Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.
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Feifei: Hello and welcome to
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The English We Speak with me, Feifei...
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Rob: ...and me, Rob.
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Feifei: So, Rob, I have
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a very simple question for you.
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Rob: Yep?
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Feifei: Why have you got enormous
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whiskers glued to the side
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of your face, and why
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are you wearing a running vest?
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Rob: Well Feifei, it's a new year - and
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according to our Chinese friends,
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it's the 'Year of the Rat'.
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New Year, new resolutions - so I've
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decided to join the rat race!
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Feifei: You've decided to join the rat race?
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You mean to get really
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competitive at work and
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concentrate on promotions and pay rises
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at the expense of your free time?
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Rob: That's right.
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Feifei: But why?
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Rob: Money!
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Feifei: Right, well let's hear some
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examples of this expression before
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a little more explanation.
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I'm going to quit the rat race. I earn all
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this money but I never have
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enough time to
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spend it! It's just work, work, work!
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People complain about the rat race, but if
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you earn enough, you can retire at 50!
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Nieves decided to quit the rat race
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after she had a serious health scare.
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She realised
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that the money wasn't worth the stress.
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01:26
Feifei: You're listening to The English We
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Speak from BBC Learning English.
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In this programme,
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we're looking at the expression 'rat race'.
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It's used to describe a way of life in which
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people work very hard for a lot of money.
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Rob: But there's no free time and it's very,
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very competitive.
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You heard in the examples,
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we often hear the word 'quit' used
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with 'rat race'. Quit the rat race.
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Feifei: But you, Rob, have decided to join
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it. You do know that you don't have to look
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like a rat to join the rat race? And you
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certainly don't have to wear a racing vest.
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Rob: Just trying to make things clear
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for our audience, Feifei!
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Feifei: I do quite like
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those whiskers, though.
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02:06
Rob: (Squeaks)
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Feifei: Bye!
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Rob: Bye bye!
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