Words
in the News
Monday 30th July 2001 Vocabulary from the news. Listen to and read the report then find
explanations of difficult words below.
New
President for Peru
Summary: Peru's new leader, Alejandro Toledo, is the first elected
President of Indian descent and has taken part in a native ceremony
to mark his becoming president.
On
his first full day as President, Alejandro Toledo is making
the most of his Andean roots and has taken part in
a symbolic ritual at the ruins of Machu Picchu. The famous
citadel, perched high in the mountains was once a key
centre of the Inca empire. Whilst Mr. Toledo himself wasn't
in traditional dress, local priests clad in brightly
coloured hats and ponchos, performed the half hour ceremony.
Speaking the native Quechua language, they burnt offerings
of flowers and coca leaves and called on the gods to bless the
government. Regional leaders who had also been flown by helicopter
to the site looked on. However, the task facing Mr. Toledo
once the festivities are over is immense. He'll be under
intense pressure to fulfil election pledges to create
jobs and raise wages. Half of Peru's twenty-six million people
live in poverty and it's these people who are expecting their
ancestral brother to deliver.
