Cover of the textbook Outcomes Advanced - Student's Book

The key answer of exercise 2

The key to exercise solutions in chapter 4 - No laughing matter for the textbook Outcomes Advanced - Student's Book with authors Carol Nuttall and Amanda French from National Geographic Learning

Question

Read the article about Prime Minister’s Questions in the UK Parliament. Then work in pairs and answer the questions.

Answer

  1. The leader of the opposition asks a question, and the Prime Minister answers it. But this is just an excuse for the leader of the opposition to make a joke, and for the Prime Minister to poke fun in return.
  2. The author is critical, saying it symbolises much that is wrong with politics, MPs laughing like hyenas, politics as mere entertainment, just a game, mock abuse, and discouraging engagement with politics.