Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Chinese New Year's Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Chinese New Year is the most important of the Chinese holidays. Many people who live outside China call it the Lunar New Year. People celebrate this holiday all across the world. Chinese New Year’s Day begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar. It ends on the 15th day. This day is called the Lantern Festival and is another time to celebrate and have a party. Chinese New Year’s Day changes every year because of the Chinese zodiac. The exact day depends on if it is the year of the dragon, rat, horse, dog, etc. It is always some time between January the 21st and February the 20th. The Chinese are not in agreement which year it is. This year is one of three possibilities – depending on which scholar you believe.
The first day of the Chinese New Year is when Chinese people welcome the different gods to their homes. There are many superstitions on this day. Many people believe that not eating meat will bring them a long life. Others believe it is bad luck to light fires so many people cook the day before. Other bad luck things to do on New Year’s Day is getting a haircut, sweeping the floor and buying books. The most important thing to do on this day is to visit your family. Children like this day because they get money from their older relatives. It is a very festive time. People hang red lanterns from their houses and cook all kinds of traditional food. It is also very noisy as people let off firecrackers and fireworks in the street to celebrate.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
Chinese New Year is the most important
a.
have a party
2
the first day of
b.
Chinese zodiac
3.
another time to celebrate and
c.
of three possibilities
4.
… changes every year because of the
d.
of the Chinese holidays
5.
The exact day depends on if it is the
e.
the first lunar month
6.
This year is one
f.
year of the dragon, rat…
Paragraph 2
1.
Chinese people welcome the different
a.
will bring them a long life
2
There are many superstitions
b.
lanterns from their houses
3.
people believe that not eating meat
c.
gods to their homes
4.
it is bad luck to light fires so many
d.
firecrackers and fireworks
5.
People hang red
e.
on this day
6.
It is also very noisy as people let off
f.
people cook the day before
LISTENING GAP FILL
Chinese New Year is the most ________________ Chinese holidays. Many people who live outside China call it the Lunar New Year. People celebrate this ________________ the world. Chinese New Year’s Day begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar. ________________ 15th day. This day is called the Lantern Festival and is another time to celebrate and have a party. Chinese New Year’s Day changes every year because of ________________. The exact day ________________ the year of the dragon, rat, horse, dog, etc. It is always some time between January the 21st and February the 20th. The Chinese are not in agreement which year it is. This year is one of three possibilities – depending on which scholar you believe.
The ________________ Chinese New Year is when Chinese people welcome the different gods to their homes. There are many superstitions on this day. Many people believe ________________ meat will bring them a long life. Others believe ________________ light fires so many people cook the day before. Other bad luck things to do on New Year’s Day is getting a haircut, ________________ and buying books. The most important thing to do on this day is to visit your family. Children like this day because they ________________ their older relatives. It is a very festive time. People hang red lanterns from their houses and cook all kinds of traditional food. It is also very ________________ off firecrackers and fireworks in the street to celebrate.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Chinese New Year is the __________ important of the Chinese holidays. Many people who live outside China call it the Lunar New Year. People celebrate this holiday __________ across the world. Chinese New Year’s Day begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar. It __________ on the 15th day. This day is called the Lantern Festival and is another time to celebrate and __________ a party. Chinese New Year’s Day changes __________ year because of the Chinese zodiac. The exact day depends on __________ it is the year of the dragon, rat, horse, dog, etc. It is always __________ time between January the 21st and February the 20th. The Chinese are not in agreement which year it is. This year is one of __________ possibilities – depending on which scholar you believe.
some ends most every three have if all
The first day of the Chinese New Year is __________ Chinese people welcome the different gods to their homes. There are many superstitions on __________ day. Many people believe that not eating meat will bring __________ a long life. Others believe it is bad luck to light fires so many people cook the __________ before. Other bad luck things to do on New Year’s Day is getting a haircut, sweeping the floor and buying books. The __________ important thing to do on this day is to visit your family. Children like this day because they get money __________ their older relatives. It is a very festive time. People hang red lanterns from __________ houses and cook all kinds of traditional food. It is also __________ noisy as people let off firecrackers and fireworks in the street to celebrate.
day their them from when most very this
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Chinese New Year is the most / mostly important of the Chinese holidays. Many people who live outside China calling / call it the Lunar New Year. People celebrate this holiday all across the world. Chinese New Year’s Day begins on the first / firsts day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar. It ends on the 15th day. This day is call / called the Lantern Festival and is another time to celebrate and had / have a party. Chinese New Year’s Day changes every year because of the Chinese zodiac. The exact day depends on if it is the year of the dragon, rat, horse, dogs / dog, etc. It is always some time / sometimes between January the 21st and February the 20th. The Chinese are not in agreement / argument which year it is. This year is one of three possibilities – depending on which scholar you believe.
The first day of / for the Chinese New Year is when Chinese people welcome the different goods / gods to their homes. There are many superstitions / superstitious on this day. Many people belief / believe that not eating meat will bring them a long life. Others believe it is bad luck to light fires so many people cook the day before. Other badly / bad luck things to do on New Year’s Day is getting a haircut, sweeping the floor and buying books. The most important thing to do on this day is to visit / visiting your family. Children like this day because they get money from their older relatives. It is a very festival / festive time. People hang red lanterns from their houses and cook all kinds of traditional food. It is also very noisy as people let on / off firecrackers and fireworks in the street to celebrate.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Chinese New Year is the most (1) ____ of the Chinese holidays. Many people who live outside China call it the (2) ____ New Year. People celebrate this holiday all across the world. Chinese New Year’s Day begins on the first day of the first lunar (3) ____ in the Chinese calendar. It ends on the 15th day. This day is called the Lantern Festival and is another time to (4) ____ and have a party. Chinese New Year’s Day changes every year because of the Chinese zodiac. The (5) ____ day depends on if it is the year of the dragon, rat, horse, dog, etc. It is always some time between January the 21st and February the 20th. The Chinese are not in (6) ____ which year it is. This year is one of three possibilities – depending on which scholar you believe.
The first (7) ____ of the Chinese New Year is when Chinese people welcome the different gods to their homes. There are many superstitions on this day. Many people (8) ____ that not eating meat will bring them a long life. Others believe it is bad luck to (9) ____ fires so many people cook the day before. Other bad luck things to do on New Year’s Day is getting a haircut, sweeping the floor and buying books. The most important (10) ____ to do on this day is to visit your family. Children like this day because they get money from their older relatives. It is a very festive time. People hang red lanterns from their houses and cook (11) ____ kinds of traditional food. It is also very noisy as people let (12) ____ firecrackers and fireworks in the street to celebrate.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
importance
(b)
importantly
(c)
important
(d)
imports
2.
(a)
Lunar
(b)
Lunatic
(c)
Loony
(d)
Lunacy
3.
(a)
ending
(b)
ends
(c)
ended
(d)
end of
4.
(a)
celebration
(b)
celebrate
(c)
celebrates
(d)
celebratory
5.
(a)
exacted
(b)
exactly
(c)
exacts
(d)
exact
6.
(a)
agree
(b)
agreeable
(c)
agreement
(d)
agrees
7.
(a)
day
(b)
daily
(c)
days
(d)
daytime
8.
(a)
belief
(b)
believer
(c)
believing
(d)
believe
9.
(a)
lit
(b)
lighter
(c)
light
(d)
lights
10.
(a)
thingy
(b)
thing
(c)
things
(d)
thingamy
11.
(a)
all
(b)
all of
(c)
entirely
(d)
everything
12.
(a)
on
(b)
up
(c)
down
(d)
off
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the most ntaiortmp of the Chinese holidays
2.
People tcarelebe this holiday all across the world
3.
This day is called the Lantern tvsileaF
4.
the Chinese caoidz
5.
The ceatx day depends
6.
The Chinese are not in emngaeert which year it is
Paragraph 2
7.
Chinese people oewmelc the different gods to their homes
8.
Others ebileve it is bad luck
9.
itivs your family
10.
they get money from their older iaelsvtre
11.
It is also very oysni
12.
people let off firecrackers and rsiwkreof
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar. It ends on the 15th day. This day is called the Lantern
( )
The first day of the Chinese New Year is when Chinese people welcome the different gods to their
( )
New Year. People celebrate this holiday all across the world. Chinese New Year’s Day begins on the first
( )
relatives. It is a very festive time. People hang red lanterns from their houses and cook all kinds of traditional
( )
year it is. This year is one of three possibilities – depending on which scholar you believe.
( )
thing to do on this day is to visit your family. Children like this day because they get money from their older
( )
food. It is also very noisy as people let off firecrackers and fireworks in the street to celebrate.
( )
life. Others believe it is bad luck to light fires so many people cook the day before. Other bad
( )
time between January the 21st and February the 20th. The Chinese are not in agreement which
( )
Festival and is another time to celebrate and have a party. Chinese New Year’s Day changes every year because
( )
homes. There are many superstitions on this day. Many people believe that not eating meat will bring them a long
( )
of the Chinese zodiac. The exact day depends on if it is the year of the dragon, rat, horse, dog, etc. It is always some
( 1 )
Chinese New Year is the most important of the Chinese holidays. Many people who live outside China call it the Lunar
( )
luck things to do on New Year’s Day is getting a haircut, sweeping the floor and buying books. The most important
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
holidays most of Chinese the important the
2.
this celebrate People world the across all holiday
3.
another party a have and celebrate to time
4.
exact The depends day
5.
agreement in not are Chinese The
6.
homes their to gods different the welcome people
7.
superstitions this There many on day are
8.
is fires bad Others luck believe to it light
9.
get from older they money their relatives
10.
firecrackers also as off is noisy let It very people
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 Chinese New Year. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Chinese New Year. 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 Chinese New Year. 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.
