The fear of numbers - 6 Minute English

Improve your English vocabulary and listening in just six minutes!
The fear of numbers might just be in our heads and we might have enough number knowledge to get by with. That’s what we’ll be exploring in this programme while looking at some relevant vocabulary.

This week's question:
It’s thought the largest number in the world is called a googol. It’s written with a 1 and how many zeros?

a) A hundred zeros
b) A thousand zeros
c) Ten thousand zeros

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
a numbers person
someone who understands numbers and is good at using them and interpreting data

put off
made to dislike something

primed
told to behave in a certain situation.

oratory
make good and effective public speaking

spurious
false, not correct or inaccurate.

potential
have the possibility within you to do something

numeracy
having basic mathematical skills

This episode of 6 Minute English was originally published as a web exclusive on bbclearningenglish.com.
To download the audio and a transcript, go to:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-210823

[Cover: Getty Images]

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