Leçon 13

Question 1

représenter un changement significatif / profond

The report on homelessness ________ British governmental policy.

Answer 1

to mark a significant / profound change in

The report on homelessness marks a significant change in British governmental policy.

Question 2

les gauches caviar

The Communist Party of Great Britain refers to Labour as _______ and not really committed to a left-wing ideology.

Answer 2

champagne socialists

The Communist Party of Great Britain refers to Labour as champagne socialists and not really committed to a left-wing ideology.

Question 3

canaliser, diriger

A lot of money has been ___________ research for aid.

Answer 3

to channel (into)

A lot of money has been channelled into research for aid.

Question 4

fustiger, critiquer sévèrement

The State Department _______ several of Washington’s closest allies and biggest trading partners for human rights abuses.

Answer 4

to chastise

The State Department chastised several of Washington’s closest allies and biggest trading partners for human rights abuses.

Question 5

les intellectuels, les intellos

__________ have always discussed modern progress.

Answer 5

the chattering classes

The chattering classes have always discussed modern progress.

Question 6

maîtriser, contenir, mettre un frein à

The candidate keeps saying he will _______ inflation.

Answer 6

to put a check on

The candidate keeps saying he will put a check on inflation.

Question 7

Le gouvernement s’efforce de contenir la violence urbaine.

Answer 7

The government endeavours to put a check on urban violence.

Question 8

impertinent

Children and young people are much more _______ than they used to be, this seems like a generalization but sociologists believe it to be an interesting evolution in society due to rapidly changing cultural norms.

Answer 8

cheeky

Children and young people are much more cheeky than they used to be, this seems like a generalization but sociologists believe it to be an interesting evolution in society due to rapidly changing cultural norms.

Question 9

un jeu d’enfant

He’s had so much experience in banks that trading stocks is __________.

Answer 9

child’s play

He’s had so much experience in banks that trading stocks is child’s play.

Question 10

froidement, de manière glaciale

The way in which North Korea treats its political opponents has been described ________ by individuals who have escaped the regime.

Answer 10

chillingly

The way in which North Korea treats its political opponents has been described chillingly by individuals who have escaped the regime.

Question 11

prétendre / revendiquer

A group of Islamists has _________ responsibility for the bomb attack.

Answer 11

to claim

A group of Islamists has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack.

Question 12

Les chasseurs prétendent qu’ils sont des défenseurs de la nature.

Answer 12

Hunters claim that they are defenders of nature.

Question 13

mettre un terme à, supprimer, serrer la vis

The new government has made an effort to _______ illegal immigration.

Answer 13

to clamp down on

The new government has made an effort to clamp down on illegal immigration.

Question 14

net, précis, clair, bien délimité

The prosecution has a _______ case (there are no doubts about it).

Answer 14

clear-cut

The prosecution has a clear-cut case (there are no doubts about it).

to make a clear/clear-cut/ sharp contrast/distinction (between)

Question 15

une situation à suspense, un moment d’angoisse

Answer 15

a cliffhanger

Question 16

un apogée, un point culminant

The Olympics reached a _______ with its spectacular closing ceremony.

Answer 16

a climax

The Olympics reached a climax with its spectacular closing ceremony.

Question 17

s’accorcher, se cramponner à

The minister of Education seems to _______ his reform in spit of the Union’s criticisms.

Answer 17

to cling to

The minister of Education seems to cling to his reform in spit of the Union’s criticisms.

Question 18

une ombre à l’horizon

The threat of this planet’s fossil fuel reserves being used up is a constant looming _______.

Answer 18

a cloud on the horizon

The threat of this planet’s fossil fuel reserves being used up is a constant looming cloud on the horizon.

Question 19

convaincant

It is a good sign for a presidential candidate when they are able to come up with _______ arguments during the presidential debates.

Answer 19

cogent /ˈkəʊdʒənt/

It is a good sign for a presidential candidate when they are able to come up with cogent arguments during the presidential debates.

Question 20

s’effondrer

L’économie russe est au bord de l’effondrement.

Answer 20

to collapse

The Russian economy is on the brink of collapse.

Question 21

s’arrêter

Due to Brexit, social mobility has _________.

Answer 21

to come to a standstill

Due to Brexit, social mobility has come to a standstill.

Question 22

se réduire à

Answer 22

to come down to the fact that

Question 23

= actually, after taking everything into account

Despite their disagreements on certain topics, _________ Britain and the USA are still staunch allies in the face of international threats.

Answer 23

when it comes down to it

Despite their disagreements on certain topics, when it comes down to it Britain and the USA are still staunch allies in the face of international threats.

Question 24

parvenir à une conclusion

It is not unreasonable to _______ that the Middle east will not be free of conflict for years to come.

Answer 24

to come to a conclusion

It is not unreasonable to come to the conclusion that the Middle east will not be free of conflict for years to come.

Question 25

affronter un problème

The staff had a large meeting and began to ________ of reduced turnover.

Answer 25

to get to grips with a problem

The staff had a large meeting and began to get to grips with the problem of reduced turnover.

Question 26

atteindre un point critique

The arguments _______ at the G8 summit.

Answer 26

to come to a head

The arguments came to a head at the G8 summit.

Question 27

se rallier à une idée, changer de point de vue

Answer 27

to come around

The President gradually came around to the idea of a bill he initially had reservations about.