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COMPOSITION D'ANGLAIS N°1

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QUESTIONNAIRE À CHOIX MULTIPLE

Pour chaque question, vous inscrirez une croix

dans la case placée devant la réponse qui vous

paraît être la bonne.

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TEXTE N°1

Russia blames Polish crew for plane crash (12 January 2011)

Russia has blamed the Smolensk air crash, which killed the Polish president and nearly 100 others in April, on Polish pilot error. Investigators said the crew did not follow instructions to land at a different airfield due to bad weather.

It was an air disaster that shocked the world. On April 10th last year, a Polish government jet crashed in bad weather near the Russian city of Smolensk. The Polish President Lech Kaczynski and dozens of senior Polish officials were killed.

They'd been on their way to take part in a ceremony commemorating a World War II wholesale slaughter of Polish officers carried out by the Soviet secret police NKVD in the Katyn Forest in Russia in April–May 1940.

Today Russian investigators laid the blame for the crash on the Polish crew of the Tupolev 154 jet. Instead of redirecting to a reserve airfield, the pilots had pushed ahead with their original flight plan, determined to land at Smolensk Severny airport, despite the poor visibility.

Investigators claim that the crew were under psychological pressure to do that from high-ranking passengers on board, including the Polish air force chief who was in the cockpit at the time of the crash.

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Vocabulary:

- an air disaster = a plane crash.

- commemorating (to commemorate) = remembering (to remember).

- a wholesale slaughter = a massacre, a mass murder or execution.

- laid (to lay – I laid – I have laid) the blame for something on somebody = assigned (to

assign) responsibilty for something to somebody.

- pushed ahead (to push ahead) with something = went on with something, continued

something.

*** to go (I went – I have gone) on with… = to continue.

- a flight plan = the route for their journey.

- poor visibility = difficulty in being able to see out clearly, being unable to see out / being

incapable of seeing out clearly.

- psychological pressure = mental stress or strain.

- high-ranking = very important or influential (mot à mot = d'un haut rang).

- the cockpit = the area at the front of a plane where the pilot works.

Question 1

The plane crashed, killing two of the

crew and more than one hundred Russian passengers.

The air crash wasn't blamed on foggy weather conditions but on pilot error.

The air disaster went practically unnoticed though high-ranking Polish officials were killed.

The Polish President wanted to commemorate the 1940 massacre of Polish officers by German troops.

Question 2 Investigators laid the blame for the crash

on the faulty reactors of the Tupolev 154 jet.

The Polish pilots had redirected their flight plan according to the instructions given by the Russian air controllers.

A first attempt to re-route the Polish plane to a reserve airfield had been hampered by bad weather.

The air crash was eventually due to the intense mental stress and harassment to which the pilots were subjected.

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TEXTE N°2

Airline refuses to pay Heathrow Airport fees (10 January 2011)

Airline Virgin Atlantic has said it will not pay any fees at Heathrow Airport until a full report on the impact of the snow last month is completed. Virgin and other airlines have criticised the slow reaction of airport owners BAA to the severe weather in December.

A full inquiry into airport closures and disruption is already underway by BAA's new non-executive director Sir David Begg. His report is not expected until the end of March and one of BAA's biggest customers, Virgin Atlantic, will not now be paying any airport fees before then, an amount said to be less than £10m.

Sir Richard Branson's airline blames the slow response of BAA to severe weather conditions, which cost aviation millions of pounds, and disrupted the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers last month.

British Airways said the part-closure of UK airports cost it in excess of £50m. BAA said it would work with airlines during the Begg enquiry and that Heathrow's conditions during the snow did not provide any basis to withhold airport charges.

Theoretically BAA could impound Virgin Atlantic planes for non-payment of fees, though that is unlikely.

Vocabulary:

- a fee = an amount of money that you pay to do something or that you pay to a professional

person for their work.

Ex: Students have to pay high tuition fees (= droits d'inscription) to enrol for their annual

university courses – The health club (= the fitness club) charges an annual membership fee –

Cable TV subscribers pay monthly fees.

- BAA = BAA Ltd or British Airports Authority is a leading airport company. It is the Spanish-

owned operator of six British airports including the largest, Heathrow Airport and Naples

Airport in Italy, making the company one of the largest transport companies in the world.

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- an inquiry = an official investigation – to inquire into something = to investigate something.

- disruption = a situation in which something is prevented (to prevent = to stop, to hinder, to

impede) from proceeding (to proceed) or continuing in its usual way or continuing normally.

Ex: Last winter's railway strike (= grève) caused widespread (= extensive) disruption which

provoked a storm of protest among most passengers.

- is already underway = has begun (to begin – I began – I have begun ) - (mot à mot = est déjà

en chemin).

- a non-executive director = a member of a company's management who is not actually

employed by the company.

- a response = a reaction – Une réponse = a reply, an answer.

- aviation = here, the industries and companies which run (= to organize, to manage, to

operate, to be in charge of) airlines and airports.

- in excess of… = more than…

- a basis = a particular reason.

- to withhold = to refuse to give or pay someone something.

- theoretically = it is possible or likely (= probable) that…

- to impound something = to legally take hold of something, to legally confiscate something

by law.

Ex: The driver sued (to sue = poursuivre en justice) the police after they impounded his car.

Question 1

Virgin and other airlines did not have

any reasonable grounds to blame the Heathrow Airport owners.

The official inquiry into airport closures and disruption has eventually been cancelled.

The non-executive director of Virgin Atlantic Airways is none other than famous entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.

Virgin Atlantic won't pay British Airports Authority Ltd any airport fees at least until March 2011.

Question 2 Sir Richard Branson's airline blames

BAA for being unable to cope with last winter's severe weather conditions.

BAA's slow response won't eventually cost aviation as much money as was first scheduled.

BAA is adamant that it won't cooperate with any airlines even during the official inquiry.

Sir David Begg argues that BAA should impound Virgin Atlantic planes for withholding airport fees.

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TEXTE N°3

Ivory Coast cocoa exports 'banned' (24 January 2011)

The internationally recognised president of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, has called for a month-long ban on cocoa exports. The outgoing president, Laurent Gbagbo, who controls the cocoa industry, is refusing to step down following November's election.

This announcement is causing pandemonium in the international cocoa industry. Ivory Coast is the world's biggest cocoa grower, producing around a third of the world's supply of what is the essential ingredient in chocolate.

A letter written by the European Cocoa Association and the Federation of Cocoa Commerce to Alassane Ouattara's government warns of the severe consequences of this ban on exports, while also asking for further clarification. His administration has responded to some of their concerns by saying cocoa already cleared for export could leave the country.

Major multinational exporters have had long meetings with lawyers over the past few days. The cocoa sector is still under the control of Laurent Gbagbo, who remains in power and depends on cocoa export taxes to pay the bills. But co-operating with his regime, widely seen as illegitimate, risks international condemnation and also carries the threat of losing cocoa licences should Mr Ouattara's government take over.

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Vocabulary:

- to step down = to resign, to leave your job or official position, because you want to or

because you think you should.

- pandemonium = a chaos or an uproar, a situation in which there is a lot of noise because

people are angry, confused or frightened.

Ex: There was complete pandemonium in the kitchen. – When the verdict was read

pandemonium broke out in the courtroom.

- a clarification = an explanation.

- an administration = government officials or staff (= personnel).

- cleared (to clear) for export = approved to be transported and sold to other countries.

- multinational exporters = international companies that transport a product for sale in other

countries.

- a sector = an industry.

- a regime = a government.

- illegitimate = illegal or operating without the support (= le soutien, l'approbation) of voters.

- condemnation = criticism.

- carries (to carry) the threat of something = is accompanied by a risk of something – A

threat = une menace – to threaten = menacer.

Ex: He threatened his neighbours to take them to court (= tribunal).

- to take over = to take control of the government in his capacity as incoming (= chosen,

elected) president.

Question 1 The newly elected president of Ivory

Coast has decided to lift the ban on cocoa exports.

Laurent Gbagbo won't resign as he is still legally recognized as the incumbent president of Ivory Coast.

The incoming president's announcement caused considerable turmoil in the international cocoa industry.

The international cocoa industry was concerned because Ivory Coast grows and exports almost half of the world's cocoa supply.

Question 2 Alassane Ouattara's call for a ban on

cocoa exports fell in very well with the interests of the European Cocoa Association.

Ouattara's government was adamant that no cocoa supplies would ever be cleared for exports and leave Ivory Coast.

Laurent Gbagbo has already lost control of his country's cocoa industry which is his main source of income.

Multinational exporters run the risk of losing cocoa licences if they keep supporting the illegitimate outgoing president.

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TEXTE N°4

US companies criticise Chinese regulations (19 January 2011)

A survey of over 350 US firms in China has revealed many are concerned that regulations in the country are limiting their growth. The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai's report also found that US firms are confident about their future in China.

There are currently trade tensions between the USA and China.

The American companies who took part in the survey are optimistic about their prospects for the year ahead. After a difficult couple of years, almost two thirds said they gained market share in their China business this year. Seven out of ten expected their income to grow by 10% or more in 2011.

But while China has huge potential for growth, it is also a hugely difficult place to make money. They complain about the problems hiring and retaining good staff, about local officials who favour domestic companies over their foreign competitors and about the perennial problem of how to protect their intellectual property.

The trade tensions between the two countries don't help either. In the US, politicians complain bitterly that China doesn't play fair when it comes to trade, keeping the value of its currency artificially low to help boost exports.

At the report's launch in Shanghai the consensus was that China is still a risky place to try to do business, but it would be far more risky for a company to ignore China. The growing domestic market here is too valuable to global firms seeking new customers.

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Vocabulary:

- a survey = a detailed inspection or investigation, a general description or report about a particular subject or

situation.

- current (adjective) = happening or existing now – currently (adverb) = at the present time.

- prospects = chances of being successful.

- market share = the amount of money a company receives from selling its products or services compared with

other similar businesses or companies.

- income = money or revenue that a business or organization receives over a period of time, especially from

selling goods or services.

- to make (I made – I have made) money = to earn money by selling something.

- hiring (to hire) = recruiting or employing – To recruit – to employ.

- perennial = continuing or ongoing – To go on = to continue – ongoing = continuing, or continuing to develop.

- intellectual property = original ideas, products or inventions that a person has created (to create).

- trade tensions = disagreements over buying, selling or exchanging goods or services – cf. To agree = to

express the same opinion about something as someone else.

Ex: Teenagers rarely agree with their parents – To agree with someone ≠ to disagree with them.

- to play fair = here, to conduct business in a moral and honest way.

- consensus = agreement among most (= nearly all, the majority of) people.

- valuable = precious, worth a lot of money [≠ worthless].

Ex: It's a very valuable painting by Leonardo da Vinci. It is worth £ 500,000,000 – Their most valuable

diamonds and rubies were locked in a safe in a bank.

Question 1

The future for all of US firms in China

looks bleak because of local stringent regulations meant to price American goods out of the Chinese market.

Trade tensions between the USA and China are currently easing off and will soon be a thing of the past.

The survey shows that many US companies have gained a foothold in the Chinese market and look forward to making a substantial profit.

Seven out of ten US firms were nowhere near optimistic about their prospects and income for the years ahead.

Question 2 American companies certainly have the

potential for growth in China as they can easily recruit and retain low-paid highly skilled workers.

China is a land of equal opportunity for both domestic and foreign companies and intellectual property rights are rarely trespassed on.

China has an unfair advantage over its foreign competitors because its government deliberately keeps its currency undervalued so as to generate excess trade surplus.

Most American companies think China is still an all too risky country to do business and hold off (= delay) investing heavily in the Chinese market.

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TEXTE N°5

YouTube is five (15 December 2010)

Five years ago, YouTube was officially launched. The site has helped launch international singing careers, played a role in election campaigns and cheered up millions of users who've logged on to watch everything from giggling babies to skateboarding ducks.

Scottish singer Susan Boyle who became famous overnight owing to YouTube is a case in point.

It began with three friends searching for an easier way to share videos. One - Jawed Karim - uploaded the site's first clip - a movie of himself dressed in a wind breaker at San Diego Zoo.

By the end of its first year YouTube was broadcasting 25 million videos a day and it was soon bought by the internet giant Google. In 2010 24 hours of video are now uploaded every minute.

The site's also become an important political tool - almost a million people watched a wounded girl dying during protests in Iran in July 2009. President Barack Obama successfully used the site during his election campaign.

Thousands of teenagers around the world have also used the site to upload embarrassing videos of friends and its creators have been forced to deny claims that it's encouraged bullying.

With online habits and fads constantly changing no-one's sure what the next five years hold for YouTube. Some believe it could end up as a TV channel beamed into our living rooms. Others predict it will be overtaken by new technology and dumped on the internet scrap heap.

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Vocabulary:

- to log on = to do the necessary actions on a computer system that will allow you to begin

using it. Ex: You need to log on to your home page.

- giggling (to giggle) = laughing quickly, quietly, and in a high voice.

- owing to = due to, or because of something.

- a case in point = a clear example of something that you are discussing or explaining.

- to upload = if you upload information or a computer program, you move it from a small

computer to a computer network so that other people can see it or use it [≠ to download].

- a wind breaker / a windcheater = a type of coat that protects the wearer from the wind or

possibly against rainy weather.

- to broadcast = to send out radio or television programmes, videos through internet etc.

Ex: The interview of British Prime Minister David Cameron was broadcast live across the

United Kingdom.

- a tool = a piece of equipment or a skill (= a talent) that is useful for doing your job – A tool =

un outil.

- wounded (to wound) = injured (to injure) with a knife, gun etc.

Ex.: Gunmen killed two people and wounded six others in an attack today.

- to deny = in this case, to say that something is not true.

- bullying (to bully) = hurting, victimizing or intimidating someone less strong or powerful than

you – To hurt – to victimize – to intimidate.

- fads = activities or items (= things, objects etc) which are very popular for a brief period of

time.

- to end up = to eventually (= finally) become something.

- beamed (to beam) = sent out (to send out) as an electronic or radio signal.

- overtaken (to overtake) = replaced or surpassed – To replace – to surpass – To overtake / to

pass a car or a lorry = dépasser, doubler, une voiture ou un camion.

- dumped (to dump) = abandoned (to abandon), thrown away (to throw away) or got rid of

because you don't want or need it any more – To get (I got – I have got) rid of something =

se débarrasser de qqchose.

- a scrap heap = a pile of discarded metal or rubbish – To discard something = to throw away,

or get rid of – Rubbish = objects, papers etc that you no longer use and should throw away.

*** To throw (I threw – I have thrown) something on the scrap heap = mettre qqchose au

rebut, au rancart; jeter qqchose sur un tas de ferraille.

- to supersede = to replace.

Question 1

YouTube was specifically created to

promote international singers and politicians' careers.

Scottish singer Susan Boyle could be partly grateful to YouTube viewers for her unexpected and sudden success.

The first YouTube video featured famous people achieving mind-boggling feats in breathtaking surroundings.

Twenty-four hours of videos were sent out over the internet as soon as YouTube was launched five years ago.

Question 2 The international giant Google wouldn't

buy YouTube although millions of videos a day were broadcast via that medium as soon as it was launched.

YouTube held off covering such political events as election protests in Iran or President Obama's campaign as it took some time for the site to realize they were epoch-making events.

The site creators were quite aware from the outset that embarrassing or shocking videos uploaded or downloaded by YouTube users could be detrimental to some people's reputation.

YouTube might be superseded sooner or later by other more sophisticated media or abandoned because the tastes of mainstream online users keep changing.

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TEXTE N°6

Scientists identify cause of baldness (7 January 2011)

American scientists say that they've discovered why some men go bald. They blame faulty cells which seem to produce hair that is so thin that it is invisible to the naked eye. They expect to find a cure for baldness although (= bien que) some men do not mind being bald.

For some men, bald is beautiful. The iconic look may work for a few - especially celebrities - like the rugged Die Hard star Bruce Willis and Star

Trek's Patrick Stewart. For many though hair loss is no laughing matter. But now researchers in America say they've uncovered a

cure. An academic medical centre has found that hair follicles actually shrink, but don't disappear. Dr George

Cotsarelis, dermatology professor at Pennsylvania University, found the discovery hair-raising. "What we found surprised us. The stem cells were present but they were not doing their job." The discovery of invisible hair sounds too good to be true. But what does it mean? "It really gives us hope that because the stem cells are present it lowers the bar for developing treatments that

could activate the stem cells and get them to form a new hair follicle," said Dr Cotsarelis. Treating these faulty stem cells means that, rather than just maintaining hair, we could soon regenerate hair.

Vocabulary:

- to go (I went – I have gone) bald = to become bald – bald = having little or no hair on your head.

- faulty = not working properly, or not made correctly, defective.

Ex.: Customers may ask for a refund (= repayment) if the goods are faulty – Scientists have just found a faulty gene

that causes breast cancer.

- an icon = someone famous, for instance (= for example), a celebrity who is admired by many people and is thought

to represent an important idea – iconic (adjective) = distinctively or specifically characteristic of a celebrity.

- rugged = here, a man's face that is strong with uneven or wrinkled skin.

*** Uneven (≠ even) = not regular, not smooth (smooth = lisse) – wrinkled = ridé.

- a diehard = a tough guy = un dur, un dur à cuire.

- it is no laughing matter = it is serious, it is something (that) people should not make jokes about.

- uncovered (to uncover) = discovered (to discover).

- to cure = to make well, to heal – a cure = a remedy – a healer = un guérisseur.

- a hair follicle = a sac from which a hair grows.

- to shrink (I shrank – I have shrunk) = to become smaller.

- hair-raising = very exciting (mot à mot : 'qui fait dresser les cheveux sur la tête').

- stem cells = cells with the potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body (= cellules-souches).

- it is too good to be true = it is something that sounds so good that it is unlikely to be real (It is unlikely / not likely

to be real = it is is probably not real or true).

*** Unlikely = improbable – likely = probable.

- lowers the bar = changes the standards required (= necessary, needed) to make things easier – To lower = baisser,

abaisser – low = bas (≠ high).

- to regenerate = to grow (I grew – I have grown) again.

Question 1

American scientists look forward to

healing or preventing baldness as they are likely to find a cure to treat defective hair cells in the foreseeable future.

Researchers were in no hurry to discover a cure for baldness as most men don't mind going bald and prefer adopting the iconic look of their favourite football or film stars.

Most men have never set much store by such petty details as going bald or developing a bald patch.

Researchers in an academic medical centre are adamant that hair follicles may shrink and seem to disappear but finally regenerate in most cases.

Question 2 A dermatology professor poured cold water

on those researchers' optimism as he argued that hair stem cells are irretrievably (= irreparably) damaged once hair follicles have degenerated.

The possibility of a cure for baldness sounds both likely and exciting, but you can't help having still one little nagging doubt at the back of your mind.

Although scientists now know that the hair stem cells are still present, it's not going to make developing a treatment to activate them any easier for researchers and doctors.

Scientists consider some drugs will soon be effective in treating defective stem cells and maintaining hair, but hold out little hope of regenerating it.

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TEXTE N°7

Sherlock Holmes returns (21 January 2011)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle killed off Sherlock Holmes when writing the stories took up too much of his time. Now, 80 years after the author's death, Britain's most famous detective is being brought back to life with a new novel by Anthony Horowitz.

Sherlock Holmes is famous around the world.

The character of Sherlock Holmes was originally created by the Scottish writer Arthur Conan Doyle, who featured him in four novels and more than 50 short stories. After his death, his son Adrian wrote several stories featuring the famous Victorian detective, but critics say he was never that popular.

But it's the first time that the Arthur Conan Doyle estate has officially asked an author to write a new novel. He has been named as Anthony Horowitz and is best known his Alex Rider children's series. So was he daunted by the challenge?

Anthony Horowitz: "Well obviously, it was daunting to a certain extent and you are dealing with probably the most iconic detective

in the whole history of literature. And the one thing I didn't want to do was to disappoint those really devout fans, the sort of Sherlock Holmes Society and people who love these books.

But to be honest with you, I actually found it fairly easy to write because I have loved those books since I was 16 years old, I've read them two or three times during the course of my lifetime – in fact, my whole life as a writer of crime fiction myself was, to a certain extent, inspired by Doyle and I find the book not so scary as I thought it might be."

Anthony Horowitz says he's a devoted fan and aims to produce a first-rate mystery for a modern audience.

Vocabulary:

- a character = here, a person or a creature that has been created for a story.

- featured (to feature) = to show or treat someone as playing a special or very important part in

a book, a film etc, to give prominence to someone as a star (= mettre quelqu'un en vedette).

Ex: Francis Ford Coppola's film featured Marlon Brando as the Godfather, Don Vito

Corleone, the boss or "don" of the Corleone Mafia family.

- a Victorian detective = a person who tried to solve crimes during the time of Queen

Victoria's reign in Great Britain (born 1837- died 1901).

- critics = people who write or talk about their opinions, sometimes in the media.

- an estate (legal word) = here, the family business and agents in charge of all of Conan

Doyle's property, possessions and money, especially everything that is left after he died (= les

responsables de la succession).

- a novel = a long written story in which the characters and events are usually imaginary.

- daunted (to daunt) by… = worried, slightly frightened or intimidated by…

– To worry = inquiéter – to frighten = effrayer – to intimidate.

- to a certain extent = partly, more or less, in some ways (= à certains égards).

- iconic = someone or something which is representative of a time, culture or purpose.

- to disappoint = to make others feel sad (= triste) because you haven't done something they

expected you to.

- devout fans = people who love and support something or someone with a passion that's

almost religious.

- crime fiction = stories that are created by writers about illegal activities which are not true.

- scary = frightening, making you feel afraid or very nervous.

Ex: Do you like Wes Craven's scary movies (= films) 'A Nightmare on Elm Street', 'The Hills

Have Eyes' or 'Vampire in Brooklyn' ?

- first-rate = of the very best quality, outstanding, extremely good, excellent.

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Question 1

Sherlock Holmes has never been

brought back to life by any author since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle died 80 years ago.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle could never bring (= persuade) himself to get rid of his character though he found it too time-consuming to write his Sherlock Holmes stories.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's son wrote a first-rate sequel to his father's novels and short stories which won great critical claim.

Never before had a modern author been allowed by the people in charge of the Arthur Conan Doyle estate to write a new Sherlock Holmes story.

Question 2 The modern author who was chosen by

the Arthur Conan Doyle estate makes little of following in the literary footsteps of the creator of the most famous detective in the world.

In fact, the whole idea of writing a novel featuring the most iconic Victorian detective of all times slighly frightened and intimidated Arthur Horowitz.

Arthur Horowitz was so afraid of disappointing Sherlock Holmes's devout fans that he very nearly gave up dealing with his character and could hardly finish writing the novel.

Though Mr. Horowitz is a devoted fan of Sherlock Holmes, he is just an occasional and talented crime fiction writer who was absolutely amazed at the scary atmosphere of his own Victorian detective story.

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TEXTE N°8

US Republicans want to undo President Obama's social reforms (5 January 2011)

American politicians will be back at work in Washington today. Following a large number of wins in last November's elections, the Republicans now control the House of Representatives and could try to undo some of the recent changes to health care law. Critics of President Obama want to repeal his healthcare bill.

When the 112th Congress meets, it will be the first time the Republicans have been in charge of the House of Representatives since 2006, and their leader John Boehner will be elected as Speaker.

Many of the new conservative members intend to make their presence felt. It's not just that they can and will stop President Obama from turning any more of his plans into laws. They want to change America's economic policy with a programme of what they call cut and grow, pruning Government spending while encouraging economic growth by cutting regulations.

They also want to repeal President Obama's major legislative achievement: making near universal health care insurance compulsory. But that is only symbolic. In the unlikely event the Senate also voted for the repeal of health care, the president would simply veto it.

There will be a titanic struggle for the control of government, but initially at least it may be disguised by both sides promising to work together for the good of the American people.

Vocabulary:

- to repeal = to cancel or revoke. If a government repeals a law, it officially ends that law.

- health care = the service that is responsible for looking after the health (= la santé) of all the

people in a country or an area.

Ex: The government has promised wide-ranging health care for all – Health care workers are

people who work in a hospital or a health centre to promote health through treatment and

care for the sick and injured.

- a bill = a written proposal for a new law, which is brought to a parliament so that it can be

discussed.

- the Congress = here, elected politicians in the American government who are responsible for

making the law.

- the Speaker = here, the head or leader of the US House of Representatives.

- to make their presence felt (to feel) = to demonstrate that they are powerful.

- to cut = to cut back, to cut down, to reduce.

- pruning (to prune) = cutting back or reducing = tailler, élaguer – To cut back / to cut down =

to reduce.

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- compulsory = mandatory, enforced, obligatory. Something that is compulsory must be done

because it is the law or because someone in authority orders you to (≠ voluntary).

- symbolic = an intention which has little practical influence on the situation.

- to veto = to reject or refuse to approve.

- a titanic struggle = a huge (= gigantic) battle or challenging competition.

- at least = du moins.

- for the good of… = in the interests of…, or for the benefit of…

Question 1

Despite last November's sweeping

victory for the G.O.P. (Grand Old Party) in a few states, the House of Representatives will be still controlled by the Democrats till the next presidential elections.

The Republicans have been in charge of the House of Representatives several times since President Obama was elected but we don't know yet who will be elected as Speaker.

The sole aim and objective of the new Republican representatives is to make their presence felt in order to prevent President Obama from passing his social laws.

The new conservative representatives have adopted a two-pronged policy: take action to check President Obama's costly social policy and boost economic growth by federal deregulation.

Question 2 The Republicans are intent on increasing

Government spending so as to boost US economic growth.

It is very likely that the Republicans will be able to abrogate (= annul) President Obama's main legislative achievement, i.e. his near universal health care bill.

The new Republican majority supported by the Senate's vote will finally be able to repeal President Obama's health care bill despite the presidential veto.

Both the Republicans and the Democrats will justify their fierce struggle for power by arguing that their sole and only aim is the American people's best interests.

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TEXTE N°9

Scientists say Africa has two elephant species (3 January 2011)

A group of scientists has published a report saying there are two different species of African elephant. The report says the species have been different for over (= more than) three million years and that one type of African elephant is around twice as heavy as the other.

There could be two different types of African elephant.

The notion that there are two species of African elephant first emerged about a decade ago. The animals are very different in size; the savannah or bush elephants stand about a metre taller, and weigh twice as much as their forest-dwelling cousins. But whether this means they are truly different species hasn't been clear.

Now a team of researchers from the UK, Germany and the US, say they've resolved the issue. Writing in the journal Public Library of Science Biology, they say their analysis proves the existence of two distinct species.

This has been a hotly-disputed question and it's entirely possible that other researchers will challenge the claim. If it is confirmed, there may be important implications for conservation. Forest elephants are mainly found in

Central and Western Africa, the areas where poaching and ivory smuggling are most serious. There, populations are declining.

Further south, in the domain of the savannah elephants, the animals are thriving. Conservationists say proving the species split could help concentrate attention where it's most needed, on nations that have done little to crack down on poachers and smugglers.

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Vocabulary:

- twice = two times; here, two times more, bigger, better etc than something else.

- a notion = a belief or idea.

- a savannah = an open, flat stretch (= a long and narrow area = une étendue) of grass land.

- they have resolved (to resolve) = they have sorted out or found (to find) a solution for…

– To sort out = to successfully deal with a problem or difficult situation.

- an issue = a problem.

- hotly-disputed (to dispute) = very controversial, or argued over – To argue = to disagree with

someone in words, often in an angry way (over something).

Ex: The children were arguing over which TV programme to watch.

- conservation = protection for the future.

- poaching (to poach) = here, illegal hunting of wildlife, i.e. animals living in natural

conditions – To hunt = to chase animals and birds in order to kill or catch them – a poacher

= un braconnier.

*** abbreviations 'i.e.' = 'id est' = that is to say – 'e.g.' = 'exempli gratia' = for example / for

instance.

- smuggling (to smuggle) = secretly and illegally transporting or moving something around –

To transport – to move – a smuggler = un contrebandier.

- a domain = a home or habitat.

- to thrive = to become very successful or very strong and healthy.

Ex: Plants that thrive in tropical rainforests – A business which managed to thrive during a

recession.

- to concentrate attention = to focus peoples' thoughts on something important.

- to crack down on = to stop or prevent.

Ex: The government is determined to crack down on terrorism – The police are cracking

down hard on violent crime.

Question 1

Both species of African elephant have

been different for fewer than three million years.

It has been a widely held idea in well-informed scientific circles for more than ten years that there were two different types of African elephant.

Someone knowledgeable about both types of African pachyderm can easily tell the difference between them.

Some researchers maintain that forest-dwelling and bush elephants are almost the same size and weight.

Question 2 The whole scientific community without

exception confirms that the issue has been resolved once and for all.

Other researchers might disagree with the findings of the team of British, German and American researchers.

Populations of forest-dwelling elephants seem to be on the increase despite poachers and ivory smugglers.

It is very unlikely that proving the species difference will focus public attention on the African countries which are too lax about wildlife conservation.

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TEXTE N°10

Designers tap into 3D glasses (12 November 2010)

3D technology is being used more and more in movies and in TV sets. Designers are hoping to launch 3D glasses as something fashionable so they can make money from this growing business.

Some think it's the next must-have accessory for movie buffs. At the cinema, why wear those free plastic specs that someone else has used already, when you can buy your own 3D glasses?

Designers like Oakley and Calvin Klein hope consumers will pay up to US$180 a pair to be trendsetters. It's the next step in the personalisation of 3D entertainment. It's already a growing format for movies including the blockbuster 'Avatar'.

Now, electronics companies are offering 3D TV sets for the home. But they may supply 3D glasses that work only with their products, not in cinemas, which would make those stylish designer glasses of limited use.

Just as with the advent of home video recording when VHS battled and triumphed over Betamax, there could be a format war looming over 3D glasses. Designers hope they're tapping into a fashion-conscious market but soon will those personalised 3D specs be useful or just stylish?

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Vocabulary:

- fashionable = popular, especially for a short period of time [≠ unfashionable].

Ex: Strong colours are very fashionable at the moment – It suddenly became fashionable for

politicians to talk about green issues.

*** fashion = la mode – cf. French phrase 'couturière à façon'.

- must-have = very popular and seen as essential by some people.

- movie buffs / film buffs = people who are enthusiastic about films.

- specs = short for spectacles, or a pair of glasses.

- trendsetters = people who are responsible for making new things attractive and stylish.

*** a trend = a general tendency in the way a situation is changing or developing.

*** to set the trend = to start doing something that other people copy.

- personalisation = adapting or designing something to suit a particular person – To adapt – to

design – to suit someone / to fit someone = to be acceptable, suitable or convenient for a

particular person or in a particular situation = convenir à quelqu'un.

- entertainment = things such as films, television, performances etc that are intended to amuse

or interest people.

*** to entertain people = to amuse or interest people in a way that gives them pleasure.

- the advent of… = the arrival of…

- a format war = a competition to make the most successful and used design.

- looming over… = something that is waiting to happen, or is likely (= probably) to happen

very soon to…

*** To loom = if a problem or difficulty looms, it is likely to happen very soon.

Ex: Another economic and financial crisis is looming on the horizon.

- tapping into… = trying to benefit or profit from…

*** to tap into… = to establish an advantageous or profitable commercial connection with /

access to…

Ex: American and European companies are trying hard to tap into the new Indian and

Chinese markets.

- a fashion-conscious market = possible customers who are aware of and interested in popular

styles and ideas, e.g. clothes and gadgets.

*** A customer = a client, a buyer – aware of something = conscious of something, knowing

that something exists – e.g. (= 'exempli gratia') = for instance / for example.

Question 1

3D technology is lagging behind in

films and in TV sets and the concept of 3D glasses becoming a fashion item is quite unlikely to catch on.

Designers are planning to launch this type of product though there are hardly any good prospects for growth in the retail sector of 3D glasses.

3D glasses might become popular with film enthusiasts who would rather buy and wear their own brand-new specs.

Stylish designers like Calvin Klein initially expect to roll out (= to launch) the new product at rock-bottom prices to lure the first prospective customers into buying it.

Question 2 3D entertainment will be exclusively

centered around the latest successful films instead of being personalized to individual clients' exact requirements.

Electronics firms are currently launching 3D TV sets and supplying versatille 3D glasses which will enable wearers to select and watch any TV programmes or movies at will.

Designers of 3D glasses will possibly have to wage a fierce struggle against their competitors in order to gain market share in the new business.

As 3D glasses are and will remain indispensable to trendsetters and fashion-conscious customers alike, designers are sure to have a long and promising future ahead of them.

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