Reading Comprehension – Test 141

Read the following passage carefully and choose the most appropriate answer to the questions out of five alternatives. <br><br> Sudan's ruling military council and representatives of the pro-democracy movement have signed a power-sharing agreement, signalling that its disputed transition to civilian rule is on track. Ever since President Omar al-Bashir's fall in April amid anti-regime protests, the military leaders who seized power and the protesters have been on a confrontational path. The protesters' demand for an immediate transfer of power to a civilian transitional government to be followed by free and fair elections was resisted by the powerful, deeply entrenched military. As the stand-off continued, a paramilitary unit attacked protesters in Khartoum on June 3, killing at least 128 people. But protesters still didn't give up. This, along with pressure from the African Union and foreign countries, appears to have convinced the generals they could not anymore amass absolute power, as they did under Mr. Bashir's three-decade-long rule. Ethiopian and African Union mediators brought both sides for talks and they reached the power-sharing agreement. Under the deal, a sovereign council of 11 members - five military and five civilian members and one to be selected based on consensus - will rule for over three years. A general will lead it for the first 21 months and a civilian leader for 18 months. The security apparatus will be controlled by the military; the ministries will get civilian leaders. <br><br> While this agreement clearly charts a new course for the crisis-hit country, it doesn't guarantee a smooth transition from military to civilian rule. There still exists deep distrust between the generals and the pro-democracy movement. When protests erupted in December over soaring food prices, Mr. Bashir used multiple tactics, from oppression to introducing changes in the Cabinet, to control the situation. But he had to go as the generals turned against him in April.

Which of the following is not true?

Read the following passage carefully and choose the most appropriate answer to the questions out of five alternatives. <br><br> Sudan's ruling military council and representatives of the pro-democracy movement have signed a power-sharing agreement, signalling that its disputed transition to civilian rule is on track. Ever since President Omar al-Bashir's fall in April amid anti-regime protests, the military leaders who seized power and the protesters have been on a confrontational path. The protesters' demand for an immediate transfer of power to a civilian transitional government to be followed by free and fair elections was resisted by the powerful, deeply entrenched military. As the stand-off continued, a paramilitary unit attacked protesters in Khartoum on June 3, killing at least 128 people. But protesters still didn't give up. This, along with pressure from the African Union and foreign countries, appears to have convinced the generals they could not anymore amass absolute power, as they did under Mr. Bashir's three-decade-long rule. Ethiopian and African Union mediators brought both sides for talks and they reached the power-sharing agreement. Under the deal, a sovereign council of 11 members - five military and five civilian members and one to be selected based on consensus - will rule for over three years. A general will lead it for the first 21 months and a civilian leader for 18 months. The security apparatus will be controlled by the military; the ministries will get civilian leaders. <br><br> While this agreement clearly charts a new course for the crisis-hit country, it doesn't guarantee a smooth transition from military to civilian rule. There still exists deep distrust between the generals and the pro-democracy movement. When protests erupted in December over soaring food prices, Mr. Bashir used multiple tactics, from oppression to introducing changes in the Cabinet, to control the situation. But he had to go as the generals turned against him in April.

Who killed at least 128 people in Khartoum on June 3 and why?

Read the following passage carefully and choose the most appropriate answer to the questions out of five alternatives. <br><br> Sudan's ruling military council and representatives of the pro-democracy movement have signed a power-sharing agreement, signalling that its disputed transition to civilian rule is on track. Ever since President Omar al-Bashir's fall in April amid anti-regime protests, the military leaders who seized power and the protesters have been on a confrontational path. The protesters' demand for an immediate transfer of power to a civilian transitional government to be followed by free and fair elections was resisted by the powerful, deeply entrenched military. As the stand-off continued, a paramilitary unit attacked protesters in Khartoum on June 3, killing at least 128 people. But protesters still didn't give up. This, along with pressure from the African Union and foreign countries, appears to have convinced the generals they could not anymore amass absolute power, as they did under Mr. Bashir's three-decade-long rule. Ethiopian and African Union mediators brought both sides for talks and they reached the power-sharing agreement. Under the deal, a sovereign council of 11 members - five military and five civilian members and one to be selected based on consensus - will rule for over three years. A general will lead it for the first 21 months and a civilian leader for 18 months. The security apparatus will be controlled by the military; the ministries will get civilian leaders. <br><br> While this agreement clearly charts a new course for the crisis-hit country, it doesn't guarantee a smooth transition from military to civilian rule. There still exists deep distrust between the generals and the pro-democracy movement. When protests erupted in December over soaring food prices, Mr. Bashir used multiple tactics, from oppression to introducing changes in the Cabinet, to control the situation. But he had to go as the generals turned against him in April.

What convinced the generals that they could not anymore amass absolute power as they did before?