Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Opposite Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Opposite Day is on January 24th each year. It is a strange but fun day. Whatever you say on this day must be the opposite of what you mean. If you say ‘yes’, you mean ‘no’ and vice versa. If someone tells you ‘You don’t look so good today,’ you say ‘thank you’. Or perhaps that should be ‘No thank you’. If you have ever tried this for yourself, it can be quite confusing, although it is fun. Children love playing this as a game and usually end up in non-stop laughter. Some psychologists have said that playing using opposite meanings is a good “philosophy course” for kids – it gets them thinking. It could also be the day when ‘opposites attract,’ which means two people who have totally different characters start a relationship.
Opposite Day can be a very useful day for students. This is a good time to get out vocabulary notebooks and find the antonyms, or opposites, to different words. Students could focus on prefixes that are used to give a word an opposite meaning. For example ‘un’ in ‘unhelpful’ and ‘unnecessary’, or ‘il’ in illegal’ and ‘illogical’. There are many more. Actually, Opposite Day reminds me of a little verse I learnt as a child. Here it is: “One bright morning in the middle of the night, two dead boys got up to fight. Back to back, they faced each other. Drew their swords and shot each other. A deaf policeman heard the noise, and came to arrest the two dead boys. If you don't believe this story’s true, ask the blind man - he saw it too!” Confusing? Why not make your own opposite story?
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
It is a strange,
a.
for kids
2
the opposite of what
b.
non-stop laughter
3.
If you say ‘yes’, you mean ‘no’ and
c.
attract
4.
usually end up in
d.
but fun day
5.
a good “philosophy course”
e.
vice versa
6.
the day when opposites
f.
you mean
Paragraph 2
1.
Opposite Day can be a very useful
a.
verse I learnt
2
find the antonyms, or opposites,
b.
an opposite meaning
3.
prefixes that are used to give a word
c.
story’s true…
4.
Opposite Day reminds me of a little
d.
day for students
5.
If you don't believe this
e.
story
6.
make your own opposite
f.
to different words
LISTENING GAP FILL
Opposite Day is on January 24th each year. It ________________ day. Whatever you say on this day must be the opposite of what you mean. If you say ‘yes’, you mean ________________. If someone tells you ‘You don’t look so good today,’ you say ‘thank you’. Or ________________ be ‘No thank you’. If you have ever tried this for yourself, it can be quite confusing, although it is fun. Children love playing this as a game and usually ________________ laughter. Some psychologists have said that playing using opposite meanings is a good “philosophy ________________ – it gets them thinking. It could also be the day when ‘opposites attract,’ which means two people ________________ different characters start a relationship.
Opposite Day can be ________________ for students. This is a good time to get out vocabulary notebooks and find the antonyms, or opposites, to different words. Students could focus ________________ used to give a word an opposite meaning. For example ‘un’ in ‘unhelpful’ and ‘unnecessary’, ________________ and ‘illogical’. There are many more. Actually, Opposite Day reminds me of a little verse ________________. Here it is: “One bright morning in the middle of the night, two dead boys got up to fight. Back to back, they faced each other. Drew their swords __________________. A deaf policeman heard the noise, and came to arrest the two dead boys. ________________ this story’s true, ask the blind man - he saw it too!” Confusing? Why not make your own opposite story?
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Opposite Day is on January 24th each year. It is a __________ but fun day. Whatever you say on this day must be the opposite of what you mean. If you say ‘yes’, you mean ‘no’ and __________ versa. If someone tells you ‘You don’t look so good today,’ you say ‘thank you’. Or __________ that should be ‘No thank you’. If you have ever tried this for yourself, it can be __________ confusing, although it is fun. Children love playing this as a game and usually end up in non-stop __________. Some psychologists have said that playing using opposite meanings is a good “philosophy __________” for kids – it gets them thinking. It could also be the day when ‘opposites __________,’ which means two people who have totally different characters __________ a relationship.
Opposite Day can be a very __________ day for students. This is a good time to get out vocabulary notebooks and find the antonyms, or __________, to different words. Students could __________ on prefixes that are used to give a word an opposite meaning. For example ‘un’ in ‘unhelpful’ and ‘unnecessary’, or ‘il’ in illegal’ and ‘illogical’. There are many __________. Actually, Opposite Day reminds me of a little verse I learnt as a __________. Here it is: “One bright morning in the __________ of the night, two dead boys got up to fight. Back to back, they faced each other. Drew their swords and shot each other. A deaf policeman heard the noise, and came to arrest the two dead boys. If you don't __________ this story’s true, ask the blind man - he saw it too!” Confusing? Why not make your __________ opposite story?
more believe focus middle useful own child opposites
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Opposite Day is on January 24th each year. It is a strange but fun day. Whatever you say / speak on this day must be the opposite of what you mean. If you say ‘yes’, you mean ‘no’ / ‘yes’ and vice versa. If someone tells / speaks you ‘You don’t look so good today,’ you say ‘thank you’. Or perhaps that should be ‘No thank you’. If you have ever tried / try this for yourself, it can be quite confusing, although it is fun. Children love playing this as a game and usually end down / up in non-stop laughter. Some psychologists have said that playing use / using opposite meanings is a good “philosophy course” for kids – it gets these / them thinking. It could also be the day when ‘opposites attract,’ which means two people who have totally similar / different characters start a relationship.
Opposite Day can be a very useful day by / for students. This is a good time to get in / out vocabulary notebooks and find the antonyms, or opposites, to different words. Students could focus on / in prefixes that are used to give a word an opposite meant / meaning. For example ‘un’ in ‘unhelpful’ and ‘unnecessary’, or ‘il’ in illegal’ and ‘illogical’. There are many more. Actually, Opposite Day reminds / remembers me of a little verse I learnt as a child. Here it is: “One bright morning in the centre / middle of the night, two dead boys got up to fight. Back to back, they faced each other. Drew their swords and shot one / each other. A deaf policeman heard the noise, and came to arrest the two dead boys. If you don't believe this story’s true, ask the blind man - he saw / seen it too!” Confusing? Why not make your own opposite story?
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Opposite Day is on January 24th each year. It is a strange (1) ____ fun day. Whatever you say on this day must be the opposite of what you (2) ____. If you say ‘yes’, you mean ‘no’ and vice versa. If someone tells you ‘You don’t look so good today,’ you (3) ____ ‘thank you’. Or perhaps that should be ‘No thank you’. If you have ever tried this for yourself, it can be quite confusing, although it is fun. Children love playing this as a game and usually end (4) ____ in non-stop laughter. Some psychologists have said that playing (5) ____ opposite meanings is a good “philosophy course” for kids – it gets them thinking. It could also be the day when ‘opposites (6) ____,’ which means two people who have totally different characters start a relationship.
Opposite Day can be a very useful day (7) ____ students. This is a good time to get out vocabulary notebooks and find the antonyms, or opposites, to different words. Students could focus (8) ____ prefixes that are used to give a word an opposite meaning. For example ‘un’ in ‘unhelpful’ and ‘unnecessary’, or ‘il’ in illegal’ and ‘illogical’. There are many more. Actually, Opposite Day reminds me (9) ____ a little verse I learnt as a child. Here it is: “One bright morning in the middle of the night, two dead boys got up to fight. Back to (10) ____, they faced each other. Drew their swords and shot each (11) ____. A deaf policeman heard the noise, and came to arrest the two dead boys. If you don't believe this story’s true, ask the blind man - he saw it too!” Confusing? Why (12) ____ make your own opposite story?
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
however
(b)
but
(c)
so
(d)
for
2.
(a)
meaning
(b)
meanings
(c)
meanie
(d)
mean
3.
(a)
say
(b)
speak
(c)
tell
(d)
talk
4.
(a)
down
(b)
in
(c)
up
(d)
on
5.
(a)
use
(b)
used
(c)
using
(d)
used to
6.
(a)
attractive
(b)
attract
(c)
attraction
(d)
attracts
7.
(a)
for
(b)
by
(c)
at
(d)
so
8.
(a)
in
(b)
on
(c)
to
(d)
of
9.
(a)
for
(b)
by
(c)
with
(d)
of
10.
(a)
back
(b)
backside
(c)
backwards
(d)
backing
11.
(a)
others
(b)
another
(c)
the other
(d)
other
12.
(a)
non
(b)
now
(c)
not
(d)
nor
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
It is a rasetng but fun day
2.
If you say ‘yes’, you mean ‘no’ and cvei versa
3.
it can be quite cnginufso
4.
non-stop aeturghl
5.
opposites aarcttt
6.
different characters trsta a relationship
Paragraph 2
7.
a very uesluf day for students
8.
find the oasynmtn, or opposites, to different words
9.
Opposite Day nisderm me of a little verse
10.
in the lemddi of the night
11.
you don't eebevil this
12.
ask the lbidn man - he saw it too!
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
verse I learnt as a child. Here it is: “One bright morning in the middle of the night, two dead boys got up to fight. Back to
( )
of what you mean. If you say ‘yes’, you mean ‘no’ and vice versa. If someone tells you ‘You don’t look so
( )
non-stop laughter. Some psychologists have said that playing using opposite meanings is a good “philosophy
( )
Opposite Day can be a very useful day for students. This is a good time to get out vocabulary notebooks and find
( )
course” for kids – it gets them thinking. It could also be the day when ‘opposites attract,’ which
( )
blind man - he saw it too!” Confusing? Why not make your own opposite story?
( 1 )
Opposite Day is on January 24th each year. It is a strange but fun day. Whatever you say on this day must be the opposite
( )
yourself, it can be quite confusing, although it is fun. Children love playing this as a game and usually end up in
( )
good today,’ you say ‘thank you’. Or perhaps that should be ‘No thank you’. If you have ever tried this for
( )
noise, and came to arrest the two dead boys. If you don't believe this story’s true, ask the
( )
means two people who have totally different characters start a relationship.
( )
opposite meaning. For example ‘un’ in ‘unhelpful’ and ‘unnecessary’, or ‘il’ in illegal’ and ‘illogical’. There are many more. Actually, Opposite Day reminds me of a little
( )
the antonyms, or opposites, to different words. Students could focus on prefixes that are used to give a word an
( )
back, they faced each other. Drew their swords and shot each other. A deaf policeman heard the
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
a but day is strange fun It
2.
good so look don’t You today
3.
end usually laughter stop - non in up
4.
opposites day attract when the
5.
different two who totally characters people have
6.
day Opposite be useful students can very for Day a
7.
word a give meaning opposite an
8.
child a as learnt I verse little a
9.
story’s this believe don't you true
10.
opposite own your make not Why story ?
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 Opposite Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Opposite 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 Opposite 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.
