Politics

Question 1

Underlining the d….. in the eu’s inoculation programme, Austria’s chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, threatened to try to stop the bloc from buying an extra 100m doses of Pfizer’s jab if his country did not get a bigger share.

Answer 1

Underlining the disarray in the eu’s inoculation programme, Austria’s chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, threatened to try to stop the bloc from buying an extra 100m doses of Pfizer’s jab if his country did not get a bigger share.

Question 2

the state of being confused and having no organization or of being untidy:

Ever since the oil crisis, the industry has been in (a state of) …..

The news had thrown his plans into …..

Answer 2

the state of being confused and having no organization or of being untidy:

Ever since the oil crisis, the industry has been in (a state of) disarray.

The news had thrown his plans into disarray.

Question 3

a situation in which there is little or no order or control:

With 20 kids running around and only two adults to supervise, it was complete m…..

Answer 3

a situation in which there is little or no order or control:

With 20 kids running around and only two adults to supervise, it was complete mayhem.

Question 4

confused activity or excitement, sometimes involving destructive violence:

The movie includes a considerable amount of violence and ….

Answer 4

confused activity or excitement, sometimes involving destructive violence:

The movie includes a considerable amount of violence and mayhem.

Question 5

Despite …… (s) infections Germany recommended that the AstraZeneca jab should be used mostly for the over-60s and limited among younger groups, because of concerns about blood-clotting.

Answer 5

Despite surging infections Germany recommended that the AstraZeneca jab should be used mostly for the over-60s and limited among younger groups, because of concerns about blood-clotting.

Question 6

a sudden and great increase:

An unexpected …. in electrical power caused the computer to crash.

There has been a ….. in house prices recently.

Answer 6

a sudden and great increase:

An unexpected surge in electrical power caused the computer to crash.

There has been a surge in house prices recently.

Question 7

to increase suddenly and strongly:

The company’s profits have ….

Answer 7

to increase suddenly and strongly:

The company’s profits have surged.

Question 8

a new increase of activity or interest in a particular subject or idea that had been forgotten for some time:

The creation of independent states has led to a …… of nationalism.

r….. in demand/popularity/interest

Answer 8

a new increase of activity or interest in a particular subject or idea that had been forgotten for some time:

The creation of independent states has led to a resurgence of nationalism.

resurgence in demand/popularity/interest

Question 9

A commission in Britain that was created after last year’s Black Lives Matter protests to investigate racial ……. concluded that race is less important than social class and family structure in explaining inequality.

Answer 9

A commission in Britain that was created after last year’s Black Lives Matter protests to investigate racial disparities concluded that race is less important than social class and family structure in explaining inequality.

Question 10

a lack of equality or similarity, especially in a way that is not fair:

the growing ….. between rich and poor

Answer 10

a lack of equality or similarity, especially in a way that is not fair:

the growing disparity between rich and poor

Question 11

One of her priorities will be to eliminate pay ….. between men and women for equalwork.

The state has been criticized nationally for large ….. in spending among schooldistricts.

Answer 11

One of her priorities will be to eliminate pay disparity between men and women for equalwork.

The state has been criticized nationally for large disparities in spending among schooldistricts.

Question 12

The authorities in Libya ……. nearly 1,000 Europe-bound migrants at sea, said the un.

Answer 12

The authorities in Libya intercepted nearly 1,000 Europe-bound migrants at sea, said the un.

Question 13

to stop and catch something or someone before that thing or person is able to reacha particular place:

Law enforcement agents ….. a shipment of drugs from Central America.

Barry ….. Naylor’s pass and scored the third goal.

Answer 13

to stop and catch something or someone before that thing or person is able to reacha particular place:

Law enforcement agents intercepted a shipment of drugs from Central America.

Barry intercepted Naylor’s pass and scored the third goal.

Question 14

to stop things, people, etc. as they go to a particular place:

Police ….. a boat carrying over a million packs of cigarettes into the country illegally.

Answer 14

to stop things, people, etc. as they go to a particular place:

Police intercepted a boat carrying over a million packs of cigarettes into the country illegally.

Question 15

the action of stopping and catching something or someone before that thing or person is able to reach a particular place:

the ….. of enemy messages

a pass ….

Answer 15

the action of stopping and catching something or someone before that thing or person is able to reach a particular place:

the interception of enemy messages

a pass interception

Question 16

America accuses the rebels of links to Islamic State; others think they are driven largely by local …..

Answer 16

America accuses the rebels of links to Islamic State; others think they are driven largely by local grievances.

Question 17

a complaint or a strong feeling that you have been treated unfairly:

A special committee has been appointed to handle prisoners’ …..

Answer 17

a complaint or a strong feeling that you have been treated unfairly:

A special committee has been appointed to handle prisoners’ grievances.

Question 18

an official complaint by an employee that they have been treated unfairly:

file/raise a ……

An employee may file a …… against a manager in accordance with the provisions set forth in their contract.

Answer 18

an official complaint by an employee that they have been treated unfairly:

file/raise a grievance

An employee may file a grievance against a manager in accordance with the provisions set forth in their contract.

Question 19

Australia’s prime minister ….. two politicians caught up in sex scandals.

Answer 19

Australia’s prime minister demoted two politicians caught up in sex scandals.

Question 20

to move someone to a less senior job than the one they had before:

…… sb from/to sth Her manager …. her from her job as a supervisor.

….. sb for sth Sources said he was …. for violation of departmental rules.

Answer 20

to move someone to a less senior job than the one they had before:

demote sb from/to sth Her manager demoted her from her job as a supervisor.

demote sb for sth Sources said he was demoted for violation of departmental rules.

Question 21

a reduction in rank or position:

The club were threatened with ….. to the Second Division.

Answer 21

a reduction in rank or position:

The club were threatened with demotion to the Second Division.

Question 22

The leaders of two dozen countries, including Britain, France and Germany, called for a new global ….. to fight pandemics.

Answer 22

The leaders of two dozen countries, including Britain, France and Germany, called for a new global treaty to fight pandemics.

Question 23

a written agreement between two or more countries, formally approved and signed by their leaders:

a peace ….

the …. on European union

Answer 23

a written agreement between two or more countries, formally approved and signed by their leaders:

a peace treaty

the treaty on European union

Question 24

Under the…. (= according to the agreement), inspections are required to see if any country is secretly developing nuclear arms.

Answer 24

Under the treaty (= according to the agreement), inspections are required to see if any country is secretly developing nuclear arms.

Question 25

The head of America’s Centres for Disease Control said she felt a sense of “….. doom” about rising infections in the country.

Answer 25

The head of America’s Centres for Disease Control said she felt a sense of “impending doom” about rising infections in the country.

Question 26

used to refer to an event, usually something unpleasant or unwanted, that is going to happen soon:

….. disaster/doom

The player announced his …. retirement from international football.

Answer 26

used to refer to an event, usually something unpleasant or unwanted, that is going to happen soon:

impending disaster/doom

The player announced his impending retirement from international football.

Question 27

The ….. crisis over trade made everyone nervous.

Answer 27

The impending crisis over trade made everyone nervous.

Question 28

death, destruction, or any very bad situation that cannot be avoided:

A sense of ….. hung over the entire country.

The newspapers are always full of …. and gloom (= bad news and unhappiness) these days.

Answer 28

death, destruction, or any very bad situation that cannot be avoided:

A sense of doom hung over the entire country.

The newspapers are always full of doom and gloom (= bad news and unhappiness) these days.

Question 29

The European Union is rich, scientifically advanced and ….. with excellent health-care and welfare systems and a political consensus tilted strongly towards looking after its citizens.

Answer 29

The European Union is rich, scientifically advanced and endowed with excellent health-care and welfare systems and a political consensus tilted strongly towards looking after its citizens.

Question 30

to give a large amount of money to pay for creating a college, hospital, etc. or to provide an income for it:

The state of Michigan has ….. three institutes to do research for industry.

This hospital was ….. by the citizens of Strasbourg in the 16th century.

Answer 30

to give a large amount of money to pay for creating a college, hospital, etc. or to provide an income for it:

The state of Michigan has endowed three institutes to do research for industry.

This hospital was endowed by the citizens of Strasbourg in the 16th century.

Question 31

money that is given to a college, hospital, etc. in order to provide it with an income, or the giving of this money:

The school has received an ……. of $50,000 to buy new books for the library.

Answer 31

money that is given to a college, hospital, etc. in order to provide it with an income, or the giving of this money:

The school has received an endowment of $50,000 to buy new books for the library.

Question 32

In the brutal and …. league table of fatalities, the eu as a whole has done less badly than Britain or America, with 138 recorded deaths per 100,000.

Answer 32

In the brutal and blunt league table of fatalities, the eu as a whole has done less badly than Britain or America, with 138 recorded deaths per 100,000.

Question 33

saying what you think without trying to be polite or considering other people’s feelings:

I’ll be ….. - that last piece of work you did was terrible.

Answer 33

saying what you think without trying to be polite or considering other people’s feelings:

I’ll be blunt - that last piece of work you did was terrible.

Question 34

…. and outspoken, he often quarreled with fellow officials.

Answer 34

Blunt and outspoken, he often quarreled with fellow officials.