China’s other faceThe red and the

black

Oct 1st 2009From The Economist

As the People’s Republic celebrates its 60th birthday, the gangsterism the communists boasted of vanquishing has staged a comeback.

boasted = triumphed,exulted

vanquishing = defeating,subjugating

staged = produced,presented

comeback = return,recovery,reaction

Shortly before the 60th anniversary of communist China’s founding on October 1st, police in the south-western city of Chongqing opened an unusual exhibition. On display, to invited guests only, were 65 luxury cars formerly owned by the bosses of the city’s crime gangs as well as an assortment of jewellery, guns and drugs.

founding =establishment

assortment =variety

Chongqing, the wartime capital of China, had been a hub of organised crime in pre-communist days. Now the gangs are back, with roots in the party that almost wiped them out six decades ago.

hub =center,focus

roots =origin,stem

wiped them out =destroyed them

In Beijing the huge military parade on October 1st, China’s first in ten years, was intended to show off a modern, powerful face. The country’s leaders had reason to flaunt their stuff this year. Not only has China made enormous economic and technological strides since 1999, but it has also weathered the global financial crisis with remarkable resilience.

show off =display,exhibit

flaunt =advertise,divulge

stuff =equipment,machinery

In Beijing the huge military parade on October 1st, China’s first in ten years, was intended to show off a modern, powerful face. The country’s leaders had reason to flaunt their stuff this year. Not only has China made enormous economic and technological strides since 1999, but it has also weathered the global financial crisis with remarkable resilience.

strides =progress,advancement

weathered =endured,resisted

resilience =vitality,vigor

Officials had worried that widespread lay-offs in export businesses could lead to social unrest. But, apart from bloody rioting in the far-western region of Xinjiang in July, fuelled mainly by ethnic rivalry, the past few months have seen no obvious increase in the number or scale of protests.

widespread =extensive

lay-offs =dismissals

unrest =disturbance

Officials had worried that widespread lay-offs in export businesses could lead to social unrest. But, apart from bloody rioting in the far-western region of Xinjiang in July, fuelled mainly by ethnic rivalry, the past few months have seen no obvious increase in the number or scale of protests.

rioting =rebellion,tumult

fuelled =encouraged

As is evident in Chongqing, however, China has another face. Although central authority appears strong, at the local level public anger is boiling. Double-digit economic growth for much of this decade has highlighted how corrupt and dysfunctional local government has become.

highlighted =emphasized,stressed

The campaign against organised crime launched by Chongqing in June demonstrated just how prone China remains, after all those years of Communist rule, to the age-old scourge of collusion between bureaucrats and gangland bosses.

launched =initiated,started

prone =predisposed,likely

The campaign against organised crime launched by Chongqing in June demonstrated just how prone China remains, after all those years of Communist rule, to the age-old scourge of collusion between bureaucrats and gangland bosses.

rule =government,regime

scourge =plague,poison

collusion =complicity,conspiracy

gangland =organized crime

For many Chinese, life is vastly more affluent now than it was when the Communists came to power. Decent health care and education are far easier to get. But confidence in local government is threadbare.

affluent =wealthy,rich,prosperous

threadbare =broken-down,debilitated,

Corruption, some Chinese officials argue, is an inevitable by-product of rapid economic growth. But the cumbersome structure of local government in China also helps it flourish. For centuries Chinese rulers have pondered how to extend power across such a vast country.

by-product =consequence,result

cumbersome =massive,oppressive

flourish =prosper,grow

pondered =reflected,considered

In recent years many have debated whether part of the problem lies with there being too many tiers of government—China has five, compared with three in America. Some advocate cutting one or two layers. This adds to a sense that, after 60 years of rule, the party is still unsure how best to govern.

tiers =levels

layers =sectors

unsure =insecure

Quiz 1

Fill in the blanks

Shortly before the 60th anniversary of communist China’s founding ___ October 1st, police in the south-western city of Chongqing opened an unusual exhibition. ___ display, ___ invited guests only, were 65 luxury cars formerly owned ___ the bosses of the city’s crime gangs as well as ___ assortment of jewellery, guns and drugs.

on

On

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to

Chongqing, the wartime capital of China, had _____ a hub of organised crime in pre-communist days. Now the gangs ____ back, with roots in the party that almost wiped them ____ six decades ago.

been

are

out

In Beijing the huge military parade ___ October 1st, China’s first in ten years, was intended to show ____ a modern, powerful face. The country’s leaders ____ reason to flaunt their stuff this year. Not only ____ China made enormous economic and technological strides _____ 1999, but it has also weathered the global financial crisis ____ remarkable resilience.

onoff

had

hassince

with

Officials had worried ____ widespread lay-offs in export businesses could lead ___ social unrest. But, apart _____ bloody rioting in the far-western region of Xinjiang in July, fuelled mainly ___ ethnic rivalry, the past few months _____ seen no obvious increase ___ the number or scale of protests.

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As is evident in Chongqing, however, China has another face. _________ central authority appears strong, ____ the local level public anger is boiling. Double-digit economic growth for much of this decade ____ highlighted how corrupt and dysfunctional local government ____ become.

Although at

has

has

The campaign _______ organised crime launched ___ Chongqing in June demonstrated just how prone China remains, after all those years of Communist ____, ___ the age-old scourge of collusion ________ bureaucrats and gangland bosses.

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For many Chinese, life is vastly more affluent now ____ it was when the Communists came ___ power. Decent health care and education are ____ easier to get. But confidence in local government is threadbare.

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far

Corruption, some Chinese officials argue, is ___ inevitable by-product of rapid economic growth. But the cumbersome structure of local government in China also helps ___ flourish. For centuries Chinese rulers _____ pondered how to extend power across _____ a vast country.

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such

In recent years many have debated ________ part of the problem ____ with there being ____ many tiers of government—China has five, compared with three in America. Some advocate cutting one or two ______. This adds to a sense that, after 60 years of rule, the party is still unsure ____ best to govern.

whetherlies

too

layers

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Quiz 2

Correct mistakes

Shortly before the 60th anniversary of communist China’s founding in October 1st, police in the south-western city of Chongqing opened an unusual exhibition. At display, for invited guests only, were 65 luxury cars formerly owned by the bosses of the city crime gangs as well as an assortment of jewellery, guns and drugs.

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Chongqing, the wartime capital of China, has been a hub of organised crime in pre-communist days. Now the gangs are back, with roots in the party that almost wiped them over six decades ago. hadhad ouou

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In Beijing the huge military parade on October 1st, China first in ten years, was intended to show out a modern, powerful face. The country leaders had reason to flaunt their stuff this year. Not only China has made enormous economic and technological strides since 1999, but it has as well weathered the global financial crisis with remarkable resilience.

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Officials had worried that widespread lay-off in export businesses could lead to social unrest. But, apart bloody rioting in the far-western region of Xinjiang in July, fuelled mainly for ethnic rivalry, the past few months have seen no obvious increase in the number or scale of protests.

lay-offslay-offsapart apart fromfrom

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As is evident in Chongqing, however, China has another face. Despite central authority appears strong, on the local level public angry is boiling. Double-digit economic growth for much of this decade has highlighted how corrupt and dysfunctional local government became.

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The campaign against organising crime launched by Chongqing in June demonstrated just how prone China remains, after all those years of Communist rule, for the age-old scourge of collusion between bureaucrats and gangland bosses.

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For many Chineses, life is vastly more affluent now than was when the Communists came to power. Decent health care and education is far easier to get. But confidence on local government is threadbare. ChinesChines

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Corruption, some Chinese officials argues, is an inevitable by-product of rapidly economic growth. But the cumbersome structure of local government in China also help it flourish. For centuries Chinese rulers pondered how to extend power across so vast country.

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In recent years many debated whether part of the problem lie with there being too many tiers of government—China has five, compared with three in America. Some advocate to cut one or two layers. This adds to a sense that, after 60 years of rule, the party is still unsure how best govern.

have have debateddebated

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