The highlighted words have been chosen from the South China Morning Post's top news stories to help you improve your word power. The mainland has suspended the supply of live chickens and pet birds to Hong Kong for three weeks after confirmation of a fatal human infection of bird flu in Guangzhou. 'I grew up with Chinese films and Hong Kong films. They are my cultural roots. I'm very proud of them. I'm delighted to be the representative of the industry, proud to be part of that. I will come back to make a Chinese-language film without a doubt,' Ang Lee said. IPCC member Lo Wing-lok said the council must investigate the privacy breach as soon as possible and take all necessary measures to stop it happening again. Every foreign visitor to Japan will be electronically fingerprinted and photographed, according to law changes approved by the Japanese government yesterday. Microsoft has unveiled its much-hyped 'Origami' project, a paperback-book sized portable computer, which is a hybrid between a laptop PC and a host of mobile devices that the software giant hopes will create an entirely new market. York Chow Yat-ngok said there was no evidence yet that the H5N1 virus could be transmitted to humans through chilled chicken, but in the event of an outbreak on farms, 'we will even ban all chilled or frozen chickens or poultry meat'. President Hu Jintao has called for a focus on the countryside through an ambitious agenda to help raise farmers' living standards and productivity amid rising fears about the widening wealth gap and an upsurge in rural unrest. Economists and bankers warned that a lengthening of the rates cycle would put the brakes on Hong Kong's inflation and dampen interest in the property market, which is already under pressure as potential home buyers hold off on purchases to watch interest rate developments. Explanation: suspended - stopped, usually temporarily cultural roots - customs or traditions of one's place of origin privacy breach - exposure of personal data electronically fingerprinted and photographed - having one's fingerprint and photograph taken with hi-tech electronic or computer equipment hybrid - a merge or combination of two or more different things chilled chicken - frozen chicken, usually sold in supermarkets an upsurge in rural unrest - a sudden increase in protests in the countryside hold off - delay Complete the sentences using the above words 1. Your ___________ influence the way you think, act, or behave in daily life. 2. Corruption has led to _______________________ in China. 3. In view of the possibility of an avian flu outbreak, eating ___________ is a safer option. 4. Peter was ___________ from school for three days due to bad behaviour. 5. The company which released its workers' personal data has committed a serious ________________. 6. The Housing Department has urged construction workers to __________ the planned strike. 7. A mule is a _____________ between a horse and a donkey. 8. People who renew their Hong Kong identity cards will be _______________. Answers: 1. cultural roots 2. an upsurge in rural unrest 3. chilled chicken 4. suspended 5. privacy breach 6. hold off 7. hybrid 8. electronically fingerprinted and photographed
