Learning English Through ‘6 Minute English’ from BBC
Welcome to another session of learning English through a YouTube video. This time, we are using ‘6 Minute English’ from BBC Learning English. The video provides an interesting discussion about the global popularity of rice and the challenges it faces due to climate change. It also introduces a new technique that could help farmers in this changing climate.
To test your understanding of the video, we have prepared the following quiz.
Q1: What type of food is known as a staple?
A staple food is a food that is regularly consumed in large quantities. In the video, both bread and rice are mentioned as examples of staple foods.
Q2: What is the main problem with growing rice?
The video mentions that rice is a very ‘thirsty’ crop, meaning it requires a lot of water to grow. This becomes a problem due to droughts and flooding caused by climate change.
Q3: What is the new technique mentioned for growing rice?
The video talks about a new technique called ‘Alternate Wet Drying’ (AWD) that reduces the number of flooding and drying cycles needed to grow rice, thereby saving water and reducing methane emissions.
Q4: What does ‘getting on board’ mean?
In the context of the video, ‘getting on board’ means agreeing to a plan of action and getting involved.
Q5: What does ‘tangible’ mean?
The video uses the term ‘tangible’ to describe the results of the AWD technique. ‘Tangible’ means something that is real and can be measured.
Vocabulary
Here are some key vocabulary words used in the video.
Staple
A main or important element of something Bread is a popular staple in Britain.
Commodity
A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold Rice is a commodity that can be bought and sold.
Appetite
A strong desire or liking for something There’s a strong appetite for rice worldwide.
On board
Agreeing with a plan or idea and willing to accept it Many Indian farmers got on board with Jean-Philippe’s experiment.
Tangible
Perceptible by touch or capable of being touched; material or substantial The new technique produced tangible results.
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