Rob: Hello I’m Rob – a Gemini. Welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m joined today by
Neil.
Neil: Hi Rob. I'm a Virgo. So, what does that say about my personality? That's
the group of thoughts, feelings and behaviours which make you who you are.
It means I am supposed to be independent and observant!
Rob: Really? OK, observant – in other words, quick at noticing things. Well, as a
Gemini, I'm supposed to be witty and adaptable!
Neil: I think that's true. You are adaptable, Rob. You get used to new things and
situations very easily, I think.
Rob: Well, these characteristics we've mentioned are based on what astrologers
say. And astrology is today's theme.
Neil: Astrologers are people who say they can find out about your personality, and
maybe your future, by analysing the position of stars and planets the day
you were born.
Rob: It's controversial. Many astronomers – the scientists who study the stars
and planets – don't believe it's true, but some well-known people believe it's
a very serious business. And I'll put a question to you about that.
Neil: People born under the sign of Virgo are said to be very precise. Hmm, I'm
not so sure about that… But I'd better make sure everything I say today is
very accurate so I fit the description!
Rob: OK. Let's see if you can answer this question accurately. Which of these
famous people were publicly criticised when it came to light that they relied
too much on horoscopes to take decisions? Was it:
a) Margaret Thatcher
b) Nancy Reagan or
c) Michael Jackson
Neil: I think… I can remember this. I think it's Nancy Reagan, b.
Rob: OK. Are you sure?
Neil: I am.
Rob: OK. Well, you'll have to be patient because you won't get the answer until
the end of the programme.
Neil: Now, let me read my horoscope for today…
Rob: Oh, you and your horoscopes, honestly, Neil! Do you know when newspapers
and magazines started to offer horoscopes to their readers?
Neil: No, I don't.
Rob: Well, let's hear from Nicholas Campion, who teaches the cultural history of
astrology at the University of Wales. What does he have to say about it?
Campion, a Pisces, uses one particular word when he describes how people
feel about their place in the universe. Which word is it?
Nicholas Campion, University of Wales:
The newspaper horoscope was invented about 1930. There's a parallel between what
was happening in astronomy at the time. In the late 20s, the idea that the universe is
huge and expanding was discovered and popularised by the astronomer Edwin Hubble.
This became a metaphor for the idea that we live on the edge of a distant corner of the
universe and we are all very insignificant. At the same time we suddenly get these
horoscope columns appearing which I see as a kind of domestication of astrology.
Neil: Insignificant! It means of very little importance. He says that's how people
felt when astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered how huge the universe is…
Rob: And this academic thinks astrology tried to bring this idea under control; it
domesticated it. It brought it to our personal level, and made it all about
routine, everyday events.
Neil: How interesting. It makes us think that the stars are all about us. Astrology
tells us that the stars are all about me! I want to read my horoscope now!
Rob: Well, before you do that, you have to listen to what another specialist, this
time a psychologist, has to say. Paul Rogers, a Sagittarius, teaches at the
University of Central Lancashire, in the north of England.
Neil: A Sagittarius – he might be independent like me. Yes, go ahead!
Rob: OK. Well, he might spoil the fun you're having with your newspaper. Here he
is:
Paul Rogers, University of Central Lancashire, England:
People are misperceiving these generalised statements as being unique to their own
personality. There are other counter biases that people fall prey to, for example, the
confirmation bias. If you believe in something, you'll look for evidence to support that
belief and you'll ignore evidence that rejects that belief.
Neil: He talks about belief! Something which you think is true without much proof.
He says that people who think horoscopes are true do so because the
predictions seem to confirm what they already think about themselves.
Rob: Yes, people look for evidence – an indication that something they believe is
true. But it's all in their mind and not in the stars themselves. People believe
what they want to believe. They need some sense of control over life.
Neil: You know what? This is true. Believe in horoscopes or not, it's very
comforting to have this sense of direction in life.
Rob: Everything seems so unpredictable! Here's something predictable: our quiz.
Let's go back to it and see if you got the question right. I asked you which of
these famous people were publicly criticised when it came to light that they
relied too much on horoscopes. Was it Margaret Thatcher, Nancy Reagan or
Michael Jackson?
Neil: I said Nancy Reagan.
Rob: And you were right. Nancy Reagan, wife of the late president Ronald Reagan,
has long been interested in astrology. In 1988, she was criticised and
ridiculed when it was revealed that she had consulted astrologers during her
time at the White House.
Neil: I knew I was right because I'm always accurate!
Rob: Of course. Well done! Right, well, before we go, could you remind us of some
of the English words we’ve heard today?
Neil: personality
observant
adaptable
astrologers
astronomers
insignificant
domestication
evidence
belief
Rob: Thank you, Neil. Well, that’s it for this programme. Please join us soon again
for 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
Neil: Here's one thing you can predict: we’ll be back! Bye.
Rob: Bye bye.
