What Obama can do for Latin America

Ariel Dorfman guardian.co.uk,

Monday 19 October 2009

Of all the regions in a dangerous and intractable world, forgotten Latin America might paradoxically offer Barack Obama the best opportunity to influence events ______ the "hope for the future" embodied in his recent Nobel peace prize becomes a reality.

(1)(1)

(1) a) whileb) despite

c) so thatd) as to

Building ______ his creative engagement with the continent after the Bush years of blindness and neglect, there is much the president can accomplish immediately. Lifting the senseless blockade _____ Cuba, followed by full diplomatic relations, would be a good beginning.

(2)(2)

(3)(3)

(2) a) uponb) up

c) atd) in

Building ______ his creative engagement with the continent after the Bush years of blindness and neglect, there is much the president can accomplish immediately. Lifting the senseless blockade _____ Cuba, followed by full diplomatic relations, would be a good beginning.

(2)(2)

(3)(3)

(3) a) onb) to

c) overd) against

Another sore spot is Honduras, where the US has not done enough to isolate and punish the de facto government, which stubbornly ______ power after having _____ the legally elected Manuel Zelaya. And Obama should rethink his approach to continental security (cancelling, for instance, Plan Colombia), as a way of ______ tensions in a Latin America threatened by a new arms race.  

(4)(4)

(4) a) detachesb) divides

c) clings tod) releases

(5)(5)

(6)(6)

Another sore spot is Honduras, where the US has not done enough to isolate and punish the de facto government, which stubbornly ______ power after having _____ the legally elected Manuel Zelaya. And Obama should rethink his approach to continental security (cancelling, for instance, Plan Colombia), as a way of ______ tensions in a Latin America threatened by a new arms race.  

(4)(4)

(5) a) oustedb) ceased

c) unleashedd) clung

(5)(5)

(6)(6)

Another sore spot is Honduras, where the US has not done enough to isolate and punish the de facto government, which stubbornly _______ power after having _____ the legally elected Manuel Zelaya. And Obama should rethink his approach to continental security (cancelling, for instance, Plan Colombia), as a way of ______ tensions in a Latin America threatened by a new arms race.  

(4)(4)

(6) a) harmingb) defusing

c) broadeningd) laying

(5)(5)

(6)(6)

The US, one of the largest Spanish-speaking countries in the world, could also send a signal of friendship to Latin America _____ legalising the situation of millions of undocumented Latino workers, _____ down walls instead of erecting them.  

(7)(7)

(7) a) intob) over

c) aboutd) by

(8)(8)

The US, one of the largest Spanish-speaking countries in the world, could also send a signal of friendship to Latin America _____ legalising the situation of millions of undocumented Latino workers, _____ down walls instead of erecting them.  

(7)(7)

(8) a) tearingb) sewing

c) fasteningd) swelling

(8)(8)

_____ another front, presidents Álvaro Uribe and Felipe Calderón, seconded by Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, have valiantly _____ up a tentative conversation about the failed "war on drugs".  

(9)(9)

(9) a) Inb) On

c) Overd) Under

(10)(10)

_____ another front, presidents Álvaro Uribe and Felipe Calderón, seconded by Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, have valiantly _____ up a tentative conversation about the failed "war on drugs".  

(9)(9)

(10) a) drawn b) laid

c) openedd) taken

(10)(10)

If Obama _____ encourage, and perhaps imitate, their efforts to decriminalise the use of marijuana, it would help alter an irrational policy that has generated a mafia of narcotraficantes across the Americas, filling jails and devastating _____.  

(11)(11)

(11) a) were to b) is

c) have tod) must

(12)(12)

If Obama _____ encourage, and perhaps imitate, their efforts to decriminalise the use of marijuana, it would help alter an irrational policy that has generated a mafia of narcotraficantes across the Americas, filling jails and devastating _____.  

(11)(11)

(12) a) youngs b) youth

c) youngsterd) the young

(12)(12)

And, of course, there are the real wars to _____ in Latin America. Against poverty and tyranny, against ecological depredation and the marginalisation of the indigenous _____ and their wisdom. The president, with his immense heart and his inspirational words, could be a fundamental partner in our _____ for a better future.  

(13)(13)

(13) a) win b) beat

c) defeatd) quell

(14)(14)

(15)(15)

And, of course, there are the real wars to _____ in Latin America. Against poverty and tyranny, against ecological depredation and the marginalisation of the indigenous _____ and their wisdom. The president, with his immense heart and his inspirational words, could be a fundamental partner in our _____ for a better future.  

(13)(13)

(14) a) people b) peoples

c) nationd) race

(14)(14)

(15)(15)

And, of course, there are the real wars to _____ in Latin America. Against poverty and tyranny, against ecological depredation and the marginalisation of the indigenous _____ and their wisdom. The president, with his immense heart and his inspirational words, could be a fundamental partner in our _____ for a better future.  

(13)(13)

(15) a) retreat b) urge

c) yearningd) quest

(14)(14)

(15)(15)

______, the continent where I was born has only received five Nobel peace prizes in the 108 years since the award was instituted.  

(16)(16)

(16) a) Seldom b) Faithfully

c) Incrediblyd) Eventually

If Obama were to _____ a truly enlightened policy _____ the countries south of the border, I can _____ how the citizens of Latin America might some day _____ that in 2009, that prize was really, all appearances to the contrary, once again offered to one of our own.

(17)(17)

(17) a) set out b) open up

c) take overd) carry out

(18)(18)

(19)(19)(20)(20)

If Obama were to _____ a truly enlightened policy _____ the countries south of the border, I can _____ how the citizens of Latin America might some day _____ that in 2009, that prize was really, all appearances to the contrary, once again offered to one of our own.

(18) a) towards b) to

c) aboutd) in

(20)(20)

(17)(17)(18)(18)

(19)(19)

If Obama were to _____ a truly enlightened policy _____ the countries south of the border, I can _____ how the citizens of Latin America might some day _____ that in 2009, that prize was really, all appearances to the contrary, once again offered to one of our own.

(19) a) know b) bear

c) learnd) envision

(20)(20)

(17)(17)(18)(18)

(19)(19)

If Obama were to _____ a truly enlightened policy _____ the countries south of the border, I can _____ how the citizens of Latin America might some day _____ that in 2009, that prize was really, all appearances to the contrary, once again offered to one of our own.

(20) a) claim b) forecast

c) heeld) hail

(20)(20)

(17)(17)(18)(18)

(19)(19)