Unit Review & Progress Test

Unit review — Electoral Systems, Voting & Democracy

Al finalizar esta unidad, deberías ser capaz de participar en debates complejos sobre política y sistemas de gobierno utilizando un léxico de nivel C1. Deberás dominar términos específicos relacionados con procesos electorales, integridad democrática y estructuras de poder, permitiéndote expresar opiniones matizadas y críticas de manera profesional.

Asimismo, habrás consolidado la distinción entre adverbios de frase (sentence adverbials) y complementos clausulares (clausal adjuncts), lo que te permitirá estructurar argumentos con mayor sofisticación. Serás capaz de manejar la cohesión textual para que tus opiniones no parezcan simples afirmaciones, sino argumentos bien integrados en un discurso académico o profesional.

Grammar consolidation

Instructions: Complete the following tasks to practice the distinction between sentence adverbials (which modify the whole sentence/speaker's attitude) and clausal adjuncts (which provide context like time, place, or manner).

Part A: Sentence Transformation Rewrite the following sentences using the word in brackets. Do not change the meaning.

1. I think it is quite likely that the coalition government will collapse. (LIKELY)

2. Because the turnout was so low, the election results were questioned. (LOW)

Part B: Error Correction Identify and correct the error in each sentence. Some sentences may be correct.

3. Honestly, I believe that gerrymandering is a threat to democracy.

4. Surprisingly, the incumbent won the election despite the scandal.

5. He spoke to the press, reluctantly to avoid further controversy.

Part C: Controlled Rewriting Rewrite the sentences to change the focus from a clausal adjunct to a sentence adverbial, or vice versa, to improve the flow.

6. Although the polls were inaccurate, the public accepted the result. (Start with: UNFORTUNATELY)

7. The candidate gave a speech that was very persuasive. (Use: PERSUASIVELY)

8. Since the law was passed, voter registration has increased. (Use: CONSEQUENTLY)

9. It is certain that the new electoral law will be challenged in court. (Use: CERTAINLY)

10. While we were debating the policy, the deadline passed. (Use: UNEXPECTEDLY) _______________

Vocabulary activation

Part A: Collocations & Word Formation Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in brackets or the appropriate collocation.

1. The _____ (legitimacy) of the election was questioned by international observers.
2. There is a growing _____ (concern/deep) regarding voter suppression in certain districts.
3. The political party managed to secure a _____ (landslide/win) victory in the general election.
4. We must ensure that the _____ (ballot/vote) remains secret to protect voter privacy.
5. The government is facing a _____ (crisis/political) due to the recent corruption scandal.
6. To prevent fraud, the authorities implemented stricter _____ (oversight/supervision) of the counting process.

Part B: Register Choice (Formal vs. Informal) Replace the underlined informal expressions with a more formal C1-level equivalent suitable for a political essay.

7. The politician told lies about his opponent's record.

8. The new law makes it hard for small parties to compete.

9. The results showed a massive shift in public opinion.

10. People voted for the candidate because they wanted change. _______________

Part C: Contextual Vocabulary Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

11. The _____ (incumbent / candidate) holds the office currently and is running for re-election.
12. The district boundaries were redrawn to favor one party, a practice known as _____. (gerrymandering / disenfranchisement)

Integrated skills task

Source Text: The Challenge of Proportional Representation

In many modern democracies, the debate between proportional representation and "first-past-the-post" systems remains contentious. Proponents of proportional systems argue that they more accurately reflect the diversity of public opinion, ensuring that smaller parties have a voice in parliament. This can lead to more inclusive governance and prevent the "tyranny of the majority." However, critics argue that this often results in fragmented parliaments, making it difficult to form stable coalition governments. Such instability can lead to political paralysis, where policy-making is stalled by constant negotiations between minor parties. Furthermore, the complexity of these systems can sometimes alienate voters who feel their single vote is diluted. Ultimately, the choice of an electoral system involves a delicate balance between representative accuracy and executive stability.

Writing Task

Instrucciones: Basándote en el texto anterior, escribe un ensayo de respuesta (response essay) de entre 180 y 220 palabras. Debes argumentar si crees que la estabilidad de un gobierno es más importante que la representación exacta de la voluntad popular. Utiliza vocabulario de nivel C1 y asegúrate de usar adverbios de frase para expresar tu opinión de manera sofisticada.

Speaking checkpoint

Instrucciones: Responde a estas preguntas de forma oral. Intenta hablar durante 2 minutos por cada respuesta, utilizando estructuras complejas.

1. Compare: Compare the advantages and disadvantages of direct democracy versus representative democracy.
2. Speculate: How might the rise of social media and AI affect the integrity of future elections?
3. Evaluate: To what extent does a high voter turnout guarantee a legitimate democratic mandate?
4. Justify: Some argue that compulsory voting is necessary for a healthy democracy. Justify or refute this stance.
5. Evaluate: Evaluate the impact of political polarization on the stability of modern democratic institutions.
6. Speculate: If the current trend of declining trust in institutions continues, what might political systems look like in fifty years?

Self-assessment rubric

Answer key

Grammar consolidation 1. It is likely that the coalition government will collapse. 2. Because of the low voter turnout, the election results were questioned. 3. Honestly, I believe that gerrymandering is a threat to democracy. (Correct) 4. Surprisingly, the incumbent won the election despite the scandal. (Correct) 5. He spoke to the press, reluctantly to avoid further controversy. (Incorrect: He reluctantly spoke to the press...) 6. Unfortunately, the polls were inaccurate. 7. Persuasively, the candidate gave a speech. / The candidate spoke persuasively. 8. Consequently, voter registration has increased since the law was passed. 9. Certainly, the new electoral law will be challenged in court. 10. Unexpectedly, the deadline passed while we were debating the policy.

Vocabulary activation 1. legitimacy 2. deep concern 3. landslide victory 4. ballot 5. political crisis 6. oversight 7. misrepresented / made false allegations 8. hinders / impedes / obstructs 9. revealed / demonstrated / manifested 10. cast their votes for / supported 11. incumbent 12. gerrymandering