W:Goodevening,Minister.Thankyouverymuchforjoiningus.
W:Now,Minister.CanyoutellusaboutthecurrentsituationinStrakkanatthemoment?
M:Well,it’squitesimple,really.ThePresidenthassuspendedparliamentandcalledfornationalelectionsintwomonths’time.
W:Yes.Well,Ithinkwearealreadyinformedofthosefacts.Butwhyexactlyhashedonethis?
M:Well,hewouldn’thavetakenthesemeasuresifhehadn’tthoughttheywerenecessary.ThePresidenthasbeentryingtospeedupreformforthelasttwoyearsandhasbeenheldupateverystagebycertaingroupsinparliament.
W:Butifhehadn’tclosedparliamentdown,wouldn’thehavesucceededanyway?Afterall,thereseemstobestrongsupportforhiminthecountryasawhole.
M:Maybe.ButIthinkhe’sjusthadenough.Hecouldn’tgoongoverninginthisway.
W:Butifhehadheldonforalittlelonger,surelyhewouldhavewonintheend.Nowhehastowaitfortwomonths,hopetobesuccessfulintheelection,andthenstartoffhisreformprogramalloveragain.
M:Ofcourse,buthefeelsthisishisonlypropercourseofaction.
W:I’mafraidwe’verunoutoftime,Minister.Thankyouagainforjoiningus…
Questions19to22arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.
19.Whatarethespeakerstalkingabout?
20.WhathasthePresidentdone?
21.WhyhasthePresidenttakenthatcourseofaction?
22.Accordingtothepassage,whatistheMinister’sattitudetowardthepresident’saction?