Spain's "Mum" minister takes critics by storm

With thanks to Concha Lana, again, who always supplies me with interesting material. Click here to read the article and print the activities below to do the exercises.

Spain’s “Mum” minister takes critics by storm

Vocabulary

As you read the article, match the following vocabulary with the most suitable translation:

1. Take sth / s.o by storm	a) Admisiblemente, por cierto
2. Stand to attention	b) (Mil.) Cuadrarse
3. Hastily	c) A toda prisa
4. Admittedly,	d) Albergar pensamientos machistas
5. Harbour machista thoughts	e) (Mil.) Asaltar / (fig.) Cautivar
6. Aim	f) Apuntar
7. Authoritative	g) Autorizadas, con autoridad
8. Smock	h) Blusón pre-mamá/baby
9. Sneer at	i) Burlarse de
10. Command	j) Comandar
11. Cabinet	k) Consejo de Ministros
12. Convene	l) Convocar
13. Summit	m) Cumbre
14. Fulfil	n) Cumplir
15. They had better …keep them to themselves	o) Es mejor que se los guarden
16. Stopover	p) Escala
17. Stampede	q) Estampida
18. Be delighted with	r) Estar encantado con
19. Affect	s) Fingir
20. Make some criticism	t) Hacer críticas
21. Attempt	u) Intento
22. Derision	v) Irrisión, risa
23. Coupled with	w) Junto con
24. Emergency measures	x) Medidas de emergencia
25. Seamstresses	y) Modistillas
26. Unaffected	z) Natural, sin fingimientos
27. Appoint	aa) Nombrar
28. Peacekeeping operations	bb) Operaciones de paz
29. Review	cc) Pasar revista
30. Chair	dd) Presidir
31. Parched	ee) Secas
32. Loose	ff) Suelto, holgado
33. Radio discussion	gg) Tertulia
34. Panel	hh) Tertulia (grupo de tertulianos)
35. Transfer	ii) Trasbordo
36. Notoriously	jj) Tristemente célebre

Now answer the following questions:

1. Why is Chacón’s trip controversial?
2. What do you think of the fact that the cabinet is mostly female?
3. What’s ABC’s position with respect to Zapatero’s appointments? What do you think about it?
4. What is Elizabeth Nash’s opinion about the whole thing?