Greece today

I believe Greece is in a very difficult economic situation. The government must take action but this will not be popular. The fact is the country has been spending more than it is earning for many years and as a result we owe a lot of money.

Borrowing funds from the International Monetary Fund is the only choice for Greece as it is too expensive to borrow on the money markets. However, the International Monetary Fund will force the Greek government to make even more savings on public spending.

I believe we can expect a difficult economic climate in the coming years.

Common English Idioms

Idioms


Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms
Common idioms
1 Some of the most common idioms in English are highlighted in the dictionary.
Below on the left are some common idioms. Choose the correct meaning from the
list on the right.
1. be par for the course a find compromises
2. give the game away b make people feel relaxed with each other
3. give and take c do something in a way that will give good results
4 have it in for sb d choose what you want
5. know sth inside out e be determined to hurt or criticize sb
6. break the ice f spoil a secret surprise or joke
7. take your pick g know everything about a subject
8. be on the right track h happen as you would expect
2 Fill gaps in these sentences with the idioms in Exercise 1.
1. A: Which one can I have? B: ......................................
2. The train was half an hour late but I suppose that ............................................., isn’t it?
3. They weren’t very talkative at first, then someone told a joke and that really ..............................
4. You have to ............................ in these situations. There’s always an element of compromise.
5. A: Peter’s going to be there and there’s going to be a band and you’ll never guess …
B: Oh don’t say anything else. You’ll ...................................................................
6. You could ask Emma. She can recite most of the words in the film. She
............................................................
7. We’ve got all the answers right so far so it looks as though we ...............................................
8. My boss ...................................... She’s constantly criticizing my work even when someone
else has praised it.
Grammar
3 Fill in the gaps in these sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1. She bends over backwards ............................... them and they’re not very grateful. (help)
2. I’ve half a mind ......................... her to clean it again. It’s still filthy. (tell)
3. A group of scientists report that they are on the brink of ........................... a cure for cancer.
(discover)
4. He’s very disappointed. He had set his sights on ............................. a pilot. (become)
5. You’d be hard put ........................ a nicer house than the one you’re in now. (find)
6. I’d give my right arm .......................... a holiday at the moment. (have)
7. We did some mountain-biking and I had a stab at .......................... as well. (waterski)
8. The company was at pains ........................... that they had no intention of cutting jobs. (stress)
2
4 The following idioms are missing prepositions. Can you guess which preposition
goes where? Check in the dictionary.
1. He didn’t get any authority to take the action. He went ................. his boss’s head.
2. Don’t say a word to anyone, do you promise? Keep it ................. your hat.
3. Go easy ................. her. She doesn’t understand. She’s only a child.
4. She won’t tell me anything. It’s like trying to get blood ................. a stone.
5. Go on spoil yourselves. Push the boat ................. for a change.
6. She’s got a good ear ................. languages and she’s pretty musical as well.
7. That was quick. You’re ................. the ball this morning.
8. I’ve had it ................. with him and we seem to have resolved most of the problems.
on out on for out out of over under
Opposites
5 The entries for the idioms below all show their opposites too. Use the opposites to
fill in the gaps in the appropriate sentences. Remember to use the correct form of
the verbs.
a on the agenda
b open your eyes to sth
c nothing to write home about
d keep track
e get in my hair
1. We’ve been ...................................... to this problem for far too long.
2. I wish you would ................................ and leave me in peace for 5 minutes.
3. If I won the lottery, now that would be ...........................................................
4. Unfortunately, tennis is .................................... until my leg gets better.
5. Where are you living these days? You move so often I’m always ......................................
Interesting origins
6 Throughout the dictionary you will see a small symbol . This means that you
will find some interesting background information about an idiom. Look at the
dictionary (using the word underlined) and answer true or false to these
statements. What is the idiom connected with each statement?
1. Achilles was a man in Greek mythology who injured his arm.
2. Knights were soldiers in medieval times who rode on horses and helped rescue women in danger.
3. Card players throw in their hand when they know they can win a game.
4. A magic wand is a stick used in magic tricks.
5. A clam is a type of shellfish which is slow to react when it is attacked.
6. A beaver is a small animal which people believe to be hard-working and eager to help.
3
Collocations
7 Common collocations using idioms are highlighted in bold in the example sentences
in the dictionary. Match the beginnings and ends of these collocations.
1. a last ditch a like a headless chicken
2. way b the drain
3. make a clean break c a hasty retreat
4. cheap shot d into your pockets
5. go down e attempt
6. start with f out of line
7. running around g with the past
8. dig deep h a clean slate
9. beat i artist
Choose 4 of these idioms and think of an appropriate context you might use them in.
Different idioms for different situations
8 Where would you expect to hear the following? In American, Australian or British
English?
1. They’ve been coining it in since they opened the shop on the corner.
2. I hear you’re a dab hand with a paintbrush.
3. He’s as daft as a brush. Don’t believe a word he says.
4. I tried to make a cupboard for my bedroom and I made a real dog’s breakfast of it.
5. She said that her job was as easy as rolling off a log.
6. He hemmed and hawed and then agreed to come with us.
9 Some idioms are only used in certain contexts. Tick the correct column for these
verbs.
informal formal literary humorous old-fashioned
get the hell out
pearl of wisdom
a hostage to
fortune
have a ball
be knee-high to
a grasshopper
be that as it may
by the sweat of
your brow
baker’s dozen
4
Comparisons: As + adj + as noun
10 Match the two halves of the idioms
1. as blind a as a cucumber
2. as clear b as mud
3. as cool c as a feather
4. as quick d as a bat
5. as light e as a flash
Can you predict what the idioms containing these adjectives might be? Check your
answers in the dictionary.
cold white dry safe solid hard
Themes
11 Look at the ‘Business’ theme panel at the back of the dictionary and answer these
questions.
How can you describe someone who:
1. is more successful than other people trying to achieve the same things as them?
2. is one of the most important people in a small organization (they would have much less
power and importance if they were part of a larger organization)?
3. is good at their job and soon becomes rich?
4. demands a lot when making an agreement with someone?
5. is practical and determined?
6. is trying to get money or power in a dishonest way?
7. is stealing money from the place where they work?
8. has firm control over the organization they run?
12 Look at the ‘Happiness and Sadness’ theme panel and fill in the gaps in these
sentences. There may be more than one possible answer.
1. Helena was .............................. when she found out her exam results. She couldn’t stop
laughing.
2. It ............................ my mother’s ..................... when my brother came home from Australia.
3. .............................. when I think how many people were killed in that earthquake.
4. He doesn’t stop complaining. He’s such a ..........................................
5. What’s the matter with you today? You look ...................................
6. I wish she’d take that smile off her face. She looks .................................................
5
Other languages used in English idioms
13 Choose one of the phrases from the box to fill in the gaps in the sentences
ad nauseum raison d’être déjà vu pièce de résistance in loco parentis
1. It was the first time I had been there but I had a strange feeling of .............................
2. He talks ................................. about football. I find it very boring sometimes.
3. While children are at school, teachers are ....................................
4. The ..................................... was when the orchestra and the fireworks began.
5. She’ll never give up the theatre. It’s her ..........................................
Idioms from other idioms
14 The dictionary entries for all of the idioms below also show other idioms which
are formed from them. Verbs may be turned into nouns or adjectives, for example
waste your breath a waste of breath, or the verb may be changed with another verb
have the hump get the hump. In other cases nouns become adjectives.
Fill in the gaps using other idioms formed from the idioms in brackets.
1. (stab sb in the back) Finding out that your colleague was lying to your boss about you must
have been ........................................
2. (blue blood) I’m not surprised he’s related to royalty. He does behave like he’s
.........................................
3. (the grass roots) We’ve got the management on our side but we need more
.......................................... support.
4. (have green fingers) Her garden is fantastic. She’s very ........................................
5. (a hang-up) Men don’t tend to .................................... about their weight.
6. (make or break sth) This is ................................. time. If the experiment doesn’t work this time
we’ll have to give it up.
15 A lot of idioms contain parts of the body. Here are just a few with the word ‘head’.
(This diagram is one good way of collecting new idioms when you read or hear
them.)
Write an example sentence for each of these idioms. Now choose another part of
the body or face and draw similar diagrams. Write example sentences for the
idioms you have chosen.

The date in English

1 January

2 January

3 January

11 January

20 January

21 January

25 January

4 April

7 April

9 April

Telling the time

1.50 a.m.

1.55 a. m.

2.05 a.m.

2.10 a.m.

3.15 p.m.

4.30 p.m.

5.45 p.m.

6.50 p.m.

6.55 p.m.

7.20 p.m.

12.p.m.

12 a.m.

Transitions showing cause and effect

accordingly,
and so,
as a consequence,
as a result,
because,
by reason of,
by virtue of,
consequently,
due to,
for that reason,
hence,
it follows that
on account of
since
thanks to,
therefore
this being so,
to that end

Greece fears further economic pain

Greeks fear deeper economic pain

By Malcolm Brabant BBC News, Athens

The announcement comes a day after a strike by Greek civil servants

This is the most momentous "name day" in the life of Greece's Prime Minister, George Papandreou, and for all the wrong reasons.

Like other Greeks called George, 23 April - Saint George's Day - is more important than their birthdays.

But the prime minister had little cause for celebration as he stood on the waterfront on Kastellorizo, Greece's most distant island, and announced surrender to the forces of international finance.

Until Thursday, his socialist administration was still insisting that it wanted to borrow money from the world's markets to repay Greece's elephantine debt.

But capitulation was inevitable after European statisticians disclosed that Greece's deficit was even worse than first thought.

In addition some banks had been expressing concern that, without the eurozone safety net, Greece might give them what is euphemistically known as a haircut, by either delaying the repayment of debt, or paying less than it owed.

Ruinous interest rates

After Mr Papandreou made the announcement, government sources gave the reasons behind the decision.

The single currency is facing its biggest credibility test since its launch in 1999

One said: "We are asking for the activation of this plan today because we do not want our sacrifices to be in vain - all of our savings to be put towards interest rates. The Greek people deserve a change for their country.

"We are on track with our plan to reduce the deficit by 4% this year and this mechanism will help us achieve our targets.

"With the activation of this mechanism, we will have cast aside all doubts that we will face any difficulties with funding in the foreseeable future.

"We have acted today to bring the calmness necessary - a safe harbour - to lay solid foundations for a new economy, a stronger Greece. There can no longer be any credible talk of default. "

A British banker in Greece told me he thought the rescue package would keep Greece afloat for a year.

But he was doubtful that the European Union would want to keep pouring money into Greece after that.

The great fear of Greeks is that the International Monetary Fund will coerce the government into making even more swingeing cuts than it has dared implement so far.

Kriton Orfanos, a psychologist at a family centre in Athens, estimates that he has lost 10% of his salary and fears that his future pension will be slashed from 1,100 to 650 euros (£953 to £563) a month.

"I have to tell the European people that they have to fight together with us because these [austerity] measures will come to other countries after us, like Italy, Portugal, Spain, even in the UK."

Greek crisis continues

Asian stocks slide amid Greek debt crisis

What went wrong in Greece? Greece's economic reforms that led to it abandoning the drachma in favour of the euro in 2002 made it easier for the country to borrow money. Greece went on a debt-funded spending spree, including high-profile projects such as the 2004 Athens Olympics, which went well over budget. It was hit by the downturn, which meant it had to spend more on benefits and received less in taxes. There were also doubts about the accuracy of its economic statistics. Greece's economic problems meant lenders started charging higher interest rates to lend it money and widespread tax evasion also hit the government's coffers. There have been demonstrations against the government's austerity measures to deal with its 300bn euro (£267bn) debt, such as cuts to public sector pay. Now the government has announced that it needs to access the 30bn euros (£26bn) in emergency loans it has been offered by other EU countries. BACK 1 of 6 NEXT Asian stock markets have suffered big falls amid further signs that the Greek debt crisis is intensifying. Shortly before the close, the Tokyo market was down more than 2.6% after falling almost 3% in early trading. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 1.3%, while Singapore has seen a 1.5% drop so far. Global shares have tumbled after the credit rating agency Standard and Poor's downgraded Greek debt to "junk" on Tuesday. European markets suffered bigger falls on Tuesday, with London's FTSE 100 down 2.6% and France's Cac 40 index falling 3.8%. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones index fell nearly 2%. The head of the International Monetary Fund will later urge German MPs to agree to a rescue of the Greek economy. Dominique Strauss-Kahn will travel to Berlin along with the president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, to persuade politicians that giving Greece billions of euros in aid is a "last resort". Progress on a deal to bail out Greece may also help to steady investors' nerves. 'No restructure' During a visit to Tokyo on Wednesday, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy announced a meeting of eurozone heads of state and government would be held on 10 May to discuss the Greek crisis. You have to be honest; if not, nobody can help you Angela Merkel, German Chancellor Your comments He insisted negotiations on the aid were "well on track" and that there was "no question about restructuring" Greek debt. Meanwhile, the Financial Times newspaper in the UK reports that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is considering raising its contribution to the bail-out by 10bn euros ($13.3bn; £8.7bn) to 25bn euros. Correspondents say the idea of a bail-out is unpopular with the German public, which doubts it will save Greece from going bankrupt. The Greek government has acknowledged it can no longer afford to raise money on international markets. It has urged the European Union and the IMF to release the bail-out package so it can make debt repayments due next month. In Greece itself, demonstrators called for the country to default on its debts, so that foreign banks would pay the price for the crisis. Greece has become the first eurozone member to have its debt downgraded to "junk" status. When ratings agencies demote a country's credit rating it means they think it is now a riskier place to invest. Some financial institutions have rules prohibiting them from investing in "junk" bonds. Portugal's credit rating was also cut by two-notches to A-minus, further fuelling concern that the crisis was about to spread across Europe, forcing a number of countries to default on their debts, hurting the euro, and sparking a new crisis. 'Down to the wire' Some investors have expressed concern that the current market jitters could turn into something much bigger. World markets are not convinced the eurozone will agree a bail-out "We have the makings of a market crisis here," Neil Mackinnon, a global macro strategist at VTB Capital, told the Associated Press news agency. Correspondents say the markets are not convinced that governments in the eurozone will have the political will to reach an agreement on a bail-out for Greece, especially in Germany. On Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated that Greece had to first outline further steps to reduce its budget deficit before her government would endorse the release of funds from a 45bn-euro rescue package. "You have to economise, you have to become fair, you have to be honest; if not, nobody can help you," she warned the Greek people. Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said the downgrade of its debt did "not reflect the real state of our economy, nor the fiscal situation, nor the ongoing negotiations which have the very realistic prospects that they will be completed successfully in the next few days". "One wishes that Europe had acted a little differently. Three and four months ago we were saying that the mechanism must be ready and it must be detailed, that the markets must know what exactly is going on. "Unfortunately, for a series of political reasons, we are down to the wire," he added.

Unless conditional

email 1

Conditional tense 2

Complete the sentences

1.

Liz is tired all the time. She shouldn't go to bed so late.

If ________________________.

2.

It's rather late. I don't think Ann will come to see us now.

I'd be surprised if Ann ________________________.

3.

I'm sorry I disturbed you. I didn't know you were busy.

If I'd known you were busy, I ________________________.

4.

The dog attacked you, but only because you provoked it.

If ________________________.

5.

I don't want them to be upset, so I've decided not to tell them what happened.

They __________________ if __________________.

6.

Unfortunately, I didn't have an umbrella and so I got very wet in the rain.

I ________________________.

7.

Martin failed his driving test last week. He was very nervous and that's why he failed.

If he ________________________.


Conditional Tenses
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Example : If the weather is fine, we will hike up the hill. ( hike )

1. If I go to Kuala Lumpur, I ______ in touch with you. ( get )

2. We ______ the meeting if there is not enough quorum. ( postpone )

3. You ______ as soon as the job is done. ( pay )

4. If the notice came out earlier, more of us ______ for the treasure hunt. ( register )

5. The authorities ______ their search as soon as the weather improves. ( intensify )

6. No one _____ you anymore if you are still stubborn. ( advise )

7. If David had been luckier, he ______ the contest. ( win )

8. If you had lost your temper, you ______ a good friend. ( lose )

9. You ______ if you had worked harder than the others. ( promote )

10. The workers' demonstration ______ if the manager had listened to their complaints. ( avoid )

Conditional tense

Conditional Tenses ( Use the right form of the verbs in the brackets )

1. If you listen carefully to the tape, you _____ ( hear ) the sound of a child crying.

2. If I _____ ( see ) a tiger, I would run for my life.

3. _____ you _____ ( buy ) the shares if the price had been lower ?

4. We _____ ( play ) football on the field if it doesn't rain.

5. You will strain yourself if you _____ ( try ) to lift that box all by yourself.

6. If there _____ ( not be ) so much publicity about the show, it would not have been so successful.

7. If I _____ ( be ) your mother, I would not let you go.

8. Many people _____ ( be injured ) if the stage collapses.

9. If you _____ ( drive ) carefully round the bend, there wouldn't have been an accident.

10. _____ she _____ ( wade ) across the river if the bridge had collapsed ?

1.
We ______ last night, but we went to the concert instead.

(A) must have studied
(B) might study
(C)

should have studied

(D) would study

2. I'm not tired enough to go to bed yet. I wouldn't sleep if I ______ to bed now.

(A) go
(B) went
(C) had gone
(D) would go

3. If I were you, I ______ that coat. It's much too expensive.

(A) won't buy
(B) don't buy
(C) am not going to buy
(D)wouldn't buy


4. I decided to stay at home last night. I would have gone out if I ______ so tired.

(A) wasn't
(B) weren't
(C) wouldn't have been
(D) hadn't been


5. I wish I ______ a car. It would make life so much easier.

(A) have
(B) had
(C) would have
(D) should have

Quizzes

Quizzes

What do you think of the current situation in Greece?

Obviously our country is facing major economic problems in much the same way as the rest of Europe has been witnessing recently. I believe it is the result of bad management of funds by government for many years. In addition, our public administration must be modernised and streamlined to work more efficiently.

I think that the government has to put more effort into catching tax evaders and making them pay what they owe. I saw recently that in Greece there are less than 5 000 people who declare incomes over Euro 100 000. This is obviously not the reality in Greece and something must be done about it.

The current economic crisis and the resulting austerity measures, i.e. the rise in VAT, in income tax and the tax on other products, will really hit the economy. I am afraid we can expect rising prices and greater unemployment in the coming months. I personally see no option to the measures the government has taken. The fact is as a country we have been spending and borrowing too much. This had to end some time. All we can do is try and save funds through government cuts and through creating a more efficient and prosperous economy.

To conclude, in my opinion, the whole crisis in Greece has done nothing to strengthen European cohesion. It has obviously damaged relations between Greece and Germany and has created a picture of a European Union which only speaks of mutual support but when one country is in trouble the others think they should sort out their own problems and not rely on help from other European union members.

Greece and political credibility

Illegal immigration in Greece

Illegal immigrants ignored by Athenians

A job fit for an immigrant (Photo: Zotosi/ Flickr)

At the crossroads of East and West, Athens has become the terminus of many migration routes. The Albanian community, the most numerous, is also the most stigmatised in Greece. It all stems from a misunderstanding

In the Omonia square, banners and small groups of people gather together. The Athenians, used to seeing such demonstrations, no longer pay them any attention. Gazmend Elezi, an Albanian who has come from the ‘cool’ student area of Exarchia, remains determined nonetheless. Ten years ago he decided to come to Greece, crossing the mountains on foot, whilst his brother chose Italy. ‘It was closer and cheaper,’ says the 30=year-old. ‘There was no need to pay someone to smuggle me in. I just had to get across the mountains.’

Today he is protesting, like other Albanians who have come to Omonia Square, against the ‘state theft which demands 150 Euros for a residence permit, and then delivers them when they are no longer valid. It’s a problem for me to remain without the proper documents. I can’t go back to Albania to see my family, I wouldn’t be able to return to Greek soil afterwards.’ Weary, Gazmend has given up illegal work contracts in order to sign up at university.

‘The extreme complexity of procedure and the slow pace of bureaucracy discourages people when it comes to sorting out their situation,’ accuses Vassilis Chronopoulos, a member of the ‘Socrates’ association which works to help immigrants lost in the maze of Greek administration. ‘Another problem is illegal, cash-in-hand work which is very widespread in Greece, and creates more illegal immigration. Most illegal immigrants can’t prove they have a declared income and so are not covered by social security. Or it is impossible for them to prove that they have worked and therefore to renew their residence permit.’

600, 000 Albanians currently live in Greece, making up two-thirds of the total number of immigrants in the country. Most moved there following the fall of the Communist regime and after the collapse of the pyramid loans scheme in operation in Albania in the 1990s.

Matilda Kouramano, 19, is also Albanian but has Greek nationality. She comes from Sarandë, in the ‘Northern Epirus’, the name given by the Greeks to this southern region of Albania which is populated by Greek communities. An orthodox cross around her neck, Matilda admits that she has not come across the same difficulties as her former countrymen have. ‘I left in 1997, during the civil war. In my home town, all the young people want to leave,’ she confides. ‘Thanks to my mother and father’s Greek origins, I have quickly integrated into society here.’

Co-existing migrations

In fact, immigration into Greece is split into two co-existing situations. Firstly, there is that of immigrants of Greek origin, coming from Albania, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan. Secondly, there is that of non-Greeks, also coming from Albania, as well as Bulgaria, Pakistan and Nigeria. ‘There is positive discrimination towards Greeks because the country continues to favour blood ties, making integration and relationships between different communities more difficult,’ says Anna Triandafyllidou, a researcher on immigration at the Eliamep Institute.

The rules for non-Greek immigrants are still very strict: ‘children of non-Greek origin, for example, have to ask for a residence permit when they reach 18, regardless of the fact that they were born in Greece’, Triandafyllidou explains. ‘Then the problem is renewing the permit, since to do so you have to have worked 400 days in a two-year period’.

Another difficulty: Greece, traditionally a country of emigration, is badly prepared for tackling the opposite problem of immigration. ‘In 1992, Greece invited its nationals living abroad to return. The government quickly realised that that was not a good idea, because it sparked large-scale population movement and a competition over who could be the most ‘Greek’,’ the researcher adds.

These immigrant influxes were before long portrayed by the media as an invasion. Later, they were viewed as a breeding ground for organised crime, because certain detainees released from Albanian prisons crossed the border into Greece. Then it was said that Albanian workers were pushing wages down. Finally, the recent scandal surrounding a film showing two Albanians who were mistreated by Greek police officers has brought the Albanian question back into the spotlight.

‘We can no longer work like this’

‘We can no longer work according to waves of regularisation of immigrants, as has happened in 1998, 2001, 2005,’ says Triandafyllidou, in a frank and unambiguous response to the question of immigration policy. ‘Each time they have to renew their residence permits, we fall back into the same vicious cycle. It is time to react - immigration into Greece has been going on for 20 years now.’

Ilias Bellou, an Albanian from Voskopolje who also arrived in Greece on foot, is now a lawyer working to defend the rights of Albanian immigrants. He is pleading for an ‘immigration policy for the next two decades’. For him, making life hard for immigrants leads only to injustice and poverty, and others seek to take advantage of these conditions.

‘Illegal, cash-in-hand work continues, making Greece more competitive but causing the state to lose large sums of money. Albanians or Bulgarians will no longer work for low wages and are demanding their rights. All these people work, create wealth in Greece but do not benefit from social security. The solution is to get immigration organised.’

Liliana Tsourdi is of the same opinion. Fighting to defend the rights of asylum seekers in Greece, she has ideals: ‘A few years ago, Greece was one of the worst countries in which to seek asylum. We were not even considered a safe country under the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) criteria’, she reminds us.

‘Today we have a proper programme, thanks to the adaptation of European directives. Civil servants and police officers still need further training to make sure these rights are granted. But I am convinced that, as for the right to asylum, the European Union must have a common policy on the issue of immigration’.

More newcomers are settling in in the Sophocleous Road area in Athens. Chinese, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Africans have ended up in Greece whilst en route for western Europe and set up their businesses in the street, to be replaced after nightfall by Nigerian prostitutes. ‘Would you like a bow? Or a quiver?’ offer the statuesque Africans in Monastiraki square, right in the centre of Athens. Others sell clearly more useful items, like pirated films.

But just like the Albanians working illegally on building sites or farms, or the Bulgarians in the tourist industry, these illegal immigrants keep the unofficial economy turning, an economy which, according to the ILO, makes up between 30 and 35% of Greece’s GDP. It’s the highest level in the EU, and a real problem for Greece.

The Schengen Agreement

15 Years of the Schengen Agreement
Europe Without Internal Borders Continues to Expand
Share Article |

Mar 30, 2010 Aleksandar Kocic
Travelling without a passport and stopping at borders has been a reality in Europe for 15 years. Suite 101 takes a look at the pros and cons of borderless Europe.

The Schengen Agreement, which came into force on March 26th, 1995, began as a practical move towards the European Union’s goal of ‘free movement of persons’. Initially signed by only five European Union members - Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands - the Agreement now includes 25 countries. It got its name after a town in Luxembourg, where it was signed in 1985, although the actual signing took place on a boat in the middle of the Moselle River, which forms the border between Luxembourg and Germany. The negotiations on the convention applying the Agreement took five years, and then further five years passed before the convention was implemented.
What Is Schengen and Who is in

Although it is an EU Agreement, Schengen does not include all EU members - Ireland and the UK decided to stay out and retain complete control of their borders, while some of the newest EU members, such as Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria, will have to wait longer before joining, since they are not yet deemed to have met the necessary security criteria. On the other hand, non-EU members such as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland are part of the Agreement.

Schengen’s main feature is the creation of a single external border, with a single set of rules for policing that border. That means people living inside the Schengen area are guaranteed freedom to travel without passports and border controls. This in turn led to tighter rules regulating the external border, which is why the Schengen area has been dubbed by some ‘Fortress Europe’.

Other main features of Schengen are common rules on asylum, common list of countries whose nationals require visas, creation of a single information system which allows for a shared database of wanted or undesirable people, and joint efforts to fight drug-related crime. The treaty allows signatories to reimpose border controls for short periods of time if necessary for reasons of national security. A few countries have done this so far, namely France, Portugal, Finland and Germany during major sporting or national events.
Pros and Cons of Schengen

In addition to making citizen’s life easier by abolishing border controls, among the biggest benefits of Schengen has been its effect on European integration, according to Daniela Kietz of the German Institute for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. In an interview with Deutsche Welle, she said that lifting internal borders has made EU-wide measures in areas like migration, asylum, and police cooperation absolutely necessary. “[A]fter the agreement took effect, Schengen member states couldn't control migration or asylum flows into their countries anymore. In order to balance this, EU-wide measures as part of an all-encompassing migration policy had to be installed."

Read more at Suite101: 15 Years of the Schengen Agreement: Europe Without Internal Borders Continues to Expand http://eeuropeanrussianaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/15-years-of-passport-free-travel-for-europe#ixzz0lX3H0Zim

Immigration

Useful phrases for a business letter

Useful phrases for a business letter

Immigrants - pros and cons

Immigration is a hot topic in the U.S. When we speak about immigration, it is usually about illegal immigration. Illegal immigrants come to the U.S. looking for better life. These immigrants usually are running away from poverty, oppression, and unemployment that is widespread in their own countries.

However, there are pros and cons on immigrants entering the U.S. and we should take both sides into account before passing a judgment.

Pros On Immigrants:

• Immigrants help to keep the economy of a country going by ensuring that the lower paid jobs are filled
• Immigration creates a new pool of consumers for a vast number of goods and services
• Contributions to social security are often not claimed by illegal immigrants
• Immigrants pay sales taxes
• Immigrants who end up owning property pay real estate taxes
• Farmers use services of immigrants to be able to plant and harvest crops less expensively
• Many illegal immigrants open bank accounts that give interest and dividends to banks
• Most illegal immigrants end up renting properties in depressed areas where otherwise it would be hard to find renters
• As immigrants buy properties, commission is generated for real estate agents and brokers

Cons On Immigrants

• Immigrants end up costing tax payers billions of dollars
• It is difficult to prosecute illegal immigrants if they flee the country
• There is a disparity between legal and illegal immigrants
• Illegal immigrants who succeed in the entering the country are constantly inspiring others to do the same
• Immigrants propagate the demand for cheap labor and low wages

Besides these listed, there are many other pros and cons on immigrants. Whether having immigrants in the country is good or bad is a debatable topic.

For Maria Monday 19 April

Hi Maria,

if you have a chance try and complete the 100 questions test.

Click Here

Opening a bank account

1. What sort of bank account can I open?

current account/chequing account
saving account
Can I have cheques?

rate of interest
debit card
credit card
standing order (for my rent)

proof of residence
proof of employment

accounts in a foreign currency
exchange rate for the dollar
do you offer web banking/ebanking

make a payment
make a withdrawal
transfer money - domestic transfer - international transfer - what does it cost? how long does it take?

previous account
Do you offer mortgages?
Do you offer personal loans?

HITLER INFORMED ABOUT GREEK DEBT

GREECE in Eurozone a mistake

Mr Bean at the dentist

Emigration returns to Ireland and Greece

Emigration returns to crisis-hit Greece and Ireland



In the places worst affected by Europe's economic crisis, unemployment and cuts in pay and public services are hitting the headlines. But the crisis is also having another effect with profound long-term consequences - the return of emigration.

Places like Greece and Ireland thought the good times of the last decade or two had finally ended the cycle of emigration, with the brightest and best youngsters no longer feeling they had to move away.

No-one believes that any more.

In the fish market in Athens is Filippos Katampouris, one of the best-qualified assistant fishmongers you'll ever meet.

He has a degree from a Greek university, and a masters degree in technology management from the UK.

When he gave up his British job to return to Greece a few years ago, he could have been a symbol of a newly prosperous country offering good prospects to young professionals.

"I wanted to live in my country, didn't want to spend the rest of my life in a foreign country," he said.


With hindsight, he thinks he made "a horrible mistake" coming back. As the economic crisis began to hit Greece he lost his job in a market research agency. All he can do now is join his father and "work in the fish market to make ends meet".

"It's a very dark future for me," he adds gloomily. "I'm thinking of going back to the UK, but my wife won't come with me so I'm going to stay here and hope for the best."

Austerity

Thousands of Greeks are facing this dilemma - do they stay and suffer austerity and unemployment, or become the next generation of large exiled Greek communities in Australia, Britain or the US?

Passport office queue
Future emigrants are among those queuing for passports in Dublin

In Ireland, the resumption of emigration is already well underway.

During the Celtic Tiger boom, there was Irish huge pride in the fact that jobs in new industries were keeping locals at home. Ireland was even attracting its own immigrants in large numbers from elsewhere in Europe to work in everything from building to financial services.

But that boom - which became a property bubble - has come to a catastrophic end. Unemployment has risen sharply, and the Irish government has had to introduce harsh austerity measures.

Among the public sector workers taking industrial action against the measures are the staff at the main passport office in Dublin.

Angry queues form outside each morning as people hope to obtain their passports despite the action, some for holidays, but others for possible emigration.

Dream over

"I've an offer now to go to the States and I'm thinking of just getting out of here," one man in the queue told me.



"I definitely don't want to leave the country. But it's a case of being driven out of it at the minute. It's just pay cut after pay cut. And if I do go, I won't be back."

A short walk away is the campus of Trinity College Dublin, where the president of the students' union, Conan O'Broin, is equally despondent.

"I've said goodbye to five or six very close friends over the last few months, some of whom at least I don't think are going to come back," he said.

"The dreamland is over, we're back to reality with a bang," he adds. It is "the same cycle which hit Ireland in the 1950s and the 1980s, high levels of emigration, used as a safety valve because we can't get our act together to develop a sustainable economy".

He is, he admits, seriously considering leaving himself.

There has always been international movement in search of work. And the European single currency was supposed to help create a continent in which people could either enjoy their own country's new prosperity, or move freely around if they felt like a spell abroad.

But now many young Greek and Irish emigrants, despairing at the state of their home economies, feel forced to head for the exit, just as their parents and grandparents might have done.

Europe is no longer the newly happy and prosperous economic family they hoped their countries had joined.

Greece back on the money markets

Greece has raised 1.56bn euros ($2bn; £1.3bn) in an over-subscribed bond issue that was a key test of investor confidence in the debt-laden country.

The issue is Greece's first debt sale since Sunday's agreement by eurozone countries to provide Athens with a financial safety net if it defaults.

However, Greece had to agree to pay a higher rate of return to investors to get the latest bond issue away.

The yield on 12-month bonds was 4.85%, and on 6-month notes it was 4.55%.

This compares with a yield of 2.2% paid on 12-month bills, and 1.38% on 6-month bonds, in an issue it made in January.

Greece's debt management agency had originally sought to raise 1.2bn euros from the issue.

Ben May, an economist at Capital Economics, said the issue looked "pretty successful" and was likely to ease some immediate concerns among investors about Greece's financial health.

"It's a positive endorsement of the [eurozone] bail-out measures that went out over the weekend," Mr May said. "But clearly the yields are still very high... so it does not really change the underlying position that Greece has very tough times ahead."

Solvency challenge

It is thought that Pacific Investment Management (Pimco), the world's biggest investor in bonds, may have shunned the issue.

Mohamed El-Erian, Pimco's chief executive, had earlier told the Reuters news agency that the eurozone's rescue package did not address Greece's fundamental crisis.

"Markets have signalled that Greece faces both refinancing, or liquidity challenges, as well as stock of debt, or solvency challenges," Mr El-Erian said.

"Based on what we know right now, we would not be a buyer [of the Greek bonds]. We are very cautious toward Greece and we are in a 'wait and see' attitude and we would like to see greater evidence of adjustment on Greece," he said.

Greece must raise about 11bn euros by the end of May to refinance maturing debt and interest charges. Its overall 2010 borrowing need is 53bn euros.

Some analysts believe the latest bond issue went smoothly because the treasury bills have short maturities.

However, Greece is soon to raise another 10bn euros via longer-term bills, which will test investors' appetite for locking in their money for a longer period.

On Sunday, eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund agreed a 30bn euro standby aid package that Greece can call upon should its financial crisis worsen.

'Borrow freely'

The country's finance minister, George Papaconstantinou, said the government would continue to tap the markets for money, rather than draw on the package.

"Our aim remains - and I believe we will continue to do it - to continue to freely borrow from the markets, as wedid today," he said.

"I stress that the Greek government has not requested the activation of this [aid] mechanism, despite that fact that it is immediately available if required," he added.

However, many analysts believe Greece's heavy debt burden means it will eventually be forced to call on the emergency funds. Capital Economics' Mr May believes there is "a strong chance" of this happening.

A letter to WIND

You have received today (12th April) a delivery of 6 mobile phones from WIND which you ordered on 2 April through their Thessaloniki offices. The contact person was Ms Papadopoulou. You had ordered six telephone Nokia 3422. WIND, you discover, has sent you 3 Nokia 3422 and 3 Nokia 3465.

Write to the company explaining their mistake and asking them to correct it.

Writing a business letter

How to Set Out Your Business Letter

You'll write numerous different letters in the course of your business writing, but they should all be set out in business letter writing format.

But just as with documentation of essays, so, too, with business letters - there's no one right way of setting out. The important thing is to experiment with the different ways and then to settle on one way and to stay with it. The following business letter examples are suggested layouts for business letters using letterheads and fully typed letters.

Note: these days it is customary to type all business letters unless specifically requested to hand-write them.
What You Should Write in a Business Letter

According to Strano, Mohan and McGror, in their book, Communicating!, a business letter has five main parts:

1. the heading

2. the date

3. the opening

4. the body

5. the closing.
1. What to Put in the Heading of a Business Letter

This is your name and address.

You can use your fancy letterhead or just type up your business name and address.

The letterhead address can be positioned anywhere on the top of the page: centred, left side or right side.

However, if you're typing the business address, it should be located in the top right-hand corner.

2. How to Write the Date in a Business Letter

The date is very important, since it can be useful in determining priorities, for filing and it also can have legal ramifications.

In a typed address letter, the date goes immediately under your address.

In a letterhead letter, the date can go on the left-hand side, or the right-hand side, immediately under the letterhead.

Write101.com

32 MacDonnell Road

MARGATE BEACH 4019



1 January 2009

Note that the suburb name is in capitals and that there is NO punctuation in the address.

The method of writing the date shown here is the easiest and least likely to lead to confusion. It looks neat and is clear and concise.

Always write the name of the month; if you are dealing with overseas clients or markets, or even with people who were born overseas, you can run into all sorts of problems if you only use numbers:

11-3-09 could be 11 March 2009 OR 3 November 2009, depending on where you come from!
3. How to Write the Opening of a Business Letter

This is the:

* Name
* title (if any Manager, Principal etc)
* address of the person to whom you are writing and the greeting or salutation.

This information always goes on the left-hand side of the page, starting one line lower than your business name and address and the date.

Write101.com

32 MacDonnell Road MARGATE BEACH Q 4019

1 January 2009



Mr Garth Hopper

Manager

Country Publications

PO Box 123

SYDNEY 2003

Dear Garth,



─────────────────────────────────────────────────────

or

Write101.com

32 MacDonnell Road

MARGATE BEACH 4019

1 January 2009



Mr Garth Hopper

Manager

Country Publications

PO Box 123

SYDNEY 2003



Dear Garth,
4. How to Write the Body of the Business Letter

This is like the message in your memo and it follows the same rules in that it should be:

* clear
* concise
* courteous.

I know I've said that before (a couple of times) - it bears repeating.

The way you organise the body of your letter will depend on the reason for writing it ... naturally.
What Should Be Included in a Business Letter

When writing a business letter, you must be sure that no part of your letter will be misunderstood. This is why the language you use should be simple. There are no prizes for using the biggest words in a business letter - especially if your reader is not familiar with the words and has to waste time finding out what you mean.

Worse still - if you are not familiar with the words you've used - you make yourself look a right twit! And that is definitely not good for business.

Time is money these days, so you need to ensure that you make your point as quickly as you can in any correspondence.

Like any other piece of writing a business letter should have a beginning, a middle and an end.

It doesn't matter how short a letter is, the important thing is to communicate your message effectively. Don't feel you have to 'fill up' the page to make it look 'balanced'.
5. How to Write the Closing of a Business Letter and Sign Off

This includes the final words to your reader - the bit that tells him or her what action will follow or thanks him or her for any help given. It also includes the 'signing off' and name of the writer.

It is customary to sign off, 'Yours faithfully' if it is a formal business letter or if you don't know the name of the person; you sign 'Yours sincerely' when you do know the name of the person.

It is acceptable to use less formal closings - 'Kind regards', 'Regards'- if the whole tone of your letter has been the same, but don't end a very formal letter in this way.

Your closing signature can be placed on the left-hand side of the letter (which makes it easier on the typist) or on the right-hand side - in line with the address (if the address has been typed in the right-hand corner and / or with the date (if it has been placed in the right-hand corner).

Business terms

Some practice test for Maria

Various BULATS free practice tests:

Number ONE

Number TWO

Number THREE

Number FOUR

Number FIVE

Globalisation - good or bad?

In his book The Lexus and the Olive Tree, Thomas Friedman wrote:

"Globalization is not a phenomenon. It is not just some passing trend. Today it is an overarching international system shaping the domestic politics and foreign relations of virtually every country, and we need to understand it as such."

As thoughtful people concerned about world affairs, our job is to pick up "globalization," examine it from all sides, dissect it, figure out what makes it tick, and then nurture and promote the good parts and mitigate or slow down the bad parts.

Fire Good. Fire Bad.
Globalization is much like fire. Fire itself is neither good nor bad. Used properly, it can cook food, sterilize equipment, form iron, and heat our homes. Used carelessly, fire can destroy lives, towns and forests in an instant. As Friedman says:

"[Globalization] can be incredibly empowering and incredibly coercive. It can democratize opportunity and democratize panic. It makes the whales bigger and the minnows stronger. It leaves you behind faster and faster, and it catches up to you faster and faster. While it is homogenizing cultures, it is also enabling people to share their unique individuality farther and wider."

Globalization has dangers and an ugly dark side. But it can also bring tremendous opportunities and benefits. Just as capitalism requires a network of governing systems to keep it from devouring societies, globalization requires vigilance and the rule of law.

Checks and Balances Needed
Anti-trust laws, the Securities and Exchange Commission, labor unions, charities, the Federal Trade Commission, and countless other agencies and organizations keep American capitalism in check. Similar transparent mechanisms are needed to make sure globalization is a positive force in the world.

Globalization will always have cheerleaders who are blind to the destruction globalization can cause. And it will always have strident opponents blind to the way globalization gives some people their first opportunity to fulfill basic aspirations.

As with most issues, the majority of people will be in the middle. They will see globalization not as something to worship or demonize. Instead, they will see it as something to mold, shape and manage for the betterment of everyone.

Globalisation

Saving the environment - Greece

What can Greece do to help to save the natural environment? (300 words)

Some ideas?

(1) Encourage recycling (of what?)

(2) Be more strict with approving plans for new houses (Why?)

(3) Encourage people not to use their cars so much? (How?)

(4) Make people more conscious of saving the environment. (How? With what effects?)

(5) Stop forest fires. (How does this help?)

(6) Use alternative sources of energy - clean energy (Which sources?)



Read this and note useful vocabulary.

Thinking of some ways to contribute to saving our Earth? Then read on for some simple ways to save the environment.
Simple Ways to Save the Environment
We frequently talk about saving our environment and how important it is to conserve the natural resources. Since the school years we have been learning about the importance of a healthy environment. Environmental education has made us realize the need to preserve our natural wealth. But when did you last take a step towards saving the environment? Do you remember having resorted to a measure that can contribute to the safeguard of nature? When have you last acted upon the need to save environment? It is high time we take some major steps towards saving the environment. It is high time we wake up and make some serious efforts to save nature.

When we think of saving the environment, we often imagine devising some lengthy procedures and serious measures of saving the planet. We think of all the constituents of the environment and wonder what we can do to offer them safety. We think of afforestation and wonder how we can contribute. We think of the precious animal life and sit puzzled finding ways of saving animals. Pollution of water, land and air tops our list of environment-unfriendly factors and serious thoughts of curbing pollution crowd our mind. But the need of the day is to rise above thoughts and words and take some serious action. Each one of us can actually contribute to saving the environment by choosing simple ways of doing so. Following are the simple ways to save the environment.

Simple Ways to Save the Environment

Why not resolve to plant some trees every year? If each of us plants one little tree, it can amount to a great amount of afforestation making the environment healthier. Increasing the use of bicycles or making a habit to walk down short distances can contribute to reduction in air pollution. Try to minimize the use of vehicles. Use CFC-free products. For some destinations, the use of vehicles has no better options. But at least maintain your vehicles; clean their exhaust pipes, keep the pollution they cause under strict control.

Look at the gadgets you use at home. Are all of them necessary? Do you maintain them well and use them efficiently? Replace the air filters for your air conditioning unit once a month. Turn off the ACs as also the lights and fans in unused rooms. Make sure to switch off the lights, the television or radio systems before you leave the house. Do not keep your computer switched on while you are not using it. Did you know that your refrigerator and water heaters consume a lot of power? A careful use of these gadgets is a good way to save the electricity.

One of the most important constituents of the environment is water. Preventing the wastage of water and curbing water pollution is one of our primary duties. Turn off the taps; do not let the buckets overflow! The use of bath showers and heavy-flushes in toilets leads to an excessive usage of water. Do not dump garbage down a storm drain. Do not pollute water bodies.

Recycling is one of the best measures of saving the environment. Try to use renewable sources of energy. Resort to the use of renewable natural resources. A simple way to do this is to lessen the use of rubber and plastic. Instead, use paper bags and cardboard containers. Even a simple habit of buying in bulk can save a lot of packaging material, thus contributing to saving the environment. Buy the products that you can reuse.

When in office, print only when it is absolutely necessary. Printing every soft copy leads to a heavy wastage of paper. Remember to switch off your computer when no one is using it. Avoid an excessive use of air conditioners in the office. Use emails instead of paper correspondence. Do not use disposable cups when you have an option of using the ceramic ones.

Minimize the use of animal products, which involve their killing. Animal fur and ivory are some of the excessively used products that are gradually leading to the extinction of the animals that provide them. Resolve not to hunt animals. Follow the principles of saving the environment and encourage others in taking to environment-saving activities.

Activities like composting can be of great help in recycling of garbage into useful manures. Avoid an extensive use of chemical fertilizers and synthetic nutrients. Natural manures are a better option for farms and gardens.

These are some of the simple ways in which we can contribute towards saving nature. A small step by each of us can make a huge leap towards saving the environment.

More English idioms and expressions

Q1 When he heard that he had lost his job, it was cold comfort to learn that he could keep his car.

(a) a lot of help
(b) some help
(c) a little help
(d) little help

Q2 The selection of candidates was done in a hit or miss manner so that nobody knew why they were chosen.

(a) friendly
(b) happy
(c) easy
(d) casual

Q3 She had got herself in a pickle by trying to please everyone at the same time.

(a) into confusion
(b) into trouble
(c) into difficulties
(d) into problems

Q4 I'm afraid that my poor old car has finally breathed its last.
(a) stopped working
(b) stopped trying
(c) stopped flying
(d) stopped turning

Q5 You're living in a fool's paradise if you think they're going to pay you for nothing.
(a) under an illusion
(b) under a dream
(c) under a cloud
(d) under a delusion

Q6 It was a total mystery as apparently there was neither rhyme nor reason why he did it.
(a) no logical reason
(c) no particular reason
(b) no real reason
(d) no special reason

Q7 There is clearly a sea change in the way people now look at crime today.
(a) a little change
(b) a huge change
(c) a fine chang
e (d) a small change

Q8 They looked everywhere for the lost passport but it seems to have vanished into thin air.
(a) disappeared slowly
(c) disappeared completely
(b) disappeared gradually
(d) disappeared quickly

Q9 When it comes to a crisis, Charles is a tower of strength.
(a) very tall
(b) very reliable
(c) very strong
(d) very trusting

Q10 Whenever he has been treated badly, he always demands his pound of flesh.
(a) total recompense
(b) total satisfaction
(c) total agreement
(d) total acceptance

Prepositions with to be

English Idioms and Expressions / Advanced level # 7
English Grammar Prepositions

Q1 What are you up to?
(a) trying now
(b) doing now
(c) achieving now
(d) starting now

Q2 What are you into?
(a) capable of
(b) proud of
(c) familiar with
(d) interested in

Q3 I'm off on Monday.
(a) having a holiday
(b) having an extra day
(c) having a long day
(d) having a short day

Q4 Are you in on the latest developments?
(a) kept informed about
(b) kept attached to
(c) kept told about
(d) kept written to
Q5 You're on next.

(a) It's your opportunity
(c) It's your time
(b) It's your moment
(d) It's your turn

Q6 Are you in on Tuesdays?
(a) at home
(b) in touch
(c) in the house
(d) in the area

Q7 I'm certainly up for it.
(a) willing to try
(b) ready to take
(c) wanting a chance
(d) keen to go

Q8 You should know that I'm all for it.
(a) completely taken with
(c) in complete agreement with
(b) wholly interested in
(d) in complete satisfaction with
Q9 I'm through with that company.

(a) completed with
(b) finished with
(c) tired of
(d) sick of

Q10 I'm after a new car.
(a) searching for
(b) looking for
(c) aiming for
(d) trying for

Lucky Alex

Lucky Alex

Q1 Alex had lost a lot of money and as a consequence was feeling down in the dumps.
(a) lonely
(b) miserable
(c) uncomfortable
(d) uneasy

Q2 He had given in to a longstanding weakness of his and pinned his hopes on the favourite winning the race.
(a) made a wish about
(c) made a promise
(b) tried his luck with
(d) put a lot of faith in

Q3 This horse in all honesty didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning.
(a) a chance in a million
(c) a chance of success
(b) a chance worth taking
(d) a chance of a lifetime

Q4 Alex said he had had a dream about the horse winning but most people regarded this story with a pinch of
salt.
(a) with enthusiasm
(b) with caution
(c) with care
(d) with luck

Q5 What happened was that the stupid animal took fright halfway through the course and without batting an eyelid
decided to go back to the start.
(a) taking a chance
(b) turning round
(c) looking
(d) worrying at all

Q6 As far as Alex was concerned this was the last straw and he vowed he would never risk money on a horse
ever again.
(a) the final decision
(b) the final moment
(c) the final disaster
(d) the final occasion

Q7 The trouble was that he didn't have a bean not even enough to pay for the fare home.
(a) didn't have a wallet
(c) didn't have any change
(b) didn't have a penny
(d) didn't have a ticket

Q8 He decided he would swallow his pride and try and hitchhike.
(a) take his medicine
(c) not worry what people thought
(b) take no interest in other people
(d) forget about himself

Q9 Fortunately it wasn't long before he got a lift with an old man who had a heart of gold and gave him some
money.
(a) was very generous
(b) was very wise
(c) was very old
(d) was very ill

Q10 He told him to invest it wisely, which Alex did. He bought a ticket for the lottery and his ship came home
because he won the jackpot.
(a) his mind changed
(b) his opinion changed
(c) his luck changed
(d) his views changed

English idiom hands

English Idioms and Expressions / Advanced level # 2
Hands on
Q1 The opposition party dismissed the government's proposal out of hand.
(a) without further consideration
(c) without thinking
(b) with some hesitation
(d) with reluctance

Q2 Since she started work on the stock exchange she has been making money hand over fist.
(a) in moderation
(b) in large quantities
(c) to a certain extent
(d) to some extent

Q3 They have lost all their money and now lead a sort of hand to mouth existence.
(a) impoverished
(b) simplified
(c) leisurely
(d) indifferent

Q4 It's no good asking anybody in that shop to help you because they won't lift a finger.
(a) show you the way
(c) take your order
(b) carry your goods
(d) do anything at all for you

Q5 In the obituary about the millionaire all his enterprises were listed and it looked as if he had had a finger in
every pie.
(a) a control over many activities
(c) an interference in many activities
(b) an involvement in many activities
(d) a belief in many activities

Q6 I've just bought a brand new car with all the latest gadgets and quite honestly it has cost me an arm and a
leg.
(a) a reasonable amount of money
(c) a huge amount of money
(b) a fair amount of money
(d) a good deal of money

Q7 I don't want to have to twist your arm but I hope you realize that your refusal to comply could be harmful.

(a) allow you to agree
(b) force you to agree
(c) beg you to agree
(d) ask you to agree

Q8 Have a look at the benefits that the society can offer you and then you may feel like dipping your toe in the
water.
(a) deciding to try membership straightaway
(c) deciding to try membership for a year
(b) deciding to try membership quite soon
(d) deciding to try membership for a trial

Q9 If you do join a political party then you are expected to toe the line on every occasion.
(a) say what you like
(c) follow your conscience
(b) stick to the rules
(d) speak your mind

Q10 I wouldn't say I never see eye to eye with my employers but sometimes they can make extraordinary
demands.
(a) totally side
(b) totally work
(c) totally agree
(d) totally disagree

English Idioms

English Idioms and Expressions / Advanced level # 1
English Animal Idioms
Q1 There are times when you must decide and take the bull by the horns.
(a) make the right decision
(c) make a bold decision
(b) make the wrong decision
(d) make a final decision

Q2 He leads a dog's life really because his freedom is always curtailed.
(a) never knows what to do
(c) never goes out
(b) sometimes does something wrong
(d) never does what he wants

Q3 No-one ever mentions him because he's regarded as the black sheep of the family.
(a) the one with a sense of humour
(c) the one who is always late
(b) the one with a bad reputation
(d) the one who never washes

Q4 I shouldn't go outside without a raincoat because it's raining cats and dogs.
(a) it's just started to rain
(c) it's raining very heavily
(b) it's going to rain
(d) it's raining a little

Q5 You shouldn't sign there I think he's about to make a monkey out of you.
(a) to make a fool of you
(c) to make you feel stupid
(b) to make you lose money
(d) to make you lose interest

Q6 It's a lovely house and very big but nobody uses it so it's a bit of a white elephant.
(a) something very beautiful and useful
(c) something very cheap and useless
(b) something very big and useful
(d) something very expensive and useless

Q7 When the business folded, he took the lion's share of the assets.
(a) the easiest part
(b) the smallest part
(c) the biggest part
(d) the only part

Q8 Without my glasses I can't see where I'm going in fact I'm as blind as a bat.
(a) very short sighted
(b) very long sighted
(c) very far sighted
(d) very clear sighted

Q9 I get very irritated sometimes because they're always up with the lark and I like to lie in.
(a) up very easily
(b) up very early
(c) up very often
(d) up very noisily

Q10 I would advise you to do that as well and in that way you'll kill two birds with one stone.
(a) get things done twice
(c) get two things done at the same time
(b) get something done two times
(d) get two things done twice

The Greek Crisis