Activity room

WTO in Seattle

Have you read about the World Trade Organisation meeting that was held in Seattle in the U.S. recently? The Hindu had carried many stories about the meeting. If you had been reading The Hindu regularly you will know the answers to these questions. If you haven't been reading about it, don't despair, read up the previous issues, especially, the issue dated December 11.

1. What were the two main features of the Seattle meeting that made it different from the conference in Geneva almost two decades ago?

2. What are the controversial issues concerning labour and environment that were left unresolved?

3. Do you know why the recent WTO talks collapsed?

Is it because of

- hardlining of the Europeans in the agricultural sector?

- narrow focus of the Japanese on U.S. anti-dumping laws

- rejection of non-trade related concerns by developing countries

-and most importantly...Can you say what it is?

4. Why were there so many protests during the meetings?

Young Wor(l)d Power

Here are a few words taken from the issues of the Young World. You may have come across these words while reading the stories. Tick the right meaning and see how many words you know...

1. poignantly -

a. deeply moving b.striking c.impressive d. pointed object

2. quintessential -

a. absolutely essential b.quaint c.the purest and most perfect d. cynical point of view

3. deluge -

a. great flood b. overflow c. vacancy d. absence

4. savoured -

a. a special flavour b. relish c. tasty d. characteristic taste

5. mesmerizing -

a. memorise b. stare c. in a trance d. fascinating

6. propagated -

a. breed specimens of (a plant, animal etc) by natural processes from from the parent stock b.talk c. convert d. spread

7. herbaceous -

a. herb-like b.relating to herbs c. small d. leafy

8. abyss -

a.hole b. dam c. deep seemingly bottomless pit d. crevice

9. prophesies -

a. foretell future events b. voice of god c. predictions d. knowledge

10. sceptre -

a. a staff borne as a symbol of sovereignty b. an unsightly image c. a stick d. a rod

Answers : 1.a, 2.c, 3.a, 4.d, 5.d, 6.a, 7. b, 8. c, 9.a, 10.a.

The last outpost - Macau

On the midnight of December 20, after 442 years of colonial rule in Europe's first and last outpost, Macau reverted to China. Look up the atlas and find out where Macau lies. What is the history of Portuguese Macau? How did the Portuguese land up there? What was the sea route and trace it on the map. Read up all you know and see if you can make an interesting story of it.

Compiled by NIMI KURIAN

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