French and German strike

KEY

Question 1
a) False France’s SNCF railway company said less than half its staff were on strike yesterday, against more than 60% on Wednesday….
b) True French rail unions said that they had sent a letter to the government seeking a meeting today.
c) True……. the special pension regimes, which allow some state sector employees to retire after 37.5 years of work against 40 years for everyone else.
d) True …carmakers in particular were alarmed because supplies of parts were not getting through.
Question 2
a) They travelled by public transport train, (buses, and underground trains), taxis as well as private cars.
b) At the beginning of October, half of the population included in the survey supported the strike but this dropped by 10% in the second survey. All the surveys carried out showed the German people to be in support of the strike
Question 3

a) Clog/ clogged
b) Pledge
c) Raise/ raised

Question 4

a) One Parisian commuter complained that he had lost one day’s work the first day and that today he was coming into work but he was really tired.
b) The French Minister said “If the stoppages continue, it won’t be possible to hold talks with unions.”
c) The strike was supported by just over 40% of the German population.