After 49 years of Fidel, Cuba ushers in the era of Ral

Level 2 Intermediate

1 Key words

Fill the gaps in the sentences using these key words from the text.

unanimous designate hardliner collegiate convalescing

retain ovation initiative veteran single-handedly

1. A ____________ is someone who is strict or extreme in their beliefs or opinions.

2. If you do things in a ____________ way, you consult your colleagues before making important decisions.

3. ____________ is another word for keep or preserve.

4. If you hold the ____________ in a particular situation, you have the opportunity to take action before other

people do.

5. A ____________ is someone who was in the armed forces in the past.

6. If someone is ____________, they are resting in order to recover from an illness or an operation.

7. If you do something ____________, you do it yourself without help from other people.

8. A standing ____________ is when the members of an audience stand up and clap their hands to express their

admiration or enjoyment.

9. A ____________ decision is one that everyone agrees with and supports.

10. If you ____________ someone for a particular purpose, you choose them formally for that purpose.

2 Find the information

Find this information in the text as quickly as possible.

1. What is the population of Cuba?

2. How old is Fidel Castro?

3. Is Ral Castro younger or older than his brother?

4. When was the Cuban revolution?

5. When did Fidel Castro undergo surgery?

6. How many members of the Cuban parliament are there?

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NEWS LESSONS / After 49 years of Fidel, Cuba ushers in the era of Ral / Intermediate
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After 49 years of Fidel, Cuba ushers in the era of Ral
Level 2 Intermediate
After 49 years of Fidel, Cuba ushers in
the era of Ral
Rory Carroll, Latin America correspondent
February 25, 2008
1 Cubas national assembly has unanimously
named Ral Castro as head of state, and
formally ended almost half a century of Fidel
Castros rule. The 76-year-old defence minister
took power in a display of party unity which
portrayed his elder brother as the voice of
the revolution. The Cuban constitution had
designated Ral as Fidels successor so his
appointment was expected but the appointment
of a hardliner as his deputy was a surprise.
Jos Ramn Machado, a 77-year-old veteran of
Fidels guerrilla war, was given the post ahead of
young potential reformers.
2 Inhisrstspeechasleader,Ral,wearinga
suit and tie instead of his usual army uniform,
promised he would consult Fidel on important
decisions of state. The commander in chief of
the Cuban revolution is unique. Fidel is Fidel, as
we all know well, he is irreplaceable, he said.
The new president said the Communist party
would ensure socialism lived on after Fidel and
his generation. Our task is clear ... to continue
strengthening the revolution at a historic moment.
This is particularly important when the generation
which led the revolution is disappearing, he said.
3 The Cuban authorities tried to show a sense of
normality and continuity so there was no sense of
drama in the 614-seat parliament as the historic
events took place. The streets of Havana were
quiet as people followed the latest step in Fidels
gradual departure from public life, a process he
began 19 months ago when he gave up power
temporarily to undergo emergency surgery. Last
week the convalescing 81-year-old said he would
not accept another term as president.
Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008
NEWS LESSONS / After 49 years of Fidel, Cuba ushers in the era of Ral / Intermediate
4 Ral, who was head of the temporary
government, was given a standing ovation by the
membersofparliamentbeforebeingconrmed
as head of state and government. The assembly
also named a 31-member council of state. The
calmatmospherereectedtheauthoritiestight
control over the island and its 11 million people,
many of whom want an end to poverty that is
worse than that in eastern Europe before the fall
of the Berlin wall.
5 The American government called on Havana
to move towards democracy, a move which
suggested that Cuba still retains the initiative in
spite of the economic embargo imposed by the
Americans. We urge the Cuban government to
begin a process of peaceful, democratic change
by releasing all political prisoners, respecting
human rights and creating a clear pathway
toward free and fair elections, Condoleeza Rice,
the secretary of state, said in a statement.
6 ItisstillunclearhowmuchinuenceFidelwill
retain. He is still leader of the Communist party
and an assembly member, and writes newspaper
editorials, though the authors name has changed
from Commander in Chief to Comrade Fidel.
When his name was mentioned in the assembly,
there was a standing ovation. The assembly,
whosemembersareelectedfromalistxedby
the authorities, has always been a rubber stamp
for Fidel who ruled the country almost single-
handedly after the 1959 revolution.
7 Ral has a more collegiate style, and under his
rule the council of state will probably have more
power. The president, who has always avoided
publicity, is believed to be in favour of a Chinese-
type economic liberalization to improve living
standards without loosening political control. He
has encouraged criticism of the system, raising
expectations that delivering better food, transport
and housing rather than just making speeches
would be a characteristic of his rule.
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After 49 years of Fidel, Cuba ushers in the era of Ral
Level 2 Intermediate

8 Under Ral the military has taken control of
much of the economy managing farms, tourist
resorts and other businesses and giving senior
ofcerspoliticalpower.Butsincetakingover,
the younger Castro has not introduced many
reforms, possibly because the hardliners in the
government have prevented them, arguing that
support from oil-rich Venezuela would allow
Cuba to return to basic communism.
Guardian News & Media 2008
First published in The Guardian, 25/02/08

3 Comprehension check

Are these statements True (T) or False (F) according to the text?

1. Everyone in the 614-seat Cuban National Assembly supported the nomination of Ral Castro as head of state.

2. No-one was surprised by the choice of Jos Ramn Machado as deputy head of state.

3. Ral Castro normally wears a suit.

4. The people of Havana demonstrated noisily on the streets as the historic events took place.

5. Fidel Castro gave up power temporarily 19 months ago because he had a serious medical problem.

6. Fidel Castro still writes newspaper articles.

7. Ral Castro will rule Cuba single-handedly.

8. Ral Castro has already introduced a large number of reforms.

4 Find the word

Find the words or expressions in the text that mean the following:

1. A noun meaning someone who has an important position after someone else. (para 1)

2. An adjective meaning very special, unusual or good. (para 2)

3. An adjective meaning impossible to replace. (para 2)

4. A verb meaning to let someone leave a place where they have been kept. (para 5)

5. A noun meaning a newspaper article in which the editor gives their opinion on a particular subject. (para 6)

6. A two-word noun meaning automaticofcialapprovalforsomething. (para 6)

7. A verb which is the opposite of tighten. (para 7)

8. A noun meaning a particular quality or feature that is typical of something. (para 7)

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Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008

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NEWS LESSONS / After 49 years of Fidel, Cuba ushers in the era of Ral / Intermediate
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After 49 years of Fidel, Cuba ushers in the era of Ral
Level 2 Intermediate

5 Verb + noun collocations

Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns in the right-hand column to form collocations from
the text.

1. make a. power
2. take b. human rights
3. impose c. expectations
4. undergo d. a speech
5. respect e. prisoners
6. retain f. an embargo
7. release g. surgery
8. raise h. the initiative

6 Word building
Complete the tables.

adjective verb
1. strong
2. loose
3. tighten
4. weak

adjective noun
1. normal
2. continuous
3. poor
4. united

7 Discussion

Cuba has free healthcare and education, and employment for all but its citizens are not free to travel
abroad or say what they want. Which is more important social security or human rights?
D
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Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008

O DO O
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NEWS LESSONS / After 49 years of Fidel, Cuba ushers in the era of Ral / Intermediate
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