Set 61 - Politicians are clearly cut from the same cloth

Advanced English Conversations (2) - Robert Allans, Matt Edie, A. Mustafaoglu 2020

Set 61 - Politicians are clearly cut from the same cloth

James: Plans to extend the airport went ahead, despite passionate entreaties from local residents.

Bill: Our local governor is a vociferous defender of the environment. Nonetheless, I take issue with some of the points made in his last speech.

James: As a matter of fact this guy is doing a good job and his popularity is rising these days but the government has to leak some stories to the press in order to gauge public reaction.

Bill: The speech has excited speculation that the governor may be about to step down. Politicians are clearly cut from the same cloth. They are so artful and tricky.

James: Yeah; they always scratch the surface in their talks.

Bill: You mean it was just a throwaway comment.

James: Undoubtedly.

Vocabulary;

a passionate entreaty: an attempt to persuade someone to do something.

vociferous: (adjective) expressing or characterized by vehement opinions; loud and forceful.

take issue with: to disagree with; to challenge.

gauge public reaction: to make a judgment about people's feelings.

excite speculation: make rumors circulate.

step down: to withdraw or resign from an important position or office.

cut from the same cloth: to be of the same nature; similar.

artful: (adjective) clever or skillful, especially in a crafty or cunning way.

scratch the surface: o deal with only a small part of a subject or a problem.

margin: something that makes a particular thing possible, such as an extra amount of money, time, etc.

a throwaway comment: a remark that someone says without thinking carefully and is not intended to be serious.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrases or words;

1. All the payments we've made have hardly scratched the surface of the amount we borrowed.

2. The Prime Minister has been a .......... opponent of the expansion, which was approved under the previous government.

3. They allow an additional safety .......... of five minutes between planes.

4. Some politicians have realized that there are more .......... ways of subduing people than shooting or jailing them.

5. She was very upset at what to him was just a ..........

6. The scandal forced the minister to .......... without making any comments.

7. President Franklin Roosevelt occasionally used polls to .......... to various public policy directions.

8. It's often said that London critics are all ..........: that they are white, male, middle-aged and middle-class.

9. I .......... parents who push their children too hard.

10. Two merger announcements .......... about further takeover action.

11. She refused to become involved with him despite his ..........

1. scratched the surface 2. vociferous 3. margin 4. artful 5. throwaway remark 6. step down 7. gauge public reaction 8. cut from the same cloth 9. take issue with 10. excited speculation 11. passionate entreaties