Workshop V. VOCABULARY PRACTICE

 Exercise 54

Complete, the texts, bearing in mind all the studied words. The first letters of the necessary words are given to help you.

1. My eyes nearly popped out of my head on Monday when I read a c_____ by A.N. Wilson, the d_____ novel­ist and j_____, in the London Evening Standard. Mr. Wil­son wanted to get his claws into Peter Mandelson. Six months ago, even so brave a c_____     as Mr. Wilson would not have written this. Or, if he had, his e_____ would not have p_____ it. I do not know where Mr. Hastings, the e_____, was on Monday morning, and it is possible that he was absent and that the s_____ felt unable to c_____ Mr. Wilson's words. But I like to think that Mr. Hastings takes a keen interest in what goes into his p_____, and that he judges Mr. Wilson's c_____ to be acceptable. What a transformation there has been.

Few politicians have exerted such p_____ on the me­dia as Mr. Mandelson. Several other ministers c_____ sym­pathetic newsmen: c_____ and r_____. Mr. Mandelson's brilliance has been to do all that, but to e_____ his grip to e_____ and p_____. What has changed? Why has he received such a bashing from some n_____? Why have there been a series of s_____ about his political career? Why have some newspapers 1_____ a campaign against him? Sentiment has turned against him even among former sympathisers. The Guardian's 1_____ on Tuesday was far from supportive. The Mirror’s 1_____ on the same day was helpful, though the paper gave s_____ to his r_____ to rage against him.

It is conceivable, I suppose, that Peter Mandelson may still one day be F_____ S_____. The point is that this man, who once instilled awe, even fear, in p_____ and e_____ and j_____, has been cut down to size. It is no longer possible for him to have a quite word with a p_____ to soften his newspaper's c_____ of the Dome or its c_____ of government policy in Northern Ireland. No one would be cowed by him now. He is damaged goods.

2. Over the period of the UN's existence there has been a considerable p_____ of v_____ types of multilat­eral forums. The UN's own regional economic commissions, e_____ early in the organisation's history are a c_____ element in its structure and functions. They must be d_____ from the groupings based mainly on geo­graphical considerations, the central aim being to achieve eq­uitable geographical r_____ while fairly managing the c_____ between countries within a region for the oppor­tunity to serve in leadership positions. The forums and the follow-up activities needed to f_____ decisions taken, have i_____ new elements into diplomatic practice, they r_____ the active interest and i_____ of diplomats and governments.

What are the UN's s_____ or even unique advantages as a framework for multilateral diplomacy? First, the United Na­tions brings together 1_____ of all member states. Second, the UN can s_____ world opinion on particularly p_____ problems. It can also f____ attention on and e_____ global support for countries and peoples who are disadvantaged or facing s_____ risks. Third, the UN has e_____ the machinery for global response to emergencies. It is the 1_____ pad for a v_____ of activities related to glo­bal peace and security. The UN's s_____ agencies and other bodies e_____ in wide-ranging activities, a_____ great importance to such areas as health, natural resource man­agement, population control, education and agriculture.

Even this partial list of activities constitutes an enormous agenda. It would seem that today's vast n_____ of inter­governmental bodies and institutions p_____     a challenge to governments, especially with r_____ to the organization and operation of f_____ ministries and other govern­ment agencies responsible for c_____ international rela­tions.

Exercise 55

Complete the text with one word only.

The average 1_____ office receives many times the amount of 2_____ news than it has 3_____ to print. The 4_____ must include or jettison items as he sees 5_____. It is inevitable that his ideas of what the 6_____ wants to know, or should know, are 7_____. Because the newspaper 8_____ do not want to endanger a 9_____ business, there is the constant 10_____ between personal opinion and the desire not to offend too many readers or 11_____. It is essential to the operation of all mass 12_____ that they avoid being 13_____ in their news 14_____ or 15_____.

 

Exercise 56

Translate the following into English using the active vocabulary.

Содержание газеты изменялось в соответствии с требо­ваниями жизни и с необходимостью удовлетворить запросы всех заинтересованных сторон. Основой любой газеты яв­ляется свежая, быстро доступная и разнообразная инфор­мация, отражающая реальные факты.

Основным элементом газетной полосы является броский, эффектный заголовок, который краток и часто сенсационен. Составление заголовков — одна из основных обязанностей помощника редактора, его профессиональные качества про­веряются именно в этой сфере. Другой его обязанностью является построение газетной полосы, содержание которой объективно, непредвзято и беспристрастно и представлено в наиболее сжатой, четкой и выразительной форме.

Exercise 57

Read a conversation between two journalists and make note of the infringements on the freedom of the media that one of them found while visiting X.

A. How was your trip to X.?

B. Fine. I was able to meet the people I wanted to.

A. So what is your impression of the media there?

B. I wouldn’t like to be a journalist in X. All the media, print, electronic, broadcasting, are controlled by the Government.

A. Are they censored?

B. Censorship is subtle, but it is clear the newspapers only print what the Government wants people to read. Radio and television are totally under the control of the Government and are not allowed to report the views of opposition political leaders.

A. So how do they report events in the world?

B. There’s little media coverage of international events at all.

A. What about foreign journalists?

B. Any foreign journalist accredited to X. who writes an article even mildly critical of the regime will be taken to task. Either their accreditation is not renewed or in some cases they have been expelled from the country for biased reporting.

 

Exercise 58

Use one of the words from the conversation above, which have to do with the media to complete the sentences below.

1. Last night’s television_____ the news of the assassination attempt.

2. The BBC has been accused of being _____ against the government.

3. The authorities have threatened to impose _____.

4. The event was not reported in the newspapers and received no _____ on television either.

5. The newspaper claims to have given a _____ report of the coup. Dissidents are either ____ or imprisoned.

 

Exercise 59

Discuss as a class the following issues.

1. The media has little effect on public opinion.

2. Why doesn’t the British Government stop press intrusion into the affairs of the Royal Family?

3. The American press is not impartial.

4.  Which of the media provides the best coverage of international news?

► ROLE PLAY

Recent programmes in the BBC overseas service have referred to corruption in government circles, high levels of crime, inefficiency in dealing with ethnic matters.

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