Hunger strike meaning in English
Learn how to use Hunger strike correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
(to go on) a hunger strike: (to begin) a refusal of all food as a way of protest (usually by a prisoner)
Examples
- "I'm going on a hunger strike."
Exercise 1
Select the TRUE statements from the list below.
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
Select the TRUE statements from the list below.
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
This is a true statement. When Bruno asks Leonard to send him more information about the Frantastique language course ("Why don't you send me some information about it?"), Leonard replies that he has "a tract right here." Although Leonard is using "tract" in an incorrect context (the term is more suitable to religious and political forms of literature), it is correct to assume that Leonard already has information about his proposal in his possession.
This is a false statement. After discussing the issue of introducing French lessons to the Delavigne employees, Bruno tells Leonard "I'll look into it and get back to you". This means that he will examine the Frantastique program in greater detail and inform Leonard of his decision at a later time. Bruno does not say at any point in the conversation that he will buy the program, only that he will consider it.
This is incorrect. At no point in the conversation does Leonard mention that he will organize a strike among Delavigne's workers. Leonard himself threatens to go on a "hunger strike", meaning that he alone will protest Bruno's decision. A "hunger strike" is a refusal to eat as a form of protest.
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks below with terms used in the dialogue.
This 2 word term describes a form of protest where food is refused indefinitely. "My son went on a after I told him he couldn't have a sixth croissant." (2 words!)
This term describes a piece of literature larger than a leaflet or a pamphlet and smaller than a book, which is often used for promotional purposes, it is a . It shouldn't be confused with a , which is much more commonly used in political contexts, even as propaganda.
This 2 word term describes a form of protest where food is refused indefinitely. "My son went on a after I told him he couldn't have a sixth croissant." (2 words!)
This term describes a piece of literature larger than a leaflet or a pamphlet and smaller than a book, which is often used for promotional purposes, it is a . It shouldn't be confused with a , which is much more commonly used in political contexts, even as propaganda.
Fill in the blanks below with terms used in the dialogue.
This 2 word term describes a form of protest where food is refused indefinitely. "My son went on a hunger strike 1 after I told him he couldn't have a sixth croissant." (2 words!)
This term describes a piece of literature larger than a leaflet or a pamphlet and smaller than a book, which is often used for promotional purposes, it is a brochure 2. It shouldn't be confused with a tract 3, which is much more commonly used in political contexts, even as propaganda.
This 2 word term describes a form of protest where food is refused indefinitely. "My son went on a hunger strike 1 after I told him he couldn't have a sixth croissant." (2 words!)
This term describes a piece of literature larger than a leaflet or a pamphlet and smaller than a book, which is often used for promotional purposes, it is a brochure 2. It shouldn't be confused with a tract 3, which is much more commonly used in political contexts, even as propaganda.
1 hunger strike: This is correct. A "hunger strike" is a form of protest where the protester refuses to eat food until their demands are met. Famously, as a method of peaceful protest, it was used by Mahatma Gandhi who went on two hunger strikes to protest against British and autocratic rule in India. In the dialogue, Leonard, in a more banal manner, says "I'm going on a hunger strike" in order to try and persuade Bruno to agree to his demands for French lessons.
2 brochure: This is correct. "Brochures" are small promotional booklets generally used for both marketing and informational purposes. Brochures might be given out at a bank to describe their checking accounts, or at a hotel to describe local activities. In this dialogue, Leonard has a brochure of the Frantastique language course that he would like to give to Bruno. The brochure likely describes the program, its cost and gives contact information within it.
3 tract: This is the correct answer. When Leonard says "I have a tract right here", he is most probably employing this term because of his political background (and socialist tendencies!). In English, the term "tract" is almost exclusively used to describe political and religious literature (socialist literature, particularly). When describing the promotional literature of Frantastique, the language course, it would not be appropriate.
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