week #7

billed as

regarded as

 

festivities (n)

celebrations

 

renovated (v)

          repaired and improved an old building or structure

despite (n)

          in spite of

racism (n)

          1.the unfair treatment of people who belong to a different race;
               violent behavior towards them

               SYN; nationalism

          2.the belive that some races of people are better than others

sources;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/02/120221_vwitn_rio.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/05/120525_witn_racism.shtml