Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Mother's Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Mother's Day is an important day all around the world, even though it started in North America and Europe. Not all countries celebrate it on the same day, but the most popular day is the second Sunday in May. It is, of course, a day to honour our mothers and make them feel extra special. A punctuation point about the day is that most countries choose the singular possessive “Mother’s Day”, with the apostrophe before the ‘s’ to show that each family honours their mother, rather than all of the world’s mothers. Young children get especially excited about Mother’s Day and put a lot of effort into making cards and presents for their Mums, or Moms in America. For mothers, it is like having a second birthday.
Mother’s Day in the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, etc. means mothers usually get the day off from housework. It is common for children to cook for their mother so she can have breakfast in bed. She also receives presents, flowers and cards. In America, Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants, as children take their Mums to lunch and/or dinner. Americans spend a lot on this day - over $2.5 billion on flowers and $70 million on Mother’s Day cards. In Sweden, people buy small plastic flowers and the money raised goes to help needy mothers and their children. Many people are against the idea of Mother’s Day as it is upsetting for children (and adults) who have lost their mother. Spare a thought for them this Mother’s Day.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
Not all countries celebrate it
a.
the ‘s’
2
honour our mothers and make
b.
into making cards
3.
the apostrophe before
c.
a second birthday
4.
Young children get especially
d.
on the same day
5.
put a lot of effort
e.
excited
6.
it is like having
f.
them feel extra special
Paragraph 2
1.
mothers usually get the day
a.
a lot on this day
2
she can have breakfast
b.
thought for them
3.
the busiest day
c.
needy mothers
4.
Americans spend
d.
off from housework
5.
money raised goes to help
e.
in bed
6.
Spare a
f.
of the year
LISTENING GAP FILL
Mother's Day is an important ________________ world, even though it started in North America and Europe. Not all countries celebrate it ________________, but the most popular day is the second Sunday in May. It is, of course, a day to honour our mothers and make them ________________. A punctuation point about the day is that most countries choose the singular possessive “Mother’s Day”, with the apostrophe before the ‘s’ __________________ family honours their mother, rather than all of the world’s mothers. Young children get especially excited about Mother’s Day and put ________________ making cards and presents for their Mums, or Moms in America. For mothers, ________________ a second birthday.
Mother’s Day in the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, etc. means mothers ________________ day off from housework. It is common for children to cook for their mother ________________ breakfast in bed. She also receives presents, flowers and cards. In America, Mother's Day is ________________ the year for restaurants, as children take their Mums __________________. Americans spend a lot on this day - over $2.5 billion on flowers and $70 million on Mother’s Day cards. In Sweden, people buy small plastic flowers and the money raised ________________ mothers and their children. Many people are against the idea of Mother’s Day as it is upsetting for children (and adults) who have lost their mother. ________________ for them this Mother’s Day.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Mother's Day is an important day all __________ the world, even though it started in North America and Europe. Not all countries __________ it on the same day, but the most popular day is the second Sunday in May. It is, of course, a day to __________ our mothers and make them feel extra special. A punctuation point about the day is that most countries __________ the singular possessive “Mother’s Day”, with the apostrophe before the ‘s’ to show that each family honours their mother, __________ than all of the world’s mothers. Young children get __________ excited about Mother’s Day and put a lot of __________ into making cards and presents for their Mums, or Moms in America. For mothers, it is like __________ a second birthday.
choose celebrate effort rather having around honour especially
Mother’s Day in the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, etc. __________ mothers usually get the day off from housework. It is __________ for children to cook for their mother so she can have breakfast in bed. She also __________ presents, flowers and cards. In America, Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants, as children take their Mums to lunch and/or dinner. Americans __________ a lot on this day - over $2.5 billion on flowers and $70 million on Mother’s Day cards. In Sweden, people buy small plastic flowers and the money __________ goes to help __________ mothers and their children. Many people are __________ the idea of Mother’s Day as it is upsetting for children (and adults) who have lost their mother. Spare a __________ for them this Mother’s Day.
spend receives needy thought means common against raised
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Mother's Day is an important day all / every around the world, even though it started in North America and Europe. Not all countries celebrate it on the same daily / day, but the most popular day is the second Sunday in May. It is, of course / cause, a day to honour our mothers and make them feel extra special. A punctuation point about the day is that most countries chosen / choose the singular possessive “Mother’s Day”, with the apostrophe before the ‘s’ to show that all / each family honours their mother, rather than all of the world’s mothers. Young children get especially / special excited about Mother’s Day and put a lot / lots of effort into making cards and presents for their Mums, or Moms in America. For mothers, it is likely / like having a second birthday.
Mother’s Day in the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, etc. meaning / means mothers usually get the day off from housework. It is common for children to cook / cooking for their mother so she can have breakfast in bed. She also receives presents, flowers / flower and cards. In America, Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants, as children takes / take their Mums to lunch and/or dinner. Americans spend a lot on this day - over $2.5 billion on flowers and $70 million on / in Mother’s Day cards. In Sweden, people buy small plastic flowers and the money raised goes / go to help needy mothers and their children. Many people are again / against the idea of Mother’s Day as it is upsetting for children (and adults) who have lost their mother. Spare a thought / think for them this Mother’s Day.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Mother's Day is an important day (1) ____ around the world, even though it started in North America and Europe. Not all countries celebrate it on the same day, but the most (2) ____ day is the second Sunday in May. It is, of course, a day to honour our mothers and make them feel extra special. A punctuation (3) ____ about the day is that most countries choose the singular possessive “Mother’s Day”, with the apostrophe before the ‘s’ to (4) ____ that each family honours their mother, rather than all of the world’s mothers. Young children get especially (5) ____ about Mother’s Day and put a lot of effort into making cards and presents for their Mums, or Moms in America. For mothers, it is like (6) ____ a second birthday.
Mother’s Day in the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, etc. (7) ____ mothers usually get the day off from housework. It is common for children to cook for their mother so she can have breakfast (8) ____ bed. She also receives presents, flowers and cards. In America, Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants, as children (9) ____ their Mums to lunch and/or dinner. Americans (10) ____ a lot on this day - over $2.5 billion on flowers and $70 million on Mother’s Day cards. In Sweden, people buy small plastic flowers and the money raised goes to help (11) ____ mothers and their children. Many people are against the idea of Mother’s Day as it is upsetting for children (and adults) who have lost their mother. Spare a thought for (12) ____ this Mother’s Day.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
every
(b)
all
(c)
whole
(d)
each
2.
(a)
popular
(b)
popularity
(c)
popularize
(d)
popularly
3.
(a)
sharp
(b)
point
(c)
end
(d)
show
4.
(a)
shown
(b)
showing
(c)
show
(d)
show off
5.
(a)
exciting
(b)
excite
(c)
excites
(d)
excited
6.
(a)
having
(b)
has had
(c)
had
(d)
has
7.
(a)
meant
(b)
meaning
(c)
meanie
(d)
means
8.
(a)
on
(b)
under
(c)
in
(d)
at
9.
(a)
cook
(b)
take
(c)
make
(d)
prepare
10.
(a)
eat
(b)
talk
(c)
laugh
(d)
spend
11.
(a)
needy
(b)
needed
(c)
necessary
(d)
needs
12.
(a)
they
(b)
this
(c)
them
(d)
we
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
Not all countries rcebatele it
2.
make them feel extra lciseap
3.
the hstopaoepr before the ‘s’
4.
Young children get lspecilaye excited
5.
put a lot of roteff into making cards
6.
it is like having a denosc birthday
Paragraph 2
7.
the day off from eoohkrwsu
8.
It is moconm for children to cook for their mother
9.
She also rsieecev presents
10.
help nyeed mothers
11.
Many people are tgiasan the idea
12.
Spare a hohgttu for them
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
countries celebrate it on the same day, but the most popular day is the second Sunday in May. It is, of course, a day to
( )
presents, flowers and cards. In America, Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants, as
( )
raised goes to help needy mothers and their children. Many people are against the idea of Mother’s Day as
( )
about Mother’s Day and put a lot of effort into making cards and presents for their Mums, or
( )
it is upsetting for children (and adults) who have lost their mother. Spare a thought for them this Mother’s Day.
( )
Moms in America. For mothers, it is like having a second birthday.
( )
Mother’s Day in the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, etc. means mothers usually get the day off from
( )
honour our mothers and make them feel extra special. A punctuation point about the day is that most
( 1 )
Mother's Day is an important day all around the world, even though it started in North America and Europe. Not all
( )
on flowers and $70 million on Mother’s Day cards. In Sweden, people buy small plastic flowers and the money
( )
children take their Mums to lunch and/or dinner. Americans spend a lot on this day - over $2.5 billion
( )
family honours their mother, rather than all of the world’s mothers. Young children get especially excited
( )
housework. It is common for children to cook for their mother so she can have breakfast in bed. She also receives
( )
countries choose the singular possessive “Mother’s Day”, with the apostrophe before the ‘s’ to show that each
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
around world important all the an day
2.
it Not on all the countries same celebrate day
3.
feel make extra them special
4.
get Young especially children excited
5.
put cards making into effort of lot a
6.
from off day the get usually mothers housework
7.
It common children cook is for to
8.
busiest the restaurants for year the of day
9.
goes raised money the mothers needy help to
10.
for thought a Spare them
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 Mother’s Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Mother’s Day. 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 Mother’s Day. 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.
