Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Cinco De Mayo. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration that remembers a military victory against the French on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo means May the fifth in Spanish. It is not a public or a national holiday in Mexico. It is largely celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the victory against French forces took place. Even though it is not a major holiday in Mexico, it is a well-known celebration. This is because Mexicans in the USA and other countries use it as a day to show their pride in their culture. Even non-Mexican Americans celebrate the day in the USA. Many people mistakenly believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. This is false. Mexican’s celebrate their nation’s independence on September the 16th.
Cinco de Mayo today is a much bigger holiday in North America than in Mexico. It has been celebrated in California since 1863. There are festivals and events all over the country to highlight Mexican culture. These include concerts, folk ballet and Mexican dancing. Mexican food and drink are also eaten and drunk in huge quantities. Many schools, especially those with large Mexican communities, take part in awareness activities to educate students about the importance of the day. One tradition does take place in Mexico every year. Mexican soldiers, sailors and air force pledge allegiance to the Mexican flag. This takes place in the capital Mexico City and in all other regional capitals.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
a military victory against
a.
major holiday in Mexico
2
Cinco de Mayo means
b.
celebrate the day
3.
it is not a
c.
May the fifth in Spanish
4.
show their pride
d.
nation’s independence
5.
Even non-Mexican Americans
e.
the French
6.
celebrate their
f.
in their culture
Paragraph 2
1.
It has been celebrated in California
a.
to the Mexican flag
2
There are festivals and events
b.
since 1863
3.
eaten and drunk
c.
capitals
4.
activities to
d.
all over the country
5.
pledge allegiance
e.
educate students
6.
all other regional
f.
in huge quantities
LISTENING GAP FILL
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration __________________ military victory against the French on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo means May the fifth in Spanish. It __________________ national holiday in Mexico. It is largely celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the victory against French __________________. Even though it is not a major holiday in Mexico, it is a well-known celebration. This is because Mexicans in the USA and __________________ it as a day to show their pride in their culture. Even non-Mexican Americans __________________ in the USA. Many people mistakenly believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. __________________. Mexican’s celebrate their nation’s independence on September the 16th.
Cinco de Mayo __________________ bigger holiday in North America than in Mexico. It has been celebrated in California since 1863. There are festivals and __________________ country to highlight Mexican culture. These include concerts, folk ballet and Mexican dancing. Mexican food and drink are also eaten and __________________. Many schools, especially those with large Mexican communities, take part in awareness __________________ students about the importance of the day. One tradition does take place in Mexico every year. Mexican soldiers, sailors and air force __________________ the Mexican flag. This takes place in the capital Mexico City and in __________________ capitals.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration that remembers a military __________ against the French on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo __________ May the fifth in Spanish. It is not a __________ or a national holiday in Mexico. It is __________ celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the victory against French forces took place. Even though it is not a __________ holiday in Mexico, it is a well-known celebration. This is because Mexicans in the USA and other countries use it as a day to show their __________ in their culture. Even non-Mexican Americans celebrate the day in the USA. Many people __________ believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. This is __________. Mexican’s celebrate their nation’s independence on September the 16th.
major public false largely victory pride means mistakenly
Cinco de Mayo today is a much __________ holiday in North America than in Mexico. It has been celebrated in California since 1863. There are festivals and __________ all over the country to highlight Mexican culture. These __________ concerts, folk ballet and Mexican dancing. Mexican food and drink are also eaten and drunk in huge __________. Many schools, especially those with large Mexican communities, take part in awareness activities to __________ students about the importance of the day. One __________ does take place in Mexico every year. Mexican soldiers, sailors and air force pledge allegiance to the Mexican __________. This takes place in the capital Mexico City and in all other regional __________.
include educate bigger flag quantities capitals events tradition
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration that memories / remembers a military victory against the French on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo means / meaning May the fifth in Spanish. It is not a public or a national holiday in Mexico. It is largely / large celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the victory against French forces took place. Even through / though it is not a major holiday in Mexico, it is a well-known celebration. This is because Mexicans in the USA and other countries use it as a day to show their pride / proud in their culture. Even non-Mexican Americans celebrate the day in the USA. Many people mistake / mistakenly believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. This is false / falsify. Mexican’s celebrate their nation’s independence / independent on September the 16th.
Cinco de Mayo today is a much bigger / large holiday in North America than in Mexico. It has been celebrated in California for / since 1863. There are festivals and events all under / over the country to highlight Mexican culture. These include concerts, folk ballet and Mexican dancing. Mexican food and drink are also eating / eaten and drunk in huge quantities. Many schools, especially those with large Mexican communities, take apart / part in awareness activities to educate students about the importance / important of the day. One tradition does take place in Mexico every year. Mexican soldiers, sailors and air force pledge allegiance to / up the Mexican flag. This takes place in the capital Mexico City and in all other regional capitals / numbers.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration that (1) ____ a military victory against the French on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo means May the fifth in Spanish. It is not a (2) ____ or a national holiday in Mexico. It is largely celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the (3) ____ against French forces took place. Even though it is not a major holiday in Mexico, it is a well-(4) ____ celebration. This is because Mexicans in the USA and other countries use it as a day to show their pride in their culture. Even (5) ____-Mexican Americans celebrate the day in the USA. Many people mistakenly believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. This is (6) ____. Mexican’s celebrate their nation’s independence on September the 16th.
Cinco de Mayo today is a much bigger holiday in North America than in Mexico. It has been celebrated in California (7) ____ 1863. There are festivals and events all over the country to highlight Mexican culture. These (8) ____ concerts, folk ballet and Mexican dancing. Mexican food and drink are also eaten and drunk in huge (9) ____. Many schools, especially those with large Mexican communities, take part in awareness activities to educate students about the importance (10) ____ the day. One tradition does (11) ____ place in Mexico every year. Mexican soldiers, sailors and air force pledge allegiance to the Mexican flag. This takes place in the capital Mexico City and in all other (12) ____ capitals.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
remember
(b)
remembers
(c)
memories
(d)
memory
2.
(a)
publicity
(b)
publicly
(c)
public
(d)
publicize
3.
(a)
victory
(b)
victorious
(c)
V for victory
(d)
victor
4.
(a)
knowing
(b)
knew
(c)
knows
(d)
known
5.
(a)
not
(b)
no
(c)
non
(d)
none
6.
(a)
forged
(b)
false
(c)
untruthful
(d)
distorted
7.
(a)
since
(b)
for
(c)
by
(d)
until
8.
(a)
conclude
(b)
interlude
(c)
include
(d)
exclude
9.
(a)
qualities
(b)
quartiles
(c)
quarrels
(d)
quantities
10.
(a)
by
(b)
at
(c)
on
(d)
of
11.
(a)
do
(b)
take
(c)
make
(d)
give
12.
(a)
regional
(b)
divisional
(c)
zonal
(d)
departmental
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
a yiiamrtl victory against the French
2.
a aoitnanl holiday in Mexico
3.
a well-konwn celebration
4.
a day to show their irdpe
5.
latikmnsey believe
6.
their sant’noi independence
Paragraph 2
7.
a much grbegi holiday in North America
8.
tivslasef and events all over the country
9.
eaten and drunk in huge atneiiquts
10.
take part in awareness activities to caedeut students
11.
lepegd allegiance to the Mexican flag
12.
all other regional islpatac
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the victory against French forces took place. Even though it is not a
( )
Cinco de Mayo today is a much bigger holiday in North America than in Mexico. It has been celebrated in California
( )
false. Mexican’s celebrate their nation’s independence on September the 16th.
( )
major holiday in Mexico, it is a well-known celebration. This is because Mexicans in the USA and other countries use
( )
quantities. Many schools, especially those with large Mexican communities, take part in awareness
( )
it as a day to show their pride in their culture. Even non-Mexican Americans celebrate the day in the USA. Many people
( )
place in the capital Mexico City and in all other regional capitals.
( )
year. Mexican soldiers, sailors and air force pledge allegiance to the Mexican flag. This takes
( )
concerts, folk ballet and Mexican dancing. Mexican food and drink are also eaten and drunk in huge
( 1 )
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration that remembers a military victory against the French on May 5,
( )
1862. Cinco de Mayo means May the fifth in Spanish. It is not a public or a national holiday in Mexico. It is largely
( )
mistakenly believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. This is
( )
activities to educate students about the importance of the day. One tradition does take place in Mexico every
( )
since 1863. There are festivals and events all over the country to highlight Mexican culture. These include
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
against 5 the a French military on victory May
2.
public It or is a not national a holiday
3.
in to their show culture their a pride day
4.
- celebrate Even non –Mexcan Americans day the
5.
their Mexican’s nation’s celebrate independence
6.
celebrated in California since 1863 It has been
7.
country events There all are over festivals the and
8.
eaten quantities huge in drunk and
9.
students educate to activities awareness in part take
10.
Mexican the to allegiance pledge flag
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Cinco De Mayo. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Cinco De Mayo. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Cinco De Mayo. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
