Blood

 Callum: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning¹ English. I’m Callum. 

Jennifer: And I’m Jennifer. 

Callum: Now Jennifer, how squeamish are you? 

Jennifer: Squeamish? 

Callum: Yes, squeamish. For example, how do you feel when you see blood? 

Jennifer: Well it depends on whether it’s mine or not! But generally I don’t have a problem with the sight of blood, why? 

Callum: Well the topic of today’s programme is blood and in particular how in some countries, particularly in Asia, your blood type can play an important part in your life. Do you know what your blood group, also called your blood type, is? 

Jennifer: I think that I’m blood type O but I can’t remember for sure. Do you know? 

Callum: Er, I haven’t the foggiest idea what my blood type is. Do you actually know what the main groups are though? 

Jennifer: Well I certainly know that O is one of them and I think A too. Erm, not sure about the rest. 

Callum: Well there’s A, AB, B and O are the four main classifications². I mean I’m no doctor, no scientist but that’s what I understand are the main classifications.  And before we explore this topic a little more here’s your question. When were these four blood groups first classified³ with the names, A, AB, B and O? Was it: 

 1899, 1909, 1919 or 1929 

Jennifer:  Well I imagine they’ve been around for quite some time so I will say 1899. 

Callum: OK, we’ll find out if you’re right at the end of the programme.  

  Our World Service colleague Ruth Evans has made a fascinating programme about the topic of blood groups and how they are used by some people in Japan. Here she is describing the importance of blood groups. Of course blood and blood groups are important in medicine and science, but what other areas does she say blood groups can influence? Here’s Ruth Evans. 

Ruth Evans  

Here in Japan blood isn’t just important for medicine and science, it’s also got big implications⁴ for life, work and love. 

Callum: So Jennifer, as well as medicine and science, what else can blood type influence? 

Jennifer: She says that blood can be important to life, work and love. I can see how blood is important to life - we all need blood - but I’m not sure how it is connected to work and love. 

Callum: Well let’s listen to a bit more from Ruth, she goes on to explain the connection. 

Ruth Evans  

Here in Japan blood isn’t just important for medicine and science, it’s also got big implications for life, work and love. “What’s your blood type?”  is often a key question in everything from matchmaking to getting a job.   

Callum: She says “What’s your blood type?” is a key question. What does she mean by that - a ‘key’ question? 

Jennifer: A ‘key’ question is an important question. She says blood type is important to ‘matchmaking and getting a job’.  

Callum: Matchmaking? 

Jennifer: Yes, finding⁵ a boyfriend or girlfriend. 

Callum: Mmm, not very romantic is it? You can imagine the situation, you’re out a bar, you meet someone, you say: “Hi, would you like a drink? Would you like to dance? What’s your blood type? ” 

Jennifer: Well I’ve definitely⁶ never had that chat-up line before. It’s not really very romantic, no. 

Callum: Let’s listen to some more of Ruth who explains why blood types are important.  

Ruth Evans 

“What’s your blood type?” is often a key question in everything from matchmaking to getting a job.  A person’s blood type is popularly believed to determine temperament⁷ and personality.  

Callum: She says that blood type is popularly believed to determine temperament and personality. Tell us about temperament. 

Jennifer: Your temperament describes your natural character - whether you are usually cheerful, pessimistic⁸, friendly, reserved, outgoing and so on. And Ruth says that in Japan blood type is popularly believed to determine - or decide - your temperament. I think the phrase ‘popularly believed’ is interesting here. 

Callum: Why’s that? 

Jennifer: Well if you say that something is ‘popularly believed’ it means that it’s not a proven scientific fact - it’s just something that a lot of people believe, even if there is no real evidence for it. 

Callum: Let’s listen to all of Ruth again. 

Ruth Evans Here in Japan blood isn’t just important for medicine and science, it’s also got big implications for life, work and love. “What’s your blood type?” is often a key question in everything from matchmaking to getting a job.  A person’s blood type is popularly believed to determine temperament and personality. 

Callum: Do you think there is something to this? Do you think your blood type can determine your personality? 

Jennifer: I think it’s a really interesting question. I think it could be possible. What about you? What do you think? 

Callum: Do you want a diplomatic⁹ answer? 

Jennifer: I think that’s best! 

Callum: Personally I’m a sceptic. I find it hard to believe that my character could be determined¹⁰ by the blood that flows around my body. But then I don’t believe in astrology either - that the position of the stars and planets¹¹ in the sky when you are born can determine your temperament or personality. It seems to me these are quite similar theories, neither of which has any scientific background - yet are popularly believed in different parts of the world.  

  Anyway, it’s nearly time for us to go - but before that it’s time to get the answer to this week’s question. The question was: In what year were blood groups described with the groupings A, AB, B and O? 

 And Jennifer you chose? 

Jennifer: 1899 

Callum: And the correct answer was, in fact, actually, 1909. But just a stab¹² in the dark, you were right it was quite, quite early on. 

  For now, that’s all from this week’s 6 Minute English. Thank you very much Jennifer. 

Jennifer: You’re welcome 

Callum: Goodbye. 

Jennifer:  Bye. 

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 classifications   

分类( classification的名词复数 )； 分级； 类别； （动植物等的）分类学

参考例句：

• Its tariffs cater for four basic classifications of customer. 它的价目表适合4个基本类别的顾客。
• A number of terms are used in various classifications of transplants. 移植物的各种分类中应用了一系列的名词。

3 classified   

a.分类的

参考例句：

• The books in the library are classified according to subject. 图书馆的书按学科分类。
• This information has been classified top secret. 这一情报被归为绝密类别。

4 implications   

n. 暗示，含意，牵连，卷入

参考例句：

• The development of the site will have implications for the surrounding countryside. 这个地点的开发将会影响周围的乡村。
• The research has far-reaching implications for medicine as a whole. 这项研究对整个医学界都有着深远的影响。

5 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

6 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

7 temperament   

n.气质，性格，性情

参考例句：

• The analysis of what kind of temperament you possess is vital.分析一下你有什么样的气质是十分重要的。
• Success often depends on temperament.成功常常取决于一个人的性格。

8 pessimistic   

adj.悲观的，悲观主义的

参考例句：

• There is no reason to be pessimistic about the future.没有理由对未来悲观。
• The voters are pessimistic about the economy.投票者对经济很悲观。

9 diplomatic   

adj.外交的，从事外交的，策略的，有手腕的

参考例句：

• There are certain forms that must be followed in diplomatic circles.在外交界有一些礼节是必须遵守的。
• You must be more diplomatic in handling the situation.你在处理这一情况时，必须圆滑。

10 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

11 planets   

行星( planet的名词复数 )； 地球（尤指环境）

参考例句：

• Does life exist on other planets? 其他行星上有生命吗？
• the planets of our solar system 太阳系的行星

12 stab   

n.刺，戳，刺伤的伤口，剧痛，尝试；vt.刺伤，中伤；vi.刺，扎

参考例句：

• I found a stab wound on his leg.我在他的腿上发现一处刺伤。
• Can I stab at the meat with my knife to see if it is well cooked.为了看看肉是否煮熟，我可以在肉上戳个洞吗？