BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
6 Minute English worksheet
Why smells make us feel at home
Look at the cover image and title of the episode. What do you think this
episode is about? What do you know about this topic already? What vocabulary
do you associate with this topic?
1. Now listen to the first two minutes of the episode.
• What do the presenters say the episode is about?
• What is this week's question? What do you think the answer is?
2. Now listen to the whole episode. As you listen, write down the six items
of vocabulary. What do they mean?
a) Word/phrase:_______________________
It means: ___________________________________________________________.
b) Word/phrase:_______________________
It means: ___________________________________________________________.
c) Word/phrase:_______________________
It means: ___________________________________________________________.
d) Word/phrase:_______________________
It means: ___________________________________________________________.
e) Word/phrase:_______________________
It means: ___________________________________________________________.
f) Word/phrase:_______________________
It means: ___________________________________________________________.
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BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
6 Minute English worksheet
Why smells make us feel at home
4. What did you learn that was surprising or new in this episode?
5. Answer the quiz questions. Listen again or use the transcript to help you.
1. Why don't most people notice the smell of their own home?
a) because they keep their home clean and tidy
b) because most people have a limited sense of smell
c) because the brain filters out unthreatening smells to detect danger
2. A person who is 'anosmic' cannot _______?
a) hear
b) smell
c) taste
3. Which word is similar in meaning to 'weird'?
a) strange
b) smelly
c) serious
4. What does "Foxes have a strong scent" mean?
a) Foxes have a very good sense of smell.
b) Foxes can smell their prey.
c) It is easy to smell foxes.
5. What does the phrase 'a good chance' mean in the following sentence?
There's a 'good chance' Liverpool will win the league this year.
a) It's certain Liverpool will win the league.
b) It's impossible that Liverpool will win the league.
c) It's quite likely that Liverpool will win the league.
6. Which phrase means 'unusual or uncommon'?
a) out of the blue
b) out of the ordinary
c) out of the question
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BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
6 Minute English worksheet
Why smells make us feel at home
6. Write your own sentences using the vocabulary.
7. Answer the following questions.
• What are three things you have learnt from this episode?
• How does this topic make you feel?
• Give three examples relevant to your life using the vocabulary.
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BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
6 Minute English worksheet
Why smells make us feel at home
Answers
3.
a. anosmic – unable to smell; having no sense of smell
b. weird – strange; unusual; odd; bizarre
c. a good chance – quite a high likelihood or probability (that something will
happen)
d. out of the ordinary – unusual; uncommon; exceptional
e. scent – distinctive smell; smell produced by an animal
f. filter (something) out – remove or separate something unwanted from a
substance
5. 1c, 2b, 3a, 4c, 5c, 6b
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BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
6 Minute English worksheet
Why smells make us feel at home
Teacher's notes
This worksheet is standardised so that you can amend and use it as appropriate
with your classes.
Some topics may be difficult for learners, especially those which could be
upsetting or cause offence. Please be mindful of this when using this worksheet,
and adapt it as necessary.
Expansion activities
• Role-play an interview with an 'interviewer' and an 'expert' on this topic.
• Write a short story or article using the vocabulary from this episode.
• Read original articles on this topic.
• For homework: If it is available in your country, download and listen to the
original podcast these extracts were taken from.
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