Unit Review & Progress Test

Unit review — Corruption, Transparency & Accountability

Al finalizar esta unidad, deberías ser capaz de discutir temas complejos relacionados con la ética política, la integridad corporativa y la rendición de cuentas utilizando un léxico avanzado y preciso. Habrás desarrollado la capacidad de expresar cambios progresivos y tendencias sociales mediante el uso de comparativos dobles, una estructura esencial para el nivel C1.

Asimismo, estarás preparado para analizar textos periodísticos de alto nivel sobre asuntos de actualidad, identificar matices de registro (formal vs. informal) y producir textos argumentativos coherentes. El objetivo es que puedas participar en debates académicos o profesionales sobre la integridad institucional con fluidez y precisión gramatical.

Grammar consolidation

Rewrite the sentences or complete the tasks according to the instructions in brackets.

1. The government is becoming more corrupt every year. (Rewrite using: The more...)
2. There is less and less transparency in the way the budget is handled. (Rewrite using: The less...)
3. We have fewer and fewer opportunities to hold officials accountable. (Rewrite using: The fewer...)
4. As the scandal grew, the public's trust in the police fell. (Rewrite using: The bigger...)
5. People are becoming more and more aware of the need for whistleblowers. (Identify the error: People are becoming more and more aware of the need for whistleblowers.)
6. The bribery became more frequent as the regulations weakened. (Rewrite using: The more...)
7. There are less and less resources available for anti-corruption investigations. (Correct the grammatical error in the sentence.)
8. As the company grew, it became more secretive. (Rewrite using: The larger...)
9. We see fewer and fewer instances of genuine political reform. (Rewrite using: The fewer...)
10. It is becoming harder to detect fraud. (Rewrite using: The more...)

Vocabulary activation

A. Word Formation: Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in brackets.

1. The _____ of the official was a shock to the entire nation. (CORRUPT)
2. We must demand greater _____ in all government dealings. (TRANSPARENT)
3. The whistleblower was praised for her _____ in the face of danger. (INTEGRITY)
4. There is a growing sense of _____ regarding the misuse of public funds. (ACCOUNT)

B. Collocations: Choose the correct verb to complete the professional collocation.

5. The CEO was forced to [resign / retire / relinquish] after the embezzlement scandal came to light.
6. The committee was set up to [conduct / perform / execute] an investigation into the bribery allegations.
7. The new laws aim to [curb / slash / cut] corruption within the public sector.
8. The audit was designed to [uncover / reveal / disclose] the hidden transactions.

C. Register Choice: Select the most appropriate C1-level word to replace the underlined informal phrase.

9. The politician's actions were very bad (_____) and led to his impeachment.
10. The lack of oversight allowed for a lot of (_____) irregularities.
11. The scandal spread quickly (_____) through the media.
12. The judge's decision was fair and right (_____) and upheld the rule of law.

Integrated skills task

Reading Text

In recent years, the global fight against corruption has faced significant setbacks. While international treaties aim to promote transparency, the reality on the ground often tells a different story. In many jurisdictions, the blurring of lines between private interests and public duty has become increasingly common. This "cronyism" undermines the very foundations of democratic institutions, leading to a breakdown in social cohesion.

Furthermore, the rise of digital finance has created new avenues for money laundering and the concealment of illicitly obtained wealth. While technology offers tools for better oversight, it also provides sophisticated methods for bypassing traditional accountability measures. As wealth inequality widens, the incentive for corruption grows, creating a cycle that is increasingly difficult to break. Without robust whistleblower protections and an independent judiciary, the fight for transparency remains an uphill battle.

Writing Task

Instrucciones: Basándote en el texto anterior, escribe un ensayo de entre 180 y 220 palabras. Debes analizar si la tecnología es una amenaza o una solución para la transparencia, y proponer una medida práctica para fomentar la rendición de cuentas en las instituciones públicas. Utiliza el vocabulario de la unidad.

Speaking checkpoint

1. Compare: Compare the impact of corruption in a small local government versus a large national government. Which is harder to combat?
2. Speculate: How might the rise of artificial intelligence affect the levels of transparency in corporate decision-making?
3. Evaluate: "Whistleblowers are often seen as heroes, but they frequently face devastating personal consequences." Evaluate this statement.
4. Justify: Justify the need for strict, independent oversight in the banking sector.
5. Compare: Compare the effectiveness of legal punishments versus social consequences in deterring corrupt behavior.
6. Speculate: If transparency were to become absolute (no secrets at all), how would society change?

Self-assessment rubric

Answer key

Grammar consolidation 1. The more corrupt the government becomes, the more... (e.g., the more unstable it becomes). 2. The less transparency there is in the way the budget is handled... 3. The fewer opportunities we have to hold officials accountable... 4. The bigger the scandal grew, the more the public's trust fell. 5. No error (The sentence is correct). 6. The more frequent the bribery became, the more... (e.g., the weaker the regulations became). 7. There are fewer and fewer resources... ("Resources" is a countable noun). 8. The larger the company grew, the more secretive it became. 9. The fewer and fewer instances of genuine political reform we see... 10. The more difficult it is to detect fraud...

Vocabulary activation 1. corruption 2. transparency 3. integrity 4. accountability 5. resign 6. conduct 7. curb 8. uncover 9. nefarious / reprehensible / scandalous 10. widespread / extensive / numerous 11. proliferated / spread rapidly 12. equitable / just / impartial