【明報專訊】HUNDREDS of fish were found dead in the water off the waterfront promenade along Kwun Tong. Most of them are flathead grey mullet (烏頭). According to an expert, that might have been caused by the Kai Tak Nullah (啟德明渠) which was clogged with toxic chemicals. (photo.1)

Crazy rich Chinese

AN ANNUAL WEALTH SURVEY released by Credit Suisse, a Swiss investment bank, shows that China has dethroned the US to become the country with the most people ranked among the top 10% of earners worldwide. China's number is 100 million and the US's, about one million fewer. Although the Sino-US trade dispute is still developing, both countries contribute significantly to the world economy.

Enthronement

JAPAN'S Emperor Naruhito (德仁) ascended to the Chrysanthemum throne (高御座) on October 22. He delivered his speech on the throne, expressing hope that the Japanese people will further develop the country and make contributions to international peace and prosperity for humanity. However, some people doubt whether the enthronement ceremony is religious in nature. They think it should not have been funded by the nation's coffers.

■Gear up

According to the text, answer the following questions.

(1) The fish found dead in Kwun Tong were all flathead grey mullet. ( True / False )

(2) The US has more than 90 million people in the top 10% global top earners. ( True / False )

(3) Some people in Japan doubt whether ( the emperor's money / public money / the US's money ) should be spent on the ascension ceremony.

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

clogged with sth (v phr) 被……阻塞

dethrone (v) 打敗

enthronement (n) 即位

coffers (n) 庫房

[Smarties' Power English 第259期]