Flashcard - Unit 29

Unit 29: I Can Describe a Demonstration

Core Vocabulary

This unit focuses on reporting and discussing demonstrations, marches, rallies and campaigns. Key expressions include turnout (number attending), from all walks of life (many backgrounds), join/combine forces (work together), make your way (move towards a place), call on someone to do something (formally request action), bring an end to something (stop it), board up premises (protect windows with boards), go ahead (take place), in the event (as it actually happened), pass off (happen in a particular way), and break up a protest (stop it).

Protesters may stand up for their beliefs, get their message across, refuse to back down, press ahead with plans, and pave the way for future change. Authorities may cordon off areas, fence people in, or shut down websites. Campaigners often spread the word while keeping sensitive information to themselves.

Image Box: Peaceful march moving through a city square

Advanced note: many of these expressions appear in journalism because they compress complex events into concise reports. They are especially useful in formal reporting and public affairs writing.

Exercise 1 – Match

  1. turnout
  2. back down
  3. sit-in
  4. spread the word
  5. cordon off
  6. press ahead
  7. break up
  8. get your message across

Exercise 2 – Complete the Phrase

  1. from all ___ of life
  2. join ___
  3. make your ___
  4. bring an ___ to
  5. go ___
  6. in the ___
  7. stand up ___
  8. put the word ___

Exercise 3 – Rewrite

  1. The event took place. (go ahead)
  2. They worked together. (join forces)
  3. The police stopped the protest. (break up)
  4. She defended her beliefs. (stand up for)
  5. Tell everyone. (spread the word)
  6. They continued despite criticism. (press ahead)
  7. He admitted defeat. (back down)
  8. The talks enabled reform. (pave the way)

Exercise 4 – True or False

  1. Turnout means attendance.
  2. A sit-in is a type of protest.
  3. Board up means decorate a building.
  4. Pass off can describe how an event happened.
  5. Cordon off means open access.
  6. Fence in can restrict movement.
  7. Shut down can stop a website.
  8. Keep it to yourself means tell everyone.

Exercise 5 – News Reporter Prompts

  1. Describe a rally turnout.
  2. Explain protesters’ demands.
  3. Mention businesses boarding up.
  4. Describe the route of a march.
  5. Report police actions.
  6. Use in the event.
  7. Use pass off.
  8. Use arrests in a sentence.

Exercise 6 – Discussion Questions

  1. Why do people protest?
  2. How can campaigns spread the word?
  3. When should authorities intervene?
  4. What makes a protest peaceful?
  5. How can people get a message across?
  6. What is the value of cooperation?
  7. Can demonstrations create change?
  8. What role does media play?

Further Practice

Image Box: Protesters holding banners while police cordon off an area

Exercise 1 – Gap Fill

  1. The organizers called ___ the government to act.
  2. The march went ___ as planned.
  3. The event passed ___ peacefully.
  4. Many people turned ___.
  5. The activists pressed ___ with plans.
  6. They refused to back ___.
  7. The website was shut ___.
  8. We spread the ___ quickly.

Exercise 2 – Choose the Best Expression

  1. attendance / turnout
  2. move there / make your way
  3. stop it / bring an end to it
  4. protect windows / board up
  5. continue firmly / press ahead
  6. defend beliefs / stand up for
  7. tell many people / spread the word
  8. formal protest seated / sit-in

Exercise 3 – Sentence Transformation

  1. People from many backgrounds attended.
  2. The group worked together.
  3. The march happened.
  4. The police restricted access.
  5. The campaign enabled reform.
  6. He communicated effectively.
  7. She kept the secret.
  8. The officers dispersed the crowd.

Exercise 4 – Error Correction

  1. They spreaded the word.
  2. The protest gone ahead.
  3. He back downed.
  4. We made our way for the square.
  5. The area was cordoned in.
  6. They stood up of their rights.
  7. The turnout were huge.
  8. She kept it for herself.

Exercise 5 – Mini Reporting Tasks

  1. Write a headline.
  2. Report turnout.
  3. Describe a route.
  4. Mention demands.
  5. Describe police response.
  6. Use cordon off.
  7. Use pass off.
  8. Write a concluding sentence.

Exercise 6 – Categorize

  1. turnout
  2. sit-in
  3. back down
  4. shut down
  5. join forces
  6. spread the word
  7. board up
  8. pave the way

Classify each as protest action, communication, cooperation, authority action, or reporting language.

Further Practice and Production

Use the target vocabulary naturally and accurately. Focus on collocations and formal news-report style.

Image Box: International campaign meeting with activists from all walks of life

Exercise 1 – Multiple Choice

  1. Which means attendance?
  2. Which means formally request?
  3. Which means continue despite opposition?
  4. Which means admit defeat?
  5. Which means stop operating?
  6. Which means create conditions for success?
  7. Which means communicate successfully?
  8. Which means keep secret?

Exercise 2 – Collocation Builder

  1. ___ forces
  2. ___ your way
  3. ___ an end to
  4. ___ the word
  5. ___ off an area
  6. ___ down a website
  7. ___ up for your rights
  8. ___ ahead with plans

Exercise 3 – Short Answers

  1. What is a sit-in?
  2. Why board up a shop?
  3. Why cordon off a street?
  4. What is turnout?
  5. What does in the event mean?
  6. Why spread the word?
  7. How can campaigns pave the way?
  8. Why might people back down?

Exercise 4 – Dialogue Completion

  1. Reporter: What was the ___?
  2. Organizer: We ___ ahead.
  3. Reporter: Did the event ___ off peacefully?
  4. Organizer: Yes, in the ___ it did.
  5. Reporter: Did you get your message ___?
  6. Organizer: We certainly did.
  7. Reporter: Will you ___ forces again?
  8. Organizer: Yes, with partner groups.

Exercise 5 – Scenario Writing

  1. Peaceful march
  2. Student sit-in
  3. Environmental campaign
  4. International movement
  5. Website shutdown
  6. Police cordon
  7. Large turnout
  8. Successful message

Write 2–3 sentences for each scenario.

Exercise 6 – Mixed Review

  1. Define turnout.
  2. Use back down in a sentence.
  3. Use stand up for in a sentence.
  4. Use break up in a sentence.
  5. Use keep to yourself in a sentence.
  6. Use put the word out in a sentence.
  7. Use fence in in a sentence.
  8. Use pave the way for in a sentence.
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