一起听英语 173 血型

为什么有的人见不得血，看到血后会晕倒呢?人们的血型和性格有什么联系吗?

Callum: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Callum.

Jennifer: And I’m Jennifer.

Callum: Now Jennifer, how squeamish are you?

Jennifer: Squeamish?

Callum: Yes, squeamish. For example, how do you feel when you see blood?

Jennifer: Well it depends on whether it’s mine or not! But generally I don’t have a

problem with the sight of blood, why?

Callum: Well the topic of today’s programme is blood and in particular how in some

countries, particularly in Asia, your blood type can play an important part in your

life. Do you know what your blood group, also called your blood type, is?

Jennifer: I think that I’m blood type O but I can’t remember for sure. Do you know?

Callum: Er, I haven’t the foggiest idea what my blood type is. Do you actually know what

the main groups are though?

Jennifer: Well I certainly know that O is one of them and I think A too. Erm, not sure

about the rest.

Callum: Well there’s A, AB, B and O are the four main classifications. I mean I’m no

doctor, no scientist but that’s what I understand are the main classifications.

And before we explore this topic a little more here’s your question. When were

these four blood groups first classified with the names, A, AB, B and O? Was it:

1899, 1909, 1919 or 1929

Jennifer: Well I imagine they’ve been around for quite some time so I will say 1899.

Callum: OK, we’ll find out if you’re right at the end of the programme.

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2012

Page 2 of 5

Our World Service colleague Ruth Evans has made a fascinating programme

about the topic of blood groups and how they are used by some people in Japan.

Here she is describing the importance of blood groups. Of course blood and

blood groups are important in medicine and science, but what other areas does

she say blood groups can influence? Here’s Ruth Evans.

Ruth Evans

Here in Japan blood isn’t just important for medicine and science, it’s also got big implications

for life, work and love.

Callum: So Jennifer, as well as medicine and science, what else can blood type influence?

Jennifer: She says that blood can be important to life, work and love. I can see how blood

is important to life – we all need blood – but I’m not sure how it is connected to

work and love.

Callum: Well let’s listen to a bit more from Ruth, she goes on to explain the connection.

Ruth Evans

Here in Japan blood isn’t just important for medicine and science, it’s also got big implications

for life, work and love. “What’s your blood type?” is often a key question in everything from

matchmaking to getting a job.

Callum: She says “What’s your blood type?” is a key question. What does she mean by

that – a ‘key’ question?

Jennifer: A ‘key’ question is an important question. She says blood type is important to

‘matchmaking and getting a job’.

Callum: Matchmaking?

Jennifer: Yes, finding a boyfriend or girlfriend.

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2012

Page 3 of 5

Callum: Mmm, not very romantic is it? You can imagine the situation, you’re out a bar,

you meet someone, you say: “Hi, would you like a drink? Would you like to

dance? What’s your blood type? ”

Jennifer: Well I’ve definitely never had that chat-up line before. It’s not really very

romantic, no.

Callum: Let’s listen to some more of Ruth who explains why blood types are important.

Ruth Evans

“What’s your blood type?” is often a key question in everything from matchmaking to getting a

job. A person’s blood type is popularly believed to determine temperament and personality.

Callum: She says that blood type is popularly believed to determine temperament and

personality. Tell us about temperament.

Jennifer: Your temperament describes your natural character – whether you are usually

cheerful, pessimistic, friendly, reserved, outgoing and so on. And Ruth says that

in Japan blood type is popularly believed to determine – or decide – your

temperament. I think the phrase ‘popularly believed’ is interesting here.

Callum: Why’s that?

Jennifer: Well if you say that something is ‘popularly believed’ it means that it’s not a

proven scientific fact – it’s just something that a lot of people believe, even if

there is no real evidence for it.

Callum: Let’s listen to all of Ruth again.

Ruth Evans

Here in Japan blood isn’t just important for medicine and science, it’s also got big implications

for life, work and love. “What’s your blood type?” is often a key question in everything from

matchmaking to getting a job. A person’s blood type is popularly believed to determine

temperament and personality.

Callum: Do you think there is something to this? Do you think your blood type can

determine your personality?

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2012

Page 4 of 5

Jennifer: I think it’s a really interesting question. I think it could be possible. What about

you? What do you think?

Callum: Do you want a diplomatic answer?

Jennifer: I think that’s best!

Callum: Personally I’m a sceptic. I find it hard to believe that my character could be

determined by the blood that flows around my body. But then I don’t believe in

astrology either – that the position of the stars and planets in the sky when you

are born can determine your temperament or personality. It seems to me these

are quite similar theories, neither of which has any scientific background – yet

are popularly believed in different parts of the world.

Anyway, it’s nearly time for us to go – but before that it’s time to get the answer

to this week’s question. The question was: In what year were blood groups

described with the groupings A, AB, B and O?

And Jennifer you chose?

Jennifer: 1899

Callum: And the correct answer was, in fact, actually, 1909. But just a stab in the dark,

you were right it was quite, quite early on.

For now, that’s all from this week’s 6 Minute English. Thank you very much

Jennifer.

Jennifer: You’re welcome

Callum: Goodbye.

Jennifer: Bye.