Quizzes: How to Revise > Cutting jargon and journalese

Cut through the journalistic claptrap and simplify the following:

1			The scientists at the World Health Organization subjected the data to intense scrutiny before issuing the alert.
2			If not contained with speed, they warned, the virus could spread exponentially and achieve plague status.
3			The president huddled with his advisers and then acted with a speed that shocked his political opponents and the media world.
4			In a surprise move, the president went on the offense and called Congress back into session.
5			Heightening the drama was the fact that he had called them back from midterm holidays amid adverse weather conditions in Washington.
6			Amid allegations of political opportunism and claims that he had overstepped his authority, the president launched an offensive to convince Congress of the urgent need for action.
7			An important part of implementing his strategy was to nullify the impact of decisions enacted by political operators with hidden agendas.
8			If he didn't act immediately to empower his allies and forestall his opponents, he knew he later might have to put down a bloody uprising by militant members of his own party.