Advanced English Conversations - Robert Allans, Ahmet Mustafaoglu, Metin Emir 2019

Set (78) - We have to tap into the key problems

Dialogue

James: This report scratches the surface of the migration problem! The worse is yet to come.

Peter: Simply because the people working on this issue are not up to scratch. We have to tap into the key problems in home countries.

James: They say those people have to start their life here from scratch.

Peter: Well, I am scratching my head why our authorities are not nipping the issue from the bud.

James: Who knows! They may have been colluding with their leaders to create this mess!

Vocabulary

Scratch the surface: to deal with only a very small part of a subject or problem.

Up to scratch: as good as what was expected; satisfactory or adequate.

Tap into: to access a resource or object.

From scratch: from the beginning.

Scratch one’s head: to show that one is puzzled, doubtful, or uncertain.

Collude with: to cooperate in a secret or unlawful way.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the correct phrases;

scratch the surface

up to scratch     

tap into

from scratch

scratch one’s head

collude with

a. Central banks have been accused of making plans to .......... one another in order to control the world economy.

b. We had only two weeks to tour the country, which was hardly enough time to ..........

c. His decision to pull the plug on the lucrative program has everyone ..........

d. It's completely ruined, so we'll have to ..........

e. We'll have to bring the house .......... before we sell it.

f. The challenge for all of us is to .......... these gifts and use them for our benefit and for all mankind.