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Six Minute English

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Hello, this is six minute English from BBC learning English. I'm Neil and I'm

Catherine. Thanks for making it on time today Catherine. What do you mean Neil? Are you

implying I'm always late? Well punctuality I mean being

on time is not your strong point. But I do always turn up and I never miss the program. I just don't want to be early Neil and then

wait around for you. Hmm people's attitude to being on time certainly varies and that's

what we're discussing in this program. How important is punctuality.

Anyway, Catherine, as you're here on time, you're not going to miss our quiz question.

Oh, no, I certainly don't want to miss out on that. So what is it?

Well in 2011 researchers said that an atomic clock at the UK's national physical laboratory

would have the best long-term accuracy of any in the world, but how many years would it take,

approximately, for it to lose or gain a second? Is it A, 138 years? B, 138,000 years? 38 years, or C,

138 million years.

Well, now atomic clocks are very accurate,

but 138 million years is a bit extreme so I'll say be

a hundred and thirty eight thousand years. Okay Catherine we'll find out the answer before the end of the program, which has to be six minutes long.

So let's talk more about people's timekeeping. That's their ability to do things on time.

Now, I know Neil doesn't like to be late.

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