2014

I.E.S. La Rosaleda
Isabel Prez

ESSAYS ABOUT THE WORLD IN XX AND XXI CENTURY

These are economic and political subjects to help students improve their
English.

SUMMARY
I. - There is a big problem in Spain now
II. - John Ralston Saul: there is no reason why we should rescue the
banks
III. - The Death Road
IV. - Being on strike
V. - Once more students on strike
VI. Working on International News Headlines about Juan Carlos and
Felipe VI
VII. - - Recession and Cutbacks

I. - There is a big problem in Spain now

12 de diciembre de 2012
Vocabulary
Mortgage

hipoteca

Bill

factura

Loan

prstamo

Encourage

animar

Client

cliente

Payslip

nmina

Business

negocio

Furnish

amueblar

Enjoy

divertirse

Debt

deuda

Quote

palabra, cita

Company

compaia

Struggling

asfixiado

Lend

prestar

Afford

afrontar, hacer frente a un gasto

Therefore

por lo tanto

Factory

fbrica

Be forced to

estar forzado a

Reduce

reducir

Outgoing

gastos

Dismiss

echar

Benefit

beneficio

However

sin embargo

Wonder

preguntarse

Already

ya

Huge

enorme

High

alto

Be about to

estar a punto de

Lend

prestar

Get rid of

deshacerse de

Earn

ganar

Get out of

salir de

Even though

an cuando/ a pesar de

Goods

producto

Meanwhile

mientras (tanto)

Evict

desahuciar

Throw out

echar

Expel

expulsar

Commit

cometer

Suicide

suicidio

Guys

chicos

Eat out of your hands

Tener el destino en tus manos

Common Area Maintenance

Gastos de la Comunidad (de nuestra casa)

Six years ago I bought a house. I had a good job with a good salary. Now
however, I have to pay the mortgage, the electricity, the phone bill, the gas
bill, the expense of Common Area Maintenance, food, clothes and the kids
studies, my salary has gone down, my wife doesnt have a job anymore and
We cant get to the end of the month.
I. - Before the economic crisis that started in 2008, banks wanted and
didnt mind that you asked for a loan. Banks used to encourage clients to
do so. You were considered a good client if you had loans with them. There
were many possibilities; it was very easy to ask for one. All you needed
was a payslip.
Money, money, and money all around time after time that was a big
business and you could enjoy playing that game too.
Once you had the money you could buy a car or a house. You could even
furnish it. You could take a trip there were no problems.. Ask for a
loan and enjoy it!
Many people were in debt but that wasnt a problem for the banks at all!!
It seemed the money had no end. There was money, a lot of it.
Dont you remember the quotes: Spain is doing well.
II. - Now we are in crisis. That is what they say, dont they?
Now people dont have jobs because they lost them and many companies
have closed down. However, people keep their debts with the banks and
banks have clients with a lot of debts that, in many cases, cannot be paid.
There are lots of companies that are struggling because many clients
(other companies or just people) cant pay their bills. Banks dont lend
money to be able to afford those bills and therefore the factories and
companies are forced to close their businesses.

Many companies and factories have to reduce production because people

arent able to spend money buying their products. People have a lot of debt
and less money to afford their outgoings. Therefore, companies have to
dismiss workers from their business: less production, less workers because
companies will always defend their interests: to keep the benefits high.

III. - Now banks dont have money. That is what we are told. However, I
wonder where all the money has gone? I ask this question even though I
already know the answer.
Money cant move by itself. Money has gone from one hand to another, or
as we say in Spain, money has no legs at all.
Spanish money banks go to German banks. Why? Let me explain it like
this:
Spanish banks asked the German and French banks for money. The
Spanish banks have such a huge debt that if they ask for more money they
will not get it. Now they have to give the money back to them. However,
the Spanish bank debts are so high that the Spanish Government has been
forced to ask for help from the European Banks.
The Spanish Government is about to get a big European loan to help the
Spanish banks to be able to pay back the German and French Banks.
Spanish banks will have money, but, what for? As I have already said: to
pay their debts back to the European banks.
So Spanish banks wont be able to lend money to the Spanish companies or
factories, the Spanish banks wont help people to get rid of their debts with
the banks.

The Spanish people will earn less money because this is what the
Government says will help the companies get out of the crisis so they can
pay their bills. Even though people wont have enough money to buy goods
to live and enjoy their lives
This seems to be a catch-22, or as we say in Spain, a fish biting its own
tail. Dont you think?
Meanwhile, there are many people that are evicted from their houses,
without a place for them or their families to stay. They are thrown out and
expelled as if they were dogs.
Meanwhile, there are many people that throw themselves out of windows;
there are so many people that commit suicide But it doesnt matter
because there are still a few people that are making a good business from
all of this ....."the show goes on" !!!
Goldman Sack and Company well done, guys you did great.
You have people eating out of your hands.
The best of it is that they dont know about this situation
WELL DONE!!! YOU ARE GOOD BOYS!!

EXERCICES
# 1 Write down the expenses the narrator is talking about at the beginning
of the text.
# 2 At the beginning of the crisis it was very easy to get a loan. According
to the text, is that sentence right or wrong?
# 3 Imagine you have a lot of money and most of your friends ask you for
it. You lend them all your money and then you decide to ask for more
money to the bank because you want to help them. What do you think will
be the consequences?
# 4 Why are so many people without a job?
# 5 Why are there so many companies that have closed?
#6 Why are there so many companies that have reduced their production?
# 7 Why do the companies have to dismiss most of their workers?
# 8 Where do you think the money has gone?
# 9 To whom do the Spanish banks owe money?
# 10 Can you explain why the narrator says that this seems to be a catch22?
WEBGRAPHY
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Camberwell_squatted_centre_no_
more_food.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sheikh_Jarrah_Demonstration277
.JPG
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Handy_LED_projector_in_Demos
tration.jpg
http://blogs.diariovasco.com/deritzot/2012/05/23/no-estais-solos-stopdesahucios/

II.- John Ralston Saul: there is no reason why we should rescue the
banks
Mlaga, 5th February 2013
The magazine Utne Reader has named him as one of the one hundred
most important thinkers of the world. He is the President of PEN
International and has recently been interviewed by the weekly Spanish
magazine EL PAS SEMANAL.
http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/02/04/eps/1359975187_178411.html
VOCABULARY AND IDIOMS:
Argument
To highlight
Magazine
Debt
Role
To rescue
Instead of
Growth
To save
Current
Policy
Mortgage
To corrode
To reset
To spend
To end up
Envelope
To suggest
Drawer
To lock
To throw away
To beat
To get rid of
Discurso sin paos calientes: dont beat around the bush.
Aplicar las siguientes recetas: apply the following metods
Hablar sin pelos en la lengua: not to mince words
Pasar pgina: turn the page

I would like to highlight some of the important arguments that have been
discussed by Joseba Elola who has written an article in that weekly
magazine. Joseba Elola describes J. R. Saul as a tall, thin and smart man
with a dandy stile and who doesnt beat around the bush. He doesnt mince
his words.
John Ralston believes that countries should reconsider what a debt is
as well as the role that banks play in the new world.
He proposes that citizens should be rescued instead of the banks.
He says we find ourselves in a dark period of the economy and
they continue using the same methods everywhere (Governments must
control their expenses austerity- and the economy must grow). He
believes that growth and austerity cant save us from this current situation.
This is putting democracy in danger.
# The interviewer asks him a question: Should we save the banks? He
responds that there is no reason why we should save them.
A good policy is that the government pays peoples mortgages.
He believes that if you pay peoples mortgages, you will also save the
banks. People would keep their houses and could spend their money as
consumers.
# European Union is corroded by debt. He wants to bring the debt to an
end. They cant admit that they made a mistake. He asks himself, How
can we reset the watch?. He suggests that, basically we should put the
debt inside an envelope and put on it: this is very important, put the
envelope in a drawer, lock it and throw the key away. We must turn page,
we must beat it. If the private sector can get rid of the debt, the public
sector can too.
http://recursostic.educacion.es/bancoimagenes/web/

10

EXERCICES
#1 TRUE OR FALSE EXERCISE:
-

Saul is described as a tall, thin and fashionable man: T F

Ralston believes it is better to save banks rather than people: T F
He thinks the establishment keeps on using the same methods: T F
It is a good policy to pay people mortgages instead of giving the money
directly to banks: T F
Democracy is not now in danger: T F
Governments shouldnt reset most of the debts: T F
Austerity is going to take out of the current crisis: T F

# 2 PUT THE WORDS IN THE CORRECT ORDER

-

He/ not/ beat/ does/ bush/ the/ around

find/ We/ in/ a/ ourselves/ period/ dark/ economy/ of/ the
houses/ People / would/ their/ keep
They/a / mistake/ cant/ made/ admit/ that/ they/
page/ We /must /turn missing a word?

11

III.- THE DEATH ROAD

Mlaga, 6th February 2013

Leyenda /key
Frente nacionalista inicial / The initial nationalist Front
Avance nacionalista hasta principios de febrero de 1937 / The national
advance from the first days of February 1937
Zona bajo control republicano / Zone under republican control
Avance de tropas nacionales / advance of the national troops
Avance de tropas italianas / advance of the italian troops
Contraataques republicanos / Republican counter-attacks

12

On the 6th February 1937 the troops of the general Gonzalo Queipo de
Llano got into Mlaga. Nearly 100,000 republican people had to run away
to Almeria by the only possible way, the N-340 which was named The
Death Road.
About 150.000 men, women and children tried to escape and look for a
place to hide and to be saved. They were rather scared of the National
troops. There was no place to flee but the N-340 and there they were, all
the fascists, who were bombarding everyone from the ships, from the air
and also from the earth with the tanks.
The Italian troops came from the north, Queipo de Llano soldiers came
from the west and, the fascist F. Francos ships were waiting on the sea.
These assassin troops were helped by Italian and German fascists. It is
impossible to know precisely how many people died there on the road.
However, some sources say that many dead bodies ended up in mass graves
or that the Guadalfeo River took them with it. In the mass graves of San
Rafael, more than 4.300 victims have been identified according with
Andrs Fernndez, who was a scientist and responsible for the research in
the San Rafael cemetery.
Boys only wore their trousers and girls only wore their wide dresses. All
of them were half-dressed and beneath the sun. (Norman Bethunes
notes who was a Canadian Surgeon and a voluntary doctor working with
the Socorro Rojo).
http://www.publico.es/450048/la-carretera-de-la-muerte
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_M%C3%A1laga_%281937%29
http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=Avance

http://www.elplural.com/2014/02/09/la-desbanda-llevada-al-cine-para-queeuropa-conozca-los-crimenes-del-franquismo/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLFmRdbsHzI

13

EXERCISES
#1 Look in the text for a synonyms of the following words:
-To be afraid
- Quite
- To escape
- army
- killer
- research
- under
- poorly dressed
- specifically
- to finish
- reliable

#2. Where did the troops of G. Queipo de Llano go to?

#3. Which Spanish war do you relate with the date given in the first
paragraph?
#4. What were the different forces that helped the fascist Spanish troops in
the battle? There are three different kinds of army that went by land, air and
sea. What did the navy, the military and the air force do?
5# Translate into English the following sentences and then, answer the
questions:
- Cuando entraron las tropas de G. Queipo de Llano?
- Cuntas personas huyeron?
- Por qu la N-340 se llama la Carretera de la Muerte?
- The writer of this news article gives two reasons saying that it is
impossible to know the exact number of people who died on the
road. What are those reasons?
- What is the Socorro Rojo and what things did they do during
the war?

14

IV.- BEING ON STRIKE

15

BEING ON STRIKE

Yesterday, 22nd of May 2012, I went on strike.

Ayer, el 22 de Mayo del 2012, yo fui a la Huelga.

23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

BEING ON STRIKE

She is my teacher and she went on strike on 22nd May 2012

Ella es mi profesora y ella fue a la huelga el 22 de mayo del 2012
23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

BEING ON STRIKE

Those are my classmates and they participated on the strike too

Estos son mis compaeros y ellos tambin participaron en la huelga

23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

They participated in the strike too.

All the trade unions organized the Strike.

Todos los sindicatos convocaron la Huelga.
23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

16

BEING ON STRIKE
A PUBLIC SCHOOL
FROM ALL OF US
TO ALL OF US
A PUBLIC SCHOOL
FROM ALL OF US
TO ALL OF US

One of the slogans

Uno de los eslogans23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

BEING ON STRIKE

The Parents Association also called for the strike.

La Asociacin de Padres (CODAPA) tambin llam a
la Huelga.
23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

17

BEING ON STRIKE

Many primary and secondary schools were empty.

Muchos colegios de primaria y secundaria
estaban vacos.
23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

BEING ON STRIKE

Many universities also stopped for the day.

Muchas universidades tambin pararon ese da.
23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

18

BEING ON STRIKE

Today, 23rd of May 2012, we can read the news and see the photos of many
Andalusian cities with their streets full of students, parents and
teachers who took to the streets to defend the public educational system.
Hoy, el 23 de Mayo 2012, podemos leer en las noticias y ver las fotos de
muchas ciudades Andaluzas con sus calles llenas de estudiantes, padres y
profesores que tomaron las calles para defender la Enseanza Pblica.
23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

Education system

BEING ON STRIKE

A scab is a worker who goes to work when his workmates

are on strike.
Un esquirol es un trabajador que va al trabajo cuando
sus compaeros estn en huelga
23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

19

BEING ON STRIKE

The State Government obliged the Andalusian Government to cut 10,000

Million euros from the budget and so the Andalusian Government cut
3,000 Million euros from schools and 7,000 million euros from
healthcare.
23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

BEING ON STRIKE

A scholarship is the public money a student gets for free to be able to

study. Now it will be a bit more difficult to get one.
Una beca es dinero pblico que obtiene un estudiante gratuitamente para poder
estudiar.
23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

20

BEING ON STRIKE

The Minister of Education wants the Institute classes with five more students
so they can improve their relationships.
El Ministro de Educacin quiere que las clases tengan cinco alumnos ms y as
Los alumnos podrn mejorar sus relaciones.
23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

BEING ON STRIKE

Temporary teachers will have their timetable and their salary

reduced about a 15% of them.
A los profesores interinos les reducirn el horario y su salario.

23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

will have their salary reduced by 15%

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

21

22

BEING ON STRIKE

Temporary teachers will have their timetable and their salary

reduced about a 15% of them.
A los profesores interinos les reducirn el horario y su salario.

23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

BEING ON STRIKE

Temporary teachers should be happy because half of them will at least have
the chance to work in a school
Los interinos deberan estar felices porque, al menos la mitad de ellos,
Tendrn la oportunidad de trabajar en un colegio.
23/05/2012

M Isabel Prez Ortega

I.E.S. " LA ROSALEDA" MLAGA

23

VOCABULARY
To go on strike (v)

ir a la huelga

Classmate (n)

compaero

To participate on (v)

participar en

Trade Union (n)

sindicato

To organize (v)

organizar, convocar

To call for (v)

llamar a

Primary (n)

primaria

Secondary (n)

secundaria

Empty (adj)

vacio

To stop (v)

parar

Full of sth (adj)

lleno de algo

To take the streets (v)

tomar las calles

To defend (v)

defender

To oblige (v)

obligar

To cut (v)

cortar

Budget (n)

presupuesto

Healthcare (n)

sanidad

To improve (v)

mejorar

Relationships (n)

Relaciones

Temporary teacher (n)

Profesores interinos

Timetable (n)

horario

To reduce (v)

reducir

To be used as (v)

ser usado como

To wear (v)

llevar puesto

T-shirt (n)

camiseta

Temporary (adj)

interino

Half (adj)

mitad, medio

The chance (v)

la oportunidad

Quite (adv)

bastante

Also (adv)

tambin

Less (adj)

menos

To increase (v)

aumentar

At least (adv)

al menos

Scab (n)

esquirol

Scholarship (n)

beca

Young (adj)

joven

Workmate (n)

compaero de trabajo

Company (n)

empresa

For free

gratuito

To be able to (v)

ser capaz de

24

EXERCICES
1# Fill in the blanks with these verbs: GO, PARTICIPATE, DEFEND,
AGREE, OBLIGE, CUT, HAVE (x2), EARN, IMPROVE, INCREASE,
WORK, and REDUCE. Be careful and use the correct form.
1. She is my teacher and she _________ on strike on 22nd May 2012
2. Those are my classmates parents and they _____________ in the
strike too.
3. I study at I.E.S. La Rosaleda. We went on 22nd May 2012 because
we were ___________ our rights.
4. All Trade Unions ___________ on being all together to fight for the
Public Educational System.
5. The State Government _____________ the Andalusian Government
to _________ 10,000 million euros from the budget, and so the
Andalusian Government cut 3,000 million euros from schools and
7,000 million euros from healthcare.
6. We will _______ quite a small number of teachers. They will also
__________ less money because their salaries will be reduced.
7. The Minister of Education wants the Institute classes with five more
students so they can _____________ their relationships.
8. Because there will be less money for schools, the numbers of
working hours at school for teachers will be _________ by two more
hours per week.
9. Temporary teachers should be happy because half of them will at
least have the chance to ___________ in a school.
10.Temporary teachers will have their timetable and their salary
_____________ by 15%.
2# Make five sentences using some of the words which are outlined in
yellow
3# Now fill in the blanks using the following words: FULL, T-SHIRTS,
SYMBOL, SCAB, SALARY, SCHOLARSHIP and GET. CHANGE THE

25

SENTENCE ORDER BECAUSE THE ANSWERS NEED TO BE

MIXED.

1. The streets were ________ of young people, parents and teachers.

2. Most of them wore green ____________ which is used as a
____________ to defend the Public Educational System.
3. A _______________ is a worker who goes to work when his
workmates are on strike.
4. The company will take one days pay from your __________ when
you are on strike.
5. A ____________ is the public money a student gets for free to be
able to study. Now it will be a bit more difficult to _________ one.
DID YOU KNOW THAT....?

The Church does not have to pay property taxes like all Spanish
house owners do.

26

V.- ONCE MORE STUDENTS ON STRIKE

Mlaga, 6th February 2013
Spanish students are on strike for three days from the 5 th February 2013 till
7th February 2013. They claim to the Minister of Education:
1. To retire the draft law called LOMCE.
2. To leave his position (to dismiss).
http://www.republica.com/2013/02/05/los-estudiantes-de-secundariavuelven-a-la-huelga-contra-el-ministro-wert-y-su-reformaeducativa_609865/
Students Trade Unions are satisfied with the number of the students that
have followed the strike. They affirm that between 80% and 90% of the
students havent gone to class.
Students from the third and four year of Secondary School, High School
and Vocational Training courses have been called to go on strike.
Thousands of students and hundreds of pickets explained the reasons why
a strike to defend Public Teaching, Public Education.
Yesterday many students in the protests in Madrid chanted together:
Where are our envelopes.
Let me remind you what the law says about the fundamental right to
assembly to discuss whether or not going to class when students are called
to go on strike. It will not be consider a fault. Teachers are not allowed to
penalise students. However students have to communicate on writing the
decision of going on strike by their student delegate.
VOCABULARY
Ir a la huelga
Pedir/reclamar
Retirar
Dimitir
Seguir la huelga
Secundaria
Bachillerato
Formacin Profesional
Llamados a la huelga
Enseanza Pblica
Manifestacin
Corear

to go on strike
to ask for, to claim
to retire
to dismiss
to follow the strike
Secondary
High School
Vocational Training
to be called on strike
Public Teaching
Protest
to sing/ to chant together

27

Regular
Derecho de reunin
Sancionar
Falta
Permitir
Sancionar
Piquete
Esquirol

to regulate
the right to assembly
penalise
fault
to allow
to penalise
picket
strike-breaker

http://www.lasexta.com/noticias/sociedad/estudiantes-salen-calle-pedirretirada-reforma-educativa-wert_2013020600023.html
EXERCISES
# EXERCISE TRUE OR FALSE: (T F)
1.
2.
3.
4.

Students Trade Unions represent students who fight for their rights
If the Trade Union calls you to go on strike you are obliged to go (to)
Students are not allowed to assemble in class and discuss their decisions
A strike breaker is a person who doesnt follow the strike and goes to
work
5. If the students go on strike they will be penalised and punished
# EXERCISE 2
Students chanted together Where are our envelopes. Is there any
important and current news about possible corruptions within the members
of the Spanish Government? Try to write about it as much as you can.
Dont forget to add the web pages you have been visiting.
# EXERCISE 3
Right now, many different sectors of the Civil Servants are claiming for
their rights because of the cuts and reforms: the Health Sector, the
Educational Sector and the Justice Sector. Look for images and dont forget
to add their links. Can you write down only one claim of each sector?

28

VI.- WORKING ON INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES

ABOUT JUAN CARLOS AND FELIPE

I.- TELEGRAPH
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10869397/KingJuan-Carlos-to-abdicate-Spanish-throne.html
"76-year-old monarch says it's time for a younger generation to take over
as he announces plan to step down amid health woes and financial
scandals."
EXERCISE #1: Link the words on the left with the CORRECT
meaning on the right
Woes

entre

To take over

problemas

To step down

tomar el mando

amid

dimitir, dejar el cargo

II.- BBC
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27662351
"As it happened: Spanish King Juan Carlos I to abdicate
Key Points

King of Spain Juan Carlos is abdicating

Prince Felipe is to take over the throne

A constitutional amendment will be proposed to allow the abdication

to happen

The 76-year-old has had health problems in recent years

His popularity has fallen following corruption scandals and gaffes"

EXERCISE #2: Link the words on the left with the right meaning on
the right

29

Key points

enmienda

throne

permitir

amendment

proponer

to propose

trono

to allow

puntos clave

III.- WASHINGTON POST

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morningmix/wp/2014/06/02/deeply-unpopular-spanish-king-to-abdicate-throne-infavor-of-son/
Here we are going to work on part of an article from the Washington post. I
have made some changes so you will find it easier to read and make the
exercises.
Exercise#3: Fill the gaps with the right word: himself/ in favor of/
standing/ coup.
"Spanish king to abdicate throne _________ son."
King Juan Carlos of Spain will abdicate and pass the crown to his son,
Crown Prince Felipe. Juan Carlos, once a popular hero for resisting a
military ____________, was losing ground both in his health and in his
____________ in Spain.
The announcement came Monday morning from Spanish Prime Minister
Mariano Rajoy and later from Juan Carlos _________.
Exercise#4: translate the following paragraph:
The king said he is abdicating to make way for his son to become the
nations next monarch so that a new generation can take over. Political
analysts believe that the conservative Peoples Party wanted to put the
more popular Felipe on the throne to try to combat increasingly antimonarchist sentiment, after small leftist and anti-establishment parties did
surprisingly well in last months European Parliament election.....

30

Exercise#5: These are the meaning of some words: vencer, sucesor,

sacado de una, marcha, crisis, personificar. Now, you have to find out
which are the words with that meaning in the following paragraph.
Spains leader Francisco Franco with his future successor as Prince Juan
Carlos de Borbon, as they watch a military parade in Madrid in 1973 .
(AP)
He arrived like something out of a Disney movie and came to embody the
hope of an entire nation.
But even his popularity could not surmount (defeat) Spains crippling
(incapacitating) economic slump (depression, crisis), which has left 4.7
million Spaniards unemployed.
IV.- NATIONAL PRESS: PBLICO
http://www.publico.es/politica/524600/los-memes-mas-ingeniosos-sobrela-abdicacion-del-rey/slideshow#2
EXERCISE #6: watch the picture on the right.
How many faces are shown? Write down their
names. Then make a sentence for each one using
one of these words in each sentence: dictator,
King, Prince.
TV:
http://www.canalsur.es/noticias/espa%C3%B1a/importante-clamorpopular-a-favor-de-la-republica/402544.html
HIMNO DE RIEGO CANTADO POR UN HOMBRE Y UNA MUJER:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fujQeuir3aM
OTHER NEWS:
http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2014/06/02/538c34ccca47410b2b8b456c.ht
ml
http://endirecto.lavanguardia.com/politica/20140602/54409537530/reyjuan-carlos.html

31

http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/2155479/0/minuto-a-minuto/rey-juancarlos/abdica/
http://es.euronews.com/2014/06/02/abdica-el-rey-de-espana-juan-carlos-i-/
http://www.abc.es/espana/rey-juan-carlos-i-abdica/20140602/abcialminuto-rey-juan-carlos-i-abdica-felipe-vi-201406020942.html
http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/06/02/actualidad/1401695328_5042
76.html
http://elpais.com/tag/abdicacion_juan_carlos_i/a/
CONCENTRACIONES REPUBLICANAS 2, junio 2014
http://www.laverdad.es/nacional/politica/201406/02/miles-personasreclaman-republica-20140602195848-rc.html
La abdicacin se resolver a travs de una Ley Orgnica.

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VII.- RECESSION AND CUTBACKS

Spanish government is making a lot of cutbacks in many different sectors
such as education, health, worker conditions, etc. Citizens now have to
pay more taxes if they need to go to court; citizens are seeing that the
government is passing laws that will reduce their freedom to express their
ideas and thoughts as they may be fined if they talk about corruption.
Citizens are losing some of the rights workers gained with suffering and
effort a long time ago.
Spanish government defends those actions because they believe we are in
recession.
I believe I have done nothing to be in recession. I have always paid my
debts. I never spent money than I didnt have. However, I dont know if my
bank can say the same. I dont know if my bank has acted as I always do.
Nevertheless, banks have been playing with peoples money; they have
lost our savings and now we have to give them back the money they lost.
I am not responsible for the recession, but I have to pay for the banks
responsibilities. Have you ever heard of a Spanish banking director being
sent to prison? None of the most important representatives of the banks
have ever been taken to court. What is more, the judge who dared to do
so is now relieved of his responsibilities, and may suffer a sentence of 40
years suspension.
There are many jobs the Administration has cut. Many of my fellows are
no longer in my school. There are more students in the classes, teachers
have to work more hours per month, and there is less income to invest in
education.. Why has the one responsible for this situation not been
prosecuted? We should look at Iceland. They sent those responsible for
the banks to jail. Citizens had to lend their own money to the bad banks
but now they have surpassed the recession.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS CUT PEOPLES DIGNITY AND HAS TRAMPLED
EQUITY AND SOLIDARITY.
Nobody does anything to stop it. Everybody accepts it. Everybody believes
and assumes the world has been living beyond their means.

33

EXERCISES:

34

1 Translate the words in bold.

2 Then write four sentences in English using as many of the words in
bold as possible.
3 PUT INTO THE RIGHT BOX THE FOLLOWING VERBS:
is making, is passing, are losing, defends, are, have done, have paid,
spent,
dont know, has acted, have, have been playing, have heard, have
been taken, dared, has been prosecuted, sent.

SIMPLE
PRESENT

PRESENT
CONTINUOSU

PRESENT
PERFECT

SIMPLE
PAST

PASSIVE

4 What things do you think are changing now? And how are these
things changing now?
o The salary is changing now
o The number of working hours are changing now
o The labour conditions are changing now
o The labour rights are changing now
o The taxes I have to pay are changing now
o The benefits the employers get are changing now
o The employers taxes are changing now