Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- gelding / ˈgɛl dɪŋ / (n.) – a male horse whose sexual organs have been cut off
Example:Horse experts say that geldings are much easier to control and train.
- standard-bearer / ˈstæn dərdˌbɛər ər / (n.) – someone who leads and represents a group
Example:The party’s standard-bearer was elected as the new prime minister.
- cortege / kɔrˈtɛʒ / (n.) – a line of people or cars attending a formal ceremony, especially a solemn one
Example:The cortege was made up of members of the army, honor guards, and other high-ranking guests.
- rekindle / riˈkɪn dl / (v.) – to cause a fire to start burning again
Example:We had to rekindle our candle because the wind blew the flame out.
- jubilee / ˈdʒu bəˌli / (n.) – a special anniversary
Example:We celebrated our grandparent’s golden jubilee of marriage. They’ve been married for 50 years.
Article
Read the text below.
French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would make a present of a horse to Queen Elizabeth II to mark the celebrations of her 70 years on the throne.
The Elysee said Macron decided to give the queen, a known horse lover, a 7-year-old grey gelding named Fabuleu de Maucour belonging to the largely ceremonial French Republican Guard. It was delivered to Windsor Castle on June 1.
The horse was trained to carry the standard-bearer of the Guard. It paraded on Paris’ Champs-Elysees avenue on May 8, ahead of the presidential cortege, for the ceremony marking the anniversary of the victory of the Allied forces over Nazi Germany in World War II.
Macron paid a formal homage to the queen on June 2 during a flame rekindling ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe monument. He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in the presence of British Ambassador to France Menna Rawlings. Both the British and the French national anthems were played, the Elysee said.
From June 2 and June 5, the United Kingdom and Commonwealth nations celebrated Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne, an anniversary known as her Platinum Jubilee.
Elizabeth, then 25, became queen on Feb. 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. Her formal coronation took place on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey, but her reign began the moment her father died.
Now 96, she is Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the first to reach seven decades on the throne.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Do you think it’s important for countries to celebrate special occasions that honor their leaders? Why or why not? Discuss.
- Why do you think leaders of different countries give gifts to each other on special occasions? Do you think it’s important for leaders to keep doing this? Why or why not? Discuss.
Discussion B
- What should be the characteristics of a good monarch (ex. good leadership, charisma)? Discuss.
- If you are to give a gift to a leader of a country, what would you give them from your country? Why? Discuss.