less important, etc.; lessen; reduce.

Love and marriage

How important is it to say ‘I love you’?

Telling your partner that you love them every day has just been revealed as one of the secrets of a happy marriage – but for many people such declarations don’t come naturally. Some would rather show their affection through actions rather than words, and others feel it cheapens feelings to express them too often. So what happens when you and your spouse feel differently about those three little words? Journalist Angela Epstein and Paul Taylor, senior lecturer in communications theory at University of Leeds join Jenni to discuss.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/01/2009_11_fri.shtml

Patti Smith: Because the night

Take me now baby here as I am

pull me close, try and understand

desire is hunger is the fire I breathe
love is a banquet on which we feed
come on now try and understand
the way I feel when I'm in your hands
take my hand come undercover
they can't hurt you now, can't hurt you now, can't hurt you now
because the night belongs to lovers
because the night belongs to love
because the night belongs to lovers
because the night belongs to us
have I doubt when I'm alone
love is a ring, the telephone
love is an angel disguised as lust
here in our bed until the morning comes
come on now try and understand
the way I feel under your command
take my hand as the sun descends
they can't touch you now, can't touch you now, can't touch you now
because the night belongs to lovers ...
with love we sleep
with doubt the vicious circle
turn and burns
without you I cannot live
forgive, the yearning burning
I believe it's time, too real to feel
so touch me now, touch me now, touch me now
because the night belongs to lovers ...
because tonight there are two lovers
if we believe in the night we trust
because tonight there are two lovers ...

Speaking: Relationships

From: Ready for First Certificate. Ed. Macmillan

Below are some pictures of different types of relationships.Talk about the positive and negative aspects of each relationship and then decide which two are the most important to you.

TWINS

http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-podcasts-themes-twins.htm

Listen to the podcast about twins and put the following statements in the order they are mentioned.

Jobs

From Advanced Expert CAE ed. Longman.Pearson

I'd like you to compare and contrast these photos, saying what personal qualities these jobs would require.

Sample answer

Right ... Well, these photos show a teacher, a doctor and a hairdresser. Looking first at the teacher and the doctor, I think these jobs are similar because they both require sensitivity and tact. To do either of these jobs, you must need a lot of patience. I suspect neither of these

people would survive without a good sense of humour because their work must get quite stressful at times. In my opinion, these jobs are both more important than being a hairdresser, but the hairdresser must also make people feel good about themselves and be patient if they have difficult customers!

Th e most obvious difference between the jobs is that a doctor needs a lot of knowledge and technical skills, whereas for a teacher of young children, I imagine the most important thing would be creativity and energy. A hairdresser is somewhere in the middle. You would also have
be creative to be a hairdresser but also have technical skills,
Although I think they are easier skills to learn than a doctor's. And I suppose being a good listener might not be quite as essential for a teacher as for a doctor. To be a hairdresser, you must listen a lot too, or you might give people haircuts that they don't like!

RELATIONSHIPS

From Advanced expert CAE. Pearson.Longman
Speaking
In this part of the test, I'm going to give each of you some pictures showing different relationships. I'd like you to talk about them on your own for about a minute,
- saying how important you think the relationships are and how they might change.

Sample answer:

Well, two of the photos show relationships between parents and children. One is a mother with a very young baby, and the second one is a father with a young child. The third photo is a young couple.
Er, in the photo of the mother with the baby there's definitely a feeling of tenderness, whereas in the picture with the father and the young son there's more excitement and fun - they're engaged in an activity that they're both enjoying. The last photo is slightly different as it shows a personal moment in a couple's relationship. They are holding hands and sitting close together, and they look very happy.
How might these relationships change? Well, obviously at some point the baby is going to become less dependent on its mother, and therefore that relationship is bound to change. And with the father and son, the child may well become interested in other things that the father's not particularly bothered about. So, if they don't have common interests, that could affect their closeness. For the couple, who knows how things might change? Anything could happen in the future for this couple!

Centros Net

Página Web de la Escuela

http://eoiutebo.educa.aragon.es/

George Michael back on stage

Spelling and pronunciation: silent letters

Silent letters listen and repeat

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv205.shtml

Charity: Why I Give. Bill Clinton Foundation

Charity: Bono on CNN

Story Highlights
Bono says he's "punching the air" after plan to eradicate malaria won funding
Global activist says you can change the world with $25 billion investment
Campaigning is "most inspiring" work, but pop star also still loves playing with band

(CNN) -- Global activist and U2 frontman Bono attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York to push world leaders to join his ONE campaign in fighting disease, poverty, and hunger. He talked to CNN's John Roberts on "American Morning" about recent successes and what's next.

ROBERTS: All this talk has been about the economy collapsing, $700 billion bailout. Congress is absolutely absorbed with that. Did that in any way affect what you were trying to do this week? Are people more focused on this economy than in helping out developing nations?

BONO: We got good news this week. I know normally I'm on your program with bad news -- the whingeing rock star -- but it's great. There's a disease, malaria -- it's 3,000 African kids die every day of mosquito bites. Sounds mad, but it's true. And people have committed and it looks like the funds are on the table so that that disease will be no more by 2015. That makes people like me punch the air and everyone who wears a ONE T-shirt and all our white band campaigners on college campuses all over the country -- it was a great day for them yesterday so we're celebrating that. I know it's extraordinary, that while you're having this meltdown on the markets, that people could even concentrate on this stuff, but I'm really grateful that they did. We had both [presidential] candidates make very powerful statements about the necessity for nonmilitary tools, for instance, in foreign policy. This is an America that both candidates want to show to the rest of the world -- the greatness of America.

ROBERTS: So you're hearing what you want to hear from these candidates?
BONO: Yeah. And you couldn't imagine a few years ago that you would have candidates so close to an election talking about this stuff, so yeah. Watch Bono say how he uses his star status on politicians »

ROBERTS: You were talking to Christine Romans outside the studio, who just did that piece for us a few minutes ago on what else could you do with $700 billion. What could you do with $700 billion?

BONO: We wouldn't be asking for that kind of money. These are serious matters, people have lost their jobs. But I think the bill for the whole world -- so America would be like a third of it -- for $25 billion you could absolutely change the world. You could put kids in school, most kids in school. You could eradicate diseases like malaria, as we're saying. We could change the water supplies. But what's important is that people who want to change the world, want to see their country, they see it as a patriotic act to show the world innovation of America, technology of America, pharmacology of America.

ROBERTS: For $25 billion, you could put every kid who's out of school in the world into school? That seems like a lot of people for $25 billion. Pretty good return on your investment.
BONO: It's a great return on investment. You heard me on your program before talking about debt cancellation. Strangely Americans don't know that because of debt cancellation there are already an extra 29 million African children in school. That's incredible. Because people got out on the streets on the (RED) campaign and stuff like that, there's now 2.5 million Africans on AIDS drugs, which are expensive. So your country is turning for me in the right direction on these issues.

ROBERTS: So you're hearing some of what you want to hear, particularly on the malaria issues. But the European Union had promised to increase aid by $50 billion between 2005 and 2010. It looks like they're going to fall $40 billion short.

BONO: They are, but they're still ahead of America. That's the bad news. You don't want to get me into the ring.

ROBERTS: Absolutely! Come on.
BONO: We've had meetings with Sarkozy this week as well as talking with McCain and Palin and as well as always talking with the Obama campaign. We do keep up the pressure on the Europeans, but the Europeans are way ahead of America on aid, just to put it in context. But you're right. They're not coming through on all of it. We will torture them too. That's our job.

ROBERTS: You talk a lot about these United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Let me go over a couple of those. It was supposed cut global poverty in half by the year 2015. Universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment by 2010. Begin to reverse the incidence of malaria by 2015. How far along that road are we?
BONO: The Millennium Development Goals are in a bit of trouble. It is astonishing to me ...

ROBERTS: Whose fault is that?
BONO: You know, politicians. They love signing checks, but they don't like cashing them. They love the photograph. These G-8 meetings, you'll see myself and my partner Bob Geldof arm-wrestling with politicians up against the wall.

ROBERTS: You're very effective at doing that. You get access to a lot of places. I remember I was on a trip with President Bush once, and you walked on Air Force One.

BONO: It's the absurdity of celebrity. I don't consider myself a celebrity in this sense, I think I'm an activist who knows what I'm talking about. But yeah, we get access, and we use it. It's true that there was a very ambitious plan signed up in 2005 that further committed what was decided in the year 2000, that we could actually across eight goals completely change the face of poverty and hunger in the world. And there was a $25 billion bill by 2010 that would enable them to do that. They haven't come through on that. And another day I'll tell you why, but today I'm punching the air because malaria will be no more by 2015. And it's Americans, people from the private sector -- Peter Chernin, Ray Chambers, all kinds of people, Bill Gates, your mayor of this city, [Michael] Bloomberg, is an amazing guy. He's working on this stuff. I just want Americans to know that side of their country because I'm a fan of America. And, again, you would have candidates, you know, like John McCain taking time out this week to talk to us, Barack Obama before. This is fantastic.

ROBERTS: I was reading your blog on financialtimes.com. You've been writing all week, doing a great job too. You mentioned in one of your pieces you've been writing some lyrics. And I'm wondering where the lyrics are going.
BONO: Statistics don't rhyme. Songwriting comes from such a different part of my brain and such a different part of who I am.

ROBERTS: Are you writing about all this?
BONO: No, it's strange. It's very strange. I used to work in a garage when I was a kid pumping gas, and I used to dream when I was pumping the gas about getting to rehearsals on a Saturday so I could be with my band and write songs. The work that I'm doing now, as we say, we're working like a dog, living like a shih tzu. We're spoiled people. We travel well, but we work. On these issues, because you're working for the world's poor, we work like dogs. But I find myself at times, sometimes I just wake up in the morning, and I just want to be back with my band in a rehearsal room.

ROBERTS: You will be soon. New CD coming out next year.
BONO: I'm not complaining about the work. This is the most inspiring thing I've ever been involved in in my life, and it's working. It really is working. And that's why I'm on your show this morning. I just want to thank Americans.
ROBERTS: Good luck on the new CD coming out next year. We're looking forward to it.

Countable and uncountable nouns. Determiners

Uncountable nouns
1 These refer to things we think of as a 'mass', rather than individual, countable things. They usually have no plural form and are used with a singular verb: accommodation, advice, clothing, equipment, food, flu, luggage, patience, weather, etc.
Progress is very slow.

2 We do not normally use the indefinite article (a/an) with uncountable nouns. Instead, determiners like some, any, etc. may be used:
Here is some advice. There isn't any evidence.

3 We can use the definite article with uncountable nouns when we are talking about a specific example of something:
Can you give me back the money I gave you?

However, we do not use the definite article to talk about things generally:
Money is the root of all evil.

4 To make uncountable nouns countable, we use phrases like these:
a bit of help, a piece of evidence/information, a pile of rubbish/books, a slice of bread/cake, a spoonful/two spoonfuls of (sugar)

B Countable or uncountable nouns?
1 Many nouns can be countable or uncountable depending on the context:
Uncountable
Life here is very good.
Time is short.
Don't stay out in the cold.
Science is not a popular subject.
Countable
Many lives were saved.
Times were hard.
Colds are common in winter.
The sciences are squeezed of funds.

2 Some uncountable nouns can be used with the indefinite article. They are usually qualified by an adjective or phrase:

Uncountable
Knowledge is power.
I've got no time.
Tolerance is a virtue.
Countable + adjectival phrase
He has a good knowledge of the area.
Have a good time.
He showed a great deal of tolerance.

C Subject-verb agreement
1 Uncountable nouns ending in -s are followed by a singular verb:
aerobics, athletics, genetics, maths, news, physics, politics, etc.
No news is good news.
2 These nouns are always followed by a plural verb:
• Nouns ending in -s, usually clothes and tools: pyjamas, shorts, trousers; glasses (= spectacles), pliers, scissors
To make these singular, we usually use a pair of: a pair of trousers

• Nouns made up of many 'parts':
the authorities, belongings, cattle, contents, goods, (the) people, (the) police, remains

3 The noun whereabouts can be followed by a singular or plural verb:
His whereabouts is/are unknown.

4 Collective nouns (nouns referring to groups)
• These may be used with a singular verb if we think of them as a single unit, or with a plural verb if we are referring to members of the group. We use the with these nouns:

The staff is excellent. (= thinking of an impersonal unit)
The staff are excellent. (= thinking of the people who work there)
The media is/are very powerful.
Other examples include: army, audience, choir, committee, headquarters, orchestra, press, public, team
• We generally use a singular verb after a/an + collective noun:
An army of volunteers is on its way.
• We generally use a plural verb after the following expressions when they are followed by of + plural noun: the majority/minority (of), a number (of), a couple (of)
Only a minority of people support the new law.
A number of people still cling on to the old beliefs. Compare:
A small minority disagree/disagrees with the ruling.

5 If a plural subject describes a single unit, e.g. an amount or quantity, we usually use a singular verb:
Thirty kilo metres is a long way.
Five euros is not much.
Six per cent is a big increase.

D Determiners, pronouns and quantifiers
1 Before nouns

• With a countable or uncountable noun: some/any, (not) enough, half/all (of), a lot of/lots of, more/most, no, plenty of
• With a countable noun:
a few (= some), few (= almost no), (not) many, one/both (of), each (of), every, either/neither (of), several
• With an uncountable noun:
a little (= at least some), little (= almost none), (not) much, less, the whole
2 Determiner or pronoun?
Most of the words in the above section can be used as determiners (before a noun) or pronouns (on their own).
Most people enjoy sport. (determiner)
Some of your ideas are crazy. (pronoun)
'Which one do you want?' 'Either is OK.' (pronoun)

Notes
• no and every are determiners, never pronouns.
• none is a pronoun, never a determiner.

3 each, every
• We use each to talk about two or more things or people, considered separately:
She held a bag in each hand.
• We use every to refer to all the people or things in a particular group (more than two):
Every road in the centre was blocked. (= all roads)
• In some contexts, we can use each or every interchangeably:
Each/Every person in the group joined in.
• We can use each (not every) as a pronoun:
We each have our own skills. Each of us went our own way.
• We can use each/every + one of:
We played several games and lost each/every one of them.
• Each and every are followed by a singular verb:
Each of us has a job to do.

4 all, both
• We use both to talk about two people, things, etc. together, and emphasise that each is included:
Both films were boring. (determiner)
'Which one shall I buy?' 'Why not get both?' (pronoun)
• We use all to refer to the whole of an amount, thing, or type of thing, or everyone of a number. We don't usually use all as a pronoun on its own:
I haven't seen him all week. (determiner)
"Which one do you like?' 'I like all of them.' (pronoun)

5 the whole (adjective, noun)
We use (the) whole to refer to all of something, often instead of all of:
We wasted the whole day looking for it.
Climate change affects the whole (of the) planet.

6 either, neither
We use either and neither to refer to one or the other of two things or people. Strictly speaking, they are followed by a singular verb, but a plural verb is common in spoken English.
'You can have either tea or coffee.' 'Neither, thank you.'
I wouldn't want to do either of these jobs. Neither of them is very interesting.

7 no, none
No is a determiner, none is a pronoun. In formal English, they are followed by a singular verb, but a plural verb is more common:
'For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none (= no explanation) will suffice.' None of us is/are perfect. (= not one of us, for a group of three countable nouns or more)

Javier Bardem On the New York Times

Writing an Essay

Essay

Model answer
You have been doing a class project on technology. Your teacher has asked you to write a composition giving your opinion on the following statement:
People in the modern world depend too much on computers.

(1)In today 's world, nearly every aspect of life is affected by computer technology. Computers are used for business, public services, education and entertainment.

(2) Some people are concerned by this development. They fear that vital skills are being lost as computer technology replaces traditional ways of working in a wide variety of areas, from art and design to banking and commerce.
(3) They point out the chaos that can occur when computer systems fail, leading to the breakdown of essential services such as transport, law and order.

(4) However, people could not continue to enjoy their present standard of living without computer technology. There are now far more people in the world than there were a generation ago. The fact that there is enough food for them, that they can travel safely from one place to another, and that they can be provided with medical care, is largely due to computer technology.

(5) In my opinion, therefore, we have to accept our dependence on computers, but at the same time we should work to find ways of making this dependence less dangerous.

(1) Do restate the question in your first sentence.
(2) DON'T start by saying I agree with this - your essay should present your own argument.
(3) Do include supporting detail for the points in each paragraph.
(4) Do use linking expressions to introduce points.
(5) Don’t forget to express your opinion in the conclusion.

USEFUL LANGUAGE

I think/believe that ...
Some people claim that (your teenage years are the best years oj your life).
It is often said that (TV is a bad influence on young people).
However, in my view/opinion, .
Firstly it is clear that (money cannot buy happiness).
While it is true that (computer games are stimulating, they may not be good for you in the long term).
From my point oj view, job satisfaction is more important than a large salary).
Finally, it is important to remember that ... On balance then, I feel that ...
To sum up/In conclusion, it seems to me that ...

Article or no article?

We don't use an article:
1. to talk about plural and uncountable nouns or when talking about things in general:
I'm terrified of heightsI'm into drum and bass. I hate cheese.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1113_gramchallenge30/

Article or no article?
This is a complex area and correct use of articles is one of the most difficult things to get right in English. However, there are a few basic ground rules which we can try to follow:

referring to particular 'definite' things or people: we use the
When it is clear to both people in the interaction which things or people are being referred to, we use the:
The children (= our children) must be awake. I can hear John playing the piano in the sitting room (i.e. in our house)
The book you gave me last weekend was so exciting. I couldn't put it down.
When you next go to the supermarket, could you get me some pizza bases?

second or subsequent mention: the
When we refer to something for the first time, we use an indefinite article (a/an) because the person we are talking to knows nothing about it. But when it is recognized or known, we use the:

I saw a squirrel in the garden (= our garden) this morning ~ Was it a red squirrel or a grey squirrel? ~ It was a grey squirrel. I think the squirrel was looking for a nut it had buried under the apple tree (i.e. the apple tree in our garden).

unique objects: the
When we refer to unique aspects of our environment that everybody is familiar with, we use the:
I love listening to the wind and the rain beating on the window panes when I am inside my cottage.
One day I would like to fly to the moon and visit the nearest planets.

categories or groups of people: the
If we are referring to groups of people the is required. Here are some examples:
The homeless are well looked after at Christmas, but not at other times of the year.
The poor may benefit more from the tax change than the better-off.

with superlatives: the
It is normal to insert the before the adjective + noun in superlative sentences as there is only one of its kind in this category:
Jane is quite a good swimmer.
Rachel is a better swimmer.
But Jacky is undoubtedly the best swimmer in the class

seas / rivers / mountain ranges / island groups / deserts : the
I would never swim in the English Channel. It's far too polluted.
Did you see the fireworks on the Thames on the Eve of the New Millenium?
Have you ever been skiing in the Alps?
Would you choose the Leeward Islands or the Windward Islands if you were thinking of a holiday in the Caribbean?
The Gobi Desert is one of the most inhospitable places in the world.

continents / most countries / counties / states / towns / buildings / most streets / lakes / most single mountains : zero article
'Most' in the above listing indicates that there are occasional exceptions to the general rule of no article before examples in these categories. See below:
Cairo is a good example of a city in Egypt where Asia and Africa meet.
The UK, Ireland, the US and Canada are all popular destinations for students of English who want to study overseas.
Buckingham Palace, the main residence of the Queen is located at the end of the Mall in central London
Lake Como has always been popular as a holiday retreat for the English.
Kent and Essex are to the Thames what Lousiana and Mississippi are to the Mississippi river.
Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn are two well-known mountains in the French and Swiss Alps.

things in general: zero article
When we are discussing things in general, we normally use zero article with plural and uncountable nouns:
Formal education in Britain begins when children reach the age of five.
Basketball is more popular in China than football.
Patience and gratitude are qualities which are rarely observed in the youth of today.
But note, when we want to be specific:
The education I received was substandard.
The football played by Liverpool in their last match was awesome.

common expressions: zero article
There are a number of common fixed expressions used with certain prepositions involving everyday time and place nouns where zero article is required:
At university I never bother with lunch, but always eat breakfast and supper. At school I always ate lunch and dinner, but never breakfast.
In Newcastle, you can always get into town late at night and home again by tube, bus or taxi.
Note that the prepositions listed above are often not the only prepositions possible. We can also say e.g. to/at/into/from church and to/in/into/out of bed/prison.

Pronunciation tips

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/sounds/vowel_short_1.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/

Report: Fund-raising day

From Advanced Expert CAE
Suggested answer

JULY FUND-RAISING DAY

Introduction
This report is intended to:
1 give an overview of our recent fund-raising day for your charity;
2 indicate who raised the money and how:

3 make recommendations for next year.
Overview
On 22 July this year, a substantial sum of money was raised for the charity. The total raised for disadvantaged children exceeded the sum achieved last year. In the main, the day was very successful.
Participation
Most of the 50 volunteers were students from the university.
How the money was raised
The largest part of the total raised (40%) came from visiting houses and knocking on doors. Collections were also carried out in the street, accounting for 3010, and we raised a further 20% from a jumble sale. The remainder came from a variety of sources.
Recommendations
In the light of this year's experience, I would make the following recommendations:
1 that we organize a wider variety of activities, including street parties (if we could make them work successfully);
2 since some members of the public thought our street collectors were not legitimate fund raisers, we should, in future, issue them with special badges to avoid misunderstanding.
Conclusion
To sum up, I would say that this year's fundraising day was a great success and that we could make it even more successful next year. (220 words)

Westfield shopping centre

It’s a bright new future for London shoppers; the Westfield Mall is finally open, 20 years the making at a cost of about 3 billion dollars
Well, it’s opening day here at the Westfield but as you can see it’s packed in fact they expect more than 20 million people a year to walk at these doors. The question is in the middle of a financial crisis will people be buying. It’s got all the big names and a few luxury ones too, but are our customers shopping or just window shopping.
The Westfield is not the only shopping centre hoping for such optimism. The Dubai mall is due to open next week after several delays. The developers say it will be one of the world‘s largest, with an ice-skating rink and aquarium. But behind the glids there’s genuine concern. Retail sales in the UK has slumped for six out of the last seven months and the story is the same across Europe and the US.
Managing Director Michael Gutman insists that Westfield can weather the storm.
“These building are built for the long term and lastly we prefer building in a different environment and retailers is a cyclical business and I think retailers understand that we are investing for the long term. To build up a business in a new location and there’s a huge level of confidence”.

How long will it be before window shopping becomes actual sales.

Writing an essay

In about 200 words write an essay, giving your opinion on the following statement.Plastic surgery is worth the health risks and the money. Do you agree?

Introduce the topic in the first paragraph, giving "the whole picture" and an introduction to both sides of the argument.

Explain the topic giving specific examples.

Use linking words to show the sequence of your ideas and when you are making an extra point.

First ........................... Besides, ...............In my opinion, there are many advantages to ..............

Have a separate paragraph for the other side of the argument. On the other hand, there are some drawbacks .......

Summarise your view in the conclusion, using different words from the introduction. You might want to add some further comment.

In my view ...................... However, ....................... , I think

More useful language:

I think/believe that/ It is often said that/ People claim However, in my view,/opinion

Firstlly it is clear that ..........While it is true that ..............From my point of view .........Finally it is important to remember that ...............On balance then, I feel that ..........To sum up/ In conclusion, it seems to me that ........................

Linkers of contrast: however, nevertheless, alhough, is spite of , whereas, on the other hand

Hypnosis Giving up smoking

www.bbc.co.uk/kent/content/articles/2007/06/28/smoking_hypnosis_video_feature.shtml

script

His role essentially is to help a client to bypass the conscious thinking mind in a clinical context; a client will be guided into very deep relaxation, their conscious thinking mind rather like a screen saver switches off and their unconscious mind becomes more receptive to suggestion. It’s not something that the therapist does to their client so it’s not like it’s portrayed on television where you have a hypnotherapist saying things like: look into my eyes, you won’t go will go under, that’s very authoritarian. That doesn’t tend to work.
In order to give up smoking one condition is necessary which is that the clients need to be motivated, they’ve got to want to give up in the sense that if a client rings up and says I really want to give up smoking because it’s bad for my health and it costs me a lot of money bla, bla , bla , that’s really good but if they round it off with “but I really enjoy my cigarette after a meal” or “my wife sent me here” or “I really enjoy that cigarette with the boys, you know, I can’t smoke at work” then they don’t really have the motivation, they are doing it for somebody else.
They’re more likely to relax, they’re more likely to go back to smoking and after for a slight trauma or incident like for example having an argument at work, they might go back smoking or if they find they had a particularly stressful day, they go back smoking but if the client comes in and says “I really don’t want to smoke any more, it’s really affecting my health, I’ve got two young children, it’s costing me a lot of money, I really want to stop but I don’t know how to do it”.
Then I can help them and any good therapist can then help. GPs, surgeons, the medical profession as a whole is beginning to recognize that hypnotherapy and self-induced relaxation is a very powerful therapeutic tool and often is used for where medicine can’t be used or when drug therapy is not a viable option. In fact a lot of my clients have actually come having been recommended to go and find a hypnotherapist by the GP. Hypnotherapy has grown a lot in the last few years.
Smoking is a good success rate because I do paradoxically; I do try to put my clients off, because I really want to test whether they want to give up. It is a one non-stop session but it is full on, in the sense, you know, there’s a lot of information that I give clients and it’s for two and a half hours, that’s the bad part, but after the two and a half hours they will no longer smoke. From the feedback that I’ve got we are looking at between about eighty-ninety per cent so it ¡s quite high Hypnotherapy is according some research the most effective technique to give up smoking simply because it by-passes your conscious mind and it gets to the root cause of why people smoke which is the stress.

the cost of living

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1630_144_6min_backup/page24.shtml

Keep to your resolutions

American Morning “ Keep to your resolutions”
Jeff Gardere, Clinical Psychologist
You need to be specific, realistic and you need to make a plan. If you say you’ve gonna lose weight whatever you do be specific as to how much weight you wanna lose. Be realistic as whether you can actually lose it by a certain amount of time and of course make that plan written down and follow it.
Interviewer : Any plan I make I’m prone to change it immediately.
So see how you can improve it and see how you can follow through. The other thing you have to do is to write down your goal, put them on the fridge so you can remind yourself and chart your progress.
Smoking for instance:
Even if you don’t quit completely the fact that you quit for maybe 20 days is more days. It’s ok to slip.
What about family and friends?
Your mother haranguing
Family and friends are there for you and that’s great. That’s reinforcement. Maybe you can find family and friends who have made the same kind of resolution and you can do it together and be an informal support for one another. It’s the important thing that you have the tenacity, move forward and follow through. (pursue)
What should you do when you fail?
Don’t look at it as a failure. Look at it as a temporary setback because if you see it as a failure our chances are we gonna give it up, we’re not perfect and that’s part of the picture.

Understanding odds. Winning the lottery

6,399,818 dollars.
Late one evening in 1993 Judy purchased 20 dollars for a ticket at 7.11 in Richmond. That night when the number came in Judy and her husband Frank were the only winners.
To win Judy had to match 6 out of 6 numbers between 1 and 44. That may sound easy enough but when you consider all the possible sets of numbers changing just one number at a time. You find 7 million 59 thousand and 52 different combinations.
The odds against winning them are 7 million 59 thousand and 51 to one.
Frank and Judy beat the odds. Over 5 years before they won they purchased maybe 2 or 3 thousand dollars worth of tickets wherever they could afford to lose that wig.
I’ve been telling her you never win the lottery unless you have a ticket in your pocket.

Ron Howard.
Someone might buy a lottery ticket which has a very poor chance of paying off and he might win. Well, that would be a bad decision with a good outcome.
Ron Howard is a professional decision theorist. He helps people and corporations learn how to make better decisions.
The fundamental distinction that you have to make is between the quality of the decision and the quality of the outcome and the consequences that follow from it.

By buying 20 tickets Judy try to improve her odds of winning even though she won, buying a lot of tickets didn’t help much.
Buy one ticket in seven million chances and you have a 99. 99999 % chance of losing.
Buy 20 your chance of losing is 99.99972% at a dollar each you would have to buy 3 and a half million different tickets to have almost a 5050 chance of winning.
The numbers are just too big to carry them in your mind. So instead of figuring the odds people trust in luck.