24.01.27: Level 4; listening; Nūntiī Latīnī [4]

Imperātor Iapōniae Akihītō potestātem dēposuit. Kalendīs Maiīs Naruhītō fīlius maximus nātū illī successit. In Iapōniā Imperātor hīs ducentīs annīs numquam sē mūnere abdicāvit, sed petītū imperātōris Akihītō, quī octōgintā quīnque annōs nātus valētūdine labōrat, lēx mūtāta est. Dynastīa Iapōniae, quae potestātem inde ā quīntō saeculō tenet, est in mundō vetustissima.

[i] The article concerns:

A: a royal death

B: an abdication

C: a political overthrow

D: the birth of a son

[ii] When did this take place?

[iii] Who is the successor? (2)

[iv] When was the last time such a decision was taken?

[v] Who has made this request?

[vi] How old is he?

[vii] Why did he make this request?

[viii] What has been changed?

[ix] What two pieces of information are given about the dynasty? (2)

____________________

[i] B

[ii] May 1st

[iii] Naruhito (1); Akihito's eldest son (1)

[iv] more than 200 years ago / over 200 years previously

[v] the Emperor (Akihito)

[vi] 85

[vii] (suffering from) ill health / health reasons

[viii] the law

[ix] has held power since the fifth century (1); oldest in the world (1)

____________________

Emperor Akihito has abdicated. On 1 May, his eldest son, Naruhito, succeeded him. In Japan, no emperor has abdicated from office during the previous two hundred years, but at the request of Emperor Akihito, who at the age of eighty-five is suffering from ill health, the law has been changed. The Japanese dynasty, which has held power since the fifth century, is the oldest in the world.