新西兰英语 574 Funeral of Tongan king

 　　King George Tupou V of Tonga died last week in a Hong Kong hospital. He had been visiting the UK and was on his way home with his brother when he became ill. Although he had kidney surgery last year, he seemed to be in good health this year. His death was a shock. He was greatly loved by the Tongan people.

　　King George was 63. He became King when his father died in 2006. There were riots that year by people who wanted more democracy. During the next six years, King George made important changes to the government of the country, making it more democratic. He gave much of his power to parliament. Elections were held in 2010.

　　Tonga is a Pacific Island country with five main islands. The population is about 105,000 people. Another 70,000 or more live in New Zealand. Other Tongans immigrated¹ to Australia and the US. They send money back to Tongans at home because it is difficult to make enough money to live in Tonga. Australia and New Zealand also help with financial aid when necessary. Tonga sells fish, pumpkins² and coconuts³ to New Zealand.

　　The Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae will lead a group of New Zealand politicians to the funeral service tomorrow. Flags will fly at half mast tomorrow in New Zealand.

　　The new king will be his younger brother.

　　Vocabulary

　　riots – protests and wild behaviour causing damage

　　politician – a Member of Parliament

　　half mast – flag is only half-way up the mast (pole). It is a sign of a sad time in a country.

　　Grammar

　　He was 63 means he was 63 years old. It is not necessary to add “years old”. If you ask a child his or her age, the answer will be “I’m six” or whatever the age is.

　　die, died, died – the verb is very easy to use; it is intransitive i.e. no object e.g. he died;

　　death – noun e.g. his death was …

　　make- idioms: make changes, make the government more democratic (i.e. make something happen), make money

1 immigrated   

v.移入( immigrate的过去式和过去分词 )；移民

参考例句：

• He immigrated from Ulster in 1848. 他1848年从阿尔斯特移民到这里。 来自辞典例句
• Many Pakistanis have immigrated to Britain. 许多巴基斯坦人移居到了英国。 来自辞典例句

2 pumpkins   

n.南瓜( pumpkin的名词复数 )；南瓜的果肉，南瓜囊

参考例句：

• I like white gourds, but not pumpkins. 我喜欢吃冬瓜，但不喜欢吃南瓜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they cut faces in the pumpkins and put lights inside. 然后在南瓜上刻出一张脸，并把瓜挖空。 来自英语晨读30分（高三）

3 coconuts   

n.椰子( coconut的名词复数 )；椰肉，椰果

参考例句：

• We found a bountiful supply of coconuts on the island. 我们发现岛上有充足的椰子供应。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Coconuts provide "meat", drink, oil, soap and fiber for fishing line. 椰子提供“肉类”，饮料、油脂、肥皂和做钓（鱼）丝的纤维。 来自百科语句