Unit Review & Progress Test

Unit review — International Humanitarian Law & Conflicts

Al finalizar esta unidad, deberías ser capaz de utilizar un registro formal y académico para discutir temas complejos como el derecho internacional, los conflictos armados y la ética humanitaria. Habrás aprendido a navegar entre el lenguaje coloquial y el lenguaje especializado necesario para exámenes de nivel C1, permitiéndote expresar opiniones matizadas sobre crisis globales.

Asimismo, habrás consolidado estructuras gramaticales avanzadas para la transformación de frases y la corrección de errores de registro. Deberías sentirte cómodo utilizando colocaciones precisas y procesos de formación de palabras (word formation) para describir situaciones de tensión política y legal, así como para redactar ensayos argumentativos con la sobriedad que requiere el nivel C1.

Grammar consolidation

Complete the following tasks. Pay close attention to the shift from informal to formal register or the specific grammatical requirements of the instruction.

Part 1: Sentence Transformation Rewrite the sentences using the word provided so that the second sentence has a similar meaning to the first. Do not change the word provided.

1. I'm sure the treaty wasn't signed because of a mistake. HAVE The treaty __________ because of a mistake.

2. "I'm sorry I didn't report the violation earlier," said the officer. REGRETTED The officer __________ the violation earlier.

3. It is possible that the ceasefire was broken by mistake. MIGHT The ceasefire __________ broken by mistake.

Part 2: Error Correction Identify and correct the error in each sentence to make it appropriate for a formal report.

4. The humanitarian aid was provided to the people who were needing it most.
5. There is much importance in protecting civilian lives during wartime.
6. The committee discussed about the new regulations regarding prisoner treatment.

Part 3: Controlled Rewriting Rewrite the following informal sentences into a formal, academic style suitable for a C1 report.

7. "The war is getting worse and it's really bad for everyone."

8. (Rewrite using: escalating and detrimental) ____________

9. "They decided to stop the fighting because they didn't have enough food."

10. (Rewrite using: ceasefire and due to) ____________

11. "If the government doesn't act now, things will be even worse."

12. (Rewrite using: failure to and aggravate) ____________

13. "We need to look at the facts before we say who is right."

14. (Rewrite using: examine and ascertain) ____________

Vocabulary activation

Part 1: Word Formation Complete the sentences by changing the form of the word in capital letters.

1. The _____ of the Geneva Convention remains a priority for global leaders. (PROTECT)
2. The sudden _____ of the conflict caught the international community by surprise. (ESCALATE)
3. There was widespread _____ regarding the legality of the drone strikes. (CONTROVERSY)
4. The humanitarian crisis was caused by the _____ of essential supplies. (DELIVER)

Part 2: Collocations Select the correct collocation to complete the sentence.

5. The warring factions finally reached a _____ agreement after months of negotiation. a) fragile / b) thin / c) light

6. The prosecutor presented _____ evidence of war crimes during the tribunal. a) heavy / b) compelling / enough / c) hard

7. The international community imposed strict _____ on the rogue state. a) sanctions / b) punishments / c) fines

8. The refugees were seeking _____ in a neighbouring country. a) asylum / b) refuge / c) both are correct

Part 3: Register Choice Match the informal phrase (1-4) with its formal C1 equivalent (A-D).

9. To deal with...
10. To make sure...
11. To look into...
12. To get better...

A. To ensure... B. To ameliorate... C. To address... D. To investigate...

Integrated skills task

Source Text: The Ethics of Modern Warfare

The evolution of warfare in the 21st century has presented unprecedented challenges to International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Traditional rules were designed for battlefield engagements between uniformed soldiers. However, the rise of asymmetric warfare—where non-state actors fight against established militaries—has blurred the lines between combatants and civilians.

Technological advancements, particularly in the realm of autonomous weapons systems, further complicate the legal landscape. If a machine makes a lethal decision, who is held accountable under current international statutes? Furthermore, the displacement of millions due to conflict has placed an immense strain on global humanitarian resources. As the gap between technological capability and legal framework widens, the international community faces a critical dilemma: how to uphold human dignity in an era of automated and unpredictable conflict.

Writing Task

Instrucciones: Basándote en el texto anterior, escribe un ensayo de respuesta (response essay) de entre 180 y 220 palabras. En tu texto, debes: 1. Resumir los desafíos principales mencionados en el texto. 2. Evaluar si las leyes actuales son suficientes o si se requiere un nuevo tratado internacional. 3. Utilizar un vocabulario de nivel C1 (ej. accountability, implementation, breach, mitigate).

Speaking checkpoint

Responde a estas preguntas de forma oral para practicar tu fluidez y capacidad de argumentación. Intenta hablar durante 1-2 minutos por cada una.

1. Compare: Compare the effectiveness of diplomatic negotiations versus economic sanctions in resolving international conflicts.
2. Speculate: How might the development of AI-driven weaponry change the way we define "war crimes" in the future?
3. Evaluate: To what extent should international bodies have the power to intervene in the domestic affairs of a sovereign nation?
4. Justify: Some argue that strict neutrality is impossible in humanitarian work. Justify whether or not an organisation can truly remain neutral.
5. Evaluate: Evaluate the impact of social media on the way modern conflicts are perceived by the global public.
6. Speculate: If international law were to be completely ignored by major powers, what would the geopolitical consequences be?

Self-assessment rubric

Answer key

Grammar consolidation 1. The treaty might not have been signed... 2. The officer regretted not reporting... 3. The ceasefire might have been... 4. ...people who needed it most. (Remove 'were') 5. There is great importance... (or 'It is of great importance') 6. The committee discussed the new regulations... (Remove 'about') 7. The conflict is escalating, which is detrimental to all parties. 8. A ceasefire was reached due to a lack of food supplies. 9. Failure to act immediately may aggravate the situation. 10. We must examine the facts to ascertain the truth.

Vocabulary activation 1. Protection 2. Escalation 3. Controversy 4. Delivery 5. a) fragile 6. b) compelling 7. a) sanctions 8. c) both are correct 9. C 10. A 11. D 12. B