Exercise 2. Fill in the gaps.

1. We want tax cuts in two steps in the next legislative period which will result _____ relief of 15bn euros.

2. A new defence strategy would rule _____ a nuclear response to attacks on the US involving biological, chemical or conventional weapons.

3. He heard a massive bang, saw panels fall from the ceiling, then heard people screaming, and saw people running _____.

4. By Wednesday morning it appeared the patience of pro-Ouattara forces had run _____.

5. Major differences over the status of Georgia’s rebel areas of South Ossetia and Abkhazia were set _____.

6. Far from returning home, displaced people will get more permanent shelters instead of the tents they are currently living in- more than 6, 000 huts will be built and allocated before winter sets _____.

7. Witnesses say, a man carrying a suitcase, walked into the baggage claim area, at the crowded Domodedovo airport terminal and may have set _____ the blast.

8. In their final communiqué, the leaders set _____ their broad goals and a voluntary timetable for carrying some of them out.

9. The Obama administration has set _____ a special website where viewers can see the short internet video and a 13-minute documentary on Mr. McCain’s involvement in the Keating scandal.

10. Countries deployed their foreign ministers to twist arms and shore _____ votes in the closing moments of the campaigns.

Exercise 3. Match the beginning of each sentence with its suitable ending.

1. Apparently more people than normal cast ballots at 3, 500 centers that were set up for …

2. Analysts say the Republican Mr. McCain will spend some time focusing on shoring up …

3. The Bush administration proposed a radar base in the Czech Republic and ten interceptor missiles in Poland, these are missiles used to shoot …

4. The number of drug addicts in Russia has shot …

5. The financial crisis was not so much hitting China’s banks, as the ordinary people and workers, as export firms were being shut …

6. The leader of Tunisia’s main Islamist movement returns from decades in exile but says he does not intend to stand …

7. Mr. Putin stood …

8. Deputy Prime Minister told public radio: “If this rocket fire against Israel does not stop, it seems we will have to raise the level of our activity and step up …

9. Local councils are sinking into …

10. Will the day come when we can strike ‘wallet’ off …

a) … the list because the mobile phone will be used for our payments?

b) … Romanians voting outside their area of residence.

c) … stronghold states.

d) … debt, leading to rising kindergarten fees and the threatened closure of libraries, swimming- pools and theatres.

e) … our actions against Hamas”.

f) … down other missiles.

g) … down.

h) … down after two consecutive terms as president in 2008, but the term in office has since been extended to six years, making him eligible to stand again.

i) … for the presidency.

j) … up by nearly 60 percent over the past 10 years.