Change of heart and point of view

[Vijay Jr.]

Test No. incompl/inter-1 "Applying for that Job", question 5

The government has changed its policy and had a complete change of ..........

(a) view
(b) opinion
(c) mind
(d) heart

Test No. incompl/inter-1 "Applying for that Job", answer 5

The government has changed its policy and had a complete change of heart.

Correct answer: (d) heart

Your answer was: incorrect
The government has changed its policy and had a complete change of view.
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Why is the answer not "view"?

Vijay

[Torsten]

Hi Vijay,

If someone has a change of heart, they change their opinion or the way they feel about something. You can also change your point of view.
So, change of heart is a fixed expression.

Please, let me know if that makes sense to you. Regards.
Torsten
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TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Guest]

Test No. incompl/inter-1 "Applying for that Job", question 5

In my opinion government is a body (group of people) having various opinions about a particular subject. "Change of Heart" does not fit into the concept well. As there can be various opinions involved in change of a certain policy I think "Change Of Opinion" fits in better & sounds more sensible.

If Not Explain Why?

Tanvi

[Torsten]

Change of heart is an idiom which means that somebody changes their opinion. Please note that the expression is change of heart and not change of opinion. This phrase can be used in connection with governments or individuals because people tend to change their minds no matter whom they work for.
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TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Tuga]

Coudn't it be "change of mind"?

[Ralf]

Hi Tuga,

Yes, you could. "I changed my mind" is equally possible to say.
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[Alan]

I agree that you can change your mind but when it's said as it is in the test sentence, in an abstract way, I think 'change of heart' is preferable.

Alan
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[Filcanlas]

Hi Alan
I agree on your post that 'change of heart' is preferable, but the context is about government in which 'there is a change of policy' is a secular phrase. In my opinion, I can use 'change of mind' as a secular phrase and I'll use 'change of heart ' in the context of sacredness.

can you explain further about 'change of heart' in the context?

fil

[Alan]

Hi Fil,

There are two points I'd like to make -in the first place it's very much how groups of words fit together and are used in an idiom and the one that fits most commonly is 'change of heart'. As for the use of the word 'heart' in political language I would refer you to an expression used very much nowadays when talking about politicians trying to capture the 'hearts and minds' of the voters. In the test sentence it is stated that the government has changed its policy and that covers the pragmatic part. The second part of the sentence tries to explain the reason why and suggests that it responded to what the public felt and in that sense had a change of heart.

Alan
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