Leçon 12

Question 1

à tout prendre

_______, compromise of any kind between Labour and Conservative MPs is almost impossible.

Answer 1

taking it by and large

Taking it by and large, compromise of any kind between Labour and Conservative MPs is almost impossible.

Question 2

contourner

The Erika catastrophe happened because normal procedures were _______.

Answer 2

to bypass

The Erika catastrophe happened because normal procedures were bypassed.

Question 3

un produit dérivé

CO2 emissions are a dangerous ________ of cars.

Answer 3

a by-product

CO2 emissions are a dangerous by-product of cars.

Question 4

un spectateur

Terrible accidents can even happen to _______.

Answer 4

a bystander

Terrible accidents can even happen to bystanders.

Question 5

remettre quelque chose en question, mettre en doute

Answer 5

to call something into question

Question 6

annuler

The festival has been ______ ____(en raison de) safety concerns just two weeks before its launch.

Answer 6

to cancel

The festival has been cancelled over (en raison de) safety concerns just two weeks before its launch.

Question 7

de portée capitale

Answer 7

of cardinal significance

Question 8

un événement de portée capitale

The 911 attacks were _________ in America’s recent history.

Answer 8

an event of cardinal significance

The 911 attacks were an event of cardinal significance in America’s recent history.

Question 9

une mûre réflexion

After __________ the committee has rejected the proposal.

Answer 9

careful consideration

After careful consideration the committee has rejected the proposal.

Question 10

effectuer

Answer 10

to carry out

Question 11

réaliser une étude

Answer 11

to carry out a survey

Question 12

effectuer des recherches

The purpose of the charity Cancer Research is to __________ the best way to cure the various forms of cancer.

Answer 12

to carry out research into

The purpose of the charity Cancer Research is to carry out research into the best way to cure the various forms of cancer.

Question 13

un exemple frappant

The recent assassination in Corsica is _________.

Answer 13

a case in point

The recent assassination in Corsica is a case in point.

Question 14

plaider en faveur de

Les Verts ont plaidé pour l’agriculture biologique.

Answer 14

to make a case for

The Greens have made a case for organic farming.

Question 15

profiter de

The company tried to ______ on people’s fears by selling them burglar alarms.

Answer 15

to cash in

The company tried to cash in on people’s fears by selling them burglar alarms.

Question 16

rejeter la responsabilité sur quelqu’un

When the right wing want to __________, they often choose immigrants.

Answer 16

to cast the blame on somebody

When the right wing want to cast the blame on somebody, they often choose immigrants.

Question 17

jeter le doute sur

L’utilisation de drogues a jeté un doute sur toutes les performances olympiques.

Answer 17

to cast doubt on

The use of drugs cast doubt on all Olympic performances.

Question 18

jeter une ombre sur (fig.)

The bombings at the Boston Marathon __________ what was otherwise a great sporting event.

Answer 18

to cast a shadow on/over

The bombings at the Boston Marathon cast a shadow over what was otherwise a great sporting event.

Question 19

jeter un regard critique sur…

Whilst some believe it acceptable to continue trading with China and ignoring its suspected human rights violations, others think it is about time we _________ their treatment of citizens.

Answer 19

to cast a critical eye on/over

Whilst some believe it acceptable to continue trading with China and ignoring its suspected human rights violations, others think it is about time we cast a truly critical eye over their treatment of citizens.

Question 20

attirer l’attention de

Due to the importance of social media in this day and age, it can be advantageous to have a large following on these platforms if you want to __________ people in power.

Answer 20

to catch the attention of

Due to the importance of social media in this day and age, it can be advantageous to have a large following on these platforms if you want to catch the attention of people in power.

Question 21

une situation inextricable

In Britain you can’t be a professional actor if you don’t have an Equity card, but you can’t get an equity card until you have acted first - it’s a ________.

Answer 21

a catch-22 (situation)

In Britain you can’t be a professional actor if you don’t have an Equity card, but you can’t get an equity card until you have acted first - it’s a catch-22.

Question 22

rattraper

Answer 22

to catch up

Question 23

un slogan (accrocheur)

It is a damning assessment of this day and age that politicians and their staff can sometimes spend more time inventing _______ for a campaign than actually trying to do their job.

Answer 23

a catchword, catchphrase

It is a damning assessment of this day and age that politicians and their staff can sometimes spend more time inventing catchphrases for a campaign than actually trying to do their job.

Question 24

pourvoir aux besoins de / satisfaire, répondre à

Charities (organismes humanitaires) cannot possibly ________ all these starving people.

This newspaper tries to ________ all opinions.

Answer 24

to cater for

Charities (organismes humanitaires) cannot possibly cater for all these starving people.

This newspaper tries to cater for all opinions.

Question 25

susciter un tollé

The government’s plans to scrap child benefits _________ the public.

Answer 25

to cause an outcry on the part of

The government’s plans to scrap child benefits caused an outcry on the part of the public.

Question 26

le centre du débat

________ on the renewal of Trident is the money it would cost and how it would be used elsewhere.

Answer 26

the centrepiece of the debate

The centrepiece of the debate on the renewal of Trident is the money it would cost and how it would be used elsewhere.

Question 27

défier, contester, mettre en question

Answer 27

to challenge

Question 28

attaquer une politique

The policy was _________ by a number of top politicians.

Answer 28

to challenge a policy

The policy was challenged by a number of top politicians.

Question 29

un défi

Supplying energy to meet the needs of growing economies whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a global ________ we all face.

Answer 29

a challenge

Supplying energy to meet the needs of growing economies whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a global challenge we all face.

Question 30

la stimulation qu’offrent les nouvelles idées

Answer 30

the challenge of new ideas

The challenge of new ideas has often spurred governments on to make landmark changes throughout history.