I Will Die - Not Pass Away

I am an old cripple, drawing an old-age pension, working hard to raise vast quantities of vegetables on an allotment, and well aware that, one of these days, I shall die. All this is fact.

If, however, I listen to the voice of officialdom, it turns out that I am a (1) _________________ , registered as (2) _________________, drawing a (3) _________________, renting a (4) _________________, and presumably immortal, because I shall never die - I shall merely (5) _________________

The euphemisms which pour from the lips of politicians and trade union leaders are endless. (6) ______________ equals going on strike, and (7) _________________ equals being bloody minded.

And let us please do away with the following: (8) _________________ (poor), (9) _________________ (ill), (10) _________________ (stupid), (11) _________________ (unemployment benefit), (12) _________________ (Ministry of War), (13) _________________ (talk), (14) _________________ (pet)

All this effort to avoid unpleasantness is certain to fail, because the euphemism quickly acquires the stigma of the word it replaced. I, and probably others, do not feel younger because I am called a senior citizen.

cripple (old-fashioned/offensive) a person who is unable to walk or move normally because of a disease or injury

allotment Br.Eng. a small area of land in a town which a person can rent in order to grow vegetables on it

presumably used to say that you think that something is probably true

do away with smth to stop doing or having something; to make something end

stigma feelings of disapproval that people have about particular illnesses or ways of behaving the stigma of alcoholism

Homework for the

Rewrite the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.

1. Apparently, people who work night shifts die younger. (would) 2. It is possible that the prisoners escaped to France. (may) 3. We expect that the Prime Minister will make a statement this afternoon. (is) 4. The company has announced that the new drug will go on sale shortly. (It) 5. People believe that improvements in diet and lifestyle are responsible for the rise in life expectancy. (allege) 6. The manual says you have to charge the phone for at least 12 hours. (According) 7. It appears that the government is intending to lower interest rates. (announce).

Answer Key

Ex 1

Key: 1. seems/appears, 2. would, 3. seems/appears 4. said/supposed 5. According 6. seems to/appears to 7. there 8. to 9. that

Euphemisms

1 "I just need to powder my nose before we leave". use the bathroom

2 "I heard that Jane is in the family way again. That'll be her third. pregnant

3 "That horrible old guy has finally kicked the bucket. I won't miss him." to die

4 "She got the results back from the hospital. Bad news - she has the big C." cancer

5 "Politicians often stretch the truth especially when making election promises." to tell lies

6 "I'm actually in-between jobs at the moment. I'm sure I'll find one soon." unemployed

7 "My company plans to let go 100 workers unless business improves." sack/fire

8 "That shop doesn't sell clothes for big-boned women." fat

9 "He was described as being tired and emotional when the police found him in the street at 4am." drunk

10 "I bought a pre-owned car." second-hand

B: Complete the newspaper article with euphemisms from the box.

I am an old cripple, drawing an old-age pension, working hard to raise vast quantities of vegetables on an allotment, and well aware that, one of these days, I shall die. All this is fact.

If, however, I listen to the voice of officialdom, it turns out that I am a (1) disadvantaged senior citizen, registered as (2) disabled,drawing a (3) retirement pension, renting a (4) leisure garden, and presumably immortal, because I shall never die - I shall merely (5) pass away

The euphemisms which pour from the lips of politicians and trade union leaders are endless. (6) taking industrial actionequals going on strike, and (7) working to rule (*actually means refusing to work beyond normal working hours)equals being bloody minded.

And let us please do away with the following: (8) lower income bracket (poor), (9) under the weather(ill), (10) low IQ (stupid), (11) jobseeker's allowance(unemployment benefit), (12) Ministry of Defence (Ministry of War), (13) have a dialogue(talk), (14) companion animal (pet)

All this effort to avoid unpleasantness is certain to fail, because the euphemism quickly acquires the stigma of the word it replaced. I, and probably others, do not feel younger because I am called a senior citizen.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 2707