London's new Mayor

London's new Mayor


London's new Mayor: goodbye Ken, hello Boris

Read the text below and do the activity that follows.


London has a new mayor, after its citizens voted in the Conservative Party
candidate Boris Johnson, ahead of Labour's Ken Livingstone. Well-known for
his wild blonde hair, his self-deprecating humour and his reputation for
gaffes and blunders, Mr Johnson has been a colourful figure in British
politics for many years.

While few doubted his energy and charisma, Boris Johnson's narrow victory
has surprised his critics, who questioned whether he was a serious enough
politician to win.

His remarks have often caused controversy, such as when in 2006 he had to
apologise to the entire country of Papua New Guinea after suggesting it was
known for "cannibalism". In the same year his criticism of a healthy eating
campaign also made headlines, when he said parents should be able to
feed children what they like, healthy or not.

But bumbling Boris has always had an ambitious streak; when he was
asked as a child what he wanted to be when he grew up, he said "the world
king".

He now replaces Ken Livingstone, who had been London's mayor since 2000.
Left-wing 'Red Ken' will be remembered for his role in helping London win
the 2012 Olympic Games, as well as his introduction of the congestion
charge, which is widely thought to have reduced traffic in the capital.

So will Boris Johnson's victory mean a change of direction for London over the
next four years? He promises to be tough on crime and anti-social
behaviour, and to work to help to bring together Londoners of different
ethnic backgrounds.

Whatever happens, given Boris Johnson's colourful past, it is unlikely that the
next four years will be dull.


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Glossary

mayor – somebody elected to be head
of government in a city, town or
borough
Conservative Party candidate –
somebody who is a member of the
British political party which opposes
sudden social change, high taxation
and government involvement in
industry, and who is competing to get
an official job or an elected position
Labour – the political party in Britain
that believes in social equality, a more
equal sharing out of wealth, and the
rights of workers
self-deprecating humour – when
someone speaks in a funny manner
that shows they are not too serious
and slightly critical about themselves
gaffes and blunders – clumsy social
mistakes or breaches of etiquette (e.g.
insensitive remarks); being impolite
colourful figure – someone who is
exciting, amusing and often
unpredictable
charisma – great charm and/or ability
to inspire others
narrow victory – the number of people
who voted for him was not much
greater than of those who voted for
other candidates
critics – people who disapprove of his
policies and behaviour
caused controversy – become the
reason for strong disagreement/clash
of opinions
cannibalism – when a human being
eats another human being
healthy eating campaign – organised
efforts to persuade people to eat more
healthy food
made headlines – was reported by the
media as important
bumbling – acting as if confused
ambitious streak – determination to
achieve success, even if it only shows
occasionally and contrasts with his
other characteristics
left-wing – here, an active member of
the Labour Party who strongly believes
in its principles of social equality
congestion charge – here, money that
you pay for driving your car in Central
London on weekdays
tough on crime – firmly fighting and
punishing illegal behaviour
anti-social behaviour – when
someone's actions harm, disturb or
seriously annoy others (usually in a
public place)
ethnic background – the
country/area/region where your
family originally comes from


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1. Reading Quiz 1

Are these sentences true or false? Circle the correct answer.

1. Boris Johnson is a member of the Labour Party. True / False

2. Mr Johnson is generally seen as a boring politician. True / False

3. Boris Johnson's childhood ambition was to become King of England.
True / False

4. Ken Livingstone had been London's mayor for eight years. True / False

5. Fighting crime is important to Boris Johnson. True / False





2. Reading Quiz 2

Answer the following questions about the text. You should write a
short answer (1 to 8 words).

1. Why did Boris Johnson's critics think he wouldn't become mayor?

____________________________________________

2. How did Boris Johnson offend Papua New Guinea in 2006?

____________________________________________

3. What was Boris's dream job when he was a child?

____________________________________________

4. What is the congestion charge?

____________________________________________

5. Name one thing Boris Johnson promises to do now he is mayor.

____________________________________________


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2. Reading Quiz 2 continued

Now choose the correct answer, a, b or c.


6. Boris Johnson's hair is ______ .

a) tidy b) black c) wild


7. When someone eats other people, it is called ____________ .

a) carnivore b) cannibalism c) carnival


8. Boris Johnson is known as a ___________ politician.

a) colour-blind b) colourful c) multi-coloured


9. Ken Livingstone is __________ .

a) left-wing b) right-wing c) left-handed


10. Boris Johnson wants to be _______ on crime.

a) rough b) enough c) tough





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3. Fill in the Blanks

Complete the summary with words from the box.



London's new _________ is Boris Johnson. He was the __________ Party
candidate, and defeated the ________ Party candidate Ken Livingstone, who
had been London's mayor for eight years. Mr Johnson has been a _________
figure in British politics over the years, and frequently caused _________,
often appearing in newspaper ________. One incident he'd probably rather
forget was when he described people from Papua New Guinea as
____________ . But with his ________ in the mayoral election he has
______his critics, many of whom expected _______-wing Ken Livingstone to
win. Now he is mayor, Boris Johnson says he will be tough on ________.




Labour colourful surprised headlines crime
controversy cannibals left mayor victory Conservative





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4. Wordsearch

Try to find the words associated with London's mayoral election in the
puzzle below.

There are ten words to find. Words can be written horizontally (g),
vertically (i) or diagonally (m)



c a n i b a l i s c y p
w c h a r i s m a o e r
a a m b i t i c n n p b
m a y o n n a a i t s u
b l e f t w i n g r q m
i l a b o r g d a o g b
t j l b n m g i f v n l
i f c e o c a d f e l i
o l e f t u f a e r b n
u f m a y o r t s s h g
s b u b b l e e y y i n
c a n n i b a l i s m n


mayor Labour candidate gaffes
charisma controversy cannibalism
bumbling ambitious left-wing


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Answers

1. Reading Quiz 1

1. Boris Johnson is a member of the
Labour Party. False

2. Mr Johnson is generally seen as a
boring politician. False

3. Boris Johnson's childhood ambition
was to become king of England.
False

4. Ken Livingstone had been London's
mayor for 8 years. True

5. Fighting crime is important to Boris
Johnson. True




2. Reading Quiz 2

1. They thought he wasn't a serious politician
2. He called them cannibals
3. To be world king
4. A fee for driving in central London
5. Fight crime / Stop anti-social behaviour / Bring people from different
ethnic backgrounds together

6. c) wild
7. b) cannibalism
8. b) colourful
9. a) left-wing
10. c) tough


3. Fill in the Blanks

London's new mayor is called Boris
Johnson. He was the Conservative
Party candidate, and defeated the
Labour Party candidate Ken
Livingstone, who had been London's
mayor for 8 years. Mr Johnson has
been a colourful figure in British
politics over the years, and frequently
caused controversy, often appearing
in newspaper headlines. One incident
he'd probably rather forget was when
he described people from Papua New
Guinea as cannibals. But with his
victory in the mayoral election he has
surprised his critics, many of whom
expected left-wing Ken Livingstone to
win. Now he is mayor, Boris Johnson
says he will be tough on crime.

4. Wordsearch

c
c h a r i s m a o
a c n b
m a t u
b l e f t w i n g r m
i a d a o b
t b i f v l
i o d f e i
o u a e r n
u m a y o r t s s g
s e y
c a n n i b a l i s m