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2023Q2 - 6 Minute English, 230615 The benefits of doing nothing

230615 The benefits of doing nothing

Beth:

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Beth.

Neil:

And I'm Neil. Phew! I've spent all day in meetings, then shopping, then collecting the kids from school.

I'm exhausted, Beth! What have you been doing today?

Beth:

Oh, not much, just sitting around doing nothing… relaxing and kicking back!

Neil:

Lucky you! Don't you have work to do?

Beth:

It may not look it, Neil, but I'm actually as busy as a bee!

If you've seen nature documentaries about worker bees flying from flower to flower, you probably think animals are always on the move.

But the surprising truth is, away from the cameras, most animals spend most of the time doing absolutely nothing at all.

Neil:

In the natural world where finding food and shelter is hard work, why have some animals evolved to do nothing?

And if it's good enough for animals, would being lazy work for humans too?

That's what we will be discussing in this programme, and as usual, we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well.

Beth:

But first, let me work up the energy to ask you a question, Neil.

Of course, some animals have a reputation for lounging about – lions, for example, can sleep up to twenty hours a day!

But what is the slowest moving animal on Earth? Is it:

a) the giant tortoise b) the three-toed sloth or c) the koala?

Neil:

Well, I think it's the three-toed sloth.

Beth:

OK, Neil. I'll reveal the correct answer at the end of the programme.

Now it's no surprise that lazy lions love relaxing, but even animals with reputations for being busy spend time doing nothing.

Look carefully into an ant's nest and you'll see around half of them just sitting there motionless.

Here's Professor Dan Charbonneau, an expert in insect behaviour, discussing the lazy rock ant with Emily Knight, presenter of BBC Radio 4 programme, Naturebang.

Emily Knight:

Dan's research has focused on ant colonies, a species called temnothorax rugatulus or the rock ant.

Professor Dan Charbonneau:

I think ants are a symbol of industriousness, you know, they have this whole tiny little society going on that's kind of similar to ours…

some idealised version what humans might be if we could only pull it together and all work together we could be as industrious as the ants, but then when you look at it, roughly about half the colony is inactive at any given time.

Neil:

We think ants are industrious, or hard-working.

Groups of ants, called colonies, seem tiny, perfect societies where everyone works hard for the good of the group.

Beth:

Then why are so many of them inactive?

One possible answer is that they're reserve ants, ready to step in if disease or disaster strike.

But could it simply be that they don't work because they don't need to.

Would you get out of bed on Monday morning if you didn't have to?

Neil:

Maybe the ants can teach us a thing or two about relaxing. But wouldn't it get boring just sitting around all day?

Beth:

Not according to psychologist, Dr Sandi Mann.

She thinks being productive – working to produce a lot for the amount of resources we use, is overrated.

Boredom has its benefits too, as she explains to BBC Radio 4 programme, Naturebang.

Dr Sandi Mann:

Would humans have invented bread or beer or fire, you know, if we hadn't been bored and were wondering, ‘what on earth would happen if we mix this with this? ', you know.

Are all these sorts of inventions the mother of boredom?

Emily Knight:

But in this world of constant stimulation switching off is harder than it's ever been.

Dr Sandi Mann:

That's why we're constantly swiping and scrolling and looking for the next big thing, and the new thing and we bored of things very quickly…

so it's a kind of paradox to get rid of this unpleasant state of boredom is actually to allow more boredom into your life.

Beth:

Dr Mann doubts humans would have invented things without the curiosity that comes from being bored.

Boredom is the mother of invention, an idea based on the famous proverb, necessity is the mother of invention, an idiom meaning that if you really need to do something, you will think of a way of doing it.

Neil:

Instead of fearing boredom we can open up to its benefits by switching off - stopping worrying or thinking about something and relaxing.

Slowing down helps too - something we can definitely learn from our animal cousins.

Beth:

I think now's a good time to reveal the answer to my question, since we have nothing else to do.

Neil:

You asked me to name the world's slowest animal and I guessed it was the three-toed sloth. Was I right?

Beth:

That was the correct answer! With a top speed of 30 centimetres per minute, three-toed sloths move so slowly that algae grow on their coats!

OK, let's recap the vocabulary that we've learned from this programme starting with the phrase kicking back – stop doing things and relax completely.

Neil:

The adjective industrious means hard-working.

Beth:

A colony is the name given to a group of certain animals including ants and some seabirds.

Neil:

Someone who is productive is able to produce a lot for the amount of resources they use.

Beth:

The proverb necessity is the mother of invention, means that if you really need to do something, you will think of a way of doing it.

Neil:

And finally, to switch off means to stop worrying or thinking about something and relax.

Once again, our six minutes are up – it must be time to sit down, close your eyes, and just do nothing! Goodbye for now!

Beth:

Bye!

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230615 The benefits of doing nothing 230615 Las ventajas de no hacer nada 230615 何もしないことの利点 230615 Korzyści z nicnierobienia 230615 Преимущества ничегонеделания 230615 什麼都不做的好處

Beth:

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Beth.

Neil:

And I'm Neil. Phew! Ufa! I've spent all day in meetings, then shopping, then collecting the kids from school.

I'm exhausted, Beth! What have you been doing today? 오늘 무엇을 하셨나요?

Beth:

Oh, not much, just sitting around doing nothing… relaxing and kicking back! ||||||||||descansando| 아, 그냥 아무것도 하지 않고 앉아서 휴식을 취하는 것!

Neil:

Lucky you! Don't you have work to do?

Beth:

It may not look it, Neil, but I'm actually as busy as a bee! |||||||||||||uma abelha 닐, 그렇게 보이지 않을지 모르지만 사실 저는 벌처럼 바빠요!

If you've seen nature documentaries about worker bees flying from flower to flower, you probably think animals are always on the move. ||||||radnici|||||||||||||||

But the surprising truth is, away from the cameras, most animals spend most of the time doing absolutely nothing at all.

Neil:

In the natural world where finding food and shelter is hard work, why have some animals evolved to do nothing? ||||||||abrigo||||||||evoluído para||| 먹이와 은신처를 찾는 것이 힘든 자연계에서 일부 동물은 왜 아무것도 하지 않도록 진화했을까요?

And if it's good enough for animals, would being lazy work for humans too? 동물에게도 게으름이 좋다면 인간에게도 게으름이 효과가 있을까요? A jeśli jest to wystarczająco dobre dla zwierząt, to czy bycie leniwym działałoby również dla ludzi?

That's what we will be discussing in this programme, and as usual, we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well. 이번 프로그램에서는 이 주제에 대해 논의할 예정이며, 평소와 마찬가지로 유용한 새로운 어휘도 배울 것입니다.

Beth:

But first, let me work up the energy to ask you a question, Neil. ||||to work|||||||||

Of course, some animals have a reputation for lounging about – lions, for example, can sleep up to twenty hours a day! ||||||||lounging|||||||||||| ||||||||repousando|||||||||||| 물론 일부 동물은 느긋하게 쉬는 것으로 유명한데, 예를 들어 사자는 하루 최대 20시간까지 잠을 잘 수 있습니다!

But what is the slowest moving animal on Earth? ||||o mais lento|||| 그렇다면 지구상에서 가장 느리게 움직이는 동물은 무엇일까요? Is it:

a) the giant tortoise b) the three-toed sloth or c) the koala? |||||||toed|sloth|||| |||tartaruga||||com dedos|b) o bicho-preguiça||||o coala a) 거대한 거북이 b) 발가락이 세 개인 나무늘보 또는 c) 코알라?

Neil:

Well, I think it's the three-toed sloth. |||||||lenjivac

Beth:

OK, Neil. I'll reveal the correct answer at the end of the programme.

Now it's no surprise that lazy lions love relaxing, but even animals with reputations for being busy spend time doing nothing. 게으른 사자가 휴식을 좋아하는 것은 놀라운 일이 아니지만, 바쁘기로 소문난 동물도 아무것도 하지 않고 시간을 보내는 경우가 있습니다.

Look carefully into an ant's nest and you'll see around half of them just sitting there motionless. ||||da formiga|ninho|||||||||||imóveis 개미집을 자세히 들여다보면 개미의 절반 정도가 움직이지 않고 앉아 있는 것을 볼 수 있습니다.

Here's Professor Dan Charbonneau, an expert in insect behaviour, discussing the lazy rock ant with Emily Knight, presenter of BBC Radio 4 programme, Naturebang. |||||||||||||formiga||||||||| 곤충 행동 전문가인 댄 샤르보노 교수가 BBC 라디오 4 프로그램인 Naturebang의 진행자 에밀리 나이트와 함께 게으른 바위개미에 대해 이야기하는 모습입니다.

Emily Knight:

Dan's research has focused on ant colonies, a species called temnothorax rugatulus or the rock ant. ||||||||||temnothorax rugatulus||||| 댄의 연구는 개미 군집, 즉 템노토러스 루가툴루스 또는 바위개미라는 종에 초점을 맞췄습니다.

Professor Dan Charbonneau:

I think ants are a symbol of industriousness, you know, they have this whole tiny little society going on that's kind of similar to ours… |||||||industriosità||||||||||||||||| |||||||indústria|||||||pequena|||||||||| 개미는 부지런함의 상징이라고 생각해요, 개미는 우리와 비슷한 작은 사회를 이루고 있죠...

some idealised version what humans might be if we could only pull it together and all work together we could be as industrious as the ants, but then when you look at it, roughly about half the colony is inactive at any given time. |idealizada|||||||||||||||||||||diligentes|||||||||||aproximadamente||||||inativa|||| 인간이 개미처럼 부지런히 일할 수만 있다면 어떤 이상적인 모습이 될 수 있을지 상상해 보았지만, 실제로는 군집의 절반 정도가 항상 비활성 상태입니다. W jakiejś wyidealizowanej wersji ludzie mogliby być tak pracowici jak mrówki, gdybyśmy tylko potrafili się zjednoczyć i pracować razem, ale gdy się temu przyjrzeć, mniej więcej połowa kolonii jest nieaktywna w danym momencie.

Neil:

We think ants are industrious, or hard-working. ||||hard-working||| Uważamy, że mrówki są pracowite.

Groups of ants, called colonies, seem tiny, perfect societies where everyone works hard for the good of the group. 식민지라고 불리는 개미 집단은 모두가 집단의 이익을 위해 열심히 일하는 작고 완벽한 사회처럼 보입니다.

Beth:

Then why are so many of them inactive?

One possible answer is that they're reserve ants, ready to step in if disease or disaster strike. ||||||||||intervir|||doença||desastre|atinge 한 가지 가능한 대답은 질병이나 재난이 닥쳤을 때 개입할 준비가 되어 있는 예비 개미라는 것입니다. Jedną z możliwych odpowiedzi jest to, że są to mrówki rezerwowe, gotowe do wkroczenia w razie choroby lub katastrofy.

But could it simply be that they don't work because they don't need to. 하지만 단순히 필요하지 않아서 작동하지 않는 것일 수도 있습니다. Ale czy może być tak, że po prostu nie pracują, bo nie muszą.

Would you get out of bed on Monday morning if you didn't have to? 월요일 아침에 굳이 일어나지 않아도 된다면 침대에서 일어나시겠습니까?

Neil:

Maybe the ants can teach us a thing or two about relaxing. 어쩌면 개미들이 우리에게 휴식의 중요성을 알려줄지도 모릅니다. But wouldn't it get boring just sitting around all day? 하지만 하루 종일 앉아만 있으면 지루해지지 않을까요? Ale czy siedzenie przez cały dzień nie byłoby nudne?

Beth:

Not according to psychologist, Dr Sandi Mann. 심리학자 샌디 만 박사에 따르면 그렇지 않습니다. Nie według psycholog, dr Sandi Mann.

She thinks being productive – working to produce a lot for the amount of resources we use, is overrated. |||||||||||||||||superestimado

Boredom has its benefits too, as she explains to BBC Radio 4 programme, Naturebang. tédio||||||||||||

Dr Sandi Mann:

Would humans have invented bread or beer or fire, you know, if we hadn't been bored and were wondering, ‘what on earth would happen if we mix this with this? ||||||||||||||||||razmišljajući||||||||||| Czy ludzie wynaleźliby chleb, piwo lub ogień, gdybyśmy się nie nudzili i nie zastanawiali: "co się stanie, jeśli zmieszamy to z tym?". ', you know.

Are all these sorts of inventions the mother of boredom?

Emily Knight:

But in this world of constant stimulation switching off is harder than it's ever been. ||||||estímulo|desligar||||||| Ale w tym świecie ciągłej stymulacji wyłączenie się jest trudniejsze niż kiedykolwiek wcześniej.

Dr Sandi Mann:

That's why we're constantly swiping and scrolling and looking for the next big thing, and the new thing and we bored of things very quickly… ||||swiping||skrolovanje|||||||||||||||||| ||||deslizando||rolando|||||||||||||||||| Dlatego nieustannie przesuwamy i przewijamy, szukając kolejnej wielkiej rzeczy i nowej rzeczy, i bardzo szybko się nudzimy...

so it's a kind of paradox to get rid of this unpleasant state of boredom is actually to allow more boredom into your life. |||||paradoxo|||||||||||||permitir||||| Jest to więc swego rodzaju paradoks, że pozbycie się tego nieprzyjemnego stanu nudy oznacza w rzeczywistości wpuszczenie większej ilości nudy do swojego życia.

Beth:

Dr Mann doubts humans would have invented things without the curiosity that comes from being bored. Dr Mann wątpi, czy ludzie wynaleźliby coś bez ciekawości wynikającej z nudy.

Boredom is the mother of invention, an idea based on the famous proverb, necessity is the mother of invention, an idiom meaning that if you really need to do something, you will think of a way of doing it. tédio||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Neil:

Instead of fearing boredom we can open up to its benefits by switching off - stopping worrying or thinking about something and relaxing. ||fearing||||||||||||||||||| Zamiast obawiać się nudy, możemy otworzyć się na jej korzyści, wyłączając się - przestając się martwić lub myśleć o czymś i relaksując się.

Slowing down helps too - something we can definitely learn from our animal cousins.

Beth:

I think now's a good time to reveal the answer to my question, since we have nothing else to do. Myślę, że teraz jest dobry moment na ujawnienie odpowiedzi na moje pytanie, ponieważ nie mamy nic innego do roboty.

Neil:

You asked me to name the world's slowest animal and I guessed it was the three-toed sloth. |||||||||||||||||lenjivac Was I right?

Beth:

That was the correct answer! With a top speed of 30 centimetres per minute, three-toed sloths move so slowly that algae grow on their coats! |||||||||||||||algae||||coats |||||||||||||||algas|||| Z maksymalną prędkością 30 centymetrów na minutę, leniwce trójpalczaste poruszają się tak wolno, że na ich sierści rosną glony!

OK, let's recap the vocabulary that we've learned from this programme starting with the phrase kicking back – stop doing things and relax completely.

Neil:

The adjective industrious means hard-working. ||marljiv|||

Beth:

A colony is the name given to a group of certain animals including ants and some seabirds. ||||||||||||||||seabirds ||||||||||||||||as aves marinhas

Neil:

Someone who is productive is able to produce a lot for the amount of resources they use. Ktoś, kto jest produktywny, jest w stanie wyprodukować dużo w stosunku do ilości zużywanych zasobów.

Beth:

The proverb necessity is the mother of invention, means that if you really need to do something, you will think of a way of doing it.

Neil: Nil

And finally, to switch off means to stop worrying or thinking about something and relax.

Once again, our six minutes are up – it must be time to sit down, close your eyes, and just do nothing! ||||||||||||||||očи|||| Po raz kolejny nasze sześć minut dobiegło końca - nadszedł czas, aby usiąść, zamknąć oczy i po prostu nic nie robić! Goodbye for now!

Beth:

Bye!