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[B+] Discussing Issues I

LET'S UNLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES 🔐

vague

[ veyg ]

adjective

- not clearly expressed, known, described, or decided

I kept my statement intentionally vague.

commotion

[ 'kuh-moh-shuhn ]

noun

- a sudden, short period of noise, confusion, or excited movement

There was a commotion when store security guards detained some young men for shoplifting.

convoluted

[ 'kon-vuh-loo-tid ]

adjective

- convoluted sentences, explanations, arguments, etc. are unreasonably long and difficult to understand

His grammar explanations are terribly convoluted.

satirical

[ suh-'tir-i-kuhl ]

adjective

- criticizing people or ideas in a humorous way, especially in order to make a political point

She was known for her satirical humor.

clear the air

idiom

- make a situation less tense by speaking openly and honestly.

The problem won't disappear by itself if you ignore it. Talking about it is necessary to clear the air.

LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚

A. with all due respect

  • used before the speaker disagrees with or criticizes the person they are addressing

DI_LU-1

Dialogue

Icon_Take

Take

With all due respect, I would like to express my concerns regarding the proposed changes in our department.

Melly_Happy Icon

Melly

I appreciate your perspective. However, I believe the proposed changes will benefit the team in the long run.

Icon_Take

Take

I understand your point of view but I think we should carefully consider the potential impact on our current workflow before implementing these changes.

B. dodged the question

  • avoid the question

DI_LU-2

Dialogue

Icon_Sally

Sally

I've been trying to talk to my boyfriend about our future plans, but every time I bring it up, he seems to dodging my questions.

Icon_Ken

Ken

That must be frustrating. Have you tried addressing it directly with him?

Icon_Sally

Sally

Yes, but he either changes the subject or gives vague answers. It's making me doubt his commitment.

C. frame the question

  • formulate the question

DI_LU-3

Dialogue

Icon_Alex

Alex

I need some advice on how to approach my boss about a raise.

Icon_Anna Happy

Anna

It's important to frame the questions in a way that highlights your contributions and value to the company.

Icon_Alex

Alex

You're right. I'll make sure to carefully frame the question to increase my chances of success.

D. miss the point

  • misunderstand the idea someone is expressing

DI_LU-4

Dialogue

Icon_Sally

Sally

I heard there was some commotion after the meeting this morning. What happened?

Icon_Cindy

Cindy

Well, for a brief moment, Chris completely missed the point of Gwen's complaint. He misunderstood her and thought she was against the idea of having team building activities.

Icon_Sally

Sally

How did they resolve the misunderstanding between them?

Icon_Cindy

Cindy

Gwen clarified her position, and Chris apologized for his initial reaction. They were able to clear the air and move forward.

E. put someone on the spot

  • forced someone into a difficult situation; ask someone a difficult question

DI_LU-5

Dialogue

Icon_Cindy

Cindy

Did you see how the manager put John on the spot during the meeting?

Icon_Anna Happy

Anna

Yes, it was quite uncomfortable. The manager asked him to explain his team's underperformance in front of everyone.

Icon_Cindy

Cindy

I felt bad for him, but he handled it well and gave a thoughtful response despite being put on the spot.

LET'S PRACTICE! 📝

Part I

Direction: Choose the appropriate idioms to complete each of the sentences.

with all due respect dodge the question
frame the question miss the point
put someone on the spot

  1. During the meeting, the boss unexpectedly John and asked him to present his findings without any prior preparation.

  2. The movie was intended as a satirical critique of society, but many viewers and interpreted it as a straightforward comedy.

  3. , I believe your decision lacks thorough consideration of the potential consequences.

  4. The CEO skillfully about the company's financial losses by emphasizing their recent achievements and future growth prospects.

  5. The lawyer strategically to corner the witness and reveal inconsistencies in their testimony.

Part II

Direction: Listen as your mentor reads the statements twice. Then, repeat after your mentor.

  1. 🔊

  2. 🔊

  3. 🔊

Part III

Direction: Paraphrase the following sentences. Make sure to paraphrase the underlined idiomatic expressions.

  1. With all due respect, I disagree with your opinion on the matter and would like to offer an alternative perspective.

    .

  2. The professor's explanation was so convoluted that the student completely missed the point of the lecture.

    .