International Students NZ

Today’s picture: My niece Olivia, celebrating her first Holy Communion in Madrid last month

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Part 1: Today's word

If something is contingent, it means it’s not absolute – it depends on the situation. So, for example, acceptance onto a university course could be contingent on results obtained in an examination. And any plans for outdoor events are likely to be contingent on weather conditions. A contingency is something (normally bad) that may happen in the future – so planning needs to take into account contingencies. Sometimes organisations keep a contingency fund so that they have enough money if things go wrong. The noun ‘contingent’ can also mean a large group of people.

Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing.

Part 2: Test

Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out?

Given the tight economic situation, any salary raise will be contingent on increased market share.

The company built up a substantial contingency fund to cover the fixed costs of the venture.

Government approval of the grant was contingent on the organization meeting a number of conditions.

Socially responsible citizens accept that the privilege of owning a car is contingent on limiting its impact on the environment.

Part 3: Practice Questions:

Do you have any contingency plans?

Part 4: The Idiomatic Five

go against the grain
seem unnatural
British men find it hard to express their feelings in public - it goes against the grain.

grin and bear it
put up with it
We may not like the takeover deal, but in these economic times, we’ll just have to grin and bear it.

a guinea pig
someone used to test a product etc
I think the company was just using us as guinea-pigs for their new training programme.

stick to your guns / stand by your guns
not give in
I admire the way she stuck to her guns despite all the pressure on her to sign the new contract.

pull/tear your hair out
get very frustrated
We’ve been pulling our hair out wondering where you were.

Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question
What is the celebration that marks the Maori New Year?

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Part 6: Today's online listening:

This is a 25 minute lecture about genetics and morality from the famous American professor, Michael Sandel.

Vocabulary for the lecture:

a dissenter
a predicament
to alleviate
cognition
dementia
unbidden
hubris
humility
eugenics
coercive
a blessing

Questions for the article:

1) Why were the parents in Michael Sandel’s first case criticised?

they aborted their baby because it was deaf
they chose to have a deaf baby
they prevented their child from hearing
their baby was born deaf

2) Which new medical advance may be marketed for people in their sixties and seventies?

cognition-enhancers
sperm-sorting
designer children
human growth hormone

3) Which social problem does Michael Sandel highlight in China and some parts of India?

in-vitro fertilisation
dementia
drug addiction
gender imbalance

4) Michael Sandel argues that parental love should not be contingent on ...

giftedness
attributes
humility
fairness

5) Michael Sandel cites Singapore as a country which has implemented some ...... policies

eugenics
coercive
fertilisation
sex education

6) Michael Sandel describes parenthood as a school for ...

responsibility
humility
ambition
multi-tasking

7) Michael Sandel argues that our awareness of the contingency of our gifts makes us more willing to ...

work hard to succeed
help the less fortunate
admire the successful
replace chance with choice

8) Michael Sandel’s underlying message is that societies should become more ...

accepting
complex
gifted
imperfect

Today’s Video suggestion: from the UK
Every kinda people performed by Robert Palmer
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