appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

SCMP Reporter

Match the following words with their meanings on the right.

1. splurge

2. resounding

3. boasting

4. exorbitant

5. tarnish

6. demise

a. being equipped with (something)

b. spend a lot of money

c. the end or failure (of something)

d. cause people to have a worse opinion than they used to

e. very expensive

f. very great or emphatic

Fill in the blanks with the words you have learned.

1. The _______ of the company spelt disaster for its many shareholders.

2. The _______ rents in Central mean only the rich can live there.

3. Many mainland visitors _______ a fortune on local souvenirs.

4. ________ thousands  of books and rows of computers, the Central Library is an ideal place for people to do research.

5. The doping scandal  will ________ the  athlete's reputation.

6. It was a resounding victory as the school football team beat their opponents 5-0.

Grammar Focus

The use of 'despite'

'Despite' is a preposition which has the same meaning as 'in spite of'.

Below is an example from the passage.

Despite  initial problems, the Ngong Ping 360 cable car has registered increasing visitor numbers.

Rewrite the following sentences as shown in the example.

Eg. Although she has a million dollars, she is unhappy.

Answer: Despite having a million dollars, she is unhappy.

1. Although she is very beautiful, her feisty personality has alienated her from her boyfriend.

_____________________________________________________

2. Although he is very rich, he never contributes to charity.

_____________________________________________________

3. Although he suffers from poor health, he is a very optimistic person.

_____________________________________________________

Answers:

Pages 6 and 7: 1. b, 2. f, 3. a, 4. e, 5. d, 6. c; 1. demise 2. exorbitant 3. splurge 4. Boasting 5. tarnish

6. resounding; 1. Despite her beauty, her feisty personality has alienated her from her boyfriend

2. Despite being very rich, he never contributes to charity 3. Despite his poor health, he is a very optimistic person



Word Power