liberal studies

Reading comprehension

Answer the following questions:

1 What did marchers on the New Year's Day protest demand?

i) the release of a jailed mainland dissident

ii) the implementation of full democracy in 2012

iii) an expansion of Legislative Council's functional constituencies

iv) the resignation of Tung Chee-hwa

a. i) and ii)

b. ii) only

c. i), ii) and iii)

d. i), iii) and iv)

2 How did the young protesters come together?

a. They studied at the same school.

b. They attended a New Year's party together.

c. They attended other protests and were introduced to each other by their organisers.

d. They met on online forums and communicated by leaving messages on them.

3 Why does Chow Nok-hang think young people should organise actions themselves?

a. Officials care about young people's actions most.

b. They might be suppressed by officials if they join rallies organised by political parties.

c. Young people can express their views better by expressing them themselves.

d. Young people should show that they are mature.

4 According to Ivan Choy Chi-keung, what has made it easy for young people to organise protests?

a. the resignation of Tung Chee-hwa

b. officials' lenient stance towards them

c. the internet

d. the help of other political parties

Think about

1 Why do people protest? What's the purpose of demonstrations for a society as a whole?

2 Do you think young people should concentrate on their studies or careers instead of taking part in protests on serious issues? Give your reasons.

3 Why is it important for young people to have an opinion?

4 Apart from taking to the streets, what other methods can people use to express their objections?

Follow-up activities

1 Check out the issues at the centre of the protests mentioned in the article. Do in-depth research on mainland jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo, the ongoing debate in Hong Kong over electoral reforms and the proposed Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail.

2 Choose two current social issues which concern you the most. Write about them on your blog or compile an essay on each topic. Explain your stance.

Answers

January 5

Reading comprehension: 1. c, 2. d, 3. b, 4. a