【明報專訊】The Occupy Central (佔領中環) campaign has kicked off. Protesters have occupied roads in Central, Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Mongkok, fighting for democracy and universal suffrage. They always emphasise that their protests should be peaceful and non-violent.

More than 5,000 students from over 50 secondary schools participated in a class boycott in support of the movement on September 29. Classes of schools in the Wan Chai and Central and Western districts were suspended for three or four days as public transport services were disrupted by Occupy Central. Many bus routes were diverted.

Occupy Central has drawn

international attention. Foreign media have called the protests the "umbrella revolution" or "umbrella movement" because protesters have used umbrellas to protect themselves against pepper spray.

Chief Executive C Y Leung has urged the Occupy Central organisers to stop the movement, saying it has affected people's lives, hindered the city's economic development and tarnished its international image.

(source: Ming Pao, BBC)

■Words

protester 抗議者

class boycott 罷課

pepper spray 胡椒噴霧

■Glossary

kick off (phr v) 開始

democracy (n) 民主

universal suffrage (n phr) 普選

divert (v) 轉變(方向)

■Quiz

Choose the correct answers.

1. What did the protesters fight for in Occupy Central?

(1) democracy

(2) a pay rise

(3) the freedom of the press

(4) universal suffrage

A. (1) and (4)

B. (2) and (3) only

C. All of the above

2. Why were school classes suspended in Wan Chai and the Central and Western District?

A. Teachers were lazy.

B. Schools in those districts

were closed for holidays.

C. Transport services were

disrupted in those districts.

3. How is C Y Leung's attitude towards Occupy Central?

A. He supports it.

B. He is against it.

C. He is indifferent to it.

4. "The umbrella has become a ____ of Occupy Central." Which of the following is the best word to put in the blank?

A. weapon

B. movement

C. symbol