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Hello, this is Six Minute English from BBC Learning English.
I'm Neil.
And I'm Georgina.
I've really had enough of this coronavirus, Georgina.
People getting sick,
losing their jobs, and to top it off, the pubs in some places are closed.
I know it's bad now, but compared to historical pandemics like the Spanish flu and economic crises like the Great Depression, coronavirus isn't actually so bad.
You've got to look at the bigger picture, the long-term overall view of a complex situation.
Somehow that's not very comforting, Georgina.
But tell me more.
Well, we've heard lots from politicians and scientists about the spread of coronavirus,
but a historian's view might give us a fresh look at the bigger picture.
And maybe a more hopeful point of view.
So in this program, we'll be hearing from historian,
Peter Frankapan, author of Best Selling Book, The Silk Roads.
Ah, the title of that book, The Silk Roads, reminds me of my quiz question, Georgina.
Are you ready to have a go?
I'll try Neil, but the only thing I know about The Silk Roads is that they were the ancient roots along which people traveled the earth.