Question

Difficulty: Very hardInterpreting Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions in Context

A technology ethicist is delivering a keynote speech about the social impacts of artificial intelligence at an international symposium in Buenos Aires. Listen to the transcription of their argument below and match each idiomatic phrase to its intended meaning within this specific context.

"Al evaluar el impacto de la inteligencia artificial, no podemos hacer la vista gorda ante sus fallos. Es evidente que los sesgos algorítmicos siguen campando a sus anchas en muchas aplicaciones comerciales. Quienes desarrollan estas tecnologías a menudo escurren el bulto frente a los dilemas éticos, argumentando neutralidad técnica. Sin embargo, para forjar un ecosistema digital equitativo, los legisladores deben coger el toro por los cuernos y establecer normativas vinculantes."

Match the Spanish idiomatic expressions used by the speaker to their contextual English definitions.

  • hacer la vista gordaTo deliberately pretend not to notice an evident problem or malpractice
  • campando a sus anchasTo operate freely and unchecked without any restrictions or oversight
  • escurren el bultoTo skillfully evade a responsibility, obligation, or difficult situation
  • coger el toro por los cuernosTo confront a challenging or dangerous situation directly and resolutely

Answer

The correct pairings are: 'hacer la vista gorda' matches 'To deliberately pretend not to notice an evident problem or malpractice'; 'campando a sus anchas' matches 'To operate freely and unchecked without any restrictions or oversight'; 'escurren el bulto' matches 'To skillfully evade a responsibility, obligation, or difficult situation'; and 'coger el toro por los cuernos' matches 'To confront a challenging or dangerous situation directly and resolutely'.
Each idiomatic expression is correctly mapped based on the speaker's critical stance on AI ethics. 'Hacer la vista gorda' relies on the context of ignoring flaws; 'campando a sus anchas' is inferred from biases acting without limits; 'escurrir el bulto' is deduced from developers making excuses to avoid ethical duties; and 'coger el toro por los cuernos' logically fits the call for lawmakers to act decisively.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the speaker's tone and the context surrounding 'hacer la vista gorda'.
The speaker warns against ignoring AI flaws, pointing to the definition of deliberately pretending not to notice a problem.
Understanding the immediate syntactic environment ('ante sus fallos') provides the semantic clue for turning a blind eye.
2
Evaluate the phrase 'campando a sus anchas' in relation to 'sesgos algorítmicos'.
The context implies these biases are a widespread, unrestricted negative force, aligning with operating freely and unchecked.
Idioms describing movement or presence often carry connotations of control or lack thereof; 'a sus anchas' means at ease or without restraint.
3
Determine the meaning of 'escurren el bulto' based on developers' reactions to ethical dilemmas.
By arguing 'technical neutrality' to avoid dealing with dilemmas, developers are evading responsibility.
The contrast between facing a dilemma and making an excuse points to evasion.
4
Interpret 'coger el toro por los cuernos' in the context of what legislators must do.
Legislators must establish rules to fix the ecosystem, which means confronting the challenge directly.
The imagery of facing a dangerous animal head-on universally translates to confronting a difficult situation resolutely.

Key Concept

Interpreting Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions in Context
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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