tbook for upper intermediate

and advanced students

"CAROL Г nDTIODRL DEFEnCE URIUERSITV PUBLISHIRU HOUSE

BUCHAREST. EDO
CHAPTERS PAGE
FOREWORD.......................... 5

PART I SPEAKING TOPICS 7

I >im uviing the aspects and consequences of an issue................................ 8
( umparing the advantages and disadvantages of a situation.................... 13
Expressing opinion..................................................................................... 16
Finding hypothetical solutions to present or past issues........................... 24
Dialogues..................................................................................................... 27

PART 2 GROUP DEBATES......................... .................................................... 31

Debate # 1 Should We Be Allowed to Own Guns?.................................. 32
Debate #2 10 Greatest Romanians............................................................. 34
Debate # 3 Methods of Punishing Children............................................... 35
Debate # 4 European Federalism................................................................. 37
Debate # 5 Views on Torturing Prisoners................................................... 39
Debate # 6 The Future of NATO................................................................. 43
Debate # 7 The future of NATO - Ranking Exercises.............................. 48
Debate # 8 Globalization............................................................................. 50
Debate II 9 Capital Punishment................................................................... 51
TACTICAL DECISION GAMES....................................................................... 54
TDG #1 - Executive Decision (Military Coup in Thailand)........ 54
I DG It2 - NEO in Africa (Noncombatant Evacuation Operation) 55
TDG #3 - Military Functions in Civil Disturbances..................... 56
 PART 3 VOCABULARY........................................................... 57
Unit 1 Vocabulary related to social problems.................................... 53
Unit 2 Vocabulary related to the government and society..........................61
Unit 3 Work-related vocabulary................ 54
Unit 4 Vocabulary related to expressing personal opinion.........................68
Unit 5 Tourism-related vocabulary............ 7]
Unit 6 Vocabulary related to the news and the mass media............. 75
Unit 7 Economy-related vocabulary................................... 79
Unit 8 Vocabulary for health-related topics....................................... g?
Unit 9 Military-related vocabulary.................................... 34
Unit 10 Crime-related vocabulary..................................... g7
Unit 11 Environment-related vocabulary................................... 99
Unit 12 Vocabulary related to education and technology...........................95
Unit 13 Linking words.............................................. 9g
Unit 14 Linking words for conversations/debates................................... 105
Unit 15 Language for presentations....................................... 106
Unit 16 Linking words - revision...................................... ]07
Appendix 1 - Tense chart........................................................ 2p
Appendix 2 - Subjunctive chart............................................ Ip

KEY.................................................................................................................. 117

4
 FOREWORD

he present book is designed for upper-intermediate and

T advanced students interested in developing

communicational skills for language exams as well as for
seminars, debates, public speeches. It can be used for intensive and non-
mlcnsive courses, both in the civilian and in the military environment.
their

The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 focuses on individual

tasks that require the student to present an opinion, discuss advantages and
disadvantages, analyze consequences, hypothesize in different situations,
and handle problem-solution situations. Part 2 deals with collaborative
tasks and includes a range of topics for group debates on very current and
controversial issues. Part 3 includes 16 vocabulary units that arc meant to
help the students improve their lexical abilities so as to better handle the
speaking tasks in parts 1 and 2. Three of these units focus on linking words
and lh< way they can be introduced in the discourse and one separate unit
r e. '"' an overview of the vocabulary used in presentations. The book also
contains a Key that not only gives the correct answers for the vocabulary
section, but also offers ideas/suggestions for the speaking tasks.
Good luck!
 7-

...... ....
c :::d

K— H

o o
 DISCUSSING THE ASPECTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF AN ISSUE1

TIPS:
> The consequences you mention must be general. Do not speak about your
personal experience. For example: DO NOT say “I work very hard and
have little free time to spend with my family, so I can say that work has
affected my personal relationships.” The task is general and your answer
should be the same. For example: “Work takes up most of people’s free
time, impinging on their personal relationships and reducing their social
lives to practically nothing.”
> The consequences could be both positive and negative. You DO NOT have
to choose a side with this kind of topic. But you need to group them and
refer first to one kind and then to the next in a clearly identifiable order. Fo
example: “It is my firm belief that the work schedules people have
nowadays have both positive and negative effects on their lives. Firstly, the
most important negative effects is that...”
> You can choose either positive or negative consequences if you want and
address the issue unilaterally.
> Use linking words to signal your move from one idea to the next and to
make your discourse easy to follow. (Check Units 13 and 14 on linking
words for further explanations.)
> The time limit for this type of task is approximately 3 minutes, so you
should try to respect it and have time to include a conclusion so that your
answer is complete.

Work schedules

People nowadays are spending more and more time at work or performing work-
related tasks to the detriment of their family and social lives. Analyze and
discuss the aspects of this issue and its consequences for contemporary society.

For ideas on how to approach these topics, what ideas to employ, check the key at the end.
Sumpie answer:

This issue is a fact in contemporary society. It is not something that can

be changed given the amount of work people have to do in order to keep their
jobs but also move ahead in their careers.
Working long hours has mainly negative effects on a person’s private life.
Firstly, there is little time left to dedicate to one’s family. The children are the
first to suffer in this case as they need parental attention and guidance on a
regular basis in order to find their way in life.
Secondly, one’s partner in life may feel neglected and it is a well known
fact that one of the main reasons for divorce or separation is that the two
partners have fallen apart, have found that they have separate, parallel lives, and
the person next to them is a stranger.
But one’s private life is not restricted to one’s family. It also involves
one’s friends. When people spend long hours at work, their friends tend to be
their co-workers. Other friends, from school, university, previous workplaces,
simply cannot find their place in this work-centered life. Consequently, these
relationships come to an unspoken end, as communication becomes more and
more sporadic.
However, one can argue that there are some positive aspects to working a
lot, such as getting promoted, which, in turn, will mean a bigger income. This is
what most people have in mind when they dedicate so much of their time to
their jobs. In their opinion, a higher income means a better standard of living,
which equals happiness. They promise themselves that they will slow down and
enjoy their lives once they get that next promotion or raise. And some of them
do. Others, on the other hand, remain forever trapped in their work-centered
lives.
In conclusion, it is always best to try and find a balance in one’s life
between work and private life as both are important, vital even, for one’s
happiness in the long run."

Fast Food

More and more people have started to resort to fast food as a way of obtaining
the nourishment they need, while spending less and less time doing so. Analyze
and discuss the aspects of this issue and its consequences for contemporary
society.2

2 This answer is too long for 3 minutes, but it is aimed at showing you how to link ideas and move from negative
to positive aspects. Any of the arguments can be left out so as to fit the time limit.

9
 Elections

Elections are held in Romania every four or five years, depending on the
position they are organized for. However, fewer and fewer people turn up to
vote regardless of the impact the elections may have on society. Analyze and
discuss the aspects of this issue and its consequences for Romania.

Anti-terrorism measures

"V Anti-terrorism measures have started to affect not only the entities that
undertake such actions but also all the people in the world who travel either for
pleasure or business. Analyze and discuss the aspects of this issue and its
consequences for contemporary society.

Military technology

New military technology appears on the market every year. The Romanian
military, however, does not have the necessary funds to purchase modern
warfare technology. Analyze and discuss the aspects of this issue and its
consequences for the future of the Romanian Armed Forces.

“Computer talk”

More and more young people nowadays use social networks to interact with
their peers. However, communicating on these sites means that messages have
to be very concise and written quickly. This, in turn, has led to the appearance of
an entirely different language amongst youngsters. Analyze and discuss the
aspects of this issue and its consequences for the education and linguistic
development of young people.

Working from home

More and more companies nowadays offer their employees the opportunity of
working from home at least part of the week, instead of going into the office
every day. Analyze and discuss the aspects of this issue and its consequences for
the contemporary work environment.

Romania and highways

Despite the exceedingly large sums of money invested in the building of

highways in Romania, the results are still far from satisfactory and the country is
affected by the lack of infrastructure. Analyze and discuss the aspects of this
issue and its consequences for contemporary Romania.

10
< hcmienl and biological weapons

Rumors have it that in contemporary warfare more and more chemical and
biological weapons have started to be used without anyone being fully aware of
their possible effects on the world population. Analyze and discuss the aspects
of this issue and its consequences for the military and for unaware civilian
population.

Overpopulation

I hr world population reached seven billion in 2011, and it is still rising quickly,
threatening to use up all the planet’s resources. Analyze and discuss the aspects
ol this issue and its consequences for the future of society and the planet.

International Monetary Fund

More and more countries are borrowing money from the International Monetary
Fund in order to stabilize their economies. However, these loans come with very
strict terms and conditions. Analyze and discuss the aspects of this issue and its
consequences for the future of developing and underdeveloped economies.

( Censorship

Claiming to protect children from inappropriate TV programs and other kinds of

products, censorship has started to take a more active role in modern society.
Analyze and discuss the aspects of this issue and its consequences for the
development and education of future generations.

Role-models

It is only normal for people to look up to some public figures and to try to
emulate their behavior in order to succeed in life. However, in recent years, a
change has been noticed in the role models that young people choose. They are
mainly actors and celebrities. Analyze and discuss the aspects of this issue and
its consequences for the mental development of future generations.

English as a global language

In recent years English has gained more and more ground as a global language.
It is used in all domains of contemporary life from education to commerce.
Analyze and discuss the aspects of this issue and its effect on other languages.

11
Globa! scientific projects

More and more scientific projects are undertaken at a global level. Scientists
from all over the world, regardless of their home countries, collaborate to solve
different dilemmas, issues, problems. Analyze and discuss the aspects of this
issue and its consequences for the global society.

The Internet

The Internet has become an integral part of our day-to-day lives. We use it for
everything from shopping to socializing. Analyze and discuss the aspects of this
issue and its consequences for the development of human relationships and of
society.

Robots and computers

Robots and computers are replacing manual labor more and more. Entire factory
sections are now fully automated. What may be the long-term consequences of
this shift from the manual to the automatic? Bring relevant arguments to justify
your ideas.

12
 < OMPAIUNG THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
OF A SITUATION

TIPS:
> The advantages and disadvantages you mention must be general. Do not
speak about your personal experience.
> You need to include both advantages and disadvantages, as much as
possible in order to respect the task.
> 1Jse linking words to signal your move from one idea to the next and to
make your discourse easy to follow. (Check Units 13 and 14 on linking
words for further explanations.)
У The time limit for this type of task is approximately 3 minutes, so you
should try to respect it and have time to include a conclusion so that your
answer is complete.

China

In recent years China has gained a prominent seat in the arena of world
economics. It is an economic superpower and the world’s largest exporter of
goods. What will be, in your opinion, the benefits and the drawbacks of China’s
rising influence in the world?

Sample answer

As one puts the advantages and disadvantages of China’s rising influence

m the world in balance one realizes that it is quite difficult to say which ones
outweigh the others.
I lie most obvious and far-reaching benefit is a direct result of its
economic power, namely, cheaper goods are available worldwide. This, in turn,
means that the standard of living/can improve in more countries, as more and
more people arc able to buy the things they need.
Secondly, one reason that products cost less when they come out of China
с. that the labor force, being so numerous, is also cheaper than in other
i uimit ies. As a consequence, the end products are not as expensive as the ones
In mi other countries.
Another advantage is that during this economic crisis, China has not been
ms nlleeted as other nations. This means that it can act as financial support for

13
other economies, including powerful ones such as the American one, and give
out loans.
As strong as these advantages may appear to be, the disadvantages are just
as serious and worthy of consideration. Firstly, the products they export may
cost less but their quality may also be below standard. Moreover, they tend to
emulate or outright copy the products of other companies to boost their sales.
The cheap knock-offs they release undermine the efforts of other companies to
make a profit in these hard times.
Secondly, China does give out loans in this difficult period for many
economies, but the cost of these loans is quite high. Their interest rate and
interests in general may make these loans less appealing than they seem to be at
first sight. Countries may end up being mere puppets in the Chinese’ hands and
they will do as the Chinese dictate. This sort of power, in large amounts, in any
one country’s hands is a very dangerous thing. The Chinese may become the
leaders of the world, because they are the leaders of the global economy and no
other nation will be strong enough to keep the Chinese in check, to counter their
plans/

Consumption and consumerism

Analysts claim that we live today in a consumerism-driven society that

encourages people to buy more and more in order to keep up with trends. What
are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend in the short and long-term?

The role of peace-keeping missions

Peace-keeping and peace-enforcing missions are currently seen as the only

means of stabilizing certain areas of the world where conflicts threaten the
security of the citizens and of the international community. There are voices that
argue that more peaceful and diplomatic measures should be taken to appease
these conflicts. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a peaceful
approach to world conflicts?

Genetic experiments

More and more genetic experiments are conducted nowadays. They focus on
everything from cloning (whole organs or just organs for transplant) to
eliminating genes that cause different malformations and congenital diseases.3

3 This answer is too long for 3 minutes, but it is aimed at showing you how to link ideas and move from
advantages to disadvantages. Any of the arguments can be left out so as to fit the time limit.

14
 ' it.it .и г the advantages and disadvantages of genetic experiments for the health
"I tin- world population?

K.lecfric cars

1'.lectric cars are new, rechargeable battery-powered vehicles. Some say they are
the cars of the future with benefits outweighing the drawbacks. What are the
advantages and disadvantages of the wide-use of electric cars?

• hi v< illniicc and identity technology

•in vi ilInner and identity technology is used by governments and police forces
in mnnitoi people’s movements and communications. Some people complain
about the loss of privacy and the inefficiency of these surveillance techniques in
preventing crimes. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these systems?

T h e news

In recent years, a shift has been noticed in whom the news comes from. Before,
big newspapers, TV or radio stations had a monopoly on news. However, today
in the Internet age, it is ordinary people who produce the news and broadcast it
on the web for others to see/read. What are the advantages and disadvantages of
this change in the producer of the news?
 EXPRESSING OPINION

TIPS:
> When expressing an opinion on any issue, you must speak in general
terms. Opinions do not refer to particular situations in your life or the
life of others, but to how you think the situation should be
interpreted in general. Therefore, you should avoid giving examples
and use only arguments to support your opinion.
> The topics generally present two opposing points of view on the
same issue. Your opinion is then asked for. The steps to solving this
task are the following:
1. State your opinion clearly. The examiner(s) must understand
what your view of the issue is from the very beginning. As a
suggestion, you should try to choose one side of the argument
(i.e. be either in favor or against the issue). It is much easier to
organize and keep track of this kind of argument, than of an
argument that tries to balance the pros and the cons.
2. In order, provide arguments to support your opinion. Use linking
words to signal the move from one idea to the next.
3. Make sure you have time to form a conclusion. In the conclusion,
summarize your opinion and the arguments you have presented.
> Use linking words to signal your move from one idea to the next and
to make your discourse easy to follow. (Check Units 13 and 14 on
linking words for further explanations.)
> Generally, you have 3-4 minutes for this task.

Genetic engineering

Genetic engineering affects more and more domains of our lives from
agriculture to medicine. Some believe that it is a sign of progress and that it
improves our lives in numerous ways. Others argue that its drawbacks in point
of health and not only, seriously outweigh its benefits. Where do you stand on
this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

Sample answer

1 strongly believe that, despite some drawbacks, genetic engineering is the

way of the future. It is the only way that humankind can develop further and
make the best of the planet's resources.
 ( HiHiir engineering has many applications. Firstly, it can be used to make
(hr .oil yield better crops, as the world’s population is growing more and more
'uni ihreulens to exhaust all the world’s food supplies. Furthermore, using
uMiK'lic engineering, the livestock can be made more resistant to disease and the
growth process can be sped up. Thus, food will become available more quickly
.uni to a larger number of people, helping, in the long run, to solve the problem
о I starvation.
Secondly, genetic engineering can be used to identify and eliminate
Miious medical conditions such as genetically transmitted diseases or
nuilfixmillions. Hy separating the genes responsible for these conditions from
tin ntlicis. doctors will be able to improve the chances of having healthy babies.
Moreover, in the field of medicine, the victims of serious accidents or
■мни . illnesses can be helped by using genetic engineering. Victims who have
lost limbs can have them replaced not with synthetic ones but with genetically
duplicated ones that are easily accepted by their bodies. People who need
liansplants may not have to wait for someone else to die to get the organ but
may have their own duplicated by cloning.
As it can be seen from the arguments presented above, genetic
engineering has far-reaching effects from helping to feed the hungry to curing
many serious medical conditions. Its limits are only those dictated by our
imagination and controlled by our moral sense.

Smoking

In most European countries smoking has been banned from all public places. It
has been argued that this measure is meant not only as a deterrent for smokers,
but also as a means of protecting non-smokers from the negative effects of
passive smoking. However, smokers argue that this is discrimination and that
they should at least be allowed to smoke in specially-designated area, and that
au h aiisis should exist in all public spaces and institutions. Where do you stand
••и this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

< omputci games

Mote and more computer games have appeared on the market. Some say that
they me detrimental to children’s education since they promote violence and
uiti social behavior. Others state that computer games help develop children’s
a Iiilrgie skills and problem-solving abilities. Where do you stand on this issue?
Ihing relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

17
Legally granted immunity

Many diplomats and politicians, both foreign and domestic, conduct illegal or
illicit activities under the protection of their legally-granted immunity. Some
people believe that this immunity should be raised and they should be
prosecuted like any ordinary citizen should be. Others argue that, by doing this,
a country’s governance system could be affected as well as its international
policy. Where do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify
your ideas.

Medicine

Medicine has made tremendous progress in the recent decades. Cures for many
diseases have been found as well as methods of treatment for thousands of other
serious conditions. However, some have noticed that the development of new
drugs has had unwanted side-effects, meaning that people have started to take
strong medicine for even the easiest of conditions. Moreover, traditional and
alternative forms of medicine have been forgotten, ignored and even slandered.
Where do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your
ideas.

Food

Food has become increasingly processed in recent years. Pre-packaged and pre­
cooked products can be found in most supermarkets and the fast-food industry is
on the rise. The supporters of this trend argue that, in today’s fast-moving world
there is no more time for cooking dishes from scratch. On the other hand,
doctors and not only, warn about the detrimental effects such food can have on
the body and of the toxins and preservatives it contains. Where do you stand on
this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

The media

Some people have been complaining that the media no longer provides
information about on-going events in different areas of the world. Instead, it
focuses more and more on the lives of celebrities and on the different scandals
that take place in the entertainment business. The media representatives, on the
other hand, argue that they need to sell their products and consequently they
cover subjects that arouse people’s interest. Where do you stand on this issue?
Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

18
1 •»mitmi(t*I •. and (lie military

• v mlormution technology has permeated all areas of our lives. The military
яmi "I he left behind. Some argue that IT devices and systems could be used to
Iи Un perform tasks at all levels of the military systems. Others claim that the
military cannot be an open system, meaning that classified documents and
niiiptiler technology may be incompatible. Where do you stand on this issue?
lump, idevant arguments to justify your ideas.

Win h|ilnci* privacy

I ..........iploycrs have put in place different surveillance measures to check on

iltt’li i mployees’ activities and progress during work hours. Employees are
•li-.-ailidled by these measures because they believe they have the right to
piivmcy even in the workplace, as long as they do their jobs well and on time.
Where do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your
ideas.

P ollution

I .11ge cities have been confronted with the problem of pollution for several
decades. However, this issue has now become global as scientists warn against
lli< negative effects of pollution on the environment. Other people believe that
• icntists are blowing pollution out of proportion and they are turning it into the
•i apegoat for many other issues. Where do you stand on this issue? Bring
idevant arguments to justify your ideas.

ITchnology

Irdmnlogy has become an integral part of our lives nowadays. We use

t* i hnnlogy at work, at home, for our entertainment, for education as well as in
at mt-du al care systems. We could say that we have become dependent on it
на! I an no longer envisage our lives without it. Where do you stand on this
I nr ' Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

m unition

I duention is constantly changing nowadays and is becoming increasingly

.pc. inlizcd. Some argue that specialization is necessary because the volume of
ml.... .. ion would otherwise be too extensive, and human minds are not
• ••mputcr.'i with unlimited storage space. Others claim that excessive
1“-, lidizution is a detrimental aspect of education as people will no longer be

19
able to “see the big picture” and will be easily manipulated. Where do you stand
on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

Lifelong education

Lifelong education has become a more and more widely encountered process
nowadays. Companies have started paying for or motivating their employees to
attend training courses or other forms of education at different stages in their
careers. What reasons might motivate this shift in education in your opinion?
Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

Bank loans

More and more people take out bank loans, both for smaller personal needs and
for larger purchases. Some argue that the increasing number of bank loans is a
sign of a healthy economy, in which money circulates and is a means to an end.
Others state that the effects of bank debts on the economy could be disastrous,
as inflation increases and people may become unable to pay them back. Where
do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

Nuclear weapons

More and more countries have developed nuclear research programs with the
declared goal of developing weapons to protect their national territory and
integrity. They argue that since some countries in the world already have nuclear
capabilities for the purpose of defense, it is their right to do the same. However,
some officials warn that such programs and weapons might increase the risk of a
nuclear war whose effects would be devastating for the planet and its
inhabitants. Where do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to
justify your ideas.

Advertising

More and more products are advertised nowadays on TV and on the Internet.
Almost all programs and Internet searches are interrupted to broadcast
commercials for different products and services. Some argue that advertising
encourages and conditions us to buy things we do not really need just to keep up
with changing trends. Others state that advertising is necessary in today’s fast­
changing world so people can be informed about new products and services.
Where do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your
ideas.

20
I t iev Id lo II

I* lc vision has been developing gradually and has started covering more and
untie domains of everyday life. Some people consider that this development is
detrimental to people’s personal lives and to social interactions, while others
argue (hat it can bring the world into our homes and widen our horizons. Where
do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

I e rro rla n i

i rum I'tin has become the plague of the 21st century. It affects all countries
in uml Ilu world, regardless of their security systems or economic might. Many
it* i mod to identify and isolate its causes in the hope of finding some solutions.
Whtii arc, in your opinion, the causes of contemporary terrorism? Bring relevant
ui gumonts to justify your ideas.

IVucckeeping missions

NATO and UN forces have become increasingly involved in conflict areas in

recent years in the guise of peacekeeping missions. Some argue that these
missions are the only way of controlling conflicts in those areas and of
pu venting them from expanding. Others believe that outside interferences may
.и tiially exacerbate the conflicts instead of appeasing them. Where do you stand
un this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

Nuclear energy

Nuclear energy is considered by some a very economical and powerful source of

energy that may be a viable alternative to fossil fuels in the long run. However,
its opponents argue that the resulting waste is very detrimental to the
■in uonment as it cannot be recycled and it is not biodegradable. Where do you
I md uii this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

( oinmunication

In (his global world, people communicate more and more on different topics and
in different multicultural situations. Consequently, good communication skills
have become vital. What are, in your opinion, the traits of a good
communicator?

21
 Learning methods

Some people argue that students nowadays should not leam facts and figures but
methods and skills to help them cope in the real world. Others argue that factual
information is the basis for every cognitive process and decision one has to
make. Where do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify
your ideas.

Huge incomes for sports players

Some members of the public are outraged at the huge amounts of money that
some sports players make in relation to the work they do. Others defend sports
players and argue that their effort and hard work should be rewarded
accordingly. Where do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to
justify your ideas.

Globalization

Promoters of globalization argue that it brings economic progress to all

countries in the world by creating a global economy from which everybody
benefits. Its opponents, however, claim that only powerful economies can
benefit from this global economy as they dictate the terms for everything. Where
do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

Traditional books versus e-books

E-books have recently started to gain ground and fame. Their supporters argue
that they are easy to transport and use due to the complementary technologies
they incorporate. However, traditionalists believe that no technological
development can replace or duplicate the wonderful feeling of holding a book
and browsing through it. Where do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant
arguments to justify your ideas.

Plastic surgery

Plastic surgery is on the rise as people resort to it more and more to correct flaws
or to improve parts of their appearance they are not satisfied with. Some say that
plastic surgery should be limited to special cases (e.g. disfigured people), while
others argue that people should be allowed to decide for themselves what they
want to do with their bodies. Where do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant
arguments to justify your ideas.
■ ipitnl |)llItIshnicnt

1 ij'ii И punishment is only in use today in few countries and only for the most
1 " f tul.nr, i limes. Some people argue that it should be abolished worldwide as
и itihiiiM.i 'i human rights. Others argue that it is the only powerful deterrent for
• nou ■I times and should be applied in even more cases. Where do you stand on
Ии issue 1Hi iiu> relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

•i t|Hiup in local customs

! and mote immigrants come to Western countries every year. As these

lii.iiii . an- democracies, the immigrants are allowed to keep following many
! По и ( ustoms and traditions. However, there are situations in which these
"slums dash with local customs or make the local population feel insecure or
• и threatened. Should immigrants be granted permission to hold on to all their
и "lilions or should they be asked to adjust them to local customs? Where do
и land on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.

f Iciiilvily and routine at the workplace

home people argue that without creativity any job will, in time, become boring
aid Ilie executants will lose interest in it and start performing badly. Others
■hum that routine is needed in every job because it helps with everyday
■ч кloads and it would be very difficult to rethink all processes on a daily basis.
Whcte do you stand on this issue? Bring relevant arguments to justify your
Ideas.

I eitlng

i imp .indents and workers takes various forms including written, oral and
pno ti- d avicssments. Some argue that written tests are the most reliable as
I vi t\ . uididatc is faced with the same problems and the same criteria are used
h i I valuation. Others, however, argue that a range of alternative methods like
ptohlrm solving, role-plays, oral presentations and work-based assessments are
Ml* i '.uited as they reflect real-life situations. Where do you stand on this
i me'1Bring relevant arguments to justify your ideas.
 FINDING HYPOTHETICAL SOLUTIONS TO PRESENT OR PAST
ISSUES

TIPS:
> For this kind of task, you need to use the second and third
conditionals correctly. For example:
1. If tourists behaved better, historical monuments would not be in
such terrible danger. - the second conditional which refers to
hypothetical present/future situations
2. If World War Two hadn’t taken place, Romania would not have
fallen under Russian influence for so many decades. - the third
conditional which refers to hypothetical past situations
> Remember that the hypothesis can be formed not only by using
“would” but also “could” and “might”
> It is vital to keep using the same form of the conditional throughout
your answer, i.e. DO NOT change from the second to the first
conditional half way through your answer.
> Remember to use whole sentences not just an enumeration of verbs
in the infinitive or-ing forms
> Use linking words to signal your move from one idea to the next and
to make your discourse easy to follow. (Check Units 13 and 14 on
linking words for further explanations.)
> Your arguments must be arranged logically and introduced using
linking words to introduce new ideas.

Tourism

More and more people nowadays go on holidays either to different parts of their
own countries or abroad. Specialists warn that most tourists are not responsible
and they leave their mark on famous monuments which degrade more quickly
and may be lost for future generations. What measures could governments take
if they wanted to ensure the survival of famous historic monuments?

Sample answer:

The problem regarding the way tourism affects historical monuments is

highly controversial since it is the by-product of a vicious circle. The money that
comes from tourism is needed to renovate and maintain historical monuments.
Consequently, any measures taken to protect these monuments that forbid the
tourists’ access to them may reduce the funds needed for their preservation.
 Ii follows that tourism could not be banned altogether. It could, however,
• nuulf more friendly to monuments. Firstly, tourist access could be restricted
IInin areas, while others are being renovated. Establishing this kind of use
• I. would protect monuments for longer periods of time.
Secondly, tourists could be given brochures or presentations on how to
la have during their visits. These could include a demonstration of the effects
the it net ions have on monuments in the long run.
I liirdly, severe fines could be given to anyone who does not respect the
nib I In-, measure brings an extra bonus as this money could be used to repair
•iii. |uiv,|b!r damages.
I hit* иInnately, these measures could only protect monuments for a certain
- I ul lime, and renovations will always be needed. Even with the greatest
, monuments will suffer and possibly even crumble in the not so distant
future,

I mn Ihiii and garbage

■in and more tourists invade areas of the world that have previously been left
mu plorcd, in search of thrills, excitement, and unconventional relaxation. They
•Hi и leave the beaten track in search of new experiences. However, no matter
in *'v eareliil they may be, they leave behind traces of their passing the worst of
lili h is litter. It affects the local environment and even culture. What could be
•l*ни to prevent the negative impact of tourism on the environment?

\N tllidniwing from theaters of operations

M o le and more pressure has been applied on the United States both by the
Iiitcmiitional community and by the Americans themselves to withdraw their
Hoop-. Irom theaters of operations oveseas. If the Americans withdrew from all
tin an is ol operations, what would happen in those areas?

t eyalbillg drugs

i be piultleiii ol legalizing drugs has been on the table for several years in many
•mniiir , Some believe that it could help reduce the number of users and bring
oc ■in v lo ilu* budget. What might happen if drugs were legalized?

< ihorlng

! !“o Mini nnne companies have been moving their factories and plants to less
lupi .1 i minifies in order to pay less for rent and salaries. The economics of
a I.iiniiie-. have had much to gain but developed countries have lost both
jobs and income. What would happen to the world economy if off-shoring at this
rate were to continue?
Interoperability
1he concept of interoperability is very much in the news nowadays, especially
when it comes to military operations. Without it, multinational organizations
such as NATO and the UN could not operate. However, the poorer members of
these organizations have problems when it comes to making their systems
interoperable with those of more developed countries. If it were needed to speed
up the piocess, what measures could be taken to ensure an increase in the degree
of interoperability between developed and developing countries?
Posttraumatic stress disorder
More and more soldiers who participate in missions in different theaters of
operation return home suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. If the
situation of these soldiers were to improve, what measures could be taken to
help them overcome this condition and reintegrate in their home lives?
Reading
Studies have shown that fewer and fewer people nowadays take time from their
busy schedules to read books. Teenagers and young people are at the bottom of
this list. The situation can become quite serious, as reading has been proven to
encourage the development of creativity, independent and critical thinking.
What could be done to encourage young people to read more?
The Internet
Mote and more children nowadays are exposed to the Internet at an early age.
Although it serves a certain educational goal, the Internet is full of abusive
messages and corrupting information. If something were to be done, what
measures could be taken in this age of technology to protect children from the
detrimental effects of the Internet?
26
DIALOGUES
I IPS:
( 'onversations can have different aims: to inform somebody about
something, to request something, to convince somebody to do
something, to solve problems etc.
When interacting with an examiner it is important to remember that
tin' (-summer should also be allowed to speak, as it happens in a
in ii niiil conversation. Remember: DO NOT turn the conversation
inti I и monologue just because you think the examiner may put you
in и dilficult position. It is important to show that you are able to
iuirmct with somebody else, to overcome challenges, to negotiate to
,i certain extent.
Iu Ihe case of problem-solving conversations, the solution should
come from the person who has the problem and must be approved by
the person who has the authority. Negotiation may be needed to
reach an understanding. Show that you are flexible, and that you can
integrate the other person’s feedback, opinions etc. into your plan.
- All conversations start from the beginning, meaning that you have to
greet the other person and present the problem/situation from the
very beginning. DO NOT assume the other person/examiner is
already familiar with the problem/situation. When presenting the
problem/situation, try to avoid reading from the card or repeating
what the other person said.
( 'heck Unit 14 on linking words for conversations.
The conversation will also end using the appropriate social formulas.
i im? nil
t iH. ..! ■•.ui • Mllcagues is having some personal issues and needs to take some
ti,,.. Mil 11.1\vI via. you are both working on a challenging project at present and
shim 11и*ч Will never allow him to take time off. Your colleague comes to you to
as| Ini yum help, I nlk to your colleague and find a solution.
Sew methodology
уoii ай I iinniily working on a NATO base abroad. \ ou are part of a team
arsiyiu .l in draft a new methodology. However, your work is not progressing
an....this dii< in one of your colleague’s inability to focus on work-related
..... I all im \ miii colleague, explain the implications of his/her behavior and
find й anhlliou.
27
 P r o b le m s w ith th e boss
You are currently working on a military base abroad. You have had some
personal problems but you haven’t let them interfere with your work. However,
your boss is constantly complaining about your performance and is threatening
to take disciplinary action against you. You go and talk to the commanding
officer to present your side of the problem.
Missed promotion
You work for a large international corporation. You have been working hard and
your work has been praised on several occasions. However, one of your
colleagues got a promotion ahead of you. You feel you have been mistreated and
you go talk to your manager.
Trouble at school
You are on a long-term mission abroad. Your child attends school there. One
day, you aie called by the principal of the school because your child has
destroyed school property, more precisely a computer. Go to school, talk to the
principal and solve the problem.
Bullying
011 h‘)VC lecently immigrated to another country and have enrolled your child
in kindugaiten. A lew days later you are called by the principal because your
child has got into a light. Go to the kindergarten, find out what happened and
convince the principal not to expel your child.
Starting a business
nil to the CEO to tiy to convince him that your department is necessary and it
should be kept.
i nney dinner
You are on a mission abroad. You are having dinner with a good friend in a
Гансу restaurant. Suddenly, at the next table, someone starts talking loudly. You
get increasingly frustrated as you cannot continue your conversation with your
friend. Go to the next table, talk to the person and try to solve the problem
without offending him/her.
Had grades
You are on a long-term mission abroad and your child attends school there.
His/her grades are deteriorating slowly as he/she does not seem to care about
schoolwork. Talk to him/her and convince him/her to take school seriously.
Hank loan
You are on a long-term mission abroad and one of the friends you have made
there comes to you to tell you that he wants to take out a bank loan in order to
purchase a fancy new car. Talk to him/her and try to convince him/her that it is
not such a good idea.
( ietting a tattoo
You are on a long-term mission abroad and one ol your friends comes to tell you
that he/she wants to get a large tattoo on his/her arm. Talk to him/her and try to
convince him/her that it is not such a good idea.

You are on a long term mission abroad. You have made several friends and one
ol them comes to you one day to present an idea he has. He wants to give up his
well-paid job and start his own company. You believe that, given the current
economic environment, this is not the best time to do so. Talk to him and try to
convince him it is not an inspired decision.

Downsized department

\ ou aie woiking tor a large multinational company. The company has decided
to close down one depaitment, due to lack ol funds. Some of the employees are
to be ielocated while others will be fired. As head of that department you go to
 P ro b ie m s w ith th e boss

You are currently working on a military base abroad. You have had some
personal problems but you haven’t let them interfere with your work. However,
your boss is constantly complaining about your performance and is threatening
to take disciplinary action against you. You go and talk to the commanding
officer to present your side of the problem.

Missed promotion

You work for a large international corporation. You have been working hard and
your work has been praised on several occasions. However, one of your
colleagues got a promotion ahead of you. You feel you have been mistreated and
you go talk to your manager.

Trouble at school

You are on a long-term mission abroad. Your child attends school there. One
day, you are called by the principal of the school because your child has
destroyed school property, more precisely a computer. Go to school, talk to the
principal and solve the problem.

Bullying

You have recently immigrated to another country and have enrolled your child
in kindergarten. A few days later you are called by the principal because your
child has got into a fight. Go to the kindergarten, find out what happened and
convince the principal not to expel your child.

Starting a business

You are on a long term mission abroad. You have made several friends and one
of them comes to you one day to present an idea he has. He wants to give up his
well-paid job and start his own company. You believe that, given the current
economic environment, this is not the best time to do so. Talk to him and try to
convince him it is not an inspired decision.

Downsized department

You are working for a large multinational company. The company has decided
to close down one department, due to lack of funds. Some of the employees are
to be relocated while others will be fired. As head of that department you go to

28
 I.. Ии <T<) to try to convince him that your department is necessary and it
-imiiltJ hr: kepi.

i atu-y cllnuei'

. •mi .иc on a mission abroad. You are having dinner with a good friend in a
1 $nn< . и ‘.i.miant. Suddenly, at the next table, someone starts talking loudly. You
I t im Inr.ingly frustrated as you cannot continue your conversation with your
I hi. ii.I im tu the next table, talk to the person and try to solve the problem
I Min-ut I‘Ilending him/her.

tbiil mi iith‘4

“I hip on n long-term mission abroad and your child attends school there,
м и In I guides are deteriorating slowly as he/she does not seem to care about
liMolwork. Talk to him/her and convince him/her to take school seriously.

it *)lilt loan

- ‘ii нс on a long-term mission abroad and one of the friends you have made
I Ни I* I nines to you to tell you that he wants to take out a bank loan in order to

I
I , .и. Iia'.e a fancy new car. Talk to him/her and try to convince him/her that it is
I unt in h n good idea.

(telling a tattoo

I Mm .nr on a long-term mission abroad and one of your friends comes to tell you
thiii lie/she wants to get a large tattoo on his/her arm. Talk to him/her and try to
ini' mi e him/her that it is not such a good idea.
I

29
 D e b a t e # 1 S h o u l d W e Be A l l o w e d to O w n G u n s ?

In the USA, the right to bear arms is an extremely emotionally-laden

issue. The lobbies both in favor and against the right to own and use a gun have
long divided the nation.
“Gun control is a fight that the American administration is not willing to
pick. They’re not likely to win it,” says Harry Wilson, author of a book on gun
politics and director of the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research at Roanoke
College, Virginia. Or, to put it in Michael Douglas’s words who plays the main
character in the movie The American President says, “For reasons passing
understanding, people do not relate guns to gun-related crime.”

The UK has some of the toughest gun control laws in the world. If you
want to own a gun, it is very difficult to do so. In short, it has been designed to
put as many barriers in the way as possible and to assume the worst, rather than
hope for the best. In the United States, you can declare that it is your
constitutional right to bear arms. But in the UK, you need to spend hours filling
in paperwork and proving to police officers that you are not a danger to society.

II. Read the following opinions on Gun Prohibition:

1. Guns don’t kill people. People kill people! This frequent pro-gun slogan is
something that, upon reflection, seems entirely true. People arc indeed
ultimately responsible for pulling the trigger. The self-defence right is a
constitutional right and therefore it should not be infringed.
Unknown author/www.experts 123.com

2. Guns make it much easier to kill people. Guns do this in two ways: enhanced
ability and feasibility. We can see the enhanced ability from suicide
statistics: the most successful suicide attempts are those that involve
firearms. And this greater ability also makes murder feasible in a greater
number of circumstances. To anyone entertaining murderous impulses, a gun
makes it feasible to attack larger people, multiple people, people from a
distance, from secrecy, etc. No one in their right mind would try to rob a
bank with a knife. But a gun inspires confidence of success in a would-be
bank robber, allowing a crime to occur when it wouldn’t have otherwise.
Unknown author/www.experts 123.com3

3. “1 was brought up around guns. I am an outdoors man: I hunt, 1 fish...

everything. My belief is that if you take away that right, to bear arms, the
only people that are going to have arms are people who are going to break
into your house. That’s why, 1 want the right to protect my family.”
Bill Engvall (actor)/ www.rcalclearpolitics.com/video/2011/11/06
 t he crime rate would surely fall if widespread gun availability didn’t make
it so incredibly easy to kill another human being. “The constitutional right to
own a gun, does not tally on the same level as the right of assembly or the
freedom of speech... And being more discreet about who gets a firearm, and
(lie right to kill with a firearm, I think is something that would be in our
national interest to revisit.”

Alex WAGNER (MSNBC Analyst)/

www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/11/06

Which opinion do you agree with most? Rank these opinions in order of
Iне Terence from 1 the one you most agree with. Do you hold a different opinion?
II so, what is it?
 D e b a t e # 2 10 G r e a t e s t R o m a n i a n s

Some years ago, the National Romanian Television conducted a survey to

determine who the general public considers to be the 100 greatest Romanians of
all time, in a version of the British TV show, 100 greatest Britons. The resulting
series, Great Romanians, included individual programs on the lop ten, with
viewers having further opportunities to vote after each program. It concluded
with a debate. Then the National Romanian Television announced the winner.
We now propose the same debate for the classroom. These are the names
of the 10 people who made it into the top 10.

1. Richard Wurmbrand (1909-2001) - evangelical Christian minister,

author and educator who spent a total of fourteen years in communist
prison
2. Ştefan cel Mare (c. 1433-1504) - Stephen III of Moldovia was Prince
of Moldavia between 1457 and 1504 and the most prominent
representative of the House of Muşat
3. Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889) - late Romantic poet, widely considered
to be the most influential Romanian poet
4. Mihai Viteazul (1558-1601)- Prince of Wallachia, he achieved the first
union Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia (the three principalities
largely inhabited by Romanians)
5. Alexandru loan Cuza (1820-1873) - the first ruler of the United
Principalities of Romania after the union of Moldavia and Wallachia in
1859; his reforms started the modernization of Romania
6. Ion Antonescu (1882-1946) - the prime minister and leader of
Romanian during World War 11
7. Carol I (1839-1914) - the first Romanian ruler of the 1lohenzollern-
Sigmaringen dynasty (1866-1914), the first King of Romania (since
1881) after the country acquired full independence under his leadership.
8. Constantin Brâncuşi (1 876-1957) famous modern sculptor
9. Mircea Eliade (1907-1986) researcher and professor of the history of
religions, Orientalist and novelist
10. Nadia Comaneci (1961 -) - gymnast, winner of five Olympic gold
medals, and the first to be awarded a perfect score of 10 in an Olympic
gymnastic event.

When ranking them, take the following criteria into account:

1. Courage
2. Genius
3. Greatness
4. Leadership abilities
5. Legacy
You can add any other criteria you deem necessary as long as your colleagues
agree.
34
 D ebate # 3 M eth o d s of P u n ish in g C h ild re n

I'rad the following two letters. Which one do you agree with most? Why?

Dear 3'r,

/ t/u'nd it is (juste ridiculous that the yovernment should he consideriny l&yislation to l>an

xmachn'ny. Every parent needs the riyh t to he able to yive a chuUd a smacd, not in order

io cause physical! harm or pain; hut more as a shooed tactic to stop a child/from

tuishehaviny or in some circumstances to stop them causiny damaye to themselves or other

people, Some people aryue that laws are needed to stop excessive physicalpunishment hut

t here are juite clear laws dealiny with assault and hodily harm. Ifo a parent causes

physical harm to a c/uld, then the police can use laws to hn'ny the parent toJustice. /Ну

father used to yive me the slipper and it never did me any harm, i/dhoat is a ll the £uss

about?

Jacd l/fallacc

l'-'вйк S ir ,

I goodness the government has f in a lly begun to see sense regarding

the punishm ent of children! Let us hope that they have the courage to do
away with the physical punishm ent of children-, we supposedly live in. a
civilized society. can- we at least realize that ph ysical pun.ishm.ent is
unreasonable, degrading and completely unacceptable in the 2 1s t
rcuiturij? .smacteing, indeed a n y form of ph ysical punishm ent, should be
made illeg al immediately, and parents and teachers who practice this
di .graceful activity should be brought before the courts of justice.

I aura F ly n n
 A word about spanking
D ebate # 4 E u ro p e a n F e d e ralism
Perhaps no form of discipline is more controversial than soankim*
some reasons why experts discourage spanking: Р“ к"1в' Here ar<
• Spanking teaches children it's OK to hit when they're an«ry I' Mif.iion: Should the European Union become a federal superstate, with
* sPanl<Jng can physically harm children •iiMijnent loss of national sovereignty for member countries?

Federalism implies a strong degree of subsidiary, the principle that a

Uf mial authority should not be very powerful, and should only control things
whirl) cannot be controlled by local organizations. This is the opposite of a
<<iitiiilized state (such as France and Britain were before reforms in the 1990s).
! Ids implies that the current states within the EU, while losing overall
iii.lt prudence, would retain considerable powers over issues such as culture,
mIii. at ion, law and order, infrastructure, and the taxation and justice systems
1■ Sending a child to their bedroom for an hour и I|iiiicd to support these, as the states of the USA do today. This would also
Г al.low“ 8 child to play with their friends for a week Ip Ip counter the devastating effects the economic crisis has had on some of the
Stopping the child’s pocket money. member states.
4. Not allowing the child to watch TV for a week
5.
Making the child stay behind at school to do extra work, Federalism fulfills two major functions:
6. living the child extra chores around the house.
7. a) A vertical separation of power by a division of responsibilities between
8. two levels of government.
9. b) The integration of heterogeneous societies, while preserving their
10 cultural and/or political autonomy.

Quoted below are the opinions of some specialists about “The United
Mitic; of Europe.” Which statement is closest to your beliefs? Please rank them.
j u s t i f y y ^ ^ r 1A t o e x p to y o m a f d h l S ^ p o ^ i f and eXamP'CS 101
i I о be a European citizen is to abide by the four values: Democracy, Dialogue,
I Inman Rights and Solidarity that are the driving engines of European power.
I о become a European power capable of counterbalancing the USA, it is
и. i css ary to assert ourselves: militarily, economically, technologically, and
. ultui'ully. American power is made up of both Hard Power (the most
jtuwt iTul military force in the world) and Soft Power (economic and cultural,
wiih (he symbol of Hollywood acting as a true war machine). These combine
I., nmke this country into a global power. (Olivier VERD1NE)

I lie European Union must take a decisive step towards a federal economic
guvernment, with common fiscal policies and a larger budget, if it is to save
ihr euro. Saving the euro is the precondition for the economic recovery of all
I uropc. (Andrew DUFF)

l lir I '.IJ lacks two significant features of a federation. Firstly, the Member
•Ml. -, remain the “masters” of the treaties, i.e., they have the exclusive power
I.* amend or change the constitutive treaties of the EU. Secondly, the EU lacks
 a real tax and spend” capacity, in other words, there is no fiscal federalism
(Thomas RISSE) D e b a t e # 5 Is T o r t u r e E v e r J u s t i f i e d ?

4. It is not easy to define clearly what a nation is. A line traced on a map and on livide into two teams.
the ground, constituting a frontier, is the result of a series of historical
incidents sanctioned by treaties. It may separate countries that are alike and !! AM A TEAM В
join others that are very different. There is a tendency to generalize
characteristics that are far from indicative of the whole. Few have difficulty Von support torture as you consider it You oppose torture as you consider it
speaking of “the Italian,” “the German,” “the Englishman.” These broad, и viable means of obtaining pointless and degrading. Bring
imprecise designations may serve a purpose in colloquial speech and may be inibrmation. Bring arguments to arguments to support your opinion,
indicative of certain prejudices, positive and negative. Yet, they do have some support your opinion.
foundation in reality, in pointing out national or cultural traits. It may be
easiei to differentiate between oriental traits and occidental ones than between
Polish and Czech ones. Color, customs, and culture differentiate; so also do Below, are some opinions posted anonymously on the site
opinions, prejudices, and evaluations. (Jude P. DOUGHERTY) ■.vww.debate.org. They may help your respective teams formulate their point of
view.
T I don’t think that one can exclude from politics the social psychology as a
factor. It wouldn’t be good to accept candidate countries after, I would say a At 1’iiments in favor:
depressive process of negotiation which will leave the public of these
countries feeling humiliated... Continuing passivity within the European . Of course. .
Union, the passivity of its citizens towards European politics would have a I tun neither brainwashed nor do I have no idea what I am supportive of. I think
disastrous effect. (Bronislaw GEREMEK) physical and psychological torture is acceptable ways of getting anything that
you want and/or need. People need to look at the big picture. If your (child, pet,
mother, father, etc.) was abducted, and hidden, and the man won't tell you where
Which opinion do you agree with most? Rank these opinions in order of .he- was hidden, you would, well, probably torture him for the information,
preference from 1-thc one you most agree with. Do you hold a different would you not?
opinion? If so, what is it? • Most definitely.
In many cases where there are hostages or in very drastic terrorist cases, toituie
г, needed in order to save more lives from these horrible men. If toituie could
uve lives, then it is beneficial and logical to use torture. If you were a parent of
u victim in the recent Connecticut shooting, wouldn't you wish to find these
people and make sure they didn't have a group working with them or an
f mployer? This is how it is in all cases and it definitely plays with people's sense
ol morality.
. Yes! Pain can be used successfully as an interrogation tool
1he application of small amount of pain, with the possibility ol higher levels of
pain, can and does help to break a prisoner's will to resist. I don’t want to see
pain’or the threat of pain used as a punishment, but used as one of many tools
that an interrogator may apply to get reliable information from an unlawful
riicmy combatant. An interrogator should use any and all techniques to get a
detainee to tell the truth. Give them a cigarette, good food, become then pal... If
they lie to you, into the light box, give them a little electrical motivation, oi
atei boarding, nothing that is permanent just momentary pain and leave it open
i.u more. Break them mentally to get the information, but keep the physical stuff
38
 to a minimum and use it sparingly. But get the information as quick as possible
as reliable as possible. Our enemies fight with no rules and laugh at our hand
wringing. We need to become more ruthless and gain their respect or fear. Either
will work as long as they leave our citizens alone.
• Deserved.
1 don't think torture should ever be put lightly. But some people in this world do
need it. Who here would say that if they were in a room with Hitler tied to a
chair, you wouldn't get a bit violent with him.
« Advanced Interrogation Technique
Torture is an "advanced interrogation technique" that is far more effective than
other interrogation techniques. Information is easily retrieved from individuals
through torture. Therefore in this case, it can be justified. As a form of judicial
punishment, torture serves the purpose well. Torture is mentally captivating for
both the observer and the sufferer. As the observer would understand the
consequences of disobedience and the sufferer would understand the extent of
the power the state has over him/her. The pain of the torture will also teach the
sufferer a lesson that they should have obeyed authority. Everybody learns from
this, therefore society becomes a belter place. The argument that torture is
inhumane or cruel is laughable. Ethics and morality is subjective. Different
people will have different definitions of morality. We should not look at the
justifiability of torture based on our emotions but rather on the "net benefits"
gained from torture, c.g. information retrieved from interrogation.
• I think that torture can serve as a vital tool during war to extract
critical information from enemies.
There are many situations where torture doesn't work; however, in certain
situations it has provided valuable information. If an enemy soldier is captured
with knowledge of troop movements or decoding information they will not
likely give up that information willingly. Torture in this situation, while
inhumane, will potentially save thousands of lives. While not completely
reliable once there is a direction and some information it can be verified.
• To save many lives, it is justified to cause one person pain.
If 1 knew that 1 could save the lives of tens, hundreds, thousands, millions or
more, 1 would definitely consider it worth causing someone pain to get the
information necessary to save those lives. I do not believe that there is ever any
other reason that justifies torture besides the saving of innocent lives, though.
• Torture is easily justified in theory but not in day to day application.
There are moral arguments for torture, for example if you know with certainty
that many people will die unless you torture one person. The problems with
torture are the unknowns, how does one know if the information is true and not
given under duress. The biggest problem with torture is that it is not efficient or
reliable. Torture also cannot be practiced without abuse and ruinous side effects
to the legal system and morale. <?..

40
Ait-'un ie n ts a g a in s t:

. Never in a million years

I'm guessing most of you who said YES are either brainwashed Americans or
have no idea what you are supportive of. TORTURE is a gruesome thing to do,
no matter who the victim is. 1 am sure that there are many other ways of finding
out the information you need, without losing your humanity. Torture is what
people were using in ancient times, am I naive to believe that humanity has
ryolved since then? If you support things like torture, you definitely support the
involution of your status as a human being.
• Never
Imagine torture being legally implemented? Giving the State the right to torture
и IIUMAN BEING is a) Unconstitutional b) Ethically/Morally wrong c)
Impractical d) Archaic c) Dangerous. Firstly, how can reliable intelligence ever
he gained from torture? By evolution, it is our very nature as humans to shy
away from pain. The victim will tell anyone willing to listen anything they want
to hear to make it stop. They are not concerned with giving accurate
information. Secondly, while torture remains illegal, any so-called evidence
gained cannot be used in court. Thirdly, by permitting torture in one case i.e.
terrorism, you're setting a precedent. Do we want a torture culture? For example,
low-ranking soldiers tortured for sport in grotesque ways in Abu Ghraib prison,
in Iraq. This leads me to another point- do we really want to countries such as
the USA, one of the most powerful and influential countries in the world, the
light to torture for information? Despite there being too numerous reasons for
Inrbidding torture, both practical and moral, for me it all comes down to this. 1
don't want to be tortured and I don't want others to be tortured in the name of
ideologies like "the greater good", or "the ends justify the means". No amount of
hv<“. saved is worth our humanity.
. Definitely not
I ni lure is never right, in no cases at all can torture ever be justified. There are a
number of reasons for this 1) Torture is not the radical path to success in
•banning information from the suspect. Maybe most people will respond to
I Iinn- by saying what we want them to say, but certain groups of people,
itinybo, for example, the terrorist groups that everyone is so concerned about,
Intvc been trained to resist torture, and hence torture will not bring you any help
ui obtaining the information you are looking for. 2) Wrong information: under
th< influence of torture, people are willing to admit anything you will put in
thru mouth, even if it is not true. This can thus lead you on a wrong path and do
nil'll harm than good in trying to save innocent lives. 3) What if you have the
wrung suspect? This does happen, it is the same argument as in the death
I>*unity case. If someone is a prime suspect and you decide to torture this person,
iud il turns out to be an innocent man, you have done something that will be
iu yund repair for this person, that will always leave a mark. It is quite easy

41
 sometimes to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and to be framed as
D ebate # 6 T h e F u tu r e of N A T O 4
something oi someone you are not... 4) Legalizing torture necessitates the
establishment of an infrastructure of torture. It will necessitate developing tools,' Does the 63-year-old alliance still matter today? We asked politicians,
ideas about what kind of torture works... Most importantly, training certain
(scholars, and other observers from both sides oi the Atlantic to weigh in.
people to be completely desensitized, one could even say, to be dehumanized. If1
torture is legal, then you need some law enforcement unit that will practice Foreign Policy and the Atlantic Council asked dozens of experts about
torture. Once these people have been desensitized to cruelty and torture for their ll,c role of the alliance today. Heads of state, ministers of defense and foreign
jobs, how could they not be desensitized also in their personal life? It they have „flairs, intelligence officers, and current and former members of U.S. Congress
been told that torture is acceptable when someone does something wrong, what were among the respondents who answered our call. Although none of them
will stop them from torturing their own children when they disobey? This might thought NATO should cease to exist or that the United States would be better off
sound a bit extieme, but you get the point. Once people are desensitized to leaving the alliance, they were less certain about whether NATO can adapt to a
violence and cruelty, why would they not put it in practice in their everyday t hanging geopolitical and military landscape -- and just who will foot the bill for
lives? 5) An argument you might advance for the case of torture is that if torture ititure operations.
is made legally acceptable, some limits will be placed around it. However, the They rated Greece, currently struggling to repay its crushing debt load,
piactice of torture could easily 'spread'. If at first we accept that torture is only Ihe top candidate to be kicked out of the alliance, exhibited deep divides on how
justifiable against the top 10 terrorists, we might soon realize that why not use In handle a troubled relationship with Russia, predicted that NAIO would be
torture also for all the top criminals, because they are still very, very bad, and unable to pull off another Libya-style intervention three years from now, and
then accept torture to be used also against 'common' criminals, because they are overwhelmingly viewed the Afghan mission as a failure.
bad people. Until the use of torture is widespread. 6) Perceiving the terrorists as I in le ss otherwise noted, figures indicate number of responses.
'inhuman' and 'trash', as some people in this site have said, is extremely
dangerous... If you recall, that is the way by which Nazis exterminated the Jews, I. Should NATO exist?
by regarding them as inhuman and less than human, as 'vermin.' T his kind of Yes:
discourse only makes you like them, just as dangerous. Terrorists, while they do No:
inexcusable things, are still human and do these things for a reason. Maybe
would it be more useful to try to understand them and find a solution to the i If so, what should be its primary purpose?
pioblem, lather than do exactly what they do and ourselves become terrorists, « ollective defense of Europe:
loiluie is not only morally wrong, but for all the pragmatists, there is also a ( >ui-of-area military operations:
utilitarian approach to why torture is not effective: it might not get you the I'olicy coordination:
answers you are looking for, it might give you wrong answers, and it just makes ■Ilobai peacekeeping:
the situation worse by giving in to their methods. Keeping Russia in check:
• Disgusting • ombination: OF WHAT?
rorture is a disgusting act and should never be perpetrated against anyone or (Mhcr: WHAT?
anything, especially another human being. Torturing a torturer makes you no
better than they are. All methods of torture are not only emotionally destroying h in 1993, Sen. Richard Lugar argued that NAI O has to "go out of area or
but physically excruciating and putting anyone through that kind of experience out of business." Since then, NATO forces have deployed in Bosnia,
is completely and utterly barbaric. Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Gulf of Aden, and Libya. Do you think
NA I O should continue to support deployable forces for operations outside
I in ope and the United States?
Yes:
I omments:
N<>:
' n im n e n ts:

Vlttpicil from Foreign Policy, 14.05.2012. online magazine.

42
43
 4. True or false: The United States would be better off if it left NATO.
False:
Comments:
True:
Comments:

5. If you had to kick one country out of NATO, which one would it be? Give
reasons for your choice.
Greece:
Hungary:
Turkey:
Ic e la n d :
Other:
None:

6. If you had to admit one country to NATO, which one would it be? Give
reasons for your choice.
Sweden:
Macedonia:
Australia:
Georgia:
Ukraine:
Is ra e l:
Finland:
Serbia:
Montenegro:
Other: Which?
None:

7. Should Russia be allowed to join NATO? Give reasons.

Yes:
No:
Maybe, but not now:

8. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = least relevant, 10 = most relevant), rate NATO's

relevance to U.S. security. On the same scale, rate NATO's relevance to
European security.

9. True or false: NATO is an essential part of my country's national

security.
T ru e :
F a ls e :

44
 0 К has been more than 20 years since the Soviet Union was dissolved and
not e than 10 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Do you think NATO
lu mbers arc safer in 2012 than they were in 1991? Give reasons.
i' c s :
SJo:
4bout the same:

11. True or false: The 2011 Libya intervention provided an overall positive
model for future NATO military operations. Give reasons.
11tic:
I also:

i ! . Gould NATO's European members have conducted the operation in

Libya without U.S. assistance? Give reasons.
No:’
Yes:

1 V Would NATO's European members have the military capabilities to

. (induct a similar operation three years from now? Give reasons.
No:
Yes:
I don't know:

I I. True or false: A1 Qaeda will return to Afghanistan once the

International Security Assistance Force mission ends. Give reasons.
Iru e :
I ulse:
I Insure:

IS. Should NATO intervene in Syria?

Yes:
No:
Maybe:

К». Where will the next large-scale NATO operation take place? Give
reasons.
Middle East:
North Africa:
I in ope:
Southern Africa:
Arctic:
Î niin America:
Asia-Pacific:

45
None of the above: (then where?)
I don't know:

17. In June 2011, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates described NATO's
future as "dim if not dismal," charging that NATO nations were
"apparently unwilling to devote the necessary resources or make the
necessary changes to be serious and capable partners in their own defense."
Do you agree or disagree with this assessment? Give reasons.
Agree:
Disagree:
Somewhat/unsure:

18. True or false: The United States has too many military personnel in
Europe. Give reasons.
True:
False:

19. By 2020, the D.S. force presence in Europe will amount to:
80.000 personnel (current level): •
68.000 personnel (Obama plan):
50.000 personnel:
40.000 personnel:
Fewer than 40,000 personnel:

20. True or false: European member states should devote more funding to
NATO. Give reasons.
True:
False:

21. True or false: NATO should have both defensive and offensive cyber-
capabilities. Give reasons.
True:
False:

22. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen's "smart defense"

initiative —using "multinational solutions" to help allies invest defense
money more efficiently -- will:
Mask NATO's inability to make major necessary reforms:
Become the new way NATO does business by "building capabilities together":
Produce innovation but not until at least five years from now:
Provide an excuse for allies to make further defense cuts:
Other (what):

46
 i I rue or false: Five years from now, France will still be part of NATO's
jiti*-y,rated military command. Give reasons.
11tie:
! iiHe:
I urnire:

I In 2020, German foreign policy will be defined primarily by:

*..mum leadership of the European Union:
in 11in's preference for the status quo:
i ,i Imany's relationship with Russia:
i hr ITanco-German relationship:
i hr transatlantic relationship:
i Hlier (what):

. If Turkey has not become a member of the European Union five years
о urn now, its orientation will be:
Flit suing a revival of Ottoman power:
' hue closely aligned with its Muslim neighbors:
(III closely aligned with its Western allies:
Inwardly focused due to domestic strife:
«Mher (what):
 Debate # 7 The future of NATO
Ranking Exercises"^

1. Rank the following NATO military campaigns by how successful they

have been, with 1 indicating the most successful and 6 the least.
Bosnia intervention:
Kosovo intervention:
Libya no-fly zone:
Gulf of Aden anti-piracy mission:
Iraq training mission:
Afghanistan war:

2. Which of the following NATO missions would you approve? (Please

select any that apply.)
Protecting shipping through the Persian Gulf:
Assisting Libyan government with civil-military reforms:
Reducing pirate bases in Somalia:
Peacekeeping force to support Israel/Palestine peace agreement:
Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons:
Deploying a peacemaking force in Syria:
Blocking large-scale migration across NATO borders:

3. What are the five biggest challenges facing the transatlantic alliance?
Please rank from among the following, with 1 indicating the biggest
challenge.
Economic crisis:
Nationalism/internal divisions:
Afghanistan:
Terrorism:
Cyber conflict:
Syria:
Ballistic missile proliferation:
Russia:
Climate change/energy:
Conventional attack:
Other (name them):

4. In order of importance, NATO's top three priorities for the future should
be:
Afghanistan:
Reinforcing the transatlantic alliance:

- Adapted from F o r e ig n P o lic y . I t 05,2012. online magazine.

48
iii,«и Odense" plan:
B^tllties:
! g dilation of NATO mission and role
in tn e e s:
diinet ships:
)i icjj-.i' capabilities and spending.
,i!i ,nc missile defense:
an
. hf I .ccurity:
(HSlB’i
lyn-.t
|,a b Spring/Middle East:
11, oordination:
и- threats/arms reduction:
postwar Libya:
partnerships with Arab counbies.
i I i ioi isnr.
Enlargement:
US Imop withdrawal from Europe:
ţ*|t псу:
■i.m security:
11,-in rence:
Other:
 Debate # 8 Globalization
Divide into two teams.
TEAM A TEAM В
You oppose globalization as you You support globalization as you
consider it can be damaging for almost consider it can be beneficial for the
everybody. Bring arguments to support world. Bring arguments to support
your opinion. your opinion.
Suggestions for arguments in favor of globalization:
1. Incieased international trade has made us wealthier and allowed us to lea
more diverse lifestyles.
2. It stimulates free movement.
3. It encourages companies to set up several bases around the world.
4. It has promoted information exchange.
5. It has led to greater awareness and understanding of other cultures.
6. It has enabled the triumph of democracy over autocracy.
7. It encourages debates about many issues across borders and nationa
concepts.
Suggestions for arguments against globalization:
1. The West s gains have been at the expense of developing countries.
2. The meagei share о I the global income of the poorest people in the world
has dropped in the last decade.
3. The fteedoms granted by globalization are leading to insecurity in the
workplace.
4. Many workers (especially manual workers) are under threat as companies
shill their production lines overseas to low-wage economies.
5. National cultures and identities are threatened by the spread of satellite
1V, international media networks, and increased personal travel.
0. Huge transnational companies are becoming more powerful and
influential than democratically-elected governments; they are above the
law.
50
Debate # 9 Capital Punishment
|i jik into two teams.
TEAM A TEAM В
»ми oppose capital punishment. You support capital punishment.
| tionize your arguments against Organize your arguments in favoi ol ^
Lpiliil punishment. Counter Team B’s capital punishment. Counter Team A’s
»fguments in favor of the death arguments against the death penalty.
Stnalty.
iuu.t-',i'%fions for arguments against the capital punishment:
„ u infringes upon the human rights of the people convicted. The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, Article 3 states: Everyone has the right to
life, liberty and security of person. Article 5 states: No one shall be
subjected to cruel or degrading punishment.
|t is futile to try to combat violence with more "violence;" you can't light
fire with fire.
V Violence doesn't solve anything.
у W h y do w e k i l l p e o p le to s h o w that k illin g p e o p le is w r o n g ?
V ALL human life should be valued, even the most violent and despicable
ones.
V E x e c u t in g a m u rd e re r w o n 't b rin g b a c k h is v ic t im ( s )
у In many cases, the courts of justice are wrong. Since 1973, more than 125
people have been released from death rows throughout the country due to
evidence of their wrongful convictions. In 2003 alone, 10 wrongfully
convicted defendants were released from death row (in the United Stales).
у There are many reasons why such mistakes are made:
i. Ninety-five percent of death row inmates cannot afford their own
attorney. Court-appointed attorneys often lack the experience necessary
for capital trials and are overworked and underpaid.
7. P ro se cu to rs se e k the death p e n a lty fa r m o re fre q u e n tly w h e n the v ic t im o f
a h o m ic id e is w h ite th an w h e n the v ic t im is A f r ic a n -A m e r ic a n o r o f
a n o th e r e th n ic /ra c ia l o r ig in .
3 C o -d e fe n d a n ts ch a rg e d w ith c o m m ittin g the s a m e c r im e o fte n re c e iv e
d iffe re n t p u n is h m e n ts , w h e re one d e fe n d a n t m a y r e c e iv e a death sen ten ce
w h ile a n o th e r r e c e iv e s p ris o n tim e .
I A p p ro x im a t e ly tw o p e rc e n t o f those c o n v ic te d o f c r im e s that m a k e them
e lig ib le fo r the death p e n a lty a c t u a lly re c e iv e a death sen ten ce .
51
 5. E a c h p ro se cu to r d e c id e s w h e th e r o r not to see k the death p e n a lty . Loca
p o lit ic s , the lo c a tio n o f the c r im e , p le a b a rg a in in g , a n d p u re c h a n c e affec
the p ro ce ss an d m a k e it a lo tte ry o f w h o liv e s and w h o d ie s.
6. Geographic arbitrariness: Since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated th
death penalty in 1976, 80% of all executions have taken place in th
South. The Northeast accounts for less than 2% of executions.

У A 2003 legislative audit in Kansas found that the estimated cost of <
death penalty case was 70% more than the cost of a comparable non-deatl
penalty case. Death penalty case costs were counted through to executior
(median cost $1.26 million). Non-death penalty case costs were countec
through to the end of incarceration (median cost $740,000). (December
2003 Survey by the Kansas Legislative Post Audit)

У Spending money on the death penalty system means:

1. Reducing the resources available for crime prevention, mental health
treatment, education and rehabilitation and drug-treatment programs
2. Diverting funds from existing components of the criminal justice system,
such as prosecutions of drug crimes, domestic violence, child abuse.

Suggestions for arguments in favor of the capital punishment:

У "If we execute murderers and there is in fact no deterrent effect, we have

killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to execute murderers, and doing so
would in fact have deterred other murders, we have allowed the killing of
a bunch of innocent victims. I would much rather risk the former. This, to
me, is not a tough call." John McAdams - Marquette
University/Department o f Political Science
У One argument states that the death penalty does not deter murder.
Dismissing capital punishment on that basis requires us to eliminate all
prisons as well because they do not seem to be any more effective in the
deterrence of crime.
> Fear is an instinct that automatically kicks in when one is faced with
lethal force! So criminals should fear the death penally.
У Naci Mocan, an economics professor at the University of Colorado at
Denver, co-authored a 2003 study and re-examined a 2006 study that
found that each execution results in five fewer homicides, and commuting
a death sentence means five more homicides.
У The Universal Declaration of Human Rights does not refer to criminals.!
For instance, Article 3 which states: Everyone has the right to life, liberty
and security o f person is interpreted by abolitionists to mean that the
death penalty is a human rights violation since it deprives a person's right |
 id life. But if we were to follow that reasoning, we would have to abolish
I»tisons as a human rights violation as well since they deprive people of
liberty. We would also have to abolish charging taxes and fines since they
violate one's "security of person.” Indeed, it is clear that the drafters of the
I h'daration of Human Rights had the moral coherence to recognize the
distinction between crime and punishment which abolitionists try so
desperately to erase.
r I here is a difference between violence and law enforcement, or
punishment.
I lie term murder is specifically defined in any dictionary as the
UNLAWFUL killing of a person with malice and aforethought. So
logically, the word murder cannot be used to describe executions since the
death penalty is the law.
* Justice is about enforcing consequences for one's own actions to endorse
personal responsibility. We cannot expect anyone to take responsibility
lor their own actions if these consequences are not enforced in full.
# Abolitionists say that life in prison without parole serves just as well.
Certainly, if you ignore all the murders criminals commit within prison
when they kill prison guards and other inmates, and also when they kill
decent citizens upon escape.
> Another flaw is that life imprisonment tends to deteriorate with the
passing of time. Putting a murderer away for life just isn't good enough.
Laws change, so do parole boards, and people forget the past. Those are
things that cause life imprisonment to weather away. As long as the
murderer lives, there is always a chance, no matter how small, that he will
strike again. And there are people who run the criminal justice system
who are naive enough to allow him to repeat his crime.
 TACTICAL DECISION GAMES
TDG #1 - Executive Decision (Military Coup in Thailand)
It's 1:30 AM, and you've just arrived at the White House Situation Roon
(The President oi the United States is at a conference in Malta, and you're i
charge!) A coup attempt is taking place in Thailand. The U.S. had entered into
five-year agreement to lease a port and airstrip for the use of U.S. militar
forces. In the ensuing years, the bases quickly became integral to U.S. militar
efforts in Asia. The strategic location enabled the U.S. to keep close watch о
China, North Korea, Indonesia, and other hotspots in the region. For years afte
the agreement was signed, the air base and the naval base had become two of th
biggest U.S. military bases in the world. The U.S. hopes to renew the lease fo
twenty years after the current five-year lease expires.
An aide hands you the phone. It's the president of Thailand. She had com
to power one year ago, and quickly brought democratic reforms to the nation. A
a result of this democratization, Thailand had garnered good relations with m
U.S., and if it were up to her, she would ratify the twenty-year lease extension
However, it isn't up to her, but the Thai Senate. In three months, the senate wil
be voting for or against the lease extension, and it isn't looking good for the U.S
Fifteen senators are against the extension, while only nine are for it. Publicly
the U.S. is supporting Thailand's current government, but the U.S. wants to keej
the bases too!
Secretly, the U.S. has been preparing the U.S. friendly Thai militar)
loices toi a coup. I he plan is for 1hai Special Forces to conduct the coup anc
install a U.S. friendly military commander who would then renew the leases
(for decades, the U.S. and 1hai military have conducted annual joint militar)
exercises code-named Cobra Gold. But this year's exercises were different. Tha
Special Forces, including the Thai Royal Marines and the Thai Rangers, hac
received specialized and intensive training in demolitions, small arms weapons
and related training from a Marine Expeditionary Unit.)
The President of Thailand gives you the news, and it's not good. Thai
Special forces (now rebels) have taken control over large parts of Bangkok, and
are advancing on the Presidential Palace. She reports that her loyalist force'
cannot hold out much longer without U.S. help. Specifically, she requests U.S
jets to strafe the rebels approaching her palace. (Her own air force has decided
to sit this one out.) You have the Ronald Reagan Carrier Battle Group standi ns
by oil the coast of I hailand, having been summoned off of shore leave in
Pattaya Beach, Thailand. What do you do? Do you order jets to strafe Thai
hoops specifically tiained by the U.S. to conduct the coup? Or do you deny the
use of U.S. military forces under the premise of not interfering in the internal
affairs of a foreign country? Or do you do something else?
I he future of U.S. credibility and strategic power in Asia rests in your
ijlli„K You tell the Thai president that you'll call her back with your decision,
f hai is your executive decision?
I ni, U2 - NEO in Africa (Noncombatant Evacuation Operation)
\ ни must evacuate American personnel from an overseas embassy!
You are the Battalion Commander of Battalion Landing Team 2/2, 24th
ImtlSOC (Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable). Your
jlailulion is currently deployed aboard the USS Wasp and three support ships,
P Itiling off the coast of eastern Africa near the impoverished country of
BKflgor.
A violent coup is taking place in Saboga (population 750,000), the capital
№tv of Okagor. Intelligence indicates that anti-American rebels are beheading
flQple in the streets and are closing in on the American Embassy, which sits on
Ihr bank of the Chapera river in downtown Saboga. The rebels are armed with
fpm hetes, AK-47s and RPGs.
Saboga is located about thirty kilometers inland on the Chapera River
i Mia. For your battalion, access to the city can be accomplished by a coastal
landing (and a 30-kilometcr land advance), by water up the Chapera River Delta,
■a by air.
The American Embassy is currently guarded by a small contingent of
embassy Marines, however, a large and hostile crowd is gathering in soccei
fields next to the embassy. (The soccer fields are the only open area in the
e-moral vicinity of the embassy.) To further complicate matters, rebels have
blown craters in the city's only airfield and parked buses and other vehicles on
IIn- airfield, making evacuation by airplane impossible.
Your task is to reinforce the embassy as soon as possible and evacuate the
thirty American personnel out of the country in the fastest and safest way
possible. To accomplish your mission, you have the full range of military
personnel and gear usually deployed with a MEUSOC, to include:
Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC)
though the Chapera river gives waterborne access from the ocean to the
i inbassy, direct access to the riverside embassy is not possible for the LCAC,
due to a steep embankment. Options include a suitable landing point 3
kilometers south of the embassy in a lightly populated area of the city.
Amphibious Assault Vehicle
Your AAVs are equipped with reactive armor that protects against RPGs.
TDG #3 - Military Functions in Civil Disturbances

It's early 1993 and you are Attorney General Janet Reno. A situation at
religious compound near Waco, Texas necessitates your attention. A federal rai
on the compound has gone bad. Armed militants within the compound hav
repulsed the raid and killed several federal agents. Inside the compound then
are approximately 80 people. About 15 people are thought to be armed an
dangerous. The rest - women, children and the elderly - are not considere!
dangerous, though they are considered to be brainwashed by David Koresh, th<
charismatic and demented leader of the compound.
The standoff is now dragging into the second month, and feden
authorities on the scene want a resolution to the crisis. They want you t<
authorize military force against the compound to end the siege. Specifically, thjr
authorities want you to authorize the use of military CS riot control agent
within the walls of the compound. Do you authorize or deny the use of CS rio
control agents6 within the compound?

e The compound 2-chlorobenzalmaIononitriIe (also called o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrilc) (chemical

formula: CwHjClNi), a cyanocarbon. is the defining component of a "tear gas” commonly referred to as CS gas,
which is used as a riot control agent, (source en.wikipedia.org)
 U N IT 1

VOCABULARY RELATED TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Match the words from box A to the words from box В to fo

collocations. Sometimes more than one combination is possible.

A В
social; mortgage; healthcare; security number; debt; syste"
unfit; dereliction of; duty; cleansing; eviction; parent
ethnic; notice of

2. Check your answers for exercise 1 and then match the collocations wit
the appropriate definitions:

DEFINITIONS
1. Intentional or conscious neglect of one’s assignments, work etc.

The amount of money that a person owes to a bank generally as

result of borrowing money to buy a property and of signing a legal
contract to repay that money over a period of years
3._A nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents,
and temporary (working) residents with a view to tracking
individuals for social security purposes. __________ ___
4, A person who cannot care for a child properly
5. A statement informing somebody they have to vacate a property
by a certain date_____ _____________ ____________
6. The practice of removing or killing people who belong to an
ethnic group that is different from the ruling group in a country or
region
7. The organization of people, institutions, and resources to deliver
health related services to meet the health needs of certain
populations.

58
I, I omplete the following sentences using the collocations from exercise 1.

|= <ictting a _____________________is quite difficult in this part of the

I ountry since the immigration services are very much on alert with all
these illegal immigrants crossing the border under the cover of darkness.
I here are many things that the United Kingdom government has done in
recent years to improve t h e _________________. Enforcing some
management principles on the way medical institutions are run seems to
have had some very positive outcomes that outweigh the downsides.
i The officer was charged with a very serious ___________________ as he
had walked out of the unit while he was supposed to be guarding the
ammunition.
I, That morning, when the family woke up, they found that a
_____________ had been hung on their door. They knew that they
were behind on their payments, but they were unaware that the situation
was so serious.
9 The process o f_________ _________ that was undertaken in the former
republic of Yugoslavia is one of the most serious acts of this kind in
contemporary times in Europe and it outraged the international
community.
6, In order to cover t h e _______________ and be allowed to keep their
home, many families have been faced with very tough choices, such as
getting second jobs, selling their valuable possessions, choosing public
over private education for their children.
V. More and more cases are brought to court in modem society regarding
__________ who do not physically or psychologically abuse their
children but rather ignore them or neglect their emotional needs.

4. Complete the sentences below, using one of the verbs in the box in the
right tense. Pay attention to the collocations they form.

to live to take to be x2 to battle to dismiss to go to make

1. After the police arrived at the scene and found the thief still in the house
they _____ him into custody and took him to the police station.
2. Since more and more people have been unable to pay their mortgage
debts, more and more homes in large and small cities___ ___ into
foreclosure.
4. The general manager admitted that the budget for the next year was not
what they had expected; in fact it was about 20% less than they had
requested initially, but they____________do with what they got.

59
4. The company____________in the red for the past 2 quarters. They need!
to do something to salvage the situation or they will go bankrupt verj
soon.
5. More and more people __________ on welfare in our society. Th<
economic crisis has led to the loss of many jobs and homes, subsequently]!
6. Many young people start using all kinds of drugs as a way of unwinding
or of socializing with their peers and before long they find themselves in a
desperate situation. Some of them manage _______ addiction and.
they light for their lives, while others just slip away and die of overdoses.!
7. Although the prosecutor thought he had presented enough evidence to
convict the murderer, the judge__ __ the case on a technicality that
the defense pointed out. The defendant went free and, three days later]
killed another person.
8. Politicians______ with the crimes they commit and they should
stand trial even if they are in office when those crimes are discovered]
This might, in my opinion, reduce the number of corrupt politicians.

5. Complete the following statements with one of the words or phrases in the
box:

deterrent famine capital purush men t first offence___________

1. They gave him a very tough sentence considering that it was his
. The judge was very tough because he wanted to set an |
example.
2. Some argue that the development of nuclear weapons is in fact a
_____ ___ to nuclear war, not an encouragement. The more
countries have this type of arsenal, the more secure they feel, and the less I
likely they arc to want to use them to destroy their enemies and
themselves implicitly.
3. Somali children arc the first image that pops to mind when anybody
mentions . The media has been feeding us images of
underfed children with big bellies living on practically nothing and dying 1
in huge numbers.
4. The only way to prevent murders as vicious as this is th e_____
for convicted murderers. This way, at least, prevents them from being
released and killing anyone else.

60
 U N IT 2

VOCABULARY RELATED TO GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY

I. Complete the following text with the phrases in the box. You may need to
change the form of some nouns.

media campaign; affordable housing; slim majority; unrivalled services; shadow

government; binding contract; red tape; population survey; economic policy;
lorthcoming elections; faceless bureaucrats________________ _____________

There is a very tight race for the (1 )_________________. There are two
very strong candidates, both with very good strategies and (2)
_____ meant to get the country out of the difficult situation it is
in at present. However, the word on the street is that only one of the candidates
will definitely win because he has the support of the (3 )_______________, a
group of people who control the country’s main business sectors. The polls
how that this candidate has a (4 )_____________, but not enough for a sure
victory.
Both candidates are conducting serious (5 )______________which focus
uii the tough issues that the country is facing such as a lack of (6)
____ for young people who are just starting their lives together, or
the countless (7 )_____________that make people’s lives difficult when
they have to pay taxes or obtain documents from the state. The problem of (8)
___ ___ is also a campaign issue as it impedes not only economic
processes but also the collection of money for the budget.
The two candidates have suggested different ways of addressing these
problems and of providing top-notch, (9 )_____ from state employees.
Also one of the candidates has asked for an independent agency to carry out a
( 10) __________ to find out what the people believe are the most important
problems society is facing at present and what some solutions may be in their
opinion. The other candidate has declared that if he wins the elections he will
,ign a (11) ____ ___ with the representative of the people which will
Male that if he does not implement his strategies properly and timely he will
present his resignation.

61
 2. Match the first part of each sentence in column A with its appropria
ending in column B:

A В
1. There is a big meeting scheduled a) get back into the swing of thingij
for tomorrow at the Ministry of after he had his heart attack.
Defense and consequently
2. The shadow government is starting b) seize power and overthrow th||
to take action in order to current leaders and possibly
destabilize the country.
3. Preparations are underway for the c) and they tend to breed resentment]
upcoming NATO summit and even lead to street protests.
4. This kind of crisis-induced d) despite the fact that he is not doingl
measures are not at all popular with very well in the polls at the
the people moment.
5. The world started changing really e) our whole department is in а Лurryll
fast, some would even say it started of activity trying to solve lasH
spiraling out of control minute problems.
6. It only took the president three f) with the advent of computer!
weeks to technology and of the Internet.
7. The victims front the subway g) and the whole city is in a stale of]
accident caused by a malfunction alert with police and military forcesl
have hired a law firm everywhere.
8. Everybody believes that he will win h) and are suing to claim financial!
the elections compensation for the trauma they*
underwent.

Choose the best word to complete the sentences:

1. Once slavery was the large plantations in southern USA

started having financial difficulties and were eventually sold.
a) abolished
b) dismissed
c) suppressed

2. T he___________ from the government may compensate the farmers for

the loss of their crops but they will not help them in the long run.
a) insurance
b) subsidies
c) funds

62
t ! lie ____________ population has finally had enough and they have
trbelled against the corrupt regime and overthrew it.
fl) Indignant
l*i oppressed
gi repressed

I I lie government will attempt to make a ___________to subsidize

farmers’ incomes in drought years,
я) decree
!i) suggestion
t ) motion

Their proposal w a s _________ because it did not receive enough votes

to pass. They will have to come up with another one.
ft) ignored
b) classified
*) dismissed

I Choose which phrases from exercises 1 and 2 match the following

definitions:

DEFINITIONS
1. A sudden burst or commotion or movement
2. A small advantage in number of political supporters
3. The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely
important
4. A process of choosing a representative by voting, which is
about to happen
5. to be the source of; produce indignation
6. "the secret government" or "the invisible government"
7. An agreement that limits or holds someone to respect it to the
letter

63
 U T11T3

WORK-RELATED VOCABULARY

Match the first part of a dialogue in column A to the second part of the
dialogue in column B:

A В
1. “Something must be done; things
cannot go on as they have so far. We
need to change something in our
SOPs or vve will end up losing many
lives.”
2. “Unfortunately, in the current
economic situation, companies have
few solutions if they want to stay
afloat.”
3. “I heard that he has changed his job
recently. Why did he do that?”
4. “Are you sure this is the right course d) “I have managed to narrow down 1
of action for you? I thought you were
happy here. Do you really want to
quit?”
5. “You have interviewed quite a few
people for this position already. How
is the selection process going?”
a) “Yes, indeed, and one of them, I
and perhaps the most drastic, is to
lay off staff. Even though it
creates other types of pressure o n l
the economy, this method has
become a favorite with
companies.”
b) “Yes, sir, I have come today to
officially hand in my resignation,*
effective immediately.”
c) “Well, it’s not enough to find the 1
problem; we cannot simply say
the old ones are out-of-date. We ]
have to come up with an
alternative or nobody will take us 1
seriously.”
the list to five candidates, who arel
going to be called in for one final, 1
decisive interview.”
e) “Well, mainly because he wanted I
to earn a better living, but also
because his former boss had
something against him and
wouldn’t give him the promotion
he deserved.”

2. Identify the collocations in the examples in exercise

 i, ( 'h e c k y o u r a n s w e r s f o r e x e r c is e 2 a n d m a tc h t h e d e f in i t io n s b e lo w to th e
c o r r e s p o n d in g c o llo c a tio n s in e x e r c is e 1.
A-A. .iii ii ii,

DEFINITIONS
1. to give up a job or position in a formal or official way
2. any sequence of activities that an individual or unit may follow.
3. to put an end to personnel’s employment at something
4. to bring forth, discover, or produce another way of doing
something
iii, 4 1, j.

5. to make more money so as to ease one’s life

6. to remain free or out of difficulty, especially financial difficulty
7. to focus on certain aspects, to reduce the number of possibilities

-I. Match the first part of a dialogue in column Л to the second part of the
dialogue in column B:

В
"You look extremely tired. I thinka) “Well, his efficient methods and his
you should see a doctor to find out professional conduct have helped
if everything is ok.” him move up the ladder more
quickly than anyone else his age.”
"I wasn’t very confident when you b) “Actually, I am still in shock. I
lirst gave this assignment to Jerry. I can’t believe he has gone through
actually thought it was a big all this trouble just to help me in
mistake, with him being so new to this difficult period in my life.”
the department.”
“Your boss has been most c) “Yes, 1 remember you telling me
understanding with you lately. You that he was wet behind the ears, and
must be very grateful.” that he hadn’t had time to get his
feet wet. But look, everything he
has done has been spot on. He has
certainly risen to the challenge.”
“It’s been very difficult here lately. d) “No need to worry about me. I’m
The staff are getting more and more healthy, but I have a very heavy
discontent with the measures workload at present, and I barely
taken.” have time to sleep.”
“His record is spotless and he has e) “Well, they will simply have to bite
more commendations than anyone the bullet and make the best of it,
else I know. And he is so young!” "because it is the same everywhere.
But this situation can’t last for long,
and we’ll be back to normal before
long.”

65
 5. C h e c k y o u r a n s w e r s fo r e x e r c is e 4 a n d id e n tif y th e c o ll o c a t io n s in th e
e x a m p le s in e x e r c is e 4.

6. Match the definitions below to the corresponding collocations

exercise 4.

DEFINITIONS
1. young and not experienced
2. a lot of things to do in one’s job
3. to get promotion after promotion
4. to make yourself do something or accept something difficult or
unpleasant
5. to start a new activity or job
6. to do as well as possible with something that is not too promising
7. to accept a challenge and complete the activity successfully
8. to do everything to possible to help somebody
9. returned to a previous state of normality
10.exactly correct

7. Complete the following sentences with a verb from the box in the right
tense:

To set; to get x 2; to break; to be; to acquire; to have; to adhere; to abide; to

come

1. H e_______________ a taste for very expensive gadgets since he got

that job with the multinational corporation. Practically all his money is
spent on the latest kinds of technology.
2. All soldiers have to __ ___ to the principles of this unit and to
respect them even in the harshest conditions.
3. He bound to make a mistake sooner or later at the rate he i
going. He has too many things on his plate and is not willing to delegate
any responsibilities.
4. It is going to be very difficult to _____________ the news to families.
Nobody wants to hear that their loved ones have gone missing and are
presumed dead.
5. You have to do your best to explain the situation to Helen, or her deeds
will jeopardize her career. Somebody has t o ____________through to
her before it is too late.
j i ir only started work here last week but he has made a lot of progress and
и-.illy seems to b e_____________the hang of things. Pretty soon, we’ll
I- able to delegate more responsibility to him.
f What happened? I thought he was very excited to join our department?”
Well, I think h e___________ a change of heart or maybe he got a
In tier offer and he didn’t tell us about it.”
II doesn’t matter what you think about this situation; it isn’t your call and
you have to _____________by the chairman’s decision and carry out his
Instructions.
• She is very influential in the world of fashion. Everybody looks to her and
expects her to ____________ the trend for each season.
in Л Iter he made that terrible mistake that cost the department so much in
point of funds and reliability, the manager_____________down very
heavily on him and not only fired him but also made him pay damages.
 UNIT 4

VOCABULARY RELATED TO EXPRESSING

PERSONAL OPINIONS

1. Complete the following statements using one of the expressions from the
box. You have two statements for each expression. Pay attention to the
verb tenses:

dawn on have nothing against

pass judgement on grasp the importance
make a lasting impression have the guts
have a clue

1. His opinions are very strong and he always stands up for what he
believes. He (even) to tell his boss to his face when h
was wrong.
2. Teenagers should be made to of reading as a
means of developing their personal worldviews and opinions and as a wa)
of resisting manipulation from the media.
3. Despite everything that happened, I him getting the
promotion. I still believe that I deserved it more, but it was not my
decision and I have to reconcile with the situation as best I can.
4. The terrorist attacks on 9/11 ____even on those who
only watched them on TV. I hate to think how the people who were
actually there felt.
5. Oh, it (just)____________ _ on me that we may have made a
terrible mistake. We must get that report back as soon as possible to check
the final figures again.
6. It is one of the most deeply rooted human habits to _
on one’s peers without being sure that all the facts informing that opinion
are accurate.
7. Look at him looking for the folder on his desk. I don’t think he
___________ where he put it or even if it is still on his desk or he
moved it to somebody else’s.
8. The media creates and presents news so as to _ ____ on
the audience, but this sometimes means that they have to stretch the truth
a bit in their search for the sensational.
9. Once he___________________of the document in front of him he
proceeded to inform his superiors and to come up with a plan of action
that might counter the negative effects of what was written there.

68
Ml You must always_________________to defend your opinions. They are
what sets you apart from others and help you find your way in the world.
11.1 don’t think it (ever)________________on the reporters present at the
funeral that the family may have needed to be left in peace to mourn their
loss. All they cared about was the news and getting shots of the celebrities
present.
I ’.The police (not)________________ as to the identity of the murderer
even after five days of investigation. They found no evidence at the crime
scene and they don’t know where to start.
I i.The manager__ _ our proposal. His only observation
was that we should double-check all our figures and make sure that the
estimates are correct.
14.1 don’t think it’s fair__________________on somebody you don’t
know. You should try to find out more information on a person and then
form an opinion.

2. Choose the best phrase to complete the following sentences:

1. __ _____ that the new SOPs will help protect both our
soldiers and the civilian population much more effectively.
a) From my standpoint
b) It is my firm conviction
c) Against my belter judgement

2. The member countries accepted the plan perhaps___________________

since they were aware of the potential economic damages it could cause.
a) against their nagging doubt
b) against their character
c) against their better judgement

3 . ________________ this measure will probably lead in the long run to

an improvement in the standard of living in poor countries.
a) From my standpoint
b) A nagging doubt
c) Against my better judgement

4. The government had _______________ that the conditions imposed

by the IMF were not actually as permissive as they appeared to be at first
sight.
a) a nagging doubt ViMiS FERUL A P A R A T
b) a firm belief U.M Nr 0 : .__.____
c) a valid point
Bibliotecă
N i.in v --------
69
Fond. Format
5. I really don’t know what to say about what happened. It is very difficult!
analyze the situation considering we have so many unknown elements,
this time,____________________. UNIT 5
a) it’s no use crying over spilt milk
b) your guess is as good as mine TOURISM-RELATED VOCABULARY
c) it’s a nagging doubt
L r bitch the words from box A to the words from box В to form
I nllocations. Sometimes more than one combination is possible.

A В
sled; hordes of; heritage; tradition; land; sites; roads;
hi* mi, ; expanse of; timely; stretch conservationists; intervention; water;
щг old __________________ tourists

’ Check your answers for exercise 1 and then match the collocations with
the appropriate definitions:

DEFINITIONS
1. too full or crowded with vehicles
2. small number of very active and enthusiastic members of a group
of people who want to protect something
3. large groups of visitors to a place
4. a large open surface of water _
5. places that reflect the traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that
are part of the history of a group or nation
6. something that stretches over an area or a distance; something
which covers or exists in the whole of that area or distance
7. customs that have existed for many generations or centuries.
8. an intervention that occurs aba moment when it is useful,
effective, or relevant __

71
 3. C o m p le te th e f o l lo w in g s e n t e n c e s u s i n g th e p h r a s e s f ro m e x e r c is e 1.

1. When __ ___ __ started making their way around old Greek ruins
the danger of collapse increased tenfold simply because of the foot traffiq i

2. ____________ have started attracting more and more public interest in

recent years as customized tour packages that focus on cultural aspects
have gained ground.
3. T h e____________ in this part of the country are very _ a'
this time of year since the tourists keep pouring in for the festival,
Looking out at this immense ____ would help relax even the
most stressed person. Its wonderful, blue translucence catches and holds
one’s gaze indefinitely.
4. The careless oversight of historical monuments may cause even more
problems than__ ____ and restoration could ever fix.
5. This unspoiled was meant to be transformed into a highjl
end ski resort, but the locals protested and it was finally turned into a
natural reservation.
6. There are many around the world and they all need to be
protected from excessive tourism so that we may keep our cultural legacy.
7. ___ uphold a very drastic view of how archaeological sites
should be preserved. The first step they suggest is the ban of all tourists. ]

4. Match the first part of the contexts in column A to the second part in
column B:

A В
1. Most of the famous seaside resorts
are extremely crowded during the
summer.
2. Many wonder what drives modern
tourists to push the boundaries and
try to go where no man has gone
before.
3. We strongly recommend that tourists
who love the outdoor should prepare
very well before their trips.
a) They should take some survival
courses in case they ever get
stranded in the wilderness on a
trip and they need to know what •
to do to make it out there.
b) They believe that if tourists
continue to be allowed to trample
over archaeological sites
unchecked, they may end
destroying them for future
generations.
c) These intrepid explorers have
been to the virgin parts of the rain
forests, to the arctic areas and to
the highest mountains in the
world.
i i in- world nowadays is full of brave
| muple who challenge their own
limits and go to previously
iunsidered inaccessible places.
limy people are worried about the
slate of the historical monuments in
their countries.
d) Most of them admit that it is the
thirst for adventure that drives
them forward.
e) Many tourists enjoy going to
these crammed resorts where they
can barely find a place to put their
towel on the beach, because they
love being around other people.

Match the definitions below to the underlined phrases in exercise 4.

DEFINITIONS
1. an insistent desire to do something challenging
2. characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance
3. to stamp or walk roughly (on)
4. forced, pressed, or squeezed into an insufficient space
5. left in an unknown or unfavorable place especially without funds
or means to depart
6. to test one’s abilities, resources or limits in a demanding but
stimulating undertaking

(>. Match the first part of the contexts in column Л to the second part in
column B:

A В
There are many new trends in
lourism, each of them addressed to a
particular segment of the population.
Each city has a history and a future,
and the two should co-exist not
cancel each other out.
a) Therefore, permits for the
construction of cutting-edge design
buildings in areas filled with
historical monuments should not be
given lightly. They could ruin the
special atmosphere of the place.
b) Whenever we get an SOS call we
send out a search party to try and
get them back as soon as possible.

Many travelers nowadays do not c) For example, backpacking is a new

enjoy going to the usual tourist
places and mingling with everybody.
Many people get lost on the
mountain at this time of the year.
73
up and coming type of tourism on-
the-go targeted especially at young
people, since it means travelling
with the bare minimum.
d) Thev prefer to travel off the beaten
track and try to discover places
where few have ever boon before.
7. M a tc h th e d e f in i t io n s b e lo w to th e u n d e r lin e d p h r a s e s in e x e r c is e 6.

DEFINITIONS
I. to dispatch a band of people tasked to find and rescue somebody
2. the smallest possible quantity or the least fulfilling, but still
adequate for some purpose
3. located at a great distance in time or space or degree, away from
civilization
4. travelling and carrying food or equipment on the back especially
in hiking
5. the position of greatest advancement or importance; the forefront
6. novel and gaining prominence and likely to advance or succeed
 U N IT 6

VOCABULARY RELATED TO THE NEWS

AND THE MASS-MEDIA

j ( omplete the following statements with one of the words or phrases in the
box so that they complete the expressions:

I Press x 2; foregone; slight; bottom; widespread; damaging ]

I, ( )nce more the media have jumped to th e ________ conclusion that the
i urrent economic problem is the fault of the previous prime minister. So
Гаг, he has unjustifiably taken the blame for everything that has gone
wrong in the past four years.
\ A lot can happen between now and December, but the ____ line is
that the city is not doing very well and may face a winter without any
heat.
1h e__________ coverage for the biggest sporting event of the decade
has been quite satisfactory, but they could have dedicated more time to
each sport individually.
I The mayor meant to build a new ring road around the city to ease the
traffic in the downtown area, but there was a _____ change in
plan because it took him more time than he expected to expropriate the
owners. But the building will start quite soon.
■ The prime minister issued a ___________release regarding the visit and
the discussions with the IMF and the decisions that will have to be put
into practice as soon as possible.
<> The candidates were both afraid o f ________ disclosures from their
opponents, as they both had some skeletons in the closet that they would
have liked to keep out of the public eye.
7 Contrary to ___________belief, the earth may not be getting warmer, as
much as cooling down as a result of the gases disrupting the sunlight.

75
2. Check your answers for exercise 1. Then match the expressions with their
definitions:

DEFINITIONS
1. the main or essential point; the final result or statement
2. written or recorded communication directed at members of the
news media for the purpose of announcing something ostensibly
newsworthy
3. a commonly-held opinion
4. a small modification in something that was established before
5. a conclusion formed in advance of argument or consideration
6. making known something that may hurt a person’s reputation
7. reports about something in newspapers, and magazines and other
media

3. Match the sentences with similar meanings. Pay attention to the underlined
expressions:

1. The weather will undergo a change for the worse in the following days.
People should get ready for heavy rains and strong winds.

2. It is the duty of the police force to uphold the law regardless of external
influences.

3. The minister bowed to public pressure and gave in to the requirements of

the airline workers.

4. We feel that the electorate have been misled by the media campaign
organized by the current mayor.

5. The president’s advisor issued a statement today regarding the situation in

the northern part of the country.

6. The man gave a detailed account of the facts and the police were able to
apprehend the murderer based on this information.

7. The witness will have to give an account of his involvement with the
victim, before he testifies.

8. All reporters live by one rule: never divulge your sources. Otherwise they
would not be able to get any good stories any more.

76
,J In order to disseminate information promptly and effectively, one has to
have access to the latest technological developments.

I((.Sometimes the media tends to blow things out of proportion just to get
better ratings for news stories.

A. The mayor in office has put together a press initiative that has been meant
to misinform the public about his true intentions.

H. In their quest for larger and larger audiences, TV channels may

exaggerate the news they present.

C. The police detectives managed to catch the killer based on the elaborate
description of events provided by a witness.

I). The media received a statement from the president’s office concerning
what is happening in the north.

IT State-of-the-art information technology allows people access to

information quickly and at high standards.

IA The airline workers pressed the government and the minister finally
accepted their demands.

G. We will notice a severe alteration of the meteorological conditions in the

upcoming period and we advise everybody to prepare for gale and
showers.

H. Policemen have to make sure the citizens abide the law under all
circumstances.

I. The person who saw what happened to the victim will first have to
explain his involvement with the victim. Only then can he appear in court.

J. All reporters have to respect the confidentiality of their informants if they

want to keep getting information.

77
4. Complete the following statements with one of the adjectives in the box:

[ misquoted; doubtful; debatable; misinformed; notorious; controversial; ]

1. This issue is quite____________; many people believe that celebrities’

lives should be wide open, while others believe that they are entitled to
their privacy.
2. It is very___________whether or not nuclear energy is the best way of
ensuring the survival of our energy-fueled society.
3. The___________mastermind of the terrorists is rumored to be hiding in
the mountainous region in the north of the country.
4. The workers were very___________about the benefits of the new
pension system, but they had no say in it unfortunately.
5. The spokesperson explained that the president had been_____ by
the press, and issued a full statement to explain what had really happened.
6. The public has been __ __ during the election campaign as both
sides were trying to convince them their candidate was the best and had
the best strategy.

5. Complete the following statements with one of the adjectives in the box:

I likelihood; speculation; outlook; incentive; prospect J

1. The country's economic __________ is quite bleak at the moment and

the international community is threatening to impose economic sanctions.
2. The frightening of going to war at the present is driving
people out of the cities and into the countryside.
3. In all , the economy of the country will recover in two
years’ time with a new infusion of capital from the European Union.
4. There is that he will run for president again. He has many
supporters and he is still quite young and healthy.
5. The rising cost of electricity provides a strong __________ to save
energy and to find alternative means of producing it.

7S
 U N IT 7

ECONOMY-RELATED VOCABULAR V

I. Complete the following sentences with the words from the box

feeble; debt-ridden; thriving; commercial; plummeting; soaring

undeclared; source of; grounds for_______________________

1. The shadow economy is based on the ____ earnings of hundred',

of firms which try to elude the state and refuse to pay taxes.
2. If the services provided were perfect then we would have no
complaints. But given the situation, we would like to file a
complaint with customer protection services.
3. There is only one country in the region whose economy is _________
despite the chaos that faces all the others in the region. The only
explanation is that their government did not loan money from others and
managed on its own.
4. Due to the state of the economy we cannot afford to make
any major investments at the moment. Maybe when things become more
stable we will be able to make our move.
5. Greece has become such a ___ country that investors stay
away for fear they may lose their money. Quite soon Greece may find
itself in an impossible situation and have to be declared bankrupt.
6. 1 would like to propose a ________ venture that may bring both our
companies quite a profit if everything is done right.
7. Many families have been left without a ___________income when the
old mines shut down.
8. With____________ profits many companies have to withdraw from the
country before they are affected too seriously.
9. __ _ prices threaten to trigger a new food crisis around the
world, that could spell famine for many people in underdeveloped
countries.

2. Check your answers for exercise 1. Then match the words and expressions
with their definitions:

79
 3. falling or dropping suddenly in amount, value
4. money made that the state does not know about and for which
taxes have not been paid
5. the place where one gets money from
6. increasing very quickly in amount or price
7. growing and developing successfully; flourishing
8. the reasons one may have to be displeased with a service, product,
situation etc.
9. very weak

3. Choose the best answer a, b, or c to complete the following text:

The global economic crisis that started some years ago has definitely
taken its 1. on less developed countries. Many companies have gone
2 . ____ and many people have been made 3. _____ and the
situation does not seem to be improving. Their progress has been 4. _ __
because they do not have enough economic strength to stand on their own
without help from the more economically-developed countries. They need to be
able to get loans and advice in order to 5 ._________their economies in the
right direction. Unfortunately, this crisis has set in 6. _ a chain of
events that affects not only poor but also rich countries. This means that help is
in high demand nowadays and the ones doing the asking must first of all 7.
through a lot of red tape, meaning they have to present strong
investment plans that justify every penny they borrow. Secondly, they have to
meet a series of very strict 8. that are meant to get things back on
track and to stimulate growth. The richer countries have to 9 ._____ their
interests and this means that they are not willing to lend money to just anyone
without some kind of guarantee that they will get it back. Consequently, the
countries that do not come up to 10. _________ have their support withdrawn
and their fate is anything but good. This has already happened to several and
more and on the brink of collapse.

T a. toll b. problem c. effect

T a. bad b. wrong c. bankrupt
1 a. redundant b. fired c. helpless
4. a. bothered b. hindered c. minded
"57“ a. induce b. conduct c. steer
6. a. action b. motion c. place
7. a. cut b. pass c. sever
8. a. demands b. qualities c. requirements
9. a. look b. safeguard c. improve
10. a. notch b. standard c. scratch

80

Is
<1 Check your answers for exercise 3. Then match the expressions with their
definitions:

DEFINITIONS
1. to be legally declared financially insolvent.
2. to guide in a certain direction
3. to make (someone or something) safe or secure
4. to cause a series of things to begin happening
5. to be deprived of one’s job because it is no longer necessary for
efficient operation
6. to meet or be equal to someone’s requirements
7. to cause harm or suffering
8. to satisfy the conditions
9. to get around the bureaucracy
10. to make the progress slow or difficult

81
 U N IT 8

VOCABULARY FOR HEALTH-RELATED TOPICS

1. Match the first part of the contexts in column A to the second part in column
B:

A В
1. The people who had been exposed to a. The exposure to pollutants and to
the airborne vims were not doing genetically modified food increase
very well. the likelihood of alterations
occurring at the smallest level in oui
DNA structure.
2. People nowadays take such powerful b. They were gasping for breath and
medication for even the slightest of running very high fevers. On top on
conditions. everything, they were not
responsive to medication.
3. All drugs have to be tested throughly c. They start being overweight and get
before being released on the market an elevated blood pressure and high
for the general public to use. cholesterol levels.
4. Due to their unhealthy diets and d. Moreover, their side effects are not
sedentary lifestyles many people arc limited to the human population; the
experiencing health problems, earlier plant and animal life will also suffei
and earlier in their lives. greatly.
5. Genetic mutations are very likely to e. It presents with symptoms that are
occur more and more frequently. simply unheard of. This virus seems
to be completely out of control.
6. Biological weapons imply creating f. This is the reason why they have
drug-resistant virus strains. built up resistance to drugs.
7. This outbreak of an unknown disease g. The survival rate for people
threatens to kill most of the exposed to them is slim to none.
population in this area.
8. Biological and chemical weapons are h. Even so, adverse reactions still
dangerous not only at the time when appear but in a much smaller
they are used. number of people than it would
otherwise happen.

82
(ИРГ
I lie definitions for some of the expressions in exercise 1 have been provided
below. Match them to the corresponding expressions in exercise 1.

DEFINITIONS
1. too heavy or fat
2. an effect that a drug has on your body in addition to curing
pain or illness
3. when a disease suddenly starts to happen in an area
4. carried through the air
5. have a high body temperature
6. to breath quickly in a way that that can be heard because you
are in pain or having difficulty breathing
7. a negative consequence of using certain drugs
8. a category of viruses that is not affected by known drugs
 U N IT 9

MILITARY-RELATED VOCABULARY

1. Complete the following sentences with the words in the box. The form of
some words may need to be changed:

[ deployment; menace; outpost; harsh; bitter; drone; bulk

1. Terrorist cells, active or not, are always seen as a potential _____

because they can spring into action at any given moment.
2. Some soldiers have been withdrawn from this theater of operations but the
of the troops is staying put until HQ says that the danger
has passed.
3. The greatest challenge in a theater of operations is to get used to the
conditions, as most missions take place in arid areas, a
type of terrain and environment which is alien for most soldiers.
4. The United States government has made hundreds o f_____
attacks on targets in northwest Pakistan since 2004. They arc controlled
by the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Division. These
attacks are part of the United States' War on Terrorism campaign, seeking
to defeat Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan.
5. It is very difficult for soldiers to deal with the relentless burden of
repeated____ _. Besides the traumatic effects of the
missions, they also feel that they are no longer in control of their lives, as
they cannot plan ahead for fear they may be shipped away again.
6. The construction of combat____ _____ by the U.S. military in
Afghanistan and Iraq has been almost unanimously described in positive
terms by defense analysts and military officers as a means through which
to carry out its counterinsurgency efforts.
7. These two countries have been_________ ____enemies since the oil
crisis began. They do not seem able to reach a compromise no matter
what.

2. Complete the following sentences with one of the verbs from the box in
the right form:

[ restore; bring; launch; suffer; call; escalate; disband; lift___ J

84
 I he goal of this task force is __________peace to this part of the world;
or, if this fails, at least to ensure that no more civilian lives are lost.
1he conflict_____________mainly because more than 100 civilians
were killed or injured in a surprise bomb attack in one of the busiest
markets in town.
When the United States were first attacked on their own soil, they decided
__________ a counterattack that is still going on at present and that is
now fueled by much more than simple desire for revenge or for
retribution.
When they realized the seriousness of the damage sustained, they
____ ______ for a ceasefire so they could have time to regroup and
take the casualties to medical facilities.
. These measures are m e a n t_____ _____ stability to this troubled
country. They will ensure workplaces for the unemployed and an influx of
funds for reconstruction.
>. The army of the country__________ _____(passive) in an attempt to stop
all military actions. However, the guerilla forces are intact and they wreak
havoc in the mountainous region of the country.
The blockade____ (only)________ (passive) when the government signs
the nonaggression pact and agrees to the terms and conditions imposed by
the international community.
. The allied forces _____ __ a large number of casualties in the
overnight attack and consequently withdrew from the area.
. Choose the best definition for the underlined expressions in the following
sentences:
. The privates had an attitude problem because they didn’t respect their
sergeant.
a) They didn’t behave appropriately
b) They had different attitudes toward work
c) They had discussions among themselves

l. When they first entered the village, they encountered difficulties as the
villagers didn’t believe they were friendly and wanted to attack them with
whatever weapons they had.
a) They had an encounter
b) They met some enemies
c) They experienced some problems

i. When they join the military young people are told that they must relish a
challenge because the situations they will come up against in their future
careers will be quite unexpected,
a) Adapt to rigors well

85
 b) Enjoy adventure
c) Like a steady life
4. Complete the following statements with one of the words in the box:

1resilience; outraged; mayhem; rationale |

1. The_______ for this decision is to allow for further talks to lead to

the signing of the agreement by the end of the week.
2. The soldiers were __________ when they were informed that their
shipment home had been postponed for one more week.
3. It is practically impossible to prevent terrorists from unleashing
______ in one part of the world or another. Their brand of wafare
breaches all rules and is highly unpredictable.
4. The earthquake destroyed thousands of people's lives but the whole world
was struck by the incredible ___ _ of the survivors who simply
tried to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives.

86
 UNIT 10

CRIME-RELATED VOCABULARY

i I laich the sentences 1-8 with the sentences with similar meanings a-h. Pay
giieiilion to the underlined expressions:

I Some criminals would do anything to escape punishment they move,

change their names, they even have plastic surgery.

). We need to come up with a plan: the situation isn’t looking good and we
have to figure out what to do.

1 In such cases, involving big companies, lawyers usually negotiate

settlements because they would rather pay large amounts of money than
stand trial and have their businesses exposed to the public eye.

•I. He refused point blank to accept the deal the district attorney offered. He
kept saying that he is innocent and he is not afraid of going to trial.

S. The presumed terrorist protested his innocence saying to anyone who

would listen that he had been nowhere near the site of the attack on that
day.

(>. The police have been notified of the mayor’s involvement in illegal
renting of parking spaces in the downtown area, and he will be brought in
for questioning.

7. He thought that he will get away with fraud, but the detectives have found
a trail of evidence that points in his direction.

8. When people are at the end of their rope they may decide to do desperate
things, such as stealing in order to survive.

87
 a. He didn’t want to accept under any circumstances what the district
attorney proposed as he claimed he wasn’t guilty of the crime and he
thought a jury wouldn’t convict him.

b. We have to think of a way to get out of this situation.

c. When they feel that they have nothing more to do to improve their
situation, people may resort to desperate measures such as taking things
that do not belong to them.

d. The man they have captured in relation to the terrorist attack claims that
he is not guilty of the attack as he had been somewhere else entirely on
the day in question.

Some people who have broken the law would go to any lengths not to get
caught: they change their places of residence, their identities, and even
their appearance.

f. Despite his strong belief that his fraud will not be noticed, the police who
were investigating him managed to amass enough proof on him and his
actions.

g. Large corporations try to prevent lawsuits from going to court by paying

the plaintiffs large sums of money in exchange for signing non-disclosure
agreements.

h. The mayor’s part in the illegal scheme concerning parking places in the
center of the city has been made known to the authorities and they will
take action presently.

2. Choose the synonyms of some of the underlined expressions in exercise 1.

At the end of one’s endurance

To inform
To escape
To think of something
To claim

88
P " 1 Ilie b e s t e x p r e s s io n s to c o m p le te th e s e n te n c e s b e lo w :

•Iи. crime was terrible but there were_______________ ___ as he had

bt 4 ) robbed blind by that company and he had lost every penny he had.
й aggravating circumstances
li extenuating circumstances
< understandable circumstances

II it can be argued that the criminal is guilty________________ then the

jury will have no trouble declaring him so and he can be convicted for his
t limes.
> beyond any reasonable doubt
h above suspicion
I against all prejudice

________________ we have decided to accept your plea bargain.

My client will plead guilty but will get a reduced sentence and will only
spend 6 months in prison.
a. Despite everything
b. In your favor
c. After careful consideration

The best methods to put an decrease the crime rate in any city have
always been________________ . No two specialists agree on what the
best deterrent to crime may be.
a. a matter of interest
b. a bone of contention
c. a suspicious discussion
 UNIT 11

ENVIRONMENT-RELATED VOCABULARY

1. Choose the best answer a, b, or c to complete the following text:

The 1 . _____ destruction of our planet is always on the new.

nowadays. Either it is environmentalists who try to 2. ___________awarenes'.
about the greenhouse effect and the 3 .____________disaster it will cause. Or lt!
is the forecast which mainly deals with changing 4. weather____ _ in
many regions of the world, such as 5 .___________heat in Canada and snow in
Africa, with 6. __________ sea levels that threaten to drown coastal cities and
dry vegetation fires that plague Europe and Australia.
Not to mention what is happening to the flora and fauna of the world
More and more species are 7. __________ or on the 8. __________ ol
extinction due to intensive hunting or harvesting just as much as to the
destruction of their natural 9. ____________.
Most scientists warn us that the effects of changes we are noticing could
be diminished if only people accepted that they are the main actors of change in
the environment and tried to reduce their carbon 10.__ ___. But most
people still do not have the 11. ___________idea that they might be to blame
for the weather phenomena that wreak 12. __________around the globe. They
do not understand that a few simple things could really help protect the planet. It
is as easy as reducing their energy 13.__________and using 14. ________
sources of energy. Also, they could stop using 15. __________ chemicals
around that house, chemicals that find their way into the water and pollute it
beyond control, threatening the survival of many types of fish and aquatic plant
life.
In recent years we have noticed an increase in the production of eco-
friendly substances and materials used for building different structures.
Opportunities 16. ______ __ in this field for many people who take a 17.
_____ interest in protecting the environment and also want to ensure that
nature is around for generations to come. It is still not too late, but we should not
rely on this and keep postponing everything that must be done now before it is
too late.
 1. a. immediate b. definite c. imminent
2. a. raise b. lift c. make
О
J. a. unmitigated b. relentless c. forceful
4. a. schemes b. patterns c. designs
5. a. bad b. serious c. searing
6. a. rising b. increasing c. improving
7. a. unprotected b. endangered c. jeopardized
8. a. bank b. edge c. brink
9. a. zone b. area c. habitat
10. a. trace b. footprint c. fingerprint
11. a. slightest b. smallest c. littlest
12. a. disaster b. hell c. havoc
13. a. consumption b. use c. usage
14. a. replenishable b. renewable c. reusable
15 a. detrimental b. harmful c. bad
16. a. present b. rise c. arise
17. a. keen b. precious c. severe

2. Match the first part of the contexts in column A to the second part in
column B. Pay attention to the underlined expressions:

A В
1. The world population reached 7
billion in 2011.
2. Many non-profit organizations plan
charity events on a regular basis to
support different causes related to the
environment.
3. Many countries are taking steps to
reduce the amount of greenhouse
gases they produce.
4. When we let standards sliD in our
environmental policies the effects
may be tremendous.
5. In order to reduce our personal
carbon footprint we need to take
some simple measures.
a. However, impoverished countries
are not able to spare any funds to
invest in green technology.
b. This is why we should try to keep a
constant influx of budget funds for
environmental projects.
c. Even so, there are still sparsely-
populated areas in the world, such
as the highest mountains and the
deserts.
d. For example, we can carpool to
work, or choose apartments that are
within walking distance of schools,
supermarkets, shops, etc.
e. Their hope is to raise enough funds
to help some conservation plans to
succeed.

91
 3. Match the underlined expressions in exercise 2 with their definiţie

DEFINITIONS
1. to get money for a cause
2. friendly with the environment
3. a distance that can be covered on foot
4. the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to support f l
activities, expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide
5. with very few people living there
6. to allow things not to measure up to standards
7. an arrangement whereby several people travel together in o||
vehicle, share the costs and often take turns as the driver
8. countries which are short of money

4. Match the first part of the contexts in column A to the second pan i
column B. Pay attention to the underlined expressions:

A В
1. There are many densely populated a. It is the only means of prevn
areas in the world. They are mostly our world from becoming a lau
large cities with millions of dump site. S 1
inhabitants.

2. Recycling all materials: paper, b. Most likely it will take anotk

plastic, glass etc. is very important. decades for the technology to 1-
perfected and for the recharging
network to be in place everywlu i
the world.
3. The environmentalists staged a c. Many inventions that have
protest in front of the summit venue. revolutionized the world started
what seemed to be an inconseqn
idea, but one in which someone Hjfl
courage to invest.
4. There is only a slim chance that the d. Their goal was to force the wne
electric car will be able to replace the leaders’ hand to sign a treaty fot it
traditional car in the short term. drastic reduction of fossil fuels
emissions.
5. Their company is always on the e. И is these areas that are the mQl
lookout for viable erecn responsible for the increasing qua
technologies, no matter where these of polluting agents released in llm
ideas may come from. atmosphere.
I ■ Intch th e u n d e r lin e d e x p r e s s i o n s in e x e r c is e 4 w ith t h e i r d e f in itio n s :

DEFINITIONS
1. to be vigilant, alert
2. not a very good possibility of something coming true
3. to be organized properly
4. an organic substance found underground and used as a source of
energy
5. to organize a public demonstration
6. a location for specific types of events
7. with a lot of people living there
8. a place where garbage is thrown

(>. Choose the best words to fill in the gaps in the sentences:

1. Because of the feeling of impending________ many people try their

best to protect their families and homes.
a. distress
b. doom
c. terror

2. Localized early last week saw a few areas very wet

indeed, with some flooding reported, while in other areas not even one
drop of rain was reported.
a. downpours
b. rain
c. hail

3. Genes from desert plants can be used to produce crops that

withstand . This technology may help us in the future as
many areas in the world are experiencing desertification.
a. the sun
b. high winds
c. drought

4. The deliberate release of the virus last year led to the most devastating
global__________ ever known.
a) distress
b) misfortune
c) plague

93
 5. With a third of species facing___________ over the next fifty years the
support of large benefactors has never been more vital. We need to do
something to protect them.
a. relocation
b. extinction
c. intervention

7. Complete the following dialogues with one of the expressions in the box:

I to say the least; what’s at stake; it’s wishful thinking |

1. “1believe that more can be done to raise people’s awareness about what is
happening to the environment.”
“I absolutely agree with you. Much more could be done; the problem is
lack of funds. Without money 1. (only) __ .Everything
takes money and that’s exactly what environmentalists don’t have.”

2. “People have to understand once and for all 2. __ ______ . These

environmentalists aren’t talking just to hear themselves. They really do
have a point about the destruction of the planet.”
“Yes, but unfortunately there are bigger interests here; oil must be sold,
and bought; cars must be made; weapons must be used; and the
environment is practically the last of anyone’s concerns.”

3. “The situation of animals in this part of the world is dire 3.

“Yes, I see what you mean. The vegetation is gone because of the
drought, the watering holes are dry, and the poachers are more active than
ever.”

94
 UNIT 12

VOCABULARY RELATED TO
EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY

I. Complete the following sentences with a verb from the box. Use the verb
in the correct tense.

to judge; to toy; to impart; to give; to highlight; to broach; to make;

to get; to spark; to withstand__________________ ___________

1. Iam so glad I managed across the idea regarding an

extended-schedule daycare. It is very important for young children not to
be left at home alone and unsupervised.
2. The teacher with the idea of giving the students a quiz test,
but decided against it as some of them were missing from class.
3. If you want to become the manager of a top 500 company you have to be
able_____ _____ the pressure of working in such a high stakes
environment.
4. We have arranged for guest speakers to come to different classes, starting
next term. They ________ their knowledge of different fields
from a practical point of view and help students choose a profession.
5. We have no way of knowing if this plan will work until we
it a shot. It looks good on paper but since it deals with
adult learners the results may be unpredictable.
6. Most children sent to boarding schools have a difficult time adjusting to
life in such a closed community, especially since they are separated from
their parents, but eventually they learn__________ the best of it.
7. The way the topics are presented should be aimed at
the children’s interest. They are not very fascinating in themselves so the
presentation must be entertaining and engaging.
8. In order for the students to learn more easily and efficiently, the teacher
_______ the most relevant aspects of any lesson. After all, that
is the information the students will be left with in the long run.
9. Every project____________ (passive) solely on its merits and the
winner will be announced later today.
10. The disastrous grades in the final exams this year represent a very difficult
subject for any p o litic ia n _____ ______, but especially for the minister
of education whose resignation parents and teachers alike have been
clamoring for since the results were made public.

95
 2. Match the beginning of the sentences in column A with their endings in
column B. Pay attention to the expressions that are thus formed:

A В
1. It is very difficult to get better
results in final exams with so many
disenchanted
2. Many teachers complain that no
matter what they do disruptive
3. One method of ensuring that
students study throughout the year
and not only for final exams is to
introduce on-going
4. One method of correction that is
not accepted in classrooms is verbal
5. When they are not interested in a
subject students will only make a
half-hearted
6. When analyzing poor exam results
we should look at the underlying
7. Some private schools present
overrated
8. One of the most important skills
that needs to be developed in
children of all ages is critical
9. When analyzing a situation, we
have to start with a working
10.It is a question of whether students
should have a comprehensive
a. assessments that will help monitor
students’ progress throughout the
school year.
b. effort to learn anything regarding
that subject.
c. results in an attempt to attract as
many students as possible.
d. knowledge of the world or should
focus on specialized fields of study.
e. thinking. This is one skill that will
turn them into adults who can think
for themselves.
f. students are more and more
frequently encountered and they
make any lesson a living hell for
them.
g. teachers, who only do the bare
minimum and are not motivated to
invest more in their students’
education.
h. abuse directed at the students who
have difficulties solving different
tasks.
i. hypothesis which will be improved
continuously as more data flows in.
j. causes and not start passing blame
from one to another.

96
 \ Match the words from column A to the words from column C to form
collocations. Sometimes more than one combination is possible. You may
need to use one of the prepositions in column B.

A В C
lliiist; reduction; advent; stroke; for genius; the art; literate; knowledge;
fumputer; state in technology; attention span;
of

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

4. Check your answers for exercise 3 and then match the collocations with
the appropriate definitions:

1. The latest in point of technology

2. The desire to learn various things
3. Loss in concentration
4. The development of technology
5. An inspired or effective idea or act
6. Having knowledge of how to operate a PC

97
 L >1, hers agree with doctors entirely when discussing how fast food may
UNIT 13 EE nut only your health but also that of your children.
L f leetly obvious from the name itself that fast food means eating fast
LINKING WORDS7 - GENERAL PRESENTATION I m; h is really dangerous for your stomach.
Emphasizing Using expressions to emphasize a sentence

L Using so and such Liressions: above all (else); actually; believe me; indeed; to put it mildly; to
В, the least
SU f'n Sed i".fr0 rt 0 fa " adjec,ive: so long; so tired; so much; so many
, CH usct* ш front ot a noun: such a person; such problems- such a busv I
schedule; such serious health problems УI J iT tio Z n Romania have become a disappointing process in recent years, to
For example: W cvraySruption affects not only politics in general but also the election

People nowadays are working so much, they have such busy schedules that their
private lives are practically non-existent. ~ 'f
И is so much easier for young people to put in many hours at work simply
b cause they do not have family lives that also require their atte n tio Z d care I
Siffih franttc activity cannot be sustained by the human body for loo long 'I
Eventually it will give in and serious health problems can appear.
2. Using adjectives in front of nouns
leople, young^opleîn^particul'^need to realize that voting ^ exposing
,,„cPs optaion above all else. They need to make their voice heard if “ У S
,„i„g ,o change in the foreseeable future. This may indeed be the only way for
iinything to truly ch a n g e in politics. _ .
Actually, the election process is a reflection of how interested or inv
people are in the way the country is run.
Expressing reactions

S - i S S z r * perfectl positive; pure; real; « "* I

1. Expressing personal opinions

For example: Expressions; in my opinion, personally, from my point of view; 1 would argue
that; it is my (strong) belief that; I strongly believe that etc.

nnllh" 7 ? Wal t£ °f time t0 try and convince teenagers not to eat junk food For example:
only by telling them it is bad for their health. They show completedisrevard f o r i
their health and total interest in their social lives. ----- disregard lor I
Personally, 1 would say that all anti-terrorism measures taken nowadays are
absolutely necessary and even more could be done to Protect u s , Personai
3. Using adverbs after verbs/in front of adjectives
From mv point of view, any personal discomfoit comes sec p
For example: safety is the most important.
A number of adverbs can be used to express personal views regarding the issues
Fast food is almost entirely made of chemicals that may affect our health if
consumed on a regular basis. discussed. These are:
The weight gain that is usually associated with fast food seems to be utterly absurdly admittedly; coincidentally; conveniently; curious^i fortunately;
ignored by those who indulge in Ibis habit
" 7 interestingly; mysteriously; naturally,
7 AH the examples provided in this «eu,,,,, eic relmed lo the inputs part 1 significantly; typically; unbelievably; understandably, unexpected y,
unfortunately; unhappily.
98 99
F o r e x a m p le :

Admittedly security measures are necessary, but they have started to affect the
educational system as well. Students may understandably feel offended when
they go through security checks every time they go to school.
Unfortunately, the US have taken some security measures, such as the Patriot
Act, in light of the terrorist attacks that occurred in 2001 that affect businesses
as well.
Naturally, people will protest about the amount of time they are made to waste
in airports going through security checks. Admittedly, more could be done to
speed up the process.
Paradoxically, the security measures meant to protect us, actually infringe on
our private space. We arc forced to take off our clothes, shoes; our belongings
are examined, and pretty soon we will get full body scans every time we want to
travel anywhere.

2. Expressing attitude

In all honesty/fairncss/sincerity
To be perfectly honest/fair/frank
To put it mildly/crudcly

For example:

To be perfectly honest, I do not believe that anything could be done to deter

terrorists. All security measures in the world are not preemptive; they are taken
after the fact, after an incident has occurred.
Romanian military technology is decades behind that of our allies, to put it
mildly. They are in a different league altogether and we will not be able to
measure up for much longer.
In all fairness, the military does not receive enough funds at present to maintain
the endowment it has, not to mention making any purchases.

Indicating relevance

1. Generalizing

Expressions: all in all; basically; by and large; on the whole; overall; all things
considered; as a rule; broadly speaking; for the most part; in general; on
average; on balance; roughly speaking

100
l o r e x a m p le :

All in all, funds need to be found for the armed forces if we want to remain part
of the military alliances.
l or the most part, military troops are dissatisfied with the conditions they are
offered and many of the best trained specialists leave as soon as the opportunity
arises.
Basically, the equipment is similar to that we have, but a more recent generation.
This makes it compatible and also an upgrade.
All things considered, computers have changed more than the way we work,
have fun, communicate etc. They have affected the way we talk as well.
On average, a teenager’s ability to use language efficiently to solve real life
tasks has decreased considerably since computers have entered the market.
As a rule, young people should be able to adapt their language to the situation
and the persons they are faced with. However, at present their communicative
skills are completely lacking.

2. Indicating relevance

Adverbs: technically; politically; medically; financially etc.

for example:

f inancially, companies may get extra profit if they allow their employees to
work from home, since they do not have to pay for their transportation but also
do not need to have large headquarters.
I echnically, it would be more difficult to keep the employees under control
because they would not be under direct supervision.

repressions: from a financial point of view; from an ethical point of view;

technically speaking; scientifically speaking
for example:

Medically speaking, it would probably be better for employees to work front

home as many of the stress induced illnesses caused by the high stress
environment of an office might be avoided.
! rom a managerial point of view, supervising employees might be more of a
I Itallenge on the one hand, but on the other, it might not be as necessary, since
Ihey would all work harder to keep the privileges they have.

101
Highlighting information

1. Selecting information

Adverbs: notably; particularly; chiefly; especially; mainly; mostly;

predominantly; primarily; principally; specifically

For example:
The Armed Forces used to be a predominantly male environment, but as women
have become more and more empowered in the last decades, they have also
become more and more involved in military affairs.
Highways in Romania are scarce particularly in the eastern part.
Most contracts in Romania, mainly those related to infrastructure dcvelopmen
are awarded as a result of public bids which are corrupt from the very beginnin

2. Putting negative ideas first

Expressions: never before; under no circumstances; on no account

Pay attention: after using these expressions an inversion is needed.

For example:

Under no circumstances should building contracts be awarded on political

grounds.
Never before has such an endeavor been undertaken in Romania.
On no account will the industry be able to make a comeback if the infrastructure
is not in place.

Contrast

1. However-two important meanings

a) In spite of that; nevertheless; yet

For example:
Chemical and biological weapons may seem like the next logical step in
warfare; however, their drawbacks are tremendous.
Producing this type of weapons requires special facilities and large funds, so it
may seem easy to trace; nevertheless, some terrorists still manage to
manufacture and test chemical and biological agents without the authorities
having a clue.

102
 On the other hand; by contrast
If example:
и first part, deploying the weapons, is always very easy; the second, however,
leaning up the toxic residues, may take years if not decades.

although; in spite of; despite - they show the discrepancy between the
information in the two sentences.

Although weapons appear to solve problems in the short run, they actually cause
intilling more than destruction.
hi spite of all measures taken in different overpopulated areas in the world, the
birth rate is still increasing steadily.
Despite the breakthroughs that science has made in the field of alternative
energy sources, the progress is too slow to compensate for the depletion of
li adiţional fuel sources.
Despite the fact that people have become more aware of the effect their
increasing numbers is having on the planet’s resources (food, air, water, fuel),
lliere is little they can do to slow down the growth process.

Result

IExpressions: therefore; as a result; consequently; thus

l or example:

If the International Monetary Fund, and therefore the whole international

financial community, withdraw their support for Greece, this country will
definitely collapse.
The IMF does not do charity work, and they do not hide the fact that they expect
countries to hold their end of the bargain. Consequently, it comes as no surprise
when they refuse to offer extra assistance to places that have not respected the
terms of the agreement.
Underdeveloped economies need foreign assistance if they are to compete with
more developed ones on the international market. As a result, the
underdeveloped economics need to borrow money to keep up with the
developed ones and they enter a vicious circle few can escape.
The struggling economies may borrow too many international funds and thus
find themselves in an impossible situation: they can neither return the money on
time nor borrow more to meet their needs.
Introducing extra information

Expressions: in addition; in addition to that; furthermore; moreover; as well as

this; besides (this)
For example:

Censorship can help protect our children from the negative influence of the
media. In addition to that, it may help improve the quality of TV programs.
Censorship cannot be controlled once it is enforced. It will affect everything and
everybody and besides it is controlled by people whose values are subjective, ]
flexible and variable.
Censorship is not limited to the media. It affects other areas of society as well
such as advertising. Moreover, it can extend its area of influence to politics and
education. It is a matter of who makes the law and who teaches the young
generation.

Sequencing

Expressions: meanwhile; at last; subsequently; the former/the latter

For example:

English and Chinese are going to be the dominant languages of the new century;
the former because it is an established means of communicating both for
business as well as for defense and politics. The latter is the language of money
in the contemporary context.
English is gaining more and more ground in the world due to its simple grammar
and widespread use for professional reasons. Meanwhile, other national
languages are becoming more and more infused with English words.
English was the language of one of the greatest empires in the world.
Subsequently, it has been the language of commerce all over the world and has
thus gained its global status.

104
 UIMIT 14

LINKING WORDS FOR CONVERSATIONS/DEBATES

i.Innming the topic

i pressions: by the way; while I think of it; while we’re on the subject of; this is
ж ,i completely different subject

flyIlie wav, the head of our department has called you to his office.
1bile I think of it, the information you need for the briefing may be on the
fetver.
Лbile we’re on the subject of subordinates’ motivation, we should also consider
die number of leave days they have every year.
1bis is on a completely different subject, but the figure you submitted last week
were inconclusive and quite irregular.

following the conversation

Means to repair conversation i.e. to ask the person to repeat/rephrase if you have
not understood something.
Expressions: Sorry, I don’t quite follow; What was that again?; What was that
you said about...?; 1 didn’t get the part about?; Could you please repeat what
you’ve just said?; Could you please rephrase, I’m not sure I understood exactly.

Stalling

When you are not sure what you want to say or you need a few extra seconds to
organize your thoughts
Expressions: That is a very interesting topic/question.
I haven’t given this issue too much thought till now, but I believe that...
Well, as I was saying before (if you can link it to something you said previously)
As you probably know
Anyway

Turn taking

If you want to interrupt somebody politely when you are having a conversation
Expressions:
I am sorry to interrupt you, but...
If I may, I would like to comment on that...
If I can just come in/intervene here...
I absolutely agree with you but I would like to add that...
 U N I T 15

LANGUAGE FOR PRESENTATIONS

Introducing the presentation

The subject/topic of my presentation is...
What I am going to talk about today is...
I would like to give a brief overview of...
The reason 1 am here today is to talk about...

Structuring the presentation

I have divided my talk/presentation into_____ (four) main sections
My presentation will be in __ (three) parts
There will be a question session at the end.
You can ask questions throughout the presentation, whenever something is not
clear.
First of all/firstly
Secondly
Thirdly
Then
After that
Lastly/Finally

Moving on to a new point

Turning now to...
What I would like to talk about now is
Now I would like to describe
Now let us move to the next point which is...

Sum m arizing and concluding

To sum up...
To review what I have been saying
So, to go over the main points again
I would like to conclude by saying

Ending a presentation
Thank you for listening to me/ for your attention.
If there are any questions, I will be pleased to answer them at this time

106
 U N I T 16

LINKING WORDS - REVISION

îanslate into English

I l.ste atât de dificil să lucrezi contra timp. Managerul este atât de dur încât este
pui şi simplu imposibil să îi faci vreodată pe plac.
' întâlnirea a fost pur şi simplu o pierdere de vreme. Nu s-a discutat nimic
important, dar a trebuit să fim cu toţii prezenţi.
1 Sunt întru totul de acord cu cele prezentate de colegul meu. Sunt perfect
mulţumit cu concluziile la care a ajuns.
I Mai presus dc orice, trebuie precizat că sondajul este cât se poate de relevant.
I. Nu aveţi absolut nici un motiv de îngrijorare. Este cel mai priceput
icprezentant al nostru.
(). în mod suiprinzător, ea a acceptat scăderea salariului fără să protesteze câtuşi
de puţin.
/. în mod previzibil, medicamentul are rezultate satisfăcătoare şi în testele pe
oameni.
X. Ea este incredibil de competentă având în vedere ce experienţă redusă are în
domeniul marketingului.
9. în mod paradoxal, interviurile nu au fost la fel de relevante precum testele
scrise, deşi, în general, ne este mai uşor să ne dăm seama de calităţile
candidaţilor din conversaţiile faţă în faţă.
10. Cu toată sinceritatea, nu pot să fiu de acord cu măsurile luate de guvern
pentru a salva economia. Sunt atât de drastice încât, mai mult decât sigur, vor
produce mai multe probleme decât vor rezolva.
II. Din nefericire, nu au putut face nimic pentru a salva compania de la
faliment.
12. Acesta este cel mai bun plan din punct de vedere financiar, dar nu sunt sigur
că poate să fie pus în practică din cauza considerentelor etice.
13. Acesta este cel mai performant produs din punct de vedere tehnic.
14. Luând în considerare toate aspectele, trebuie să luăm o decizie destul de
dificilă.
15. în mare, toţi angajaţii sunt trataţi în mod egal, deşi la o analiză mai atentă, ne
dăm seama că unele diferenţe există totuşi.
16. Per ansamblu, nu avem de ce să ne plângem; compania are profit, angajaţii
primesc bonusuri, unii sunt promovaţi şi în general toate lucrurile merg foarte
bine.
17. Sub nici o formă, nu trebuie să ne lăsam intimidaţi de tehnicile lor de
manipulare.
18. Această ofertă este disponibilă exclusiv pentru clienţii noştri fideli.

107
19. în ciuda diferenţelor dintre programele celor două companii, fuziunea a l «
un succes.
20. în timp ce formele tradiţionale de negociere au eşuat, o tehnică inovatoj^
care se bazează pe descoperirea punctelor slabe a adversarilor şi manipulatt
acestora a avut succes.
21. Programele pe scară largă sunt extrem de greu de controlat, din caii*#
numeroaselor detalii ce pot scăpa de sub control. Totuşi, în cazul companiile
mari s-au găsit soluţii pentru combinarea micro şi macro managementului
Aceste soluţii ar putea să fie aplicate şi la nivelul ministerului.
22. Reprezentanţii companiilor private sunt supuşi unui program extrem fl
obositor. Cu toate acestea, au parte de multe beneficii care să compensc/t!
efortul. Situaţia este diferită în sistemul de stat.
23. Echipamentul nu funcţionează la parametrii optimi. In consecinţă nu putem
să ne facem treaba cum trebuie.
24. Multe teorii ştiinţifice au fost confirmate după aceea de experimente.
25. Până la urmă, a reuşit să surprindă prin tactica de negociere pe care b
abordat-o.

2. Choose the best linking word to complete the senteces. More than one answci
may be correct.
1. The meeting was a(n)__ waste of time. We didn’t reach any
conclusion and everybody left very confused.
a) utter
b) complete
c) entirely

2. This is a wonderful idea __ _____ . I think you have every chance

of getting the grant if you submit this project.
a) at all
b) perfectly
c) to say the least

3. He worked very hard and came up with many good pitches. Everybody
appreciated what he was able to do at such a young age. But,__ __ ,
it was his boss’s support that got him the promotion in the end.
a) indeed
b) above all
c) whatsoever

4. This project is a complete failure____________ . It isn’t ready on deadline,

the work that has been done so far is below average, the idea in itself is second-
rate. 1 really don’t know why we bother with it.
a) actually

108
 H |)iil it mildly
shove all

I here is no n e e d ___ ________ to worry about what your colleague might

»V I’m sure that he has only the nicest things to say about you to the
in flilhunter.
ai whatsoever
Ret all
• I indeed

r . _______________, he got a better job after he was fired and everybody

thought that his career in marketing was over.
I) Paradoxically
i>) Paradoxical
i ) Not surprising

/ _______ ________, the company started doing better once the recession
eased.
.1) Coincidentally
h) Interestingly
I) Predictably

8. H e____________ ___wanted to get a promotion and so he worked hard

on his presentations, double-checked his figures, made sure all his clients were
satisfied.
a) typically
b) admittedly
c) interestingly

9. This equipment______________ only needs a maintenence check every

four years. It is made with durability and endurance as the main goals.
a) typically
b) sadly
c) unexpectedly

10. To be______________, all 1 need in order to do my job well is a quiet

office and a state-of-the-art computer. But this doesn’t mean that I won’t try to
get as many perks as possible.
a) perfectly honest
b) completely clear
c) understandably interesting

109
11. ________________ all the employees of this company are treated
fairly; which doesn’t mean that we don’t get complaints every now and then.
a) By and large
b) Overall
c) Politically

12. _________________ , the company may be going under, but in point of

real estate assests it is still a real value and with some assistance it may be
rescued.
a) Financially speaking
b) On the whole
c) From a financial point of view

13. There is a substantial demand for personnel in the IT field, more

____ in software development, where the burnout rate is quite
high.
a) precisely
b) exactly
c) notably

14. This offer is available on-line. If you do not want to

purchase it on the Internet, you will have to pay extra in the shop.
a) solely
b) exclusively
c) simply

15. _________________ is confidential information to be available to

anyone but those directly concerned with it.
a) Never before
b) Under no circumstances
c) On no account

16. If our sales, and,_______________ , the sales of affiliated products, will

continue to dwindle, our associates may see it fit to find a better brand.
a) as a result
b) therefore
c) eventually

17. These figures are not accurate enough.________________, we cannot

make any accurate predictions for the following quarter.
a) Consequently
b) Furthermore
c) Subsequently

110
18. The auxiliary personnel have gone on stike._______________ , the
management refuses to sit down to talk with the union leaders. We are heading
Inwards a very serious crisis.
a) Eventually
b) In addition
c) Furthermore

19. Many medical discoveries related to drugs were________________

proven to be detrimental to certain parts of the body.
a) meanwhile
b) formely
c) subsequently

20. I will work on the report._______________you can locate and compile

the information from our suppliers.
a) Secondly,
b) Meanwhile
c) At last

111
 A P PE N D IX 1 - T EN SE C H A R T

TENSE+
TR A N S L A T IO N A F F IR M A T IV E N E G A T IV E IN T E R R O G A T E
PRESEN T I write. 1 don’ t write. Do I write?
T E N S E S IM P L E You write. You don’ t write. Do you write?
Verb prima forma He/she/it writes. Hc/shc/it doesn’ t Docs he write?
Arata o acţiune ce We write. write. Do we write?
se repeat cu You write. We don’ t write. Do you write?
regularitate, o They write. You don’ t write. Do they write?
rutina. They don’ t write.
PR ESEN T I am writing. I ’ m not writing. A m I writing?
TEN SE You a rc writing. You a re n ’ t writing. A re you writing?
C O N T IN U O U S He/she/it is writing. He/she/it isn ’ t writing. Is he writing?
T O B E (present) We arc writing. We a re n ’ t writing. A rc we writing?
+ Verb -i- IN G You are writing. You a re n ’ t writing. A re you writing?
Arata o acţiune ce They are writing. They a re n ’ t writing. A re they writing?
se desfasoara
acum sau
temporar.
P A S T S IM P L E I wrote. I d id n ’ t write D id I write?
Verb forma a You wrote. You d id n ’ t write D id you write?
doua He/she/it wrote. IIc/shc/it d id n ’ t write D id he write?
Arata o acţiune We wrote. W c d id n ’ t write D id we write?
trecuta incheiata. You wrote. You d id n ’ t write D id you write?
They wrote. Th ey d id n ’ t write D id they write?
PAST I was writing. I w asn’ t writing. W as I writing?
C O N T IN U O U S You were writing. You w eren’ t writing. W ere you writing?
T O B E (trecut) + He was writing. He w asn’ t writing. W as he writing?
verb + IN G We were writing. We w eren’ t writing. W ere we writing?
Arata o acţiune in You were writing. You w eren’t writing. W ere you writing?
desfăşurare la un They were writing. They w eren’ t writing. W ere they writing?
moment din
trecut.
PRESEN T I have (I've) written. I haven’ t written. H ave I written?
PERFECT You have (you've) You haven’t written. H ave you written?
(Eu am scris.) written. He h asn’ t written. Has he written?
Shows a past He has (he's) written. W e haven’ t written. H ave we written?
action that took We have (we've) You haven’ t written. H ave you written?
place at an written They haven’ t written. H ave they written?
indefinite past You have (you’ve)
moment. written.
Have/has + verb They have (they've)
3 rd form written.
 ■ sent I have (I've) been I haven’ t been writing. H ave I been
ft hi ест writing. You haven’ t been writing?
R n t in u o s You have (you've-) writing. H ave you been
rr ii mănânc.) been writing. He hasn’ t been writing?
m ows an action He has (he’s') been writing. H as he been
UniI Parted at one writing. We haven’ t been w riting?
iniol in the past We have (we've) been writing. H ave we been
I §iHi continues in writing. You haven’ t been w riting?
present, You have (you've-) writing. H ave you been
j Mnve/has + been been writing. They haven’ t been writing?
■ t verb + ing They have (they've') writing. H ave thev been
been writing.________ writing?

[V a s t p e r f e c t I had ( I’d) written.

(lin mâncasem.) You had (you’ d)
Shows an action written. 1 h a d n ’t written. Had I written?
that took place in He had (he’d) written. You h adn ’ t written. H ad you written?
the past before We had (we’d) He h adn ’ t written. Had he written?
miother completed written. We h adn ’ t written. Had we written?
past action. You had (you’d) You h adn ’ t written. H ad you written?
Mad + verb 3 rd written. They h adn ’ t written. Had they written?
lorm They had (they’d)
written.
P A ST P E R F E C T I had ( I ’d) been
I h adn ’ t been writing. H a d I been writing?
C O N T IN U O U S writing.
You hadn’ t been H a d you been
(Eu mâncasem.) You had (you’d) been
writing. writing?
Shows an action writing.
He h a d n ’ t been H a d he been
that took place in He had (he’d) been
writing. writing?
the past before writing.
We h adn ’t been H a d we been
another completed We had (we’ d) been
writing. writing?
past action and writing.
You hadn’ t been H a d you been
which lasted for a You had (you’ d) been
writing. writing?
period o f time. writing.
They h ad n ’ t been H a d they been
Had + been + They had (they’ d)
writing. writing?
verb + ing been writing.
FU TU RE
I w ill ( I’ll) write.
S IM P L E I w on’ t write.
You w ill (you’ ll) write. W ill I write?
(Eu voi mânca.) You won’ t write.
He w ill (he’ll) write. W ill you write?
Shows an action He w on’ t write.
We w ill (we’ll) write. W ill he write?
that w ill take place We w on’ t write.
You w ill (you’ ll) write. W ill we write?
in tire future. You won’ t write.
They w ill (they’ll) W ill you write?
W ill + verb I s' Thev w on’ t write.
write. W ill they write?
form
A P PE N D IX 2 - S U B JU N C T IV E C H A R T

W H A T CO M ES
C O N S T R U C T IO N EXAM PLES M E A N IN G
A F T E R IT

VERBS: + SHO RT They demanded (that)

IN F IN IT IV E she be given a
Insist, suggest, promotion.
request, order, + S H O U L D + short
demand, infinitive They suggested that
recommend, she should receive a
propose raise.

A D J E C T IV E S : + SHO RT It is advisable that he

IN F IN IT IV E receive all the help he
Advisable, needs.
essential, vital, + S H O U L D + short
desirable, preferable infinitive It is desirable that he
should be told in time
what he needs to do.

N O U N S: + SHO RT It is the board’s

I N F IN IT IV E decision that the plan
Decision, be carried out in
insistence, demand, + S H O U L D + short secret.
requirement, infinitive
condition It is a condition in the
contract that you
should not divulge
confidential
information to
anybody.

If only Verb 2 nd form I f only I had more free Unreal present

time, (but I don’t) situation

Had + verb 3 rd form If only she hadn’t Unreal past situation

made such a terrible
mistake! (but she did
make that mistake)

W ISH Verb 2 nd form I wish I had a better Desire to change a

car. (but I don’t) present situation

Had + Verb 3rd form They wish he hadn’t Desire to change a

lied to them, (but he past situation.
did lie to them)

W ould + verb short a)She wishes they a) Desire for a

infinitive would come to her possible future

114
 party. situation to change

”j b) 1 wish you would

clean up after
yourself.
b) Describes an
annoying habit

Could + verb short He wishes he could Desire to be able to

infinitive speak Chinese, (but he do something.
can’t)

j; a llii^ li) time Verb 2 nd form It’s time you told me Recommendation
the truth.
W as/W ere + verb +
ing It’s time I was leaving.

j -1 tether + Verb short I ’d rather eat icecream Used to compare

infinitive than chocolate. nouns or phrases
(present/perfect)
I ’d rather have gone to
Greece than Marocco.

Verb 2"* form I’d rather they stopped Preference about

(affirmative or singing right now. actions.
negative)
I ’d rather she didn’t
explain things any
more.

|'il prefer Nouns I’ d prefer coffee to Same as I ’d rather

cappuccino.
Long infinitive
I ’d prefer you to take
charge of this
situation.

+ IT + IF + Verb 2 nd " I ’ d prefer it i f they Same as I ’ d rather

form didn’t come with us.

As ifiA s though Present continuous or It’ s really clouded and The situation is true
“be going to” it looks as i f it’s going and very like ly to
to rain. happen

Verb 2"d form He is behaving as is he Not true (he doesn’t

owned the place. own the place

Had + verb 3rd form She feels as i f she had Not true (she wasn’t
been hit by a hit by a bulldozer)
bulldozer.

'. uppose/Supposing/ + present form or “be Suppose it’s going to A possible future
going to” rain every day on our situation
Imagine [The result holiday!
ni these conditions

115
is understood ( If we + Verb 2 nd form Imagine we won the Unreal present
won the lottery we lottery! situation
would never work
again)] Suppose she left us
her fortune!

+ Had + V crb 3rd form Imagine we had never Unreal past situation
received the parcel.

Suppose we had
missed the plane
 This section is aimed at providing a few ideas for each topic. They ;n< t
no means the best or the only ideas that can be used to develop these topics.
personal idea, as long as it is related to the topic, is accepted.

DISCUSSING THE ASPECTS AND CONSEQUENCES

OF AN ISSUE

Work schedules

Suggested ideas:
1. Work is an important element of contemporary society. More people h;r
access to education and more people want to make something ot
themselves; have careers.
2. Socializing helps people relax/unwind. Our lives cannot be all about won
or people’s sanity may be affected in the long run.
3. As people focus more and more on their careers, having a family conir
later and later in life. Some postpone it so much that it may becoin>
impossible.
4. Focusing on their careers, people may lose focus of other aspects of then
live: neglect their health; not spend enough time with their children; lose
their families altogether.

Fast Food

Suggested ideas:
1. Fast food fulfils a need of this fast-moving society. We are always in a
hurry and we try to save time wherever possible. Eating habits represent
one aspect of our lives where we can save time.
2. The quality of this type of food is low: it is nourishing only on the
surface. It satisfies our physical hunger but the body cannot get the
nutrients it needs from this type of food.
3. The long-term habit of eating fast food can lead to weight gain, blood
pressure, cholesterol problems as well as more serious conditions such as
diabetes, heart attacks, strokes.
4. Work schedules do not allow time for lunch, even if they are supposed to,
because of the workload. People skip lunch or eat whatever they can get
their hands on while working, thus endangering their health.

120
î li-rtions

Suggested ideas:
1. Not voting is a disservice people do to themselves, and a lack of respect
for the others who are interested in what happens to the country but
cannot do anything because they are not in large enough numbers.
2. The citizens who do not vote relinquish the only power they have: the
power to choose.
3. The country may end up being run by anybody who wants to. It may end
up in really bad hands as its citizens refuse to make a selection, to impose
some standards, to ask for change and for improvement.
4. Young people should be educated on the importance of voting in school.
5. Media campaigns should encourage people to vote, by explaining the
implications of their actions, the choices available, the possible outcomes.

Anti-terrorism measures

Suggested ideas:
1. People’s privacy is invaded.
2. Global data bases can be dangerous for individuals.
3. Terrorist organizations always find a way to by-pass all these security
measures.
4. Law-enforcement officials are always playing catch-up with the terrorists
We need preemptive not reactive measures.
5. If taken to the extreme, these measures may block business and traveling.

Military technology

Suggested ideas:
1. International alliances may be jeopardized.
2. The Romanian armed forces may be under-trained.
3. The ability to protect the country in case of attack may be null.
4. Romania’s military role in the region may be diminished.
5. The lives of the military personnel may be at risk due to the age of the
equipment in use.

“Computer talk”

Suggested ideas:
1. The language itself may change and become simplified.
2. Young people will find it difficult to adapt to the linguistic rigors of a job.

121
 3. The registers of a language may disappear and formal language will
discarded.
4. Communication skills in general may be lost or underdeveloped in yo
people.

Working from home

Suggested ideas:
1. It is more difficult to monitor an employee’s progress is out of the office,
2. Company expenses may be diminished (no need for office space and otlu
amenities).
3. Employees would save money on transport.
4. People may be happier working from home and the standard of living
may improve.

Romania and highways

Suggested ideas:
1. Romania loses billions of euros in transportation
2. Tourism is affected by the lack of proper roads and highways
3. The domestic industry suffers from delays due to difficulties ii
transportation
4. Foreign companies are reluctant to invest in Romania because of its poor
infrastructure

Chemical and biological weapons

Suggested ideas:
1. Epidemics may be started by the improper use of such weapons.
2. Plant and animal life in certain areas may be affected indefinitely.
3. NBC weapons may cause molecular and DNA mutations that may trigger
other deadly conditions.
4. It is a violation of human rights that goes unpunished.
5. It is an effective weapon if it could be properly targeted, but it affects
military personnel and innocent civilians indiscriminately.

Overpopulation

Suggested ideas:
1. The water and food resources may reach depiction
2. New technologies may be invented to replace traditional sources of food
3. Recycling technologies will have to be developed to purify the water
which will otherwise become scarce in the near future

i ■•
 •I If the birth rate does not decrease, there will no longer be enough room on
the planet to accommodate all the people.
■ Overpopulation leads to the development of global scale epidemics.

Iiihrnational Monetary Fund

'suggested ideas:
1. The countries may not be able to respect the terms of the agreement.
2. The measures are not only designed to help the countries but increase the
control of the IMF in the area.
3. Money is not the only issue with underdeveloped countries. They need
long term policies not only financial aid.
4. The IMF strategy is unilateral, focusing on finances not on development.

Censorship

Suggested ideas:
1. The protection it offers is short lived and imperfect.
2. It is difficult to impose boundaries on censorship and control it.
3. Children may grow up protected but they may also become too ignorant
of what happens in the world.
4. It is best to educate children to use the media to their advantage and to be
aware of the dangers than to keep them ignorant and therefore more
vulnerable.
5. The question arises: who is the authority who decides what is and is not
appropriate for children.

Role-models

Suggested ideas:
1. Values are compromised
2. Nowadays role models gain this status due to their fortune, properties,
material possessions. Character is not a criterion
3. Impossible physical standards make young people resent their bodies
4. Depraved lifestyles are not good examples for young people
5. The celebrity status allows many actors, singers, etc to get away with
crimes that they would otherwise be convicted for

123
English as a global language

Suggested ideas:
1. More and more English terms invade other languages not only for ne
concepts but also for concepts that already have linguistic representation
in those languages.
2. The individual character of languages, as symbols of national identity
may be lost in time.
3. English itself suffers alterations as its grammar becomes less complex and
expressive.
4. Some languages may be lost completely as they are spoken in very small
communities and the world invades those communities (by promotin
tourism and commerce).

Global scientific projects

Suggested ideas:
1. This type of cooperation may lead to better global understanding.
2. Wars may be averted if people learn to work together for the greater good.
3. Scientific progress should belong to the whole of humanity and not to the
countries with most funds and resources.
4. Science is not a matter of nationality but of intellect.

The Internet

Suggested ideas:
1. Face-to-face interactions are the basis for honest relationships between
people.
2. Body language makes up over 70 percent of human communication.
3. Pedophiles and other perverts find their targets easily over the Internet
that hides and helps protect their true identities.
4. People are social animals but they will become socially awkward if their
communication skills are not practiced in communities.
5. Society may no longer be a network but a sum of cells working
independently and sending each other messages.

Robots and computers

Suggested ideas:
1. It may be detrimental to the labor force who may be made redundant. The
standard of living will be affected.
2 . P e o p le o f a c e rta in age m a y fin d it d if f ic u lt to re -a d ju s t, to a c q u ire n e w
s k ills .

124
 3. The economies of countries with access to this kind of technology will
make fast progress, deepening the gap between developed and
underdeveloped states.
4. People will be able to focus on more creative tasks rather than on
repetitive ones.
5. The standard of living will improve in the long run, as robots will do the
most demanding types of physical activity.

Medicine

Suggested ideas:
1. Because of the widespread use of strong drugs, bacteria, viruses,
infections have become more and more resistant.
2. Traditional, plant-based remedies are discarded.
3. Large pharmaceutical companies discredit plant-based medicine through
media campaigns in an attempt to gain more money.
4. Drugs are important in treating some serious conditions but a line must be
drawn to avoid over-use.
5. People’s immune systems become weaker and more serious disease may
appear and affect them in the long run.

Communication

P o s s ib le tra its:
- Eye-contact and appropriate body language
- Brevity
- Appropriate register
- Sense of humor
- Good command of the language
- Intimate knowledge of the issues presented

125
 COMPARING THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
SITUATION

China

Benefits:
- Cheaper goods available worldwide
- Cheaper labor force for multinational companies
- Other countries could borrow money from China to save them fnin
critical situations

Drawbacks:
- China’s growing influence in the world may mean it will want to call (•»
shots not only economically but also politically
- Most countries will become dependent on Chinese capital influx aiu
easily manipulated by the Chinese
- China’s development may go unchecked

Consumption and consumerism

Advantages:
- Promotes economic development
- Encourages technological development
- Entails the progress of society (education, culture, industry etc.) in general

Disadvantages:
- The gap between rich and poor countries widens
- The young generation may become very materialistic and values may be
lost

The role of pcace-kccping missions

Advantages:
- Fewer casualties and less material damage
- The arms race may come to an end or at least slow down
- Understanding between peoples and cultures will be promoted

Disadvantages:
- Diplomatic measures are not coercive enough
- They are not a real deterrent to terrorism
- They will cause chaos in on-going conflict areas

126
(.cuetic experiments
Advantages:
- They will help save more and more lives
- They will improve the health of the population
- They may represent the next step in medicine

I >isadvantages:
- Genetically-engineered beings may be created beyond any regulating
body’s supervision
- They may have dangerous military applications
- It is wrong to play God as every imperfection may have its purpose

Electric cars
Advantages:
- Eco-friendly technology
- It can reduce the amount of fossil fuels used and reduce the greenhouse
effect
- They are making fast progress and will soon be as efficient as traditional
cars

Disadvantages:
- They have a limited range of use
- They still need energy, only the source is less polluting
- They have limited capabilities

Surveillance and identity technology

Advantages:
- Lowering the crime rate
- Keeping an eye on the busy traffic in crowded cities and on street
activities
- Reducing the number of security personnel needed to protect certain
buildings
- Protecting people from potential terrorist threats by early detection

Disadvantages:
- Law-abiding citizens no longer have the right to privacy (sacrificing the
rights of the many to apprehend the few who are criminals)
- The use of this technology should not be generalized but targeted to
problem areas
- This technology may lose its efficiency in time

127
 The news
Advantages:
- This type of news is less subjected to grand scale manipulation by large
media corporations that are in somebody’s service
- It is more varied and presents more issues than the mainstream medi.i
could ever cover
- It may more easily bypass officially-enforced censorship to get a certain
message across

Disadvantages:
- It is highly subjective as it presents individual points of view
- It may be misleading as a single individual’s ability to double-check the
information is limited
- It may be easily dismissed as misinformation or lies

EXPRESSING OPINION

Genetic engineering
Arguments in favor:
- It can help cure diseases and ease suffering
- It can help feed an ever-growing population
- It may eliminate genetic conditions
Arguments against:
- It is wrong to play God as it may have serious, unpredictable
consequences
- Some people may lake it too far and create chemical weapons, promote
racial purity etc.
- Nature has a way of taking care of its problems and interfering with it
may spell disaster for everybody

Smoking
Arguments in favor of banning smoking:
- It is a dangerous habit for everybody’s health
- It disrupts the work process
- It may reduce the number of smokers
Arguments against:
- It is a matter of free will
- Discrimination should not be legally enforced
- It is not a behavior altering drug and should not be treated as such

128
Computer games
Arguments in favor of computer games:
- Children may learn other languages
- They may develop certain skills (fast reaction time; multitasking;
problem-solving)
- These games help them meet other children with similar interests
Arguments against:
- These games are addictive
- They are basically solitary activities
- Some are very violent and children are easily influenced as they cannot
properly distinguish between right and wrong, reality and fiction

Legally-granted immunity
Arguments in favor of legally-granted immunity:
- Diplomats should be subject to the laws of their own countries
- Elected politicians must be protected from legal suits for the duration of
their terms-in-office so they can perform their duties to the country
Arguments against legally-granted immunity:
- It protects criminals
- It encourages politicians to be corrupt because they cannot be tried
- If there is no fear of punishment, there is no just behavior

Food
Arguments in favor processed food:
- It is time-saving
- It is cheap
- It is easily available
Arguments against:
- It does not have the necessary nutrients
- It can cause serious diseases
- It is a symptom of a more serious problem regarding people’s eating
habits

The media
Arguments in favor of tabloid news:
- Nobody can go against the trend or they go out of business
- Celebrities are today’s role models and people want to be involved in their
lives
- They help people forget their troubles
Arguments against tabloid news:
- Celebrities are entitled to their privacy
- The media should aim not only to please the audiences but also to educate
- Mediocrity breeds mediocrity
- They distract people from the real issues

129
Computers and the military
Arguments in favor of new IT:
- Computers are the future
- There are methods to control and protect information flow
- Internet access and open networks can be used limitedly
- The Internet needs to be supervised for military purposes and again:.!
possible threats
Arguments against new IT:
- Once it’s on a computer any information can be hacked
- The military has too much sensitive intelligence to risk any leaks
- National security needs to be protected and computers are the mosl
vulnerable point in the security network

Workplace privacy
Arguments in favor of surveillance methods:
- Employers pay their employees for their time and therefore are entitled to
know how it is spent
- The supervised employees’ efficiency will increase as they will no longer
be able to waste time
- The work process can be monitored more easily and improved if
necessary
Arguments against:
- Privacy must be respected
- As long as the employees respect deadlines, more control should not be
enforced
- Surveillance may affect employees’ state of mind and efficiency

Pollution
Pollution as a serious issue:
- Too many cars
- No air filtration systems for factories
- The quality of the air in cities causes many serious medical conditions
Pollution issues exaggerated:
- Global warming seems to be a non-issue as the earth is actually getting
cooler
- Pollution talks are meant to scare people into buying more expensive
devices, pay more for alternative sources of energy etc.

Technology
Arguments in favor of using technology:
- It helps solve many tasks more easily
- It promotes communication between family and friends when they are in
different locations
 - Education is more and more linked to technology
Arguments against:
- It causes alienation between people
- If technology fails, people may no longer have the ability to handle
situations independently of technology

Education
Arguments in favor of specialization:
- People need to be proficient in their fields
- There is so much information in every domain nowadays that it is
impossible to master it all
- Specialists can understand their fields in minute detail and make progress
Arguments against specialization:
- People can be easily manipulated if they are completely ignorant of
certain issues
- A broader education may promote progress as the ideas from one domain
may be of use/interest/relevance in another as well. Interdisciplinary
approaches are more and more popular nowadays
- A more general understanding of the world makes people more tolerant,
flexible and open-minded

Lifelong education
Reasons:
- New information becomes available all Ihe limr and <т|>1м\г> ......I in
keep up with the changing trends
- It is easier to train a good employee for a certain 1ill ihnn Inn a m w •*»»•
and start from scratch
- If people keep learning they remain motivated and involved in thru woiK
their desire to improve remains active and they do not reach a plateau ol
self-sufficiency

Bank loans
Arguments in favor of bank loans:
- There are certain goods that people cannot purchase otherwise
- They encourage the economy, as money circulates, products are sold and
bought, services traded
- Personal development is aided by bank loans (young families can get
homes, travel, have access to more education etc)
Arguments against bank loans:
- L o a n s need to be kep t in c h e c k so that p e o p le do not b e co m e o v e r ly
in d e b te d and c a n n o t p a y
- In tim e s o f c r is is the fo c u s s h o u ld be on s a v in g not on lo a n in g
- T h e e c o n o m y m a y c o lla p s e i f too m u ch m o n e y is b o rro w e d

131
 N u c le a r w eapons
Arguments in favor:
- If countries are on an equal footing (weapon-wise) they are more reluctant
to attack one another
- Countries feel more secure with nuclear weapons
- Protection is needed in this violent world
Arguments against:
- They cause untold destruction not only to the target but also to the
attacker
- They may destroy the planet
- Their devastating effects are felt even after decades

Advertising
Arguments in favor:
- Advertising promotes commerce which in turn promotes the economy
- There are so many new products that people would not notice them if not
for commercials
- If one does not want to see advertisements they can be avoided
Arguments against:
- Advertisements are all lies
- They interrupt TV programs, Internet searches, radio broadcasts
- There are so many commercials that people simply do not pay attention
any more so they are pointless

Television
Arguments in favor:
- So many things happen in the world every day that people need television
to stay connected
- One can select the programs they want to watch on TV
- The time spent in front of the TV can be managed, monitored; we have
free will, we are not slaves to the machines
Arguments against:
- Children especially are very attracted by the TV and can be negatively
influenced by what they see
- The quality of TV shows is quite low nowadays
- It has no educational value and the recreation it offers is short-lived and
disturbs family life
- It takes away from the time that should be spent communicating with
family and friends

Terrorism
Causes:
- Religious intolerance

132
 - Economic differences
- Weapon testing grounds
- The search for cheap resources

Nuclear energy
Arguments in favor:
- Large quantities of energy can be produced with a small input of matter
- People use up more and more energy and traditional sources are no longer
sufficient
- It can help sustain progress, without polluting the environment
extensively
Arguments against:
- The waste produced cannot be recycled or neutralized and it is highly
destructive
- It is not 100 percent safe (accidents can happen)
- Not all countries have access to this kind of technology but all of
humanity needs energy to evolve

Learning methods
Arguments in favor of learning skills:
- There is too much information to memorize available in the world niid
many means of finding that information if necessary
- Skills can help students search, organize, process, and use mluimalinn it,
suit their needs
- In the real world, one needs problem-solving abilities to tmuutge lm i
Arguments in favor of learning information:
- If one does not know anything for sure they do not know when- to siaii
looking for information
- People should know a little at least about different domains of Iile so they
cannot be easily lied to or tricked
- Information is power and who controls and has the information can
manipulate it and others to his/her liking

Huge incomes for sports players

Arguments in favor:
- There are athletes and sports players whose efforts deserve to be rewarded
- Their careers are very short, compared to other people’s
- They promote values such as hard work and dedication and they should
be rewarded for upholding them

Arguments against:
- Some sports players are given too much money in comparison to others
and to the effort they make (e.g. football players)

133
 - Inequality in sports is painful to see
- Some sports players become famous because of their money but they use
the fame unjustly

Globalization
Arguments in favor of globalization:
1. Increased international trade has made us wealthier and allowed us to lead
more diverse lifestyles.
2. It stimulates free movement
3. It encourages companies to set up several bases around the world.
4. It has promoted information exchange.
5. It has led to a greater awareness and understanding of other cultures.
6. It has enabled the triumph of democracy over autocracy.
7. It encourages debates about many issues across borders and national
concepts.
Arguments against globalization:
1. The West’s gains have been at the expense of developing countries.
2. The meager share of the global income of the poorest people in the world
has dropped in the last decade.
3. The freedoms granted by globalization lead to insecurity in the workplace.
4. Many workers (especially manual workers) are under threat as companies
shift their production lines overseas to low-wage economies.
5. National cultures and identities are threatened by the spread of satellite
TV, international media networks and increased personal travel.
6. Huge transnational companies are becoming more powerful and
influential than democratically-elected governments; they are above the
law.

Traditional books versus e-books

Arguments in favor:
- More books available at one’s fingertips without any effort
- One can do all the necessary research in one’s home
- Technology may help convince young people to read, as gadgets fascinate
them
- It helps save paper and trees
Arguments against:
- Nothing can replace the feeling of leafing through a book
- Some books (old, collectible) will never be available in this form
- It is very difficult to annotate, comment, underline, effectively work with
an e-book

134
Plastic surgery
Arguments in favor:
- People have the right to choose what they look like
- If they are of age, they can do anything they want to their bodies
- Plastic surgery can help solve confidence issues that otherwise are
impossible to handle
Arguments against:
- Too many people change their bodies drastically and with serious medical
consequences
- Plastic surgery can help with serious problems and flaws but should be
limited to serious conditions
- Psychological counsel should be offered before any drastic surgeries

Capital punishment
Arguments in favor:
- Drastic enough to reduce crime rates
- The only way to ensure criminals will not be released and commit more
crimes
- May offer solace to the victims’ families
Arguments against:
- It violates human rights
- It makes the rest of us criminal too by acquiescing
- It has hidden costs (many retrials and a lot ol linn \|" ni hi pii nmi

Adapting to local customs

Arguments in favor:
- Cultures need to be respected to promote ре.н < and und. iMandinr
- Separation from the homeland is difficult lot most iininl|JMnis and И» и
customs help them adjust more easily to the new environment
- Variety is the spice of life
Arguments against:
- If allowed to hold on to all their traditions, immigrants will never adapt,
they will remain outsiders
- Suspicion will persist among the citizens of the host country (especially
when it comes to different ways of dressing)
- Some customs are harmful and may infringe on the host nation’s customs

Creativity and routine at the workplace

A rg u m e n ts in fa v o r:
- E m p lo y e e s w ill be m o re a c t iv e ly in v o lv e d in th e ir jo b s i f th e ir in p u t and
s u g g e stio n s are ta ke n in to a cco u n t

135
/

- Employees need to feel they are part of the mechanism, that they can
shape it and feel confident and useful
- Progress is only achieved through change
Arguments against:
- Routine can ensure efficiency
- It means that all employees do certain tasks in the same way
- It sets a standard against which employee performance can be measured

Testing
Arguments in favor of written tests:
- They are more easily checked against a set of criteria
- They are more reliable as everyone answers the same questions
- They can be filed and an employee’s progress can be monitored in time
more reliably
Arguments against written tests:
- They are limited and limiting
- People can have bad days and not focus well
- They do not measure human interaction skills and communication
abilities

Arguments in favor of alternative testing methods:

- They are more flexible and bring out one’s qualities
- They can check real life abilities of solving problems, coping with
challenges, adapting, negotiating etc
- Communication skills are highlighted
Arguments against alternative testing methods:
- Not all people handle such situations efficiently and some jobs may not
require these skills
- They are difficult to evaluate as people react differently in such situations
- Evaluations may be subjective, depending on what the evaluator likes

136
 FINDING HYPOTHETICAL SOLUTIONS TO PRESENT OR PAST
ISSUES

Tourism and garbage

- Tourists could be educated by exemplifying the effects garbage has on the
environment
- media campaigns could be set up to show how remote cultures, who live
differently from us, could be affected
- a cleaning service could be set up
- severe fines could be instituted and a strong police force could be put in
place to enforce them

Withdrawing from theaters of operations

- war would reignite and chaos would ensue
- terrorists would find safe havens there again and would start plotting
- attacks could be unleashed on western countries again
- access to natural resources would be lost

Legalizing drugs
- the number of users could be reduced since drugs would no long' i b< (hr
forbidden fruit
- more money would come to the budget
- it would help control the spread of disease спимч! by (In И" of
unsterilized needles
- it would be easier to control teenagers’ use ol drug-, il they wn. ,nld
legally like cigarettes

Off-shoring
- the overall world economy would do well because it would produce more
for less
- locally, the economy of developed countries would suffer as
unemployment rates would go up
- the economy of underdeveloped countries might make progress, at least at
first, which would entail an increase in the standard of living in those
countries as well as cultural changes

Interoperability
- equipment could be lent to developing countries
- joint training sessions could be organized
- joint teams could work on the equipment available to enhance its
capabilities
- funds could be distributed for the most pressing needs

137
 - personnel exchange programs could be implemented

Posttraumatic stress disorder

- free counseling could be available both in theaters of operations and oner
the soldiers come back home, for as long as necessary
- rest and relaxation facilities could be made freely available to soldier,
when they return
- the soldiers’ families could be given special care (daycare, scholarships,
healthcare benefits etc.) so that the soldiers’ minds would be at ease
- the tours of duty could be reduced in length or in number

Reading
- modern devices (e-book readers, tablets, etc) could be made more easily
available for young people (through school programs) to promote reading
as a modern pastime
- grades should not be given if certain materials have not been read
- media campaigns could be organized to show how reading could be
considered a modern, cool activity
- parents could be encouraged to keep a closer eye on their children and to
try to stimulate their appetite for reading

The Internet
- filters could be put into place to protect children from harmful contents
- children’s internet access could be restricted to searches done in the
presence of an adult supervisor
- certain sights could be blocked
- the use of the Internet should be promoted strictly for its educational value
and children should be made aware that other things could be dangerous
for them

138
 The F u tu re of N A TO

These are the answers the experts provided to these questions.

1. Should NATO exist?

Yes: 57
"If it did not exist, we would have to invent it."
"But the Europeans must get their act together if they are to be worthy partners
in the alliance."
"But in a redefined form, with broader alliances and links to regional groups."
No: 0

2. If so, what should be its primary purpose?

Collective defense of Europe: 14
Out-of-area military operations: 2
Policy coordination: 1
Global peacekeeping: 0
Keeping Russia in check: 0
Combination: 31
"Both A and B. The former as the core task, the latter as the useful add-on."
Other: 13
"All of the above, plus crisis response."
"Promotion of a common political agenda."
"All of the above, plus coordination of intelligence regarding global
fundamentalism/terrorism."

3. In 1993, Sen. Richard Lugar argued that NATO has to "go out of area or
out of business." Since then, NATO forces have deployed in Bosnia,
Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Gulf of Aden, and Libya. Do you think
NATO should continue to support deployable forces for operations outside
Europe and the United States?
Yes: 56
"But with strict limits and, ideally, as part of a U.N. mission."
"Only as there is a clear relevance for European security."
"Only in case such deployment contributes to strengthening of members'
security. No role as a global policeman."
"In a globalizing world there is no more ’out-of-area.' The world is our area
now."
No: 3
"Only on a very highly selective, case-by-case basis; as a rule, no."

140
 I True or false: The United States would be better off if it left NATO.
l alse: 57
"A stable Europe is important for the U.S., if for no other reason than
economics."
"Does anyone remember that Article 5 was invoked only once in the
institution's history? Namely, after an attack against the United States?"
"But it would be better off if it limited its involvement to Article 5 and left
Article 4 to the allies."
True:0

5. If you had to kick one country out of NATO, which one would it be?
Greece: 18
"For its behavior toward Macedonia and Turkey."
"Due to its boundlessly selfish egotism and disruptive tactics."
Hungary: 5
Turkey: 4
Iceland: 3
Other: Albania, Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg (1 vote each)
None: 22
"Each member counts politically, militarily, and intellectually. NATO should be
(carefully and gradually) expanding, not shrinking."

6. If you had to admit one country to NATO, which one would it be?
Sweden: 13
"It is a producer, not a consumer, of security for Europe."
Macedonia: 6
Australia: 5
Georgia: 5
Ukraine: 5
Israel: 4
Finland: 3
Serbia:3
Montenegro: 2
Other: Bosnia, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Russia (1 vote each)
None: 7

7. Should Russia be allowed to join NATO?

Yes: 10
"Yes, in principle, if its foreign policy changes."
"Yes. At least it should never be excluded."
No: 29

141
"Allowing Russia to join NATO implies willingness/commitment from Russia'-,
part to do so, which is obviously not the case."
"They continue to define their security in opposition to NATO."
Maybe, but not now: 19
"Not until it is a democracy. Then we can talk."
"If it meets the criteria, including democracy and commitment to human rights."
"Sure, if it meets NATO requirements. That would essentially mean that it
would no longer be Russia."
"Only in very different circumstances from today."

8. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = least relevant, 10 = most relevant), rate NATO’s

relevance to U.S. security. On the same scale, rate NATO's relevance to
European security.
Average score:
U.S.: 6.5
Europe: 8.5

9. True or false: NATO is an essential part of my country's national

security. (Please also write the name of your country in this space.)
True: 50
United States/Canada: 24
Europe: 26
False: 8
United States: 5
Europe: 3

10. It has been more than 20 years since the Soviet Union was dissolved and
more than 10 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Do you think NATO
members are safer in 2012 than they were in 1991 ?
Yes: 41
"At least from the threat of major war, they are much safer."
"The quality of internal security and awareness of potential threats has risen
since then."
No: 13
"Weaker militarily and economically with more threats."
"Threats have evolved but not necessarily our capability to meet them."
About the same: 4
"Safer in the sense that the real danger of a sudden and massive Soviet attack
against Europe, including the use of nuclear weapons, has receded and is
currently very, very low. Less safe in the sense that the host of new global 'low-
key' dangers is pressing against us all the time, with the possibility of sudden,
cataclysmic black swans ever present."

142
11. True or false: The 2011 Libya intervention provided an overall positive
model for future NATO military operations.
True: 31
"It confirmed that NATO can act without direct U.S. involvement."
"It demonstrated the political and military ability of NATO to respond quickly
to a crisis."
False: 28
"Whileundoubtedly a big success, the operation in Libya was sui generis,
limited in goal and resources, and therefore not a model for future action."

12. Could NATO's European members have conducted the operation in

L ibya without U.S. assistance?
No: 48
Yes: H
"Withreal difficulty."
"But not necessarily in the same way as it was conducted and not necessarily
primarily with air power."

13. Would NATO's European members have the military capabilities to

conduct a similar operation three years from now?
No: 34
"If current trends continue."
"Europe will be even more pathetic then."
Yes: U
I don't know: 4

14. True or false: A1 Qaeda will return to Afghanistan iiiu r tlu-

International Security Assistance Force mission ends.
True: 24
"There is a large possibility that it will, but it will land in a fundamentally
different operational landscape and will take years to rebuild its previous
operational capabilities."
False: 26
"At least not on any meaningful scale."
Unsure: 9
"False, if the current strategy is properly executed; true, if we rush for the exits."
"Have they ever really left?"

15. Should NATO intervene in Syria?

Yes: И
"With the Arab League."
"With a no-fly zone."
No: 36

143
"It could have, weeks ago, with goals similar to Libya. The issue now goes well
beyond the question of a Syrian civil war."
"Are you kidding? NATO does not have the resources: no will, limited skill, no
tools. Quite apart from the question of what our interests are."
Maybe: 10
"If necessary and only with a U.N. mandate."
"Only to protect Turkey."

16. Where will the next large-scale NATO operation take place?
Middle East: 29
North Africa: 14
"Likely piracy-related rather than Arab Awakening-related."
Europe: 4
"Balkan tensions are not over."
Southern Africa: 2
Arctic: 1
"The Arctic is heating up economically and politically, and key NATO nations
have vital interests to protect there and the military resources to do it with."
Latin America: 1
Asia-Pacific: 0
None of the above: 4
"There will be no major operation in the foreseeable future."
"Most probably NATO's next battle will not take place in a geographical
location but in cyberspace."
1 don't know: 3

17. In June 2011, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates described NATO's
future as "dim if not dismal," charging that NATO nations were
"apparently unwilling to devote the necessary resources or make the
necessary changes to be serious and capable partners in their own defense."
Do you agree or disagree with this assessment?
Agree: 40
"He is spot on."
"The economic crisis might be a temporary excuse for doing less, but in the long
run European states must contribute more to collective defense."
"Largely true, but it has always been thus."
Disagree: 12
"There is always a crisis in NATO, and future capabilities will depend on
operations."
"He's much too dour about the alliance."
Somewhat/unsure: 5
"He is right in blaming the Europeans for their lackluster performance. But this
will not mean the end of NATO. Sheer necessity will keep NATO alive."

144
"Partially true: Common values and interests go far beyond military
expenditure."

18. True or false: The United States has too many military personnel in
Europe.
True: 22
"It is not the numbers that count, but the commitment to support European
NATO members and the ability to do so fast if needed. That does not require a
lot of boots on the ground in peacetime, but it does require a commitment on
both sides of the Atlantic."
False: 32
"It is appropriate to fulfill the assigned tasks."

19. By 2020, the U.S. force presence in Europe will amount to:
80.000 personnel (current level): 0
68.000 personnel (Obama plan): 10
50.000 personnel: 17
40.000 personnel: 10
Fewer than 40,000 personnel: 22

20. True or false: European member states should devote more fuiidiity. to
NATO.
True: 48
"But unlikely to happen due to resource scarcity."
False: 10
"They should, however, spend their defense money belli i "

21. True or false: NATO should have both defensive and offensive ryhei
capabilities.
True: 52
False: 6

22. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s "smart defense"

initiative —using "multinational solutions" to help allies invest defense
money more efficiently - will:
Mask NATO's inability to make major necessary reforms: 18
Become the new way NATO does business by "building capabilities together":
15
Produce innovation but not until at least five years from now: 11
Provide an excuse for allies to make further defense cuts: 8
Other: 8
"Have a very limited impact on NATO's future, if at all."
"Increase the risk of member states not having sufficient capabilities of self-help
in case of an attack."
"Depends entirely on implementation."

23. True or false: Five years from now, France will still be part of NA'I <»
integrated military command.
True: 54
False: 2
Unsure: 2
"This depends a lot on the French economy. If it is not revived, there will be
more and more nationalist pressure from within France. For a weak presidcni
splitting from NATO would be a cheap way to get a few points at home."

24. In 2020, German foreign policy will be defined primarily by:

German leadership of the European Union: 28
Berlin's preference for the status quo: 14
Germany's relationship with Russia: 5
The Franco-German relationship: 4
The transatlantic relationship: 3
Other: 4
"Germany's relationship with China, Russia, and other BRICS."
"Investments abroad to deal with an aging and less productive population."

25. If Turkey has not become a member of the European Union five yeai •.
from now, its orientation will be:
Pursuing a revival of Ottoman power: 21
More closely aligned with its Muslim neighbors: 13
Still closely aligned with its Western allies: 11
Inwardly focused due to domestic strife: 2
Other: 11
"Turkey will maintain alignment with the West but also pursue closer relation',
with the East. It does not see them as incompatible."
"More engaged not just with Muslim neighbors but also with Russia."

Participants (59): David Aaron, David Abrahams, Rafael Bardaji, Him

Binnendijk, Dirk Brengelmann, Yves Brodeur, lan Brzezinski, Frances Bunvell
Christopher Chivvis, W. Eugene Cobble, Heather Conley, Man,’
Efthymiopoulos, Charles Freeman, Karsten Friis, Jeremy Ghez, Jam,
Goldgeier, Ana Maria Gomes, Ulrike Guerot, Jason Healey, P. Terren, ■
Hopmann, Toomas Hendrik lives, James Joyner, Rasa Jukneviciene, Km
Kaiser, Lawrence Kaplan, Sarwar Kashmeri, Sean Kay, Daniel Keohane, Jim
Kolbe, Aleksander Kwasniewski, Iurie Leanca, Henrik Liljegren, Julian Lindle\
French, Richard Lugar, Jiiri Luik, George Maior, Tomas Malmlof Sail)
McNamara, Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo, Shuja Nawaz, Boyko Noev, Clara Mann,

146
O'Donnell, loan Mircea Pascii, Barry Pavel, J. Peter Pham, Tomas Ries,
i\ latthew Rojansky, Stephen Saideman, Kori Schake, Daniel Serwer, Stanley R.
Sloan, John Tanner, Jan Techau, Kenneth Weisbrode, Damon Wilson, Boguslcrw
Winid, Jorg Wolf, Dov Zakheim, Michael Zilmer-Johns.
Produced by Jorge Benitez and Margaret Slattery

Article 5 of the Washington Treaty:

The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more o f them in
l.urope or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and
consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each o f them, in
exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article
•>/ o f the Charter o f the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so
attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties,
such action as it deems necessaty, including the use o f armed force, to restore
and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall
immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be
terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to
restore and maintain international peace and security.

The Future of NATO

Ranking Exercises

1. Rank the following NATO military campaigns by how successful they

have been, with 1 indicating the most successful and 6 the least.
Average rank:
Bosnia intervention: 2.29
Kosovo intervention: 2.35
Libya no-fly zone: 2.47
Gulf of Aden anti-piracy mission: 4.00
Iraq training mission: 4.59
Afghanistan war: 4.98

2. Which of the following NATO missions would you approve? (Please

select any that apply.)
Protecting shipping through the Persian Gulf: 51
Assisting Libyan government with civil-military reforms: 49
Reducing pirate bases in Somalia: 41
Peacekeeping force to support Israel/Palestine peace agreement: 31
Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons: 24
Deploying a peacemaking force in Syria: 22
Blocking large-scale migration across NATO borders: 12

147
3. What are the five biggest challenges facing the transatlantic alliance?
J
Please rank from among the following, with 1 indicating the biggest
challenge.
Average rank:
Economic crisis: 1.84 (45 votes)
Nationalism/internal divisions: 2.39 (25 votes)
Afghanistan: 2.71 (31 votes)
Terrorism: 3.23 (35 votes)
Cyber conflict: 3.27 (35 votes)
Syria: 3.31 (15 votes)
Ballistic missile proliferation: 3.44 (29 votes)
Russia: 3.64 (28 votes)
Climate change/energy: 3.79 (19 votes)
Conventional attack: 4.33 (3 votes)
Other: 12 votes

4. In order of importance, NATO's top three priorities for the future shouM
be:
Afghanistan: 37
Reinforcing the transatlantic alliance: 14
"Smart defense" plan: 13
Capabilities: 13
Re-evaluation of NATO mission and role: 13
Finances: 11
Partnerships: 11
Defense capabilities and spending: 8
Ballistic missile defense: 7
Iran: 6
Cybersecurity: 5
Russia: 4
Syria: 4
Arab Spring/Middle East: 3
EU coordination: 3
Nuclear threats/arms reduction: 3
Postwar Libya: 2
Partnerships with Arab countries: 2
Terrorism: 2
Enlargement: 2
Other: 4
U.S. troop withdrawal from Europe
Piracy
Asian security
Deterrence

148
 TACTICAL DECISION GAMES

TDG 1
Solution(s):

There are no easy solutions to this TDG, as a similar incident in the Philippines
illustrates. In December 1989, Philippine Special Forces attempted a coup in the
country. Vice President Dan Quayle, who was subbing for President George
Bush who was away on business, ordered U.S. warplanes to fly a "cap" over
Manilla at the request of Philippine President Cory Aquino. F-4s, flying from
Clark Air Base, effectively ended the coup, killing a number of U.S. trained
"rebels" and killing chances for continued U.S. presence at Subic and Clark. It's
not clear if the U.S. had any involvement in the coup. Dan Quayle, in his book
Standing Firm, wrote that it was "a great moment for me personally. We saved
democracy without firing a shot."

TDG 2
Solution(s):
There may be more than one solution to this TDG. However, a similar situation
in Burma in the late 1980s yielded this solution from U.S. Marine commanders:
In 1988, thousands of pro-democracy students and other civilians were being
massacred or wounded in the streets as the country descended into chaos. (Thrrr
were people being beheaded in the streets!) Amidst this carnage, Ameiican
citizens at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon needed to be evacuated from the
country. The preferred method was by air (through the airport), which was
eventually realized. However, there was a backup plan in case the air evacuation
could not be conducted due to the situation. The backup plan involved a
MEUSOC deployed aboard U.S. Navy vessels operating in the Andaman Sea.
Basically, the plan called for AAVs to be transported up the Rangoon River
Delta via LCACs to a point near the capital of Rangoon (site of the embassy).
The AAVs would offload from the LCACs and proceed to the embassy, collect
the personnel, and return to the LCACs. To reinforce the embassy, Marines were
to be flown in aboard helicopters. Commanders believed that crowds (in a field
near the embassy needed as a landing zone) would disperse when the mighty
CH-53 helicopters approached for landings.

TDG 3

Solution:
(Hint: The solution to this TDG has a very specific military textbook answer.)
According to U.S. Military manuals available at the time, riot control agents

149
should not be used in closed structures except under extreme circumstam ■i
According to FM 19-15:
"Generally, persons reacting to CS are incapable of executing organized ami
concerted actions and excessive exposure to CS may make them incapable nf
vacating the area."
"The riot control agent dispersers should not be used to introduce a riot cont»• I
agent directly into a closed structure except under extreme circumstance,
Therefore, there are no justifications for the use of CS riot control agents in tin
scenario.

150
 U N IT 1

VOCABULARY RELATED TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS

1. Match the words from box A to the words from box В to form
collocations.

1 social security
number
2 mortgage debt
3 healthcare system
4 dereliction duty
of
5 notice of eviction
6 ethnic cleansing
7 unfit parents

Other combinations may also be possible: e.g. mortgage system, social duty, etc

2. Check your answers for exercise 1 and then match the collocations with
the appropriate definitions:

DEFINITIONS
dereliction intentional or conscious neglect of one’s assignments, work etc
of duty
mortgage 2. the amount of money that a person owes to a bank generally as it
debt result of borrowing money to buy a property and of signing n
legal contract to repay that money over a period of years____
social 3. a nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent resident'
security and temporary (working) residents with a view to tracking
number individuals for social security purposes.__________________
unfit 4. a person who cannot care for a child properly
parent
notice of 5. a statement informing somebody they have to vacate a property
eviction by a certain date_____________________________________
ethnic 6. the practice of removing or killing people who belong to an
cleansing ethnic group that is different from the ruling group in a country
or region____ _____ ______________________________
healthcare 7. the organization of people, institutions, and resources to delivci
system health related services to meet the health needs of certain
populations.

152
 3. Complete the following sentences using the collocations from exercise 1.

1. social security number

2. healthcare system
3. dereliction of duty
4. notice of eviction
5. ethnic cleansing
6. mortgage debts
7. unfit parents

4. Complete the sentences below, using one of the verbs in the box in the right
tense. Pay attention to the collocations they form.
1. took him into custody
2. have gone into foreclosure
3. would have to make/ would make
4. has been
5. live
6. to battle
7. dismissed
8. should be charged

5. Complete the following statements with one of the words or phrases in Hir
box:
1. first offence
2. deterrent
3. famine
4. capital punishment

153
 UNIT 2

VOCABULARY RELATED TO GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY

1. Complete the following text with the phrases in the box:

1. forthcoming elections
2. economic policies
3. shadow government
4. slim majority
5. media campaigns
6. affordable housing
7. faceless bureaucrats
8. red tape
9. unrivalled services
10. population survey
11. binding contract

2. Match the first part of each sentence in column A with its appropriah
ending in column B:

A В
1 ie
2 b
Jо g
4 c
5 f
6 a
7 h
8 d

3. Choose the best word to complete the sentences:

1. a)
2. b)
3. b)
4. c)
5. c)

4. Choose which phrases from exercises 1 and 2 match the following

definitions:
Flurry of 1. A sudden burst or commotion or movement
activity
Slim 2. A small advantage in number of political supporters
majority
154
 The advent 3. The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely
of important
Forthcoming 4. A process of choosing a representative by voting which is
elections about to happen
Breed 5. to be the source of; produce indignation
resentment
Shadow 6. “the secret government” or “the invisible government”
government
Binding 7. An agreement that limits or holds someone to respect it to
contract the letter

UNIT 3

WORK-RELATED VOCABULARY

1. Match the first part of a dialogue in column A to the second part of the
dialogue in column B:

A В
6. c.
7. a.
8. e.
9. b.
10. d.

2. Identify the collocations in the examples in exercise 1.

to lay off staff
to stay afloat
to hand in one’s resignation
to come up with an alternative
course of action
to narrow down the list to
to cam a better living

3. Match the definitions below to the corresponding collocations in exercise

1.

DEFINITIONS
to hand in one’s 1. to give up a job or position in a formal or official way
resignation

155
course of action 2. any sequence of activities that an individual or unit
may follow.
to lay off staff 3. to put an end to personnel’s employment at
something
to come up with an 4. to bring forth, discover, or produce something
alternative another way of doing something
to earn a better living 5. to make more money so as to ease one’s life
to stay afloat 6. to remain free or out of difficulty, especially financial
difficulty
to narrow down the 7. to focus on certain aspects, to reduce the number of
list to possibilities

4. Match the first part of a dialogue in column A to the second part of the
dialogue in column B:
A В
6. d)
7. c)
8. b)
9. e)
10. a)
5. Identify the collocations in the examples in exercise 1.
To move up the ladder
To go through all this trouble
Wet behind the ears
To get one’s feet wet
Spot on
To rise to the challenge
Heavy workload
To bite the bullet
To make the best of something
Back to normal

6. Match the definitions below to the corresponding collocations in exercise 1.

DEFINITIONS
Wet behind the ears 1. young and not experienced
Heavy workload 2. a lot of things to do in one’s job
To move up the 3. to get promotion after promotion
ladder
a„

156
To bite the bullet 4. to make yourself do something or accept something difficult
or unpleasant
To get one’s feet 5. to start a new activity or job
wet
To make the best of 6. to do as well as possible with something that is not too
something promising
To rise to the 7. to accept a challenge and complete the activity successfully
challenge
To go through all 8. to do everything to possible to help somebody
this trouble
Back to normal 9. returned to a previous state of normality
Spot on 10.exactly correct

7. Complete the following sentences with a verb from the box in the right tense:

1. has acquired
2. abide
3. is
4. break
5. get
6. getting
7. had
8. abide
9. set
10. came

UNIT 4

VOCABULARY RELATED TO EXPRESSING

PERSONAL OPINIONS

1. Complete the following statements using one of the expressions from the
box. You have two statements for each expression. Pay attention to the
verb tenses:

1. had the guts

2. grasp the importance
3. have nothing against
4. made a lasting impression
5. has just dawned
6. pass judgement
7. has a clue
157
 8. make a lasting impression
9. grasped the importance
10. have the guts
11. dawned
12. don’t have a clue
13. had nothing against
14. to pass judgement

2. Choose the best phrase to complete the following sentences:

1. b)
2. c)
3. a)
4. a)
5. b)

UNIT 5
TOURISM-RELATED VOCABULARY

1. Match the words from box A to the words from box В to form
collocations. Sometimes more than one combination is possible.

congested roads
hordes of tourists
heritage sites
hardcore conservationists
expanse of water
stretch of land
timely intervention
age-old tradition

2. Check your answers for exercise 1 and then match the collocations with
the appropriate definitions:

DEFINITIONS
congested roads 1. too full or crowded with vehicles

hardcore 2. small number of very active and enthusiastic members of a

conservationists group of people who want to protect something

hordes of 3. large groups of visitors to a place

tourists a,.

158
expanse of 4. a large open surface of water
water

heritage sites 5. places that reflect the traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc.,
that are part of the history of a group or nation
stretch of land 6. something that stretches over an area or distance covers or
exists in the whole of that area or distance
age-old 7. customs that have existed for many generations or
tradition centuries.

timely 8. an intervention that occurs at a moment when it is useful,

intervention effective, or relevant

3. Complete the following sentences using the phrases from exercise 1.

1. hordes of tourists
2. age-old traditions
3. roads.........congested
4. expanse of water
5. timely intervention
6. stretch of land
7. heritage sites
8. hardcore conservationists

4. Match the first part of the contexts in column A to the second pari in
column B:

A В
1. e)
2. d)
3. a)
4. c)
5. b)

5. Match the definitions below to the underlined phrases in exercise 4.

DEFINITIONS
the thirst for 1. an insistent desire to do something challenging
adventure
intrepid explorers 2. travelers characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and
endurance

159
to trample over 3. to stamp or walk roughly (on)
crammed 4. forced, pressed, or squeezed into an insufficient space
stranded in the 5. left in an unknown or unfavorable place especially will.....
wilderness funds or means to depart
challenge their 6. to test one's abilities, resources or limits in a demanding
own limits stimulating undertaking

6. Match the first part of the contexts in column A to the second part in
column B:

A В
1- c)
h ____
b___ £L_
4. b)

7. Match the definitions below to the underlined phrases in exercise 6.

DEFINITIONS
to send out a 1. to dispatch a band of people tasked to find and rescue
search party somebody
the bare minimum 2. the smallest possible quantity or the least fulfilling, but slill
adequate for some purpose
off the beaten 3. located at a great distance in time or space or degree, awa\
track from civilization
backpacking 4. travelling and carrying food or equipment on the back
especially in hiking
cutting-edge 5. the position of greatest advancement or importance; the
forefront
new, up and 6. novel and gaining prominence and likely to advance or
coming succeed

UNIT 6
VOCABULARY RELATED TO
THE NEWS AND THE MASS-MEDIA

1. Complete the following statements with one of the words or phrases in the
box so that they complete the expressions:
1. foregone „
2. bottom

160
 3. press
4. slight
5. press
6. damaging
7. widespread

2. Check your answers for exercise 1. Then match the expressions with their
definitions:

the bottom line 8. the main or essential point; the final result or
statement
press release 9. written or recorded communication directed at
members of the news media for the purpose of
announcing something ostensibly newsworthy
widespread belief 10.a commonly-held opinion
a slight change in 1l.a small modification in something that was
plan established before
foregone conclusion 12.a conclusion formed in advance of argument or
consideration
damaging disclosure 13.making known something that may hurt a person’s
reputation
press coverage 14.reports about something in newspapers, and
magazines and other media

3. Match the sentences with similar meanings. Pay attention to the underlined
expressions:

1 . G
2. H
3. F
4. A
5. D
6 . C
7. I
8. J
9. E
10. В

4. Complete the following statements with one of the adjectives in the box:

1, 2 controversial
1, 2 debatable

161
3. notorious
4. doubtful
5. misquoted
6. misinformed

5. Complete the following statements with one of the adjectives in the box:

1. outlook
2. prospect
3. likelihood
4. speculation
5. incentive

UNIT 7
ECONOMY-RELATED VOCABULARY

1. Complete the following sentences with the words from the box:
1. undeclared
2. grounds for
3. thriving
4. feeble
5. debt-ridden
6. commercial
7. source of
8. plummeting
9. soaring

2. Check your answers for exercise 1. Then match the words and expressions
with their definitions:
DEFINITIONS
venture 1. a new activity, project, business, etc., that typically
involves risk
debt-ridden 2. countries or organizations owe so much money they
cannot pay the money back
plummeting 3. falling or dropping suddenly in amount, value
undeclared earnings 4. money made that the state does not know about and
for which taxes have not been paid
source of income 5. the place where one gets money from
soaring 6. increasing very quickly in amount or price
thriving 7. growing and developing successfully; flourishing
grounds for 8. the reasons one may have to be displeased with a
complaints service, product, situation etc.
feeble 9. very weak
162
 3. Choose the best answer a, b, or c to complete the following text:
1. a.
2. c.
3. a.
4. b.
5. c.
6. b.
7. a.
8. c.
9. b.
10. b.

4. Check your answers for exercise 3. Then match the expressions with their
definitions:

DEFINITIONS
to go bankrupt 1. to be legally declared financially insolvent.
to steer 2. to guide in a certain direction
to safeguard one’s 3. to make (someone or something) safe or secure
interests
to set in motion a 4. to cause a series of things to begin happening
chain of events
to be made 5. to be deprived of one's job because it is no longer
redundant necessary for efficient operation
to come up to 6. to meet or be equal to someone's requirements
standard
to take its toll 7. to cause harm or suffering
to meet the 8. to satisfy the conditions
requirements
to cut through the 9. to get around the bureaucracy
red tape
to hinder 10. to make the progress slow or difficult

UNIT 8
HEALTH-RELATED VOCABULARY

1. Match the first part of the contexts in column A to the second part in column
B:

A В
1. b.

163
 2. f.
3. h.
4. c.
5. a.
6. О
7. e.
8. d.

2. The definitions for some of the expressions in exercise 1 have been provided
below. Match them to the corresponding expressions in exercise 1.

DEFINITIONS
overweight 1. too heavy or fat
side effect 2. an effect that a drug has on your body in addition to curing
pain or illness
outbreak 3. when a disease suddenly starts to happen in an area
airborne 4. carried through the air
run a fever 5. have a high body temperature
gasp for 6. to breath quickly in a way that that can be heard because you
breath are in pain or having difficulty breathing
adverse 7. a negative consequence of using certain drugs
reaction
drug- 8. a category of viruses that is not affected by known drugs
resistant
(virus)
strain

UNIT 9
MILITARY-RELATED VOCABULARY

1. Complete the following sentences with the words in the box. The form of
some words may need to be changed:
1. menace
2. bulk
3. harsh
4. drone
5. deployments
6. outposts
7. bitter

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2. Complete the following sentences with one of the verbs from the box in
the right form:
1. to restore
2. has escalated
3. to launch
4. called
5. to bring
6. has been disbanded
7. will only be lifted
8. suffered

3. Choose the best definition for the underlined expressions in the following
sentences:
1. a.
2. c.
3. b.

4. Complete the following statements with one of the words in the box:
1. rationale
2. outraged
3. mayhem
4. resilience
UNIT 10
CRIME-RELATED VOCABULARY

1. Match the sentences with similar meanings. Pay attention to the

underlined expressions:

1. e.
2. b.
оJ>.
g-
4. a.
5. d.
6. h.
7. f.
8. c.

2. Choose the synonyms of some of the underlined expressions in exercise 1.

At the end of one’s endurance At the end of one’s rope
To inform To notify
To escape To get away with
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 To think of something To come up with a plan
To claim To protest

3. Choose the best expressions to complete the sentences below:

1. b.
2. a.
3. c
4. b.

UNIT 11
ENVIRONMENT-RELATED VOCABULARY

1. Choose the best answer a, b, or c to complete the following text:

1. c. 10. b.
2. a. 11. a.
о
J. a. 12. c.
4. b. 13. a.
5. c. 14. b.
6. a. 15. b.
7. i~b7~ 16. c.
8. c. 17. a.
9. c.

2. Match the first part of the contexts in column A to the second part in
column B. Pay attention to the underlined expressions:

A В
6. c.
7. e.
8. a.
9. b.
10. d.

3. Match the underlined expressions in exercise 2 with their definitions:

DEFINITIONS
to raise funds 3. to get money for a cause
green 4. friendly with the environment
technology
walking 3. a distance that can be covered on foot
distance

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carbon 4. the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to support
footprint human activities, expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide
sparsely 5. with very few people living there
populated
to let 6. to allow things not to measure up to standards
standards slip
carpool 7. an arrangement whereby several people travel together in
one vehicle, share the costs and often take turns as the driver
impoverished 8. countries which are short of money
countries

4. Match the first part of the contexts in column A to the second part in
column B. Pay attention to the underlined expressions:
A В
1. e.
2. a.
3. d.
4. b.
5. c.

5. Match the underlined expressions in exercise 4 with their definitions:

DEFINITIONS
on the lookout 1. to be vigilant, alert
a slim chance 2. not a very good possibility of something coming true
to be in place 3. to be organized properly
fossil fuel 4. an organic substance found underground and used as a
source of energy
to stage a 5. to organize a public demonstration
protest
venue 6. a location for specific types of events
densely 7. with a lot of people living there
populated
waste dump 8. a place where garbage is thrown
site

6. Choose the best words to fill in the gaps in the sentences:

1. b.
2. a.
3. c.
4. c.
5. b.

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7. Complete the following dialogues with one of the expressions in the box:
1. it’s wishful thinking
2. what’s at stake
3. to say the least

UNIT 12
EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Complete the following sentences with a verb from the box. Use the verb
in the correct tense.

1. to get
2. toyed
3. to withstand
4. will impart
5. give
6. to make
7. sparking
8. should highlight
9. will be judged
10. to broach

2. Match the beginning of the sentences in column A with their endings in

column B. Pay attention to the expressions that are thus formed:

A В
1. g-
2. f.
3. a.
4. h.
5. b.
6. j-
7. c.
8. e.
9. i.
10. d.

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 3. Match the words from column A to the words from column C to form
collocations. Sometimes more than one combination is possible. You may
need to use one of the prepositions in column B.

1. State of the art

2. Thirst for knowledge
3. Reduction in attention span
4. The advent of technology
5. A stroke of genius
6. Computer literate

4. Check your answers for exercise 3 and then match the collocations with
the appropriate definitions:
1. State of the art
2. Thirst for knowledge
3. Reduction in attention span
4. Advent of technology
5. A stroke of genius
6. Computer literate

LINKING WORDS REVISION

1. It is so difficult to work against the clock. The manager is so tough that it is

simply/utterly impossible to ever please him.
2. The meeting was a(n) utter/complete/pure/absolute waste of time. Nothing
important was dicussed, but we all had to be there.
3. 1 absolutely/completely/entirely agree with what my colleague presented. 1 am
perfectly/completely/entirely content with the conclusions that have been
reached.
4. Above all, it must be said that the survey is as relevant as possible.
5. You have absolutely no reason for concern. He is our most skilled/skillful
representative.
6. Surprisingly, she accepted the decrease in salary without protesting the least bit.
7. Predictably, the drug has sastisfying results in human tests.
8. She is extremely competent given her lack of experience in marketing.
9. Paradoxically, the interviews were not as relevant as the written tests, although,
generally, it is easier to ascertain the candidates’ qualities in face-to-face
conversations.
10.In all honesty/fairness/sincerity, i cannot agree with the measures taken by
management to save the company. They are so drastic that they will
undoubtedly cause more trouble than solve.
11.Unfortunately, they couldn’t do anything to save the company from bankruptcy.

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12. This is the soundest plan, financially speaking, but I am not sure that in can be
put into practice due to ethical reasons.
13. This is our most proficient product technically speaking.
14. Considering all aspects/taking into consideration all aspects, we must make a
pretty difficult decision.
15. By and large/overall/on the whole, all employees are treated equally, although,
upon closer analysis, we realize there are some differences.
16.0verall/on the whole/basically, we have nothing to complain about: the
company makes a profit, the employees receive bonuses, some are promotes
and, generally, everything goes well.
17. Under no circumstances/on no account should we be intimidated by their
manipulation techniques.
18. This offer is available only for our most faithful clients.
19. Despite the differences between the two companies’ programs, the merger was a
success.
20. When traditional negotiation techniques failed, an innovative technique which
relies on the discovery and manipulation of the adversaries’ weak points was
successful.
21. Large scale programs are extremely difficult to control, because of numerous
details that can get out of hand. However, in the case of large companies
solutions have been found by combining micro and macro management. These
solutions could be applied for the ministries as well.
22. The representatives of private companies are subjecting to a grueling schedule.
Nevertheless, they have numerous benefits to compensate for the effort. The
situations is quite the opposite/different for the state departments.
23. The equipment does not work properly. Consequently, we cannot do our jobs
properly
24. Many scientific theories have been subsequently confirmed by those
experiments.
25. Eventually, he managed to surprise everybody by the negotiation technique he
used.

Choose the best linking word to complete the sentences. More than one answer
may be correct.

1. The meeting was a(n)_________waste of time. We didn’t reach any

conclusion and everybody left very contused.
a) utter
b) complete
c) entirely
2. This is a wonderful idea_________________. I think you have every
chance of getting the grant if you submit this project.
a) at all
b) perfectly
c) to say the least

3. He worked very hard and came up with many good pitches. Everybody
appreciated what he was able to do at such a young age. But,
______________, it was his boss’s support that got him the promotion in
the end.
a) indeed
b) above all
c) whatsoever

4. This project is a complete failure_____________. It isn’t ready on

deadline, the work that has been done so far is below average, the idea in
itself is second-rate. I really don’t know why we bother with it.
a) actually
b) to put it mildly
c) above all

5. There is no need____________ to worry about what your colleague

might say. I’m sure that he has only the nicest things to say about you to
the headhunter.
a) whatsoever
b) at all
c) indeed

6 . ________________ , he got a better job after he was fired and

everybody thought that his career in marketing was over.
a) Paradoxically
b) Paradoxical
c) Not surprising

7.__ ________________ , the company started doing better once the recession
eased.
a) Coincidentally
b) Interestingly
c) Predictably

171
8. H e__________________wanted to get a promotion and so he worked
hard on his presentations, double-checked his figures, made sure all his
clients were satisfied.
a) typically
b) admittedly
c) interesligly

9. This equipment_______________only needs a maintenence check every

four years. It is made with durability and endurance as the main goals.
a) typically
b) sadly
c) unexpectedly

10. To b e____________, all I need in order to do my job well is a quiet

office and a state-of-the-art computer. But this doesn’t mean that 1won’t
try to get as many perks as possible.
a) perfectly honest
b) completely clear
c) understandably interesting

11. ________________all the employees of this company are treated

fairly; which doesn’t mean that we don’t get complaints every now and
then.
a) By and large
b) Overall
c) Politically

12. _______________ , the company may be going under, but in point of

real estate assests it is still a real value and with some assistance it may be
rescued.
a) Financially speaking
b) On the whole
c) From a financial point of view

13. There is a substantial demand for personnel in the IT field,

________________ in software development, where the burnout rate is
quite high.
a) precisely
b) exactly
c) notably

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M.This offer is ______________available on-line. If you do not want to
purchase it on the Internet, you will have to pay extra in the shop.
a) solely
b) exclusively
c) simply

15._____________________confidential information be available to anyone

but those directly concerned with it.
a) Never before
b) Under no circumstances
c) On no account

16.If our sales, and,________________, the sales of affiliated products, will

continue to dwindle, our associates may see it fit to find a better brand.
a) as a result
b) therefore
c) eventually

17. These figures are not accurate enough.____ _________ , we cannot

make any accurate predictions for the following quarter.
a) Consequently
b) Furthermore
c) Subsequently

18. The auxiliary personnel have gone on stike.____________ , the

management refuses to sit down to talk with the union leaders. We arc
heading towards a very serious crisis.
a) Eventually
b) In addition
c) Furthermore

19. Many medical discoveries related to drugs were____ _______

proven to be detrimental to certain parts of the body.
a) meanwhile
b) formely
c) subsequently

20.1 will work on the report._______________you can locate and compile

the information from our suppliers.
a) Secondly,
b) Meanwhile
c) At last

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