Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on New Year's Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
New Year’s Day is, of course, the first day of the year. It is a national holiday in most countries around the world. It is a time when families get together and celebrate with a meal. Many people make new plans for the rest of the year. These plans are called New Year resolutions. People decide to lose weight, get fit, stop smoking, study English every day or save lots of money. I think most people are serious about these plans on January 1st, but then forget about them before the end of the week. Then one year later, it’s New Year’s Day all over again and people make the same resolutions again. I guess people all around the world make the same kinds of plans. I guess they also break their resolutions at the same time.
One thing I like about New Year’s Day are the TV programmes that look back at the previous year. They are like highlights shows of the news. These always remind me how lucky I am because a lot of the news is about wars, famines, natural disasters, plane crashes and other terrible things. The shows also look back at the lives of people who died that year. Hmmm… That all sounds a bit depressing really. But then there are happier things, like the top sports and music stories. Another thing that happens on New Year’s Day is lists. The top ten movies of the year, the ten best sporting achievements of the year, etc. There is even a list for the top ten new English words of the year. Previous winners of this are the words ‘blog’ and ‘podcast’.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
It is a national holiday
a.
called New Year resolutions
2
It is a time when families get
b.
resolutions again
3.
These plans are
c.
together and celebrate
4.
forget about them before
d.
at the same time
5.
people make the same
e.
the end of the week
6.
they also break their resolutions
f.
in most countries
Paragraph 2
1.
TV programmes that look
a.
a bit depressing
2
These always remind me how
b.
movies of the year
3.
…natural disasters, plane crashes and
c.
lucky I am
4.
That all sounds
d.
back at the previous year
5.
The top ten
e.
ten new English words
6.
a list for the top
f.
other terrible things
LISTENING GAP FILL
New Year’s Day __________________ first day of the year. It is a national holiday in most countries around the world. It is a time when families __________________ celebrate with a meal. Many people make new plans for the rest of the year. These plans are called New Year resolutions. People decide __________________ fit, stop smoking, study English every day or save lots of money. I think most people are __________________ plans on January 1st, but then forget about them before the end of the week. Then one year later, it’s New Year’s Day __________________ people make the same resolutions again. I guess people all around the world make the same kinds of plans. I guess __________________ resolutions at the same time.
One __________________ New Year’s Day are the TV programmes that look back at the previous year. They are like highlights shows of the news. These always __________________ lucky I am because a lot of the news is about wars, famines, natural disasters, plane crashes and __________________. The shows also look back at the lives of people who died that year. Hmmm… That __________________ depressing really. But then there are happier things, like the top sports and music stories. Another thing that happens on New Year’s Day is lists. The __________________ the year, the ten best sporting achievements of the year, etc. There is even a list for the top ten new English words of the year. Previous __________________ the words ‘blog’ and ‘podcast’.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
New Year’s Day is, of __________, the first day of the year. It is a national holiday in most countries around the world. It is a time when families get __________ and celebrate with a meal. Many people make new plans for the __________ of the year. These plans are called New Year resolutions. People decide to __________ weight, get fit, stop smoking, study English every day or save __________ of money. I think most people are serious about these plans on January 1st, but then forget about them before the __________ of the week. Then one year later, it’s New Year’s Day all __________ again and people make the same resolutions again. I guess people all around the world make the same kinds of plans. I guess they also __________ their resolutions at the same time.
lots rest over end lose course break together
One thing I like about New Year’s Day are the TV programmes that look __________ at the previous year. They are like highlights __________ of the news. These always remind me how lucky I am because a lot of the news is about wars, __________, natural disasters, plane crashes and other terrible things. The shows also look back at the lives of people who __________ that year. Hmmm… That all sounds a __________ depressing really. But then there are happier things, like the __________ sports and music stories. Another thing that happens on New Year’s Day is __________. The top ten movies of the year, the ten best sporting achievements of the year, etc. There is even a list for the top ten new English words of the year. Previous __________ of this are the words ‘blog’ and ‘podcast’.
bit shows lists back died winners famines top
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
New Year’s Day is, of cause / course, the first day of the year. It is a national holiday in most / much countries around the world. It is a time when families get together and celebrate within / with a meal. Many people make new plans for the rest / rested of the year. These plans are called New Year resolutions. People decide to lose weight, get / got fit, stop smoking, study English every day or save lots of money. I think most people are serious by / about these plans on January 1st, but then forget about them before the end for / of the week. Then one year later, it’s New Year’s Day all over again and people make the same resolutions again. I guest / guess people all around the world make the same kinds of plans. I guess they also break their resolutions at the same time.
One thing I like about New Year’s Day are the TV programmes that look forward / back at the previous year. They are like highlights shows / showed of the news. These always remind me how lucky / unlucky I am because a lot of the news is about wars, famines, natural disasters, plane crashes and other terrible things. The shows also look back at the live / lives of people who died that year. Hmmm… That all sounds a bit / bite depressing really. But then there are happier things, like the top sports and music stories. Another thing that happens on New Year’s Day is lasts / lists. The top ten movies of the year, the ten best sporting achievements of the year, etc. There is even / ever a list for the top ten new English words of the year. Previous winners / winnings of this are the words ‘blog’ and ‘podcast’.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
New Year’s Day is, of course, the first (1) ____ of the year. It is a national holiday in most countries around the world. It is a (2) ____ when families get together and celebrate with a meal. Many people make new plans (3) ____ the rest of the year. These plans are called New Year resolutions. People decide to lose weight, get (4) ____, stop smoking, study English every day or save lots of money. I think most people are serious about these plans on January 1st, but then forget about them before the end of the (5) ____. Then one year later, it’s New Year’s Day all over again and people make the same resolutions again. I (6) ____ people all around the world make the same kinds of plans. I guess they also break their resolutions at the same time.
One thing I like about New Year’s Day are the TV programmes that (7) ____ back at the previous year. They are like highlights shows of the news. These always (8) ____ me how lucky I am because a lot of the news is about wars, famines, natural disasters, plane crashes and other terrible things. The shows also look back at the (9) ____ of people who died that year. Hmmm… That all sounds a bit depressing really. But then there are (10) ____ things, like the top sports and music stories. Another thing that happens on New Year’s Day is lists. The top ten movies of the year, the ten best sporting achievements (11) ____ the year, etc. There is even a list for the top ten new English words of the year. Previous (12) ____ of this are the words ‘blog’ and ‘podcast’.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
daily
(b)
daytime
(c)
days
(d)
day
2.
(a)
timely
(b)
time
(c)
times
(d)
timing
3.
(a)
for
(b)
from
(c)
with
(d)
by
4.
(a)
fitness
(b)
fitting
(c)
fit
(d)
fittest
5.
(a)
weekly
(b)
week
(c)
weak
(d)
weeks
6.
(a)
guess
(b)
guesses
(c)
guessing
(d)
guest
7.
(a)
look
(b)
looked
(c)
looks
(d)
looking
8.
(a)
reminder
(b)
remind
(c)
remainder
(d)
reminding
9.
(a)
live
(b)
living
(c)
lives
(d)
lived
10.
(a)
happiness
(b)
happiest
(c)
happily
(d)
happier
11.
(a)
for
(b)
by
(c)
with
(d)
of
12.
(a)
winner
(b)
wins
(c)
winners
(d)
winning
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
families get together and tceeebrla
2.
People decide to lose ieghwt
3.
most people are souersi
4.
fergot about them
5.
it’s New Year’s Day all over aaign
6.
arkeb their resolutions
Paragraph 2
7.
look back at the ruiospev year
8.
These always irndme me how lucky I am
9.
other ielretrb things
10.
a bit depressing lyelra
11.
the ten best topnisgr achievements
12.
Previous wsinner
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
One thing I like about New Year’s Day are the TV programmes that look back at the previous
( )
year. They are like highlights shows of the news. These always remind me how lucky I am because a lot of the
( )
ten movies of the year, the ten best sporting achievements of the year, etc. There is even a list for the top ten new
( 1 )
New Year’s Day is, of course, the first day of the year. It is a national holiday in most countries around
( )
English words of the year. Previous winners of this are the words ‘blog’ and ‘podcast’.
( )
about them before the end of the week. Then one year later, it’s New Year’s Day all over
( )
news is about wars, famines, natural disasters, plane crashes and other terrible things. The shows also look back
( )
of plans. I guess they also break their resolutions at the same time.
( )
of the year. These plans are called New Year resolutions. People decide to lose weight, get fit, stop smoking, study English
( )
every day or save lots of money. I think most people are serious about these plans on January 1st, but then forget
( )
again and people make the same resolutions again. I guess people all around the world make the same kinds
( )
at the lives of people who died that year. Hmmm… That all sounds a bit depressing really. But then there are happier
( )
things, like the top sports and music stories. Another thing that happens on New Year’s Day is lists. The top
( )
the world. It is a time when families get together and celebrate with a meal. Many people make new plans for the rest
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
in holiday national a is It countries most
2.
and together get families meal a with celebrate
3.
to People lose decide weight
4.
plans are I serious think about most these people
5.
the same kinds of plans people all around the world make
6.
previous look year back TV at programmes the that
7.
I lucky how me remind always These am
8.
a depressing That sounds bit really all
9.
is thing on Day Another happens Year’s lists that New
10.
the for list a even is There words English new ten top
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 New Year’s Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about New Year’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 New Year’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.
