Vocabulary: Striking and protesting

Much as I avoid getting involved in political discussions, in today's post I would like to express my support for teachers on strike in Poland. I hope that the government will realise that education matters and that there can be no education without reasonable curricula, respect and financial stability for teachers.

Ex. Choose one correct option to fill in the gaps.

1. Unless the minister agrees to change the law, there will be ___.
   A. industry action   B. industrial action   C. a working event   D. a protesting action

2. Many teachers in Poland belong to the ZNP, Poland's largest ___ for teachers.
   A. guildhall   B. workers' society   C. trade union   D. professional team

3. Desperate times ___ desperate measures.
   A. call for   B. bring about   C. put out   D. take in

4. Thousands of people ___ the streets yesterday to protest the new labour law.
   A. ambled on   B. went off   C. took to   D. went about

5. Several hundred teachers and students took part in a ___: they left their classrooms at noon.
   A. walkaway   B. go-out   C. outing   D. walkout

6. The employees are dissatisfied with the management, who often drive ___.
   A. a hard bargain   B. by hook or by crook   C. to and fro   D. high and mighty

7. The privatisation of the steel industry reminds many people of 1980's ___ and the strikes that resulted from it.
   A. Reaganism   B. Bushism   C. Majorism   D. Thatcherism

8. When the unions suggested another meeting with the minister, she refused ___.
   A. make or break   B. point-blank   C. as tough as nails   D. all-around

9. People who refuse to strike and continue to work are called ___.
   A. black ravens   B. black sheep   C. blacklegs   D. blackbirds

10. This policy of ___ will get you nowhere: if you don't strike now, they'll just want more and more.
   A. appeasement   B. appraisal   C. apprehension   D. appointment


KEY 1B, 1C, 3A, 4C, 5D, 6A, 7D, 8B, 9C, 10A

Minimal pairs: /ʃ/, /s/ and /tʃ/

Ex. Look at the following words containing 1. /s/, 2. /tʃ/ and find their counterparts containing the consonant /ʃ/.

1. a. Mars, mass, sag, sale, same, sell, sin   b. seek, seep, sock, sod, sue/Sue   

c. lease, save, sea/see, seat, sort

2. a. catch, hatch, latch, match, watch, which/witch   b. chi/qi, cheap, chin, chips, chose, choose

KEY

1. a. marsh, mash, shag, shale, shame, shell, shin   b. chic, sheep, shock, shod, shoe   c. leash, shave, she, sheet, short

2. a. cache/cash, hash, lash, mash, wash, wish   b. she, sheep, shin, ships, shows, shoes