TEST: WEEK 8

TEST

WEDNESDAY

1. THEORY

BRICS

2. ANALYTICS

The BRICS Effect


VOCABULARY & GRAMMAR

KEY TERMS
dominate to be the major factor or influence in
conventional conforming to or following accepted standards
mergeto combine or unite into a single enterprise, organization, body
returnsa profit or gain, such as from work
abundant present in great quantity; more than adequate; oversufficient
outlineto indicate the main features of
vehiclea means of accomplishing a purpose
generateto bring into existence; produce; originate
foreseeable that can be sensed or known in advance
generic termrelating to, or applying to all the members of a class, group, or kind
FOCUS WORDS
underestimate недооценивать
cultivate развивать, улучшать, совершенствовать
diversity разнообразие, многообразие, различие
appeal привлекательность, притягательность
encroachmentвторжение
unravelрушиться, разваливаться
spearheadбыть инициатором, возглавлять, продвигать
formidableогромный, внушительный, значительный
cloutвлияние, вес, сила
revampпеределывать, реформировать, перекроить, поправлять
PREPOSITIONS
  1. shift  to
  2. account for
  3. yearn for
  4. at odds with
  5.  on the global stage
  6. struggle with
  7. in response to 
  8. engage in
  9. compared to
  10.  a catalyst for 
GRAMMAR PATTERNS

India has always been the indispensable swing vowel in the BRICS acronym. 

India and the US have long regarded Pakistan, which notoriously sheltered Osama bin Laden, as an enabler of international terrorism. 

In recent years, however, the global environment has changed dramatically.

All these goals are being pursued in a variety of multilateral forums.

But the matter was not officially discussed at the meeting and featured only tentatively in the closing declaration. 

The BRIC acronym – created by then-Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill in 2001 – was initially impelled by a vision of economic cooperation. 

The BRICS seemed to be emerging as the premier platform of the Global South, articulating developing countries’ dissent from the so-called Washington Consensus – a tendency underscored by the addition of South Africa, the only African economy in the G20. 

As a result, the BRICS appears to be undergoing an identity crisis. 

India is said to have had a crucial hand in the drafting of the Beijing Declaration’s single reference to the bloc’s enlargement, buried deep within the 75-paragraph document. 

Indian foreign-policy mandarins initially saw the group as a useful platform to increase India’s international influence, in keeping with its traditional role as a leader of the developing world. 

If the bloc’s current strategic direction and possible enlargement push the country toward the exit, the grouping will become not just unpronounceable, but also unviable.