Communicative Objective: Describing Honesty
Context: The Edward Snowden
Whistleblowing Case
Part 1, Speaking: The words listed
below are all synonyms of the adjective “honest.” Each varies slightly from the
others in meaning and use. Discuss the definition and application of each word.
1. forthright: (adjective)
a general, positive synonym of “honest” in the sense of “admirable”
Example: Thank you for being forthright with me.
2. frank: (count noun) a
negative synonym of “honest” in the sense of “direct”
Example: Let me be frank. Your work is simply unacceptable
and is grounds for your termination.
3. legit: (adjective) a
positive synonym of “honest” in the sense of “no longer dishonest”
Example: I swear, officer! I’ve gone legit!
4. on the level: (adjective)
a positive synonym of “honest” in the sense of “trustworthy”
Example: Are you sure he is on the level?
5. unreserved: (adjective)
a positive synonym of “honest” in the sense of “shares all information”
Example: I would appreciate your unreserved remarks on this
paper.
Part 2, Reading Exercise: Complete the reading passage with the most
appropriate vocabulary.
American computer scientist Edward Snowden
astounded the world in 2013 by revealing that the U.S. government had been
engaging in massive telecommunications surveillance worldwide.
Snowden had worked as an analyst for Booz
Allen Hamilton, a subcontractor of the National Security Agency (NSA). Over the
course of his employment, he came to the conclusion that such widespread and
indiscriminate surveillance was wrong. Hoping to spark an international debate
on the topic that would eventually force the U.S. government to abandon this
practice and become __________, he reached out to the British newspaper The Guardian.
Following a series of conversations, Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald found
Snowden to be __________ and decided to pursue the story and later publish it on
June 5th, 2013.
In announcements and interviews since the
story first broke, Snowden has continued to be __________ with his comments,
sparing no details on the technology and policies the U.S. employs to intercept
and analyze our communications.
Supporters credit him with defending civil
liberties and a respect for privacy, applauding him for being so __________.
Not surprisingly, his detractors have been
quite __________ in their criticism of him, labeling him a traitor. Indeed, the
U.S. government has filed criminal charges against Snowden and is attempting to
apprehend him.
© James Doyle, 2013
Vocabulary Class:
Are you interested in learning more vocabulary? Take this great class!
http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!intermediate-reading-and-vocabulary/ccve
Answers:
The answers to this exercise are available at the following link:
Are you interested in learning more vocabulary? Take this great class!
http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!intermediate-reading-and-vocabulary/ccve
Answers:
The answers to this exercise are available at the following link:
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