Groundbreaking Research
科研突破
对话 Dialogue
We’ve been over this a thousand times. The data is irrefutable! Look, we’ve done extensive research, built studies, and read the literature, and there is conclusive evidence to support my theory!
这件事我们已经讨论过无数次了。数据是无可辩驳的！你看，我们做了大量的研究，建立了实验，查阅了文献，确实有确凿的证据支持我的理论！
Horowitz, I beg to differ. Even in your most recent study, the investigative approach was flawed! You know as well as I do that the collection of data was not systematic, and there is a large margin of error. To draw a definitive conclusion based on that data would be misleading
Horowitz，我不敢苟同。就连你最新的研究，调查方法也有缺陷！你我都清楚，数据收集不够系统，误差范围很大。基于那些数据得出定论，会误导人。
That is preposterous!
这太荒谬了！
You are trying to single-handedly solve one of the world’s greatest mysteries, and yet you are oblivious to the fact that you are wrong!
你试图凭一己之力解决世界上最伟大的谜题，却完全没有意识到自己错了！
I am not wrong! The chicken came first!
我没错！先有鸡！
No! The egg came first!
不！先有蛋！
完整节目 Full Program
Welcome back English learners! My name is Marco. And I’m joined here by the lovely…
Erica.
And today we’re gonna be bringing you another great lesson. One of the lessons that you requested.
Yes, that’s right, actually Maxim, Maxim_s requested this one.
Right, ah, I think he’s really into research and investigation, so, we’re bringing you a great lesson about this topic.
Okay, so, I’m really excited to hear this dialogue all about research. So, why don’t we start listening to two university professors discussing an important question?
Alright, so, interesting. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
It’s an age-old question, isn’t it?
Hehe. And, apparently, they’re not going to agree any time soon. [NOTE: any time soon = in the near future]
Alright, well, what they can agree about is this awesome language. So, why don’t we take a look at it now in “language takeaway”? Voice: Language takeaway.
Okay, on Language takeaway today we have some really great words. And this first one is really good, irrefutable.
Irrefutable.
Irrefutable.
The data is irrefutable.
Okay, so, if the professor says, that the data is irrefutable, what does… what does he mean by that?
He’s… he’s saying that “you cannot deny it”, “it is really really true”.
It is really true, “there is no way this is a lie”.
Exactly.
Okay, irrefutable evidence, for example.
Yeah, that’s a great phrase. Alright, so, the professor complained that Dr. Horowitz’s experiment was flawed.
Flawed.
Flawed.
So, flawed. Is that an adjective or a verb or a noun?
Hm, it is an adjective…
Okay.
Here. Now, when something is flawed, there is a problem with it, right?
Okay, so, it has…
Is a Mistake.
An error.
Yeah.
Okay. So, this adjective is a way of saying that his experiment has a flaw.
A mistake, exactly.
A mistake. So, flawed is the adjective of a flaw.
Right.
Okay.
Now, the reason that his study or his experiment was flawed is because that it was not systematic.
Systematic.
Systematic.
So, systematic, that’s an interesting word.
Uhu. Now, I think we can recognize the word system in here, right?
Uhu, right.
So, when something is systematic, it follows a process.
A certain order.
Yes, a certain system.
Right, so that’s basically what systematic means “to follow a certain order”, “to be more organized”, right?
Exactly, yeah.
Okay. And what about our next word?
Preposterous.
Preposterous.
Preposterous.
That is preposterous.
I love this phrase.
It go… it usually goes together, right? That is preposterous.
Yep.
Okay, so… what does that mean when I say that?
It means it’s… it’s absurd, it’s… it’s ridiculous.
Right, it… it doesn’t make sense.
Uhu.
I can’t believe you said that.
Alright, well, this is a really interesting phrase, um, but it… I think it’s a little bit more common, um, when it’s used by older people.
Yeah, I… I don’t think… I don’t really see a young person going up to, ah, someone and say “hey, that’s preposterous”.
Yep, but it is a wonderful phrase.
Uhu.
Now, our final phrase for takeaway, oblivious.
Oblivious.
You’re oblivious to the fact.
Uhu. So, a person that is oblivious to something…
They don’t know or they’re… they’re unaware.
Okay, so, they ignore maybe the facts or…
Exactly.
They don’t see it.
Yeah, “you’re oblivious to the fact that we’re in a recession”.
Okay, or “he is completely oblivious”.
Uhu.
You can just say like that, right?
Yep, he doesn’t know.
Uhu. Okay, so, we took a look at some of the great vocabulary we found in the dialogue, but there’re also some really good phrases that, I think, we should look at.
Okay, and let’s take a look at those in “putting it together”. Voice: Putting it together.
You know, Marco, one of the things I love about English is the way that, ah, words seem to fit together like… like blocks coming together. And here we have a lot of great examples of these words that fit together really nicely. Okay, so, why don’t we look at those, um, and our first one now is extensive research.
Extensive research.
Extensive research.
Alright, so, we know extensive means…
A lot.
A lot.
Yeah.
So, that’s really good when you put it together… extensive research. It means you have…
A l… a lot of research.
You have really studied. You have really looked things up.
Uhu.
Okay, extensive research.
Another great research-related phrase here is conclusive evidence.
Conclusive evidence.
Conclusive evidence.
Alright, now, the first word there, conclusive.
When something is conclusive, you can’t argue with that. It’s… it’s the final decision. Alright, well, the professor complained that Horowitz’s… that Horowitz’s investigative approach was flawed, right?
Uhu.
So, this is our next phrase, investigative approach.
Investigative approach.
Investigative approach.
Okay, so, I remember the word investigate is a verb.
Yes.
But in this case it’s a…
It’s an adjective.
It’s an adjective.
When something is investigative, it’s obviously having to do with…
An investigation.
Uhu.
So, the approach or the… so, when he said “investigative approach”…
Just a… I mean, just simply the way you investigate…
Okay, the w…
The problem.
The way he investigate it. Okay, very interesting. What about this other phrase that I saw? It was really interesting, definitive conclusion.
Definitive conclusion.
So, a definitive conclusion.
Alright, well, again, I think we know the word conclusion, right?
Okay.
So, it’s a final judgment or decision.
Alright.
When something is definitive, you can’t argue with it or change it.
Okay, so, the conclusion or wha… the… the final… result…
Uhu.
Is… is final, like there is no way of arguing it.
Exactly.
Okay.
Alright.
Definitive conclusion.
This is some great language. So, why don’t we listen to it one more time in the di alogue?
So, an interesting question. What do you think? What came first the chicken or the egg?
Well, if you ask me, it was the egg.
It was the egg?
Yeah.
Interesting. What about why did the chicken cross the road?
To get to the other side.
Do you think that’s really the reason?
Well, there’s a million different reasons. But this is great. I’m glad you brought that up, cause this is like the classic English joke.
Hehe. The classic English joke, right? Why did the chicken cross the road? And the answer’s always…
Well, there are a million answers… So, do you guys know any chicken jokes?
Yeah, why don’t you come to our website englishpod.com and on the 'comment section', why don’t you leave us your thoughts on what came first the chicken or the egg? And why do you think the chicken crossed the road?
Alright, we will really look forward to hearing your ideas and, um, Marco and I will be around to answer your questions. So, I think we’re out if time for today, but thanks for listening and…
We’ll see you there.
Good bye!
Bye!
复习 Review
The EnglishPod audio review, listen to the meaning, then say the vocabulary word.
Correct, not able to be proved wrong.
Irrefeatable.
Very full and complete study to find information.
Extensive research.
Using a careful system or method.
Systematic.
Having errors or mistake.
Flood.
Crazy, foolish or silly.
Purposterous.
Unaware or don't know.
Oblivious too.
Way of looking for information.
Investigate of approach.
Do something on your own without help.
Single-handedly.
A final judgment that is not able to be changed, that is final.
Definitive conclusion.
Find out if something is true.
Determine.
Show something to be true.
Indicate.
An argument that is capable of making people believe that point of view.
A compelling case.
A collection of facts that implies or suggests something to be true, but does not prove it.
Circumstantial evidence.
Linked or connected with.
Associated with.
Let's try that faster.
Unaware or don't know.
Oblivious too.
Having errors or mistake.
Flood.
Find out if something is true.
Determine.
Correct.
Not able to be proved wrong.
Irrefutable.
A collection of facts that implies or suggests something to be true, but does not prove it.
Circumstantial evidence.
Way of looking for information.
Investigate of approach.
A final judgment that is not able to be changed, that is final.
Definitive conclusion.
Very full and complete study to find information.
Extensive research.
Linked or connected with.
Associated with.
Show something to be true.
Indicate.
Using a careful system or method.
Systematic.
Easy. Foolish or silly.
Proposterous.
An argument that is capable of making people believe that point of view.
A compelling case.
Do something on your own without help.
Single-handedly.
Now say the word and hear it in a sentence.
Irrefutable.
Look, we have irrefutable evidence that he was the killer.
Irrefutable.
The facts are irrefutable.
Smoking has a negative impact on your health.
Irrefutable.
The Irrefutable truth is that there is a monster living in Lake Erie.
Systematic.
We need to approach this problem in a systematic way.
Systematic.
We did a systematic evaluation of the evidence.
Systematic.
He's a very systematic guy.
He's very careful with his work.
Neil is oblivious to what's going on around him.
Are you oblivious to the truth?
I was oblivious to the fact that there was a virus on my computer.
Definitive conclusion.
We have not come to any definitive conclusions yet.
Definitive conclusion.
Before you make a definitive conclusion, make sure you examine all the evidence.
Definitive conclusion.
The researchers failed to arrive at any definitive conclusions.
We studied the problem carefully and we found conclusive evidence of global warming.
There's no conclusive evidence that links Diet Coke to health problems.
There is conclusive evidence showing that smokers die younger.
Thank you very much.