File - English CPGE 2014

DOSSIER 9 ARTICLE
CORRECTION (R. Schmitt)
Q1. What problem is China facing and what is it doing about it?
 METHOD: (1) REFORMULATE IN YOUR OWN WORDS
(2) SUMMARIZE QUICKLY & EFFICIENTLY … & ABIDE BY # WORDS!!
China is currently facing a dire pollution problem which affects most cities, worst of all Beijing. The
country’s smog-ridden capital regularly exceeds the World Health Organization’s safe air levels, sometimes
up to twenty times over. No wonder its inhabitants have grown used to wearing face masks or if a fake sun
is now displayed on the city’s main square. Yet China seems to have realized that economic growth may
have come at too high a cost –mounting discontent helping along, no doubt. Government regulations –
discarded by companies so far– now start being enforced, while Chinese cities take promising steps to cut
down on coal burning and encourage driving eco-friendlier cars.
110 words
[AGRO-VETO 90–110 max // MINES-PONTS 70–120 max]
This article taken from the mid-market British Daily Mail relates the environmental crisis China is currently
facing –and attempting to tackle. Chinese urbanites are having a hard time getting some sunlight under the
heavy smog that obstructs their city. Face masks have become a staple, and a first fake sun display –no
less!– was recently set up in Beijing, making headlines the world over. Meanwhile, local discontent is on
the rise, and Chinese officials have decided to take actions. They intend to decrease both coal and steel
consumption, promote green cars, shut down a number of polluting industrial companies, as well as put
some efforts in enforcing existing green legislation.
Improved from Mélanie Bascon – 110 words
The present article stresses the dangerous edge pollution has taken in Chinese cities of late. A poorly
handled crisis so far –judging by the heavy cloud of smoke surrounding Beijing– China’s environmental
crisis is nudging politicians to rethink their priorities away from pure economic growth, and lend an ear to a
dissatisfied public opinion. Measures that are currently being taken include reducing both coal burning and
car emissions as well as promoting clean energy, or even closing down some of the most harmful
industries. Beijing has even been driven to extremities, erecting huge screens that display a gorgeous, fake
sunrise so as best to cheer up the disgruntled, sun-deprived city-dwellers.
Improved from Mathilde Berthomier – 110 words
China’s major issue today is pollution. The country’s capital has been invaded by a toxic fog – air is said to
have reached a PM 2.5 density over 20 times higher than what is deemed safe by international standards.
As a result, Beijing’s inhabitants are unable to see the sun, having to resort to a fake equivalent displayed
on a TV screen. The Chinese government is, therefore, having to implement newer rules (complementing
former, unenforced ones) such as closing over-polluting companies. China’s best hope for cleaner air is,
according to Beijing’s mayor, to reduce the use of coal and car emissions. Funds have been raised but
companies’ cooperation is highly needed.
Improved from Felicity Vincent – 110 words
Q2. ESSAY
‘Environmental protection has been long sacrificed for the sake of economic
development’. Are these two notions necessarily antinomic?
 METHOD:
(1) POSITION YOURSELF RIGHT FROM THE INTRODUCTION
(2) BUILD A SMART, CONVINCING ARGUMENT, USING WELL-PICKED EXAMPLES
‘Green’, ‘low-carbon’ or ‘sustainable’ growth is a fairly recent concept, dating back to the past two to three
decades at most. Yet although much debated –and apart from the idealized Scandinavian model– it hasn’t
made any significant inroads. The novelty isn’t what’s holding most people back. The reason for today’s
neglect mostly comes down to one thing: short-term economics.
So far, sustainable growth hasn’t proved profitable. Relying primarily on costlier materials and
technologies, it is profit-neutral at best –that is a corporate no-go. Small wonder companies haven’t put in
the effort yet, or that CSR initiatives often remain window-dressing, if not wishful thinking. It isn’t just
profitable enough, therefore not worth their while.
The truth is that shareholders’ obsession with quarterly income statements, or politicians’ yearly agendas
and roadmaps, do not allow anyone to take in the bigger picture. U.N. [United Nations] global talks have
tried to make up for business and national reluctance. Yet from Kyoto [1997] to Warsaw [2013], little has
come of it: the U.S. has been noncommittal, and emerging economies would sooner blame global warming
on OECD countries than take the plunge of sustainable growth themselves.
A low-carbon economic model isn’t nonsensical. Quite the opposite, in fact, if only a longer-term take on
things wins the day.
211 words
[AGRO-VETO 180–220 max // MINES-PONTS 110–200 max]
Q2 LEXICON
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to date back to
at most = at best
to hold s/o back = refrain s/o from doing
to make inroads into s/thg = make progress
to come down to s/thg
to prove [adjective] (hard, easy etc.)
to rely on s/thg
that is (to say) = namely
a no-go (decision)
small wonder (/little wonder) (/no wonder)
put in the effort = make an effort
CSR = Corporate Social Responsibility
(it is just) window-dressing
(it is just) wishful thinking
(it is) worth one’s while = worth the trouble
the truth is = as a matter of fact
shareholders [that hold a company’s shares]
quarterly income statements
to take in the bigger picture
little has come of it = has amounted to little
being noncommittal = refusing to commit oneself
developed, advanced, western countries
a developing country = an emerging economy
would sooner do = would rather do
to take the plunge
to jump into (/on /onto) the bandwagon
(it is) nonsensical = absurd = far-fetched
a take on s/thg (what’s your take on this?)
to win the day = to prevail
(remonter à, temporellement parlant)
(au mieux, au plus)
(retenir qq1 de faire qqch)
(progresser, avancer)
(revenir à, se résumer à)
(s’avérer être [qqch adjectival =facile, difficile]
(reposer sur qqch/ compter sur qq1)
(c’est-à-dire […])
(un refus catégorique)
(cela n’étonnera guère si…)
(faire un effort, y mettre du sien)
(RSE; Responsabilité Sociétale des Entreprises)
(que façade, que cosmétique)
(que des mots, des « vœux pieux »)
(valoir le coup ; ça en vaut la chandelle)
(en réalité, à dire vrai)
(les actionnaires)
(résultats trimestriels)
(prendre un peu de recul)
(ça n’a pas servi à grand’ chose)
(refuser de prendre parti, rester en retrait)
(les pays développés, avancés, occidentaux)
(en voie de développement, pays émergent)
= would prefer doing
(sauter à l’eau)
(prendre le train en marche)
(tiré par les cheveux, ne tient pas debout)
(une perspective, un point de vue sur qqch)
(l’emporter, triompher)