UNIT 4 - "SOCIETY" 
THE STATE OF THE NATION
The government, economic and society
make a difference
The government has made a huge difference since they came to power. They have done a lot to help the poor!
bureaucracy
There is too much bureaucracy. Businesses spend half their time dealing with official paperwork!
recession
There is a recession. The economy is in a total mess!
soft on
The government is soft on drugs. They should introduce stricter penalties!
go bankrupt
A lot of companies have gone bankrupt recently, so unemployment is going up!
boom
The economy is booming! Lots of new businesses are starting up and plenty of new jobs are being created.
shortages
With so little rain, there are a lot of water shortages
boost
The government`s policies for the protection of the environment have boosted our reputation in the world
undermine
Their policies areundermining national unity. They have created divisions and made society less stable.
struggling
People are really struggling because wages are so low and the cost of living is so high.
PHRASES
see on TV
Whenever I see him on TV, he comes across as being fairly well-intentioned.
do nothing to
He has done just nothing to people like me!
put up
In fact, he has just put up tuition fees for students.
be in debt
I am going to be so far in debt by the time I graduate, I will be paying it back for years!
vote for
Can`t you vote for them?
concerned about
They have been so concerned about supposedly "Green laws"
fight among
The opposition are so busy fighting among themselves...
cut back on
They have done actually a lot to cut back on bureaucracy too.
desperate for
The government is really desperate for people.
SO AND SUCH
SO
SUCH
The government is so worried about its falling popularity...
Food prices have gone up so quickly...
Most people have to work such long hours...
The police made such a mess of the investigation.
SHOWING UNDERSTANDING
If we agree...
If we disagree...
I know!
- The pace of life is so fast here...
- I know! It is so exhausting! I feel like I spend my life just rushing around...
Tell me about it!
- I do not know how people can make ends meet...
- Tell me about it! I can only just get buy and I have got a good job!
I know what you mean, but...
- They have done nothing to boost tourism!
- I know, what you mean, but look what they have done to improve poor areas. It is just great!
Yeah, maybe. Mind you...
-There is so much crime, you can`t go out at night!
-Yeah, maybe. Mind you, it is not like that everywhere. If you avoid cartain areas, it is perfectly safe!
BIG ISSUES
SOME SOCIAL ISSUES
gender discrimination
homelessness
family size
domestic violence
bullying in schools
school dropout rates
the destruction of the environment
drug and alcohol abuse
family breakdown
racism
SOME PHRASES
launch a new initiative
The government will today launch a new initiative aimed at getting vulnerable young people off the streets and into hostels.
win the case
A senior executive at one of the country's leading law firms is today almost half a million euros richer after winning her case against her employers.
be denied promotion
Judith Fenton had claimed she was denied promotion as a direct result of telling colleagues she was pregnant.
conduct investigations
Police are today conducting investigations after a young Asian student was attacked near the city centre by a group of white youths late last night.
Suffer broken bones
The nineteen-year-old victim is, stil being treated in hospital and Is believed to have suffered several broken bones.
claim victory
Tiny pressure group has claimed victory over one of the country’s richest men.
uphold a claim
The group Save Our Seaside took legal action to prevent what they claimed would amount to ‘vandalism on a huge scale’ — a claim that was yesterday upheld in court.
become a grandparent
A woman from East Sussex last week became the country’s youngest grandmother.
LANGUAGE NOTE
IT`S
It`s a difficult issue (=it is a difficult issue)
ITS
That is the behaviour that society expects from its government (its = possessive form)
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
COMPARATIVES WITH "THE... , THE..."
The higher the child mortality rate is, the higher the birth rate.
The more secure parents feel, the fewer children they have.
The longer we wait, the larger the long-term costs.
GLOBAL PROBLEMS
rising population
extreme poverty
hunger
conflict
child mortality
AIDS and malaria
SOME VERBS
take part in...
introduce...
take...
share...
bring...
consider...
people into a process / people together / up an issue
an intrest in / seriously / responsibility for
a campaign / a discussion / elections
a law / a system / a change
the same opinions / enthusiasm for / responsibility for
the possibility of / doing / people views