Daily English 1261 Reading About Research on Health

Dialogue/Story

Slow Speed begins at: 1:20
Explanation begins at: 3:23
Normal Speed begins at: 18:32

Complete Transcript

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 1,261 – Reading about Research on Health.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast number 1,261. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.

This dialogue is between Vivian and Eric about reading the research, the scientific studies, about our health. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Vivian: Wait! Don’t use that toaster.

Eric: Why? I want some toast for breakfast.

Vivian: It isn’t safe. I’ve just read about a research study that found people who use toasters have higher incidences of tumors.

Eric: That’s ridiculous. I’m having some toast with my coffee.

Vivian: You can’t use the coffee maker, either. The use of coffee makers is linked to heart disease.

Eric: Are you putting me on? Where are you getting this junk science?

Vivian: From very reputable sources.

Eric: I bet these so-called researchers are making sweeping conclusions and fraudulent claims based on limited or nonexistent data.

Vivian: Stop!

Eric: What now? I’m opening the refrigerator to get some milk.

Vivian: Refrigerators emit harmful rays that can be bad for your vision.

Eric: Wait a second. Are you having trouble sleeping again?

Vivian: As a matter of fact, I am. I haven’t slept in three days.

Eric: I don’t need any research study to tell me that people who don’t sleep think kooky thoughts!

[end of dialogue]

Vivian begins by saying to Eric, “Wait!” which here means “stop.” “Don’t use that toaster.” A “toaster” (toaster) is a small machine in the kitchen that heats up bread so that it’s hard on the outside. You, of course, make toast with a toaster. Eric says, “Why? I want some toast for breakfast.” Americans often eat toast with breakfast. Sometimes they’ll make toast and use it for a sandwich, but it’s most commonly eaten in the morning with butter or something sweet on top of it. I like toast with my eggs in the morning.

Vivian says, “The toaster isn’t safe,” meaning it could harm you. It could hurt you. She continues, “I’ve just read about a research study that found people who use toasters have higher incidences of tumors.” A “research (research) study” is a scientific paper or publication usually appearing in what we would call a “scientific journal,” which is basically a magazine. A “research study” is a report on the results of some scientific investigation, some scientific study of a certain phenomenon.

In this case, we’re talking about a research study related to “health” – how your body works, how your body functions. The word “research” can also be used in singular form to refer to a group of studies or lots of different scientific investigations about a similar topic. People will sometimes say, “Well, the research says,” meaning the scientific studies indicate or show that. However, we don’t say “researches.” That is not correct. If you want to use the plural, you would have to say “research studies.”

Here we’re talking about a single study, just one study, that found that people who use toasters have higher “incidence” (incidences) of “tumors” (tumors). “Incidence” refers to how often something happens. It’s a word that is often used in talking about disease and health. The “incidence of cancer” would be how many people or what percentage of people get cancer in a certain area. A “tumor” is a part of the body that grows unexpectedly, often related to some disease, many times to cancer.

Eric, however, doesn’t think Vivian is correct. He says, “That’s ridiculous. I’m having some toast with my coffee.” “Coffee” is also a popular drink in the morning. Vivian says, “You can’t use the coffee maker, either. The use of coffee makers is linked to heart disease.” Vivian is telling Eric that he cannot use the machine called a “coffee maker” that he uses to make his coffee every morning. Why? Because it is “linked (linked) to” heart disease. “To be linked to” means it’s connected to or it’s related to. “Heart disease” refers to medical conditions that cause the heart to have problems, potentially problems that could kill you.

Eric says, “Are you putting me on?” “To put someone on” is a two-word phrasal verb meaning to fool or trick someone, to deceive someone, to make him believe something that isn’t true. Eric thinks Vivian is trying to make him believe something that she knows is not true, almost as a joke. He says, “Where are you getting this junk science?” The term “junk” (junk) normally refers to garbage or trash – things you throw away or get rid of because you no longer want them or need them. “Junk science,” however, refers to science that is not of a very high quality or that is perhaps not done by people who are trained scientists.

Vivian says, however, that she’s getting her information from “very reputable sources.” “Reputable” (reputable) means respected, having a good reputation. We might talk about a “reputable car mechanic,” someone who fixes cars. Someone who is reputable is someone who has a good reputation, someone who is supposed to be honest and qualified. A “source” (source) is where you get information from. Some people use Wikipedia as a source of information. Other people get their information from newspapers. These are “sources.” Some of them are reputable, some of them are less reputable.

Eric says, “I bet these so-called researchers are making sweeping conclusions and fraudulent claims based on limited or nonexistent data.” Quite a few words and terms to explain in that sentence. Let’s begin with “sweeping” (sweeping). The word “sweeping” here refers to something that is very broad, something that covers a lot of different things. In this case, it’s used to apply to the word “conclusions.” A “conclusion” is what you believe to be true after looking at different pieces of evidence, different facts. We often use the verb “to draw” (draw) with this word “conclusion.” “To draw a conclusion” means to come to a decision about what is true or not true.

So, a “sweeping conclusion” then would be a conclusion that covers or includes lots of different things. I may say, for example, that “All coffee makers make bad coffee.” That’s a “sweeping conclusion.” I am making a determination about what is true regarding a large number of things. Usually sweeping conclusions are false; at least, when you hear that expression “sweeping conclusions,” the person who is using it is probably indicating that the conclusion is false because it is trying to say too much or cover too many cases.

“Fraudulent” (fraudulent) means false, not true. “Claims” (claims) are statements or sentences about what you think is true. So, a “fraudulent claim” would be saying something that you know is false, especially about a certain product or drug or other thing that is being sold. Eric thinks these researchers are making “fraudulent claims” – that is, saying things they know to be false “based on limited or nonexistent data.” “Data” (data) refers to facts and statistics that are gathered or collected in order to try to reach a conclusion about something.

“Data” technically is a plural noun, although it is now often used in the singular. The singular of “data” is “datum” (datum), from the Latin. However, it has become quite common now for people to use “data” as a singular noun rather than a plural one. “Data is,” “data are” are both correct forms in English, at least in American English nowadays. “Nonexistent” (nonexistent) means it doesn’t exist. It’s not real. There is no, in this case, data. “Nonexistent data” would be data that doesn’t exist – things that you basically made up.

Vivian says, “Stop!” Eric says, “What now? I’m opening the refrigerator to get some milk.” Vivian says, “Refrigerators emit harmful rays that can be bad for your vision.” A “refrigerator” is a machine in your kitchen to keep food cool. “To emit” (emit) means to produce something and send it out to the surrounding area. We talk about a lightbulb “emitting” light – light comes from the bulb and goes out into the area around it. “Rays” (rays) are lines, if you will, of heat or light that come from a single point. It’s a way we use to describe how light or other electromagnetic fields are transmitted. “Vision” (vision) refers to your eyesight, your ability to see.

Vivian is saying that refrigerators, according to her, emit or give out harmful rays that can be bad for your eyesight. Eric says, “Wait a second,” meaning stop. “Are you having trouble sleeping again?” Vivian says, “As a matter of fact, I am. I haven’t slept in three days.” Eric now realizes that Vivian hasn’t slept for three days, and that’s why she’s saying all of these weird things. Vivian uses a very common expression, “as a matter (matter) of fact.” “As a matter of fact” is a phrase we use to emphasize the truth of what we are about to say, especially if we are correcting what another person has said or simply are adding additional information that we think is important or relevant.

Eric says, “I don’t need any research study to tell me that people who don’t sleep think kooky thoughts.” “Kooky” (kooky) is a wonderful word. It means crazy, weird, unusual, strange. All of those things can be “kooky.” We usually use it to refer to a person who has very strange ideas, very weird ideas – unusual ideas that are almost certainly wrong.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed
[start of dialogue]

Vivian: Wait! Don’t use that toaster.

Eric: Why? I want some toast for breakfast.

Vivian: It isn’t safe. I’ve just read about a research study that found people who use toasters have higher incidences of tumors.

Eric: That’s ridiculous. I’m having some toast with my coffee.

Vivian: You can’t use the coffee maker, either. The use of coffee makers is linked to heart disease.

Eric: Are you putting me on? Where are you getting this junk science?

Vivian: From very reputable sources.

Eric: I bet these so-called researchers are making sweeping conclusions and fraudulent claims based on limited or nonexistent data.

Vivian: Stop!

Eric: What now? I’m opening the refrigerator to get some milk.

Vivian: Refrigerators emit harmful rays that can be bad for your vision.

Eric: Wait a second. Are you having trouble sleeping again?

Vivian: As a matter of fact, I am. I haven’t slept in three days.

Eric: I don’t need any research study to tell me that people who don’t sleep think kooky thoughts!

[end of dialogue]

The research studies show that if you listen to English you can understand, your English will get better, especially if you’re listening to the wonderful scripts by our wonderful scriptwriter, Dr. Lucy Tse.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thanks for listening. Come back and listen to us again right here on ESL Podcast.

Glossary

toaster – a small machine in a kitchen that heats the surfaces of bread and similar foods, making them crunchy and dark

* If you leave the bread in the toaster for more than a few minutes, it will burn.

research study – a scientific investigation designed to learn more about a given topic, such as testing the effects of medications

* Their research study showed that smoking increases the risks of heart disease.

incidence – when something happens, especially referring to how often it happens

* There are higher incidences of hip pain in people over the age of 60.

tumor – a part of the body that grows unexpectedly, creating a bump, but often without redness or pain

* The doctor found a small tumor in the patient’s breast, but fortunately, it wasn’t cancer.

linked to – connected to; tied to; related to

* Eating a lot of sugar has been linked to obesity and diabetes.

heart disease – medical conditions that cause the heart to be weak and have difficulty moving blood through the body

* Anita has a family history of heart disease, with her father and aunt both dying of heart attacks.

to put (someone) on – to fool or trick someone; to try to make someone believe something that is not true

* Did you really run a marathon, or are you putting me on?

junk science – information presented as fact even though it has not been studied by trained scientists, especially studies created to prove one’s opinion

* If cigarette companies pay for a study that shows that smoking has no negative effects on health, it might be considered junk science.

reputable – respected; from a good, reliable source; having a good reputation

* Could you recommend a reputable car mechanic?

source – where information or other things come from; the person or organization that is producing or providing something

* This river is the source of the town’s drinking water.

sweeping conclusion – a very broad assessment, judgment, or evaluation that is bigger than it should be based on the amount of information that is available

* It may be true that all of the women you’ve met in this country are beautiful, but it’s a sweeping conclusion to say that every women in this country is beautiful.

fraudulent – intended to trick, deceive, fool, or lie to another person; not honest or truthful

* The company is making fraudulent statements about its tea, telling people that they will become smarter if they drink it.

claim – a statement that something is true, especially if it is not proven

* She claims to have climbed Mount Fiji, but no one believes her.

nonexistent – not real; not being or existing

* Krystoff spent most of the party talking about his nonexistent girlfriend, trying to impress everyone.

data – facts and statistics that are gathered and analyzed to understand something

* How does the university gather data about how often students drink alcohol?

to emit – to produce something and send it out into the surrounding area

* When turned on, the alarm emits a loud beeping sound if a door or window is opened.

ray – a beam; one of many lines of heat, light, or scent that seem to come from a single point

* Remember to use sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s rays.

vision – eyesight; one’s ability to see

* Lyle’s vision has been getting worse for months, but he doesn’t want to start wearing glasses.

as a matter of fact – a phrase used to emphasize the truthfulness of what one is going to say next, especially to correct another person’s misunderstanding

* This building needs a lot of work. As a matter of fact, that wall is starting to fall down!

kooky – crazy and weird; extremely unusual and unexpected; strange

* Martin has a lot of kooky ideas. For example, he thinks has the power to stop earthquakes just by thinking about it.

Comprehension Questions

1. According to Eric, which of these things can cause tumors?
a) Using a toaster
b) Using a coffee maker
c) Using a refrigerator
2. What does Eric mean when he asks, “Are you putting me on?”
a) He wants to know if Vivian really believes what she is saying.
b) He wants to know if Vivian wants to join him for breakfast.
c) He wants to know if Vivian is trying to make a joke and trick him.

Answers at bottom.

What Else Does It Mean?

to put (someone) on

The phrase “to put (someone) on,” in this podcast, means to fool or trick someone, or to try to make someone believe something that is not true: “Don’t believe anything he says. He’s just putting you on.” The phrase “to put (someone) straight” means to give someone the facts about something that he or she misunderstands: “Jules was really rude to our clients. Someone needs to put him straight about how to treat clients.” The phrase “to put (someone) to work” means to make someone start to work: “Why is everyone sitting around doing nothing? Put these employees to work right now!” Finally, the phrase “to put (someone) away” means to send someone to jail or a mental hospital: “Anyone who kills another person should be put away!”

ray

In this podcast, the word “ray” means a beam, or one of many lines of heat, light, or scent that seem to come from a single point: “The rays of light coming through the window woke me up this morning.” The phrase “a ray of hope” describes optimism, or the possibility that something good might happen: “The doctor’s smile was a ray of hope for the family members who were waiting to hear the results of the surgery.” A “ray of sunshine” is someone who is always happy and makes other people feel better: “That little girl is a ray of sunshine who could cheer up almost anyone.” Finally, the phrase “to catch some rays” means to sunbathe, or to lie down outside to enjoy the warm sunshine: “This is the first sunny day we’ve had in months. Let’s go to the park and catch some rays.”

Culture Note

Junk Science

The “term” (word or phrase) “junk science” is used to show “criticism” (dislike or anger with someone or something) of studies that do not present “valid” (truthful or honest) “conclusions” (what one realizes after studying a lot of data) or claims. To a “layperson” (a person who is not an expert), the studies often seem to be valid, but experts find that the studies present “invalid” (not truthful or honest) scientific “evidence” (facts that can be used to support an idea or theory).

The term “junk science” became common in the mid-1980s and 1990s. It is a “pejorative” (showing disapproval) term that is often used when talking about studies related to “controversial” (with strong opinions on both sides of an issue) topics, such as “climate change” (how human behavior may be changing the temperature of the earth), politics, and religious “matters” (topics). For example, “climate scientists” (scientists who study weather and the earth’s temperature) might use the term “junk science” to refer to studies that claim temperature “variations” (changes) are related to variations in the sun rather than human activity.

Many respected scientists argue that junk science is dangerous not only because it “misrepresents” (presents dishonest information about something) particular issues, but also because it “casts a cloud of doubt” (makes people question whether they should believe something) over “legitimate” (real; truthful; valid) scientific studies.

In 1995, the Union of Concerned Scientists “launched” (began using) “strategies” (plans and techniques) to “debunk” (show that something is not true) junk science. The organization tries to educate the media and members of the public about how they can identify which scientific claims are valid and which ones are not.

Comprehension Answers

1 - a

2 - c