Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. dub (v.) [duhb] – to give or call someone or something another name or title
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. dub (v.) [duhb] – to give or call someone or something another name or title
Example: The
fireman was dubbed a hero after
he saved many lives during the disaster.
2. bestow (v.) [bih-stoh] – to present something as
a gift or an honor
Example: The
trophy was bestowed upon the winner.
3. enigmatic (adj.) [en-ig-mat-ik, ee-nig-] – describes
something that is mysterious or puzzling
Example: People
describe him as enigmatic because he hardly speaks about himself.
4. adore (v.) [uh-dawr, uh-dohr] – to admire or like (someone
or something) very much
Example: The
audience adores the artist because of his consistently wonderful
performance.
5. uncanny (adj.) [uhn-kan-ee] – extraordinary or
beyond what is normal or expected
Example: The
country’s rapid economic boom is uncanny.
Article
Read the text below.
The death of
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il has made the world turn its attention to his
youngest son Kim Jong Un. While
dubbed by the Worker's Party of Korea as the "great successor,"
the young man remains an enigmatic figure to the outside world.
Kim Jong Un,
believed to be in his late 20s, is said to speak English, German and French.
He also supposedly likes James Bond movies and basketball superstar Michael
Jordan. Basketball meant the world to him in his teenage years, says Joao
Micaelo, who claims to have known him as “Pak Un” when they were classmates
in Switzerland between1998 to 2001. Micaelo remembers that Un was competitive
and hated losing but was a good person overall. Micaelo is unsure, however,
how Un might have changed after 9 years.
An analysis of
WikiLeaks documents revealed that Kim Jong Un was dearest to his father. One
report from former Japanese chef Kenji Fujimoto says the elder Kim adored
his youngest son because of their uncanny likeness in image and
personality. In 2009, Kim Jong Un served as the National Defense Commission
chairman, and it became clear that he would most likely succeed his ailing father.
But experts
find him too inexperienced for tough decisions. Kim Jong Un started
"training for the job" only three years ago, whereas Kim Jong Il
was trained by his father, Kim Il Sung, for 14 years. As such, the ruling
political party will most likely follow the decision-making system
established by Kim Jong Il. As the young Kim continues training for the job,
his uncle Jang Song Thaek might be ruling behind the scenes.
With power bestowed on such a mysterious leader
the world can only wait to see how his leadership and the future of North
Korea develop.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
●
Based
on the description in the article, can you describe Kim Jong Un’s personality?
●
Why
do you think countries around the world want to know information on Kim Jong
Un?
Discussion B
● What do you think are the
advantages and disadvantages of having a young leader?
● How do you think can a young
leader make up for his lack of years in training?
