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Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil.

And Sam.

We often hear phrases such as dream big or reach for the stars,

which reflect an optimistic view of life.

Are you an optimist, Sam?

I hope so. I try to see the positive side of life,

even when something bad happens.

It sounds like you're a glass half-full person.

Someone who always thinks that good things will happen.

How about you, Neil? Are you optimistic?

Look, things go wrong all the time. That's a fact of life.

Call me a pessimist if you like, but I'm just being realistic.

Hmm, it sounds like Neil is more of a glass half-empty person,

but the truth is that the age-old debate between optimism and pessimism

is more complex than we think.

Yes, whether you're a sunny optimist or a gloomy pessimist

may be determined more by your birthplace and your age

than your attitude, as we'll be finding out in this programme.

Great, I've got a good feeling about this, Neil.

But first, as usual, I have a question for you, Sam.

...