6.2. THE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

 

6.2.1 Listening

A

Read the text of the news broadcast. Choose the correct tenses, and fill in the missing words and expressions from the box. Listen to the recording and check your answers.

 

 

Free Fantasian Radio – the voice of democracy. It’s ten o’clock, and here is Lucy Voronesk with the latest news.

Figures released today show that average earnings (1) have gone up / went up by 60% over the last twelve months. Official sources say that this is (2)_____ the government’s successful economic policies, which (3) have led to / led to more efficient management and greater productivity. Industrial output (4) has risen / rose by 43% during the last year, and exports (5) have gone up / went up by 52%. Inflation is down to (6) ______ 3%. (7) ______ police figures, about 5,000 people (8) have taken part / took part in yesterday’s anti-government demonstration. (9) ______ police efforts to maintain order, (10) there has been / there was violence throughout the march. Stones and petrol bombs (11) have been thrown / were thrown at government buildings, and (12) ______ 200 people (13) have been hurt / were hurt in fighting (14) ______ (15) has broken out / broke out after speeches by opposition leaders in Wesk Square. 

(16) There has been / There was flooding in the south of the country, (17) ______ last week’s heavy rains. Prompt action by local army units (18) has limited / limited the damage, and the few people affected (19) have now been able / were now able to return to their homes.

Dr Joseph Brodsk, Deputy Governor of Stranvegan from 1976 to 1981, (20) has died / died yesterday at his home in Banhooly. He was 78. The President (21) has sent / sent a message of sympathy to Mrs Brodsk.

News (22) has just come in / just came in of a plane crash at EastMorkAirport. First reports say that two aircraft were involved, and that several people were killed, but no further details are available for the moment.

And now the weather forecast. It (23) is / will be warm, (24) ______ continuous sunshine in all parts of the country. The outlook for the weekend is similar, with temperatures in the high thirties.

 

Practice

B

Fill in the left-hand column of the table with the facts from the Free Fantasian Radio broadcast. Then listen to the news broadcast on another station – Democratic Fantasian Radio, and fill in the right-hand column. What do you think is the main reason for the differences?

 

	FFR	DFR
Number of demonstrators:
Was march violent?
How many hurt?
Average earnings up/down by:
Industrial output up/down by:
Exports up/down by:
Inflation:
Number of homeless due to flooding:
Weather:

     

6.2.2 Speaking

Choose one of the following activities:

 

1. Make up a news broadcast including three untrue reports. Read your broadcast to the class, and see if they can tell you which things are not true.

2. Make up two versions of a news report (as if from two different radio or TV stations). Give your reports to the class and see how many differences they can spot.

3. Discussion: How true are radio and TV reports? Is it necessary for the media to tell lies in some circumstances? Have you got any experience of official lying?

4. Invent a news item, and then report it to the class by mime (acting without words). The other students must guess what you are reporting and put it into words.

 

6.2.3  Vocabulary

Try to explain the meaning of the multi-word verbs in these headlines.

‘PM is not up to the job’ says Opposition

Minister Tried To Cover Up Illegal Deals

GOVERNMENT TO BRING IN NEW ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

Chancellor Faces Up To Problems of the Economy

SCANDAL WILL SOON BLOW OVER

Government to crack down on tax evasion

New Campaign to Win Over Floating Voters

COMMITTEE PUTS FORWARD NEW ENERGY PROPOSALS

Minister To Stand Down After Corruption Row

Government Goes Back on Election Promises

 

6.2.4 Definition

A

Match the multi-word verbs with their definitions.

 

1. to be up to (doing) something	a. to introduce a law, rule or system
2. to cover something up	b. to break a promise or agreement
3. to blow over	c. to be capable of doing something, be of a good enough standard
4. to bring something in	d. to resign from an important position, often in favour of somebody else
5. to face up to something	e. to have the courage to accept and deal with something difficult
6. to crack down on someone / something	f. to hide something bad such as a wrong action
7. to win someone over	g. to take a strong action against something illegal, or against people who do not obey certain rules or laws
8. to put something forward	h. to cease to arouse interest, to be forgotten
9. to stand down	i. to persuade someone to support you or to agree with you
10. to go back on something	j. to offer an idea or proposal for consideration

 

Drills

B

Listen to the sentences. Use the prompts you hear to make sentences with the same meaning.

 

6.2.5 Rephrase

Change the sentences using the multi-word verbs  from the previous exercise.

          

1. A new law on smoking in public places has been introduced.

2. The government tried to hide its involvement in the gun-running scandal.

3. It is rumoured that the Prime Minister will resign before the next election.

4. Everybody is talking about the seriousness of the problem, but I think it will soon be forgotten.

5. The police are beginning to get tough with young criminals.

6. That’s an excellent plan. Are you submitting it to the Committee?

7. The government seems unable to accept or deal with the problems created by its own policies.

8. The new man is well qualified, but he isn’t able to do the job properly.

9. The new government promised not to raise taxes, but it did.

10. Election campaigns are designed to persuade more people to vote for a particular party.

 

6.2.6 Collocation

Which of the words can be used with the multi- word verbs? Up to three items may be correct.

 

1. The manager tried to cover up ________.

a. the fortune          b. the scandal            c. the mistake         d. the crime

2. The police are cracking down on ________.

a. criticism          b. promotion          c. traffic offences        d. drug smuggling

3. One should never go back on  ________.

a. one’s word           b. a plan          c. an agreement          d. a promise

4. Some people can’t face up to ________.

a. their children         b. their responsibilities       c. their problems         d. the truth

5. The government is bringing in a new ________. 

a. law        b. measure         c. policy        d. Prime Minister

6. Who stood down yesterday?

a. The maths teacher.         b. The typist.      c. The Chairman.         d. The Chancellor.

7. She put forward several _______.

a. mistakes         b. suggestions        c. complaints          d. proposals

8. He simply isn’t up to _______.

a. exam standard             b. the job          c. resignation             d. the task

 

6.2.7 Word Use

A

How multi-word verbs work Type 1 multi-word verbs are intransitive and inseparable, Type 2 are transitive and separable. Decide on the type of the verbs in the following sentences:

 

1. The government will bring in new legislation to tackle the problem.

2. He will return to public life when the scandal has blown over.

3. They are putting forward new and radical proposals in their election manifesto.

4. She failed to win over the rebels in her own party.

5. She tried to cover up her involvement in the plan to sell arms illegally.

6. She has decided to stand down as leader of the party.

                                         

B     Answer the questions:

 

1. What is the opposite of to go back on your word?

2. What is the opposite of to be out of touch with something?

3. What is the difference between:

a. to bring something in and to put something forward?

b. to stand down and to resign?

 

6.2.8 Idiom

A

Translate the sentences. Which of these expressions has a negative / positive connotation?

 

1. The government is out of step with public opinion.

2. The Minister said he wanted to keep an open mind on the issue of subsidizing the public transport system.

3. The government has been turning a blind eye to corruption within its own party.

4. People have accused the government of being out of touch with what is really going on in the country.

5. The outcome of the election hangs in the balance. ‘It’s very close,’ said the commentator. ‘No one can say which side will win.’

 

B      Complete the following sentences using the idioms.

 

1. I don’t want to decide until I know all the facts. I want to ________.

2. He’s seriously ill. We don’t know if he will live or die. His life ________.

3. I haven’t read any articles on this subject for five years, so I _______ with recent developments.

4. The boss knew his employees were being dishonest, but he did nothing about it. He ________.

5. Her opinions on this matter are _______ with those of the majority of people.

 

6.2.9 Correction

Suggest a correct or better alternative for each word in bold.

                                      

A

1. The new law effects today. – The new law comes into effect today.
2. The paper is running an action against the new privacy laws.
3. Are you interested in British civilization?
4. The Minister was the victim of a combine against him.
5. We are electing a new party conductor.
6. We must join ourselves to win the next election.
7. Are you a member of the Preservative Party?
8. They’ll have to control your passport before they let you in.
9. Conversations about trade agreements are continuing.
10. They’ve set up centres to council the unemployed.
11. Has he got the necessary qualities to direct the country?
12. The government was chosen with a small majority.
13. She’s one of the greatest faces in modern politics.
14. Are you a member of the Labour Faction?
15. The folk will be voting on May 14^th.
16. Dictators have a lot of craft.
17. What is the basis of political force?
18. A dictator rules by strength.
19. Do you know all the words of our National Hymn?
20. The great forces decide the destiny of smaller nations.
21. We pay imposition on everything.

B

1. An industrious nation needs a lot of capital investment.
2. Civil service departments are full of plot.
3. Paris was discharged in 1945 by the allied forces.
4. The most of people are in favour of a change in the law.
5. There’s been a peaceful manifestation against motorways.
6. What is the date of the annual party lecture?
7. You have to tackle misery before you tackle crime.
8. The German country is a formidable force in Europe.
9. She’s been named to lead the party into the next election.
10. What part are you on?
11. I’m enjoying peasant life now I’ve moved out of London.
12. It’s government by the peoples for the peoples.
13. What’s your political conviction?
14. Politic is central to the study of history.
15. A government must reign or resign.
16. Britain has a republican government.
17. The way we are governed affects the whole of the community.
18. Britain is a small country which is divided into lands.
19. Trade Syndicates defend workers’ interests.

 

6.2.10 Idiom

A

Read the dialogue and try explain the idioms in bold.

 

- Well, I’m not 1) taking it lying down! The management’s proposal to increase our working hours without increasing our pay is unacceptable. We must protest. We’ve got to do something about it!

- Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure they’ll back down. The management’s full of 2) hot air – they never do what they say they’re going to do.

-  No, no. I believe they’re serious and we can’t let that happen. I think we’ve got to 3) dig our heels in over this one, and I reckon most of the staff will feel the same.

- Just a minute! 4) Taking the law into your own hands is not a solution. Organizing something like that could 5) seal your fate in this company. You could lose your job.

- No, I’m 6) sticking to my guns. We’ve got to do something radical – we’ve been quiet for too long. It’s people like you who 7) sit on the fence that encourage management to treat us with no respect.

- I’m 8) up in arms about the proposal too! But can’t we talk the management round to our point of view? I reckon we could explain that the workforce will 9) vote with their  feet and get jobs elsewhere – that should 10) do the trick.

 

Definition

B

Match items with the idioms from part A.

 

1. to ensure the death / failure of smth / smb

2. to accept smth harmful / unpleasant without complaint / a struggle

3. false promises / claims

4. to do smth to combat injustice without abiding by the rules / law

5. to refuse to have an opinion or take sides on an issue

6. angry because one is opposed to smth

7. to show one’s opinion by (not) participating in smth / (not) going somewhere

8. to keep supporting a particular belief / course of action, etc

9. to show firmness over smth, especially one’s own desires

10. to achieve what is wanted

 

Practice

C

Fill in the gaps:

 

1. Ralph is so full of … that I never take what he says seriously.

2. When the mob take … the outcome is disastrous.

3. Although he was heavily criticized, the Minister … .

4. Hastings … when he contradicted his boss in public.

5. By … and opening on Sundays shopkeepers were able to change the law on opening hours.

 

Rephrase

D

Reword the following sentences using the words in brackets. Do not change these words in any way.

 

1. My mother is not someone who takes poor service without complaint. (lying)

2. Citizens are furious over the council’s decision to knock down the old library. (arms)

3. The little boy was adamant and refused to go to summer camp. (heels)

4. Changing the spark plugs should sort it out; the car will start more easily. (trick)

5. If Barker’s Butchers don’t improve the quality of their meat, housewives will show their preference by shopping at Phipp’s. (feet)

 

6.2.11 Idiom

A

Read the two newspaper reports and try to explain the idioms in bold.

 

1. The 1) running battle between the Union of Teachers and the government over wages intensified on Tuesday after Union leader, Gerry Tuffnal, threatened strike action unless teachers are granted a 5% pay rise.

The Minister of Education, Stanley Baxter, announced yesterday that giving a rise was 2) easier said than done as it would mean increasing taxes. However, his words seemed to 3) fall on deaf ears as 4) the grass roots of the Union were still in support of strike action yesterday afternoon.

Stanley Baxter and Gerry Tuffnal are currently holding discussions together 5) behind closed doors in an attempt to come to some kind of compromise.

 

2. Protesters are continuing to obstruct construction work on the proposed site for StacktonAirport’s new runway in spite of police threats to remove them by force unless they 6) call it a day.

Yesterday afternoon the ringleader, known only as ‘Josh’, announced that the threats were 7) cutting no ice with him and his colleagues. He added that if force were to be used on the demonstrators, who had been peaceful so far, 8) the law of the jungle would apply thereafter. He also quoted 9) chapter and verse an agreement not to extend the airport, signed by airport officials and the Minister of Transport in 1986.

The current Transport Minister, Jack Glenn retaliated last night saying that the protesters have no right to 10) sit in judgment as the Ministry of Environment had since granted permission for a new runway on the site. He ended his statement saying that arrests would be made if the protest were to become disorderly.

  

Definition

B

Match the items with the idioms from part A.

 

1. something which sounds / appears simple but is difficult to achieve / do

2. ordinary people, not in authority but whose opinions are influential

3. long-lasting struggle

4. in private /secretly

5. to fail to impress

6. in full detail

7. to decide if smb / smth is good or bad

8. the situation where the law is disregarded and the strongest / most aggressive succeed

9. to stop doing smth

10. to be ignored, especially of speech / advice

 

Rephrase

C

Reword the following sentences using the words in brackets. Do not change the words.

 

1. Demands for change are coming from the supporters of the Labour Party. (roots)

2. It is not for me to pass comment; Platt doesn’t work for me. (sit)

3. Giving up smoking sounds simple but it is very difficult. (easier)

4. Before I tackle the Home Office, I’ll need the full details on this case. (chapter)

5. There has been an ongoing argument between port authorities and fishermen over fishing zones. (battle)

 

Practice

D

Fill in the gaps:

 

1. Our complaints to the Collins about their barking dog have fallen on … .

2. Her show of sincerity … with me. I know she’s lying.

3. Jury decisions are made … to ensure the privacy of jury members while reaching their verdict.

4. After working for fifteen hours, Peter decided to … and go home.

5. It was the … during the January sales; bargain hunters fought to be the first to snap up the goods.

 

6.2.12 Word Choice

A

Choose the word that best completes each sentence.

 

1. The activists’ protest against the extension of the power station fell on … ears.

a. closed            b. deaf           c. mute           d. numb

2. I’m afraid Chris’ witty comments … no ice with me.

a. thaw              b. freeze           c. melt             d. cut

3. After failing her law exam for the third time, Jessica decided to … it a day.

a. call            b. declare            c. announce         d. consider

4. The meeting was for the partners only and was held behind … doors.

a. fastened          b. bolted           c. closed          d. locked

5. Your computer works fine now. I just reloaded the programme and that did the … .

a. joke           b. trick           c. work            d. good

6. The grass … of the party have been demanding improvements in education for years.

a. cores              b. bases            c. foundations        d. roots

7. The medical profession … with their feet by refusing to prescribe Pomvol.

a. voted           b. decided          c. elected         d. returned

8. Detective Armstrong wanted to be given … and verse on the backgrounds of murder victims.

a. page            b. chapter            c. poem            d. section

9. ‘How can you sit in … over the exhibition when you know nothing about art?’

a. discrimination          b. understanding        c. judgment       d. punishment

10. Following the fall of dictatorships, often it is the … of the jungle which rules.

a. code           b. rule        c. regulation           d. law

 

Check Yourself

B

Fill in the gaps with phrases from the list:

 

 

 

1. -  Sir, we must do something about this 1) ….. with the townspeople over the new car park. They’re 2) ….. over the plan and I’m a bit worried the things might get nasty!

- Oh, come on, Cotter! All this talk of action is just a load of 3) ….. !

- But sir! What if they 4) ….. ? They might attempt to use their own methods to get …

- They won’t go that far! Look, all we need to do is 5) ….. and they’ll soon calm down!

 

2. - Mrs Jackson, the Mayor has really 6) ….. on the subject of the new car park. I suggest that we hold a demonstration!

- Now, Mr Tyke, you know that’s 7) ….. Most of the residents are pensioners and, well, they’re just not up to marches!

- But they’re not going to 8) ….. either!

- Relax Mr Tyke. Listen, we’ve got Councilor Cotter who seems to be just 9) ….. and refusing to say publicly whether or not he approves of the plans, and the Mayor who’s simply ignoring the demands of those who put him where he is today. Basically, they’ve both 10) ….. ; they’ll be out of a job next year, so all we’ve got to do is keep stalling their plans till then.

 

6.2.13 Translation

Translate the text and think of the further development  of  the story.

 

Senator Boyette was an old Democrat from New Orleans, who had served several undistinguished terms in the US House of Representatives before becoming a member of the world’s most exclusive club. With time, he proved himself quite capable. And he mellowed. He changed – from a hell-raising segregationist to a liberal statesman and an environmentalist. He railed against the oil and gas industry and made enemies in the tall buildings in New Orleans.

Then someone floated a proposal to build a toxic-waste dump in Lafourche Parish, Southwest of New Orleans. Money changed hands and rumours were rampant that the New Orleans mob was behind the dump. Of course, millions were at stake.

Senator Boyette came crashing in with an army of federal regulators. He held press conferences. He made speeches all over southern Louisiana. The advocates of the waste site ran for cover.

On the night of his disappearance he had attended an angry meeting of local citizens at a high school in Houma. He left late, and alone, for the hour’s drive to his home near New Orleans. By noon the next day it was determined that the senator was missing. Days went by. No body was found.

 

6.2.14 Speaking

Discuss the questions below, using the multi-word verbs and idioms from this unit.

      

1. Give reasons why someone might want to resign from an important position.

2. Think of a scandal that someone has tried to hide from the public.

3. What are some of the ways in which politicians try to win support?

4. What do you think the government or police should be stricter about in our country?

5. Think of some things people can or do protest against.

6. What new laws would you like the government to introduce? 

 

6.2.15 Writing

You are publicity writers who have been hired to  write a pamphlet for the New Lifestyle Party. Think of the key issues and slogans, the ways of criticizing the other parties and encouraging people to vote for you.