Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Mardi Gras. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
"Mardi Gras" is French for “Fat Tuesday”. It is the name of a celebration that takes place on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the 40-day period of Lent. Mardi Gras is the final day of a three-day period, which starts on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. In Catholic countries, people fast during lent. People eat well the day before Ash Wednesday and hold celebrations. These can be wonderful, colourful carnivals all over the world. The most famous are those in Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans and Venice. The tradition of Mardis Gras goes back hundreds of years in Catholic Europe. Explorers, settlers and missionaries exported the tradition worldwide.
Today, Mardi Gras is a riot of colour, street carnivals, marching bands, dancing and all-night partying in the streets. Many people dress up in spectacular costumes and wear beautiful masks. The biggest Mardis Gras carnivals are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Thousands of people from all over the world visit these cities to join in the fun. Venice is home to one of the oldest carnivals in the world, called Carnevale di Venezia. This dates back to 1268. Thousands of mask-wearing revelers fill the Venetian streets and attend special masked balls. In Sydney, Australia, Mardis Gras is celebrated by the city’s gay and lesbian community with street parades and costumes.
Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
a celebration that takes place on the
a.
before Ash Wednesday
2
the beginning of the 40-day
b.
tradition worldwide
3.
the final day of a three-
c.
period of Lent
4.
People eat well the day
d.
back hundreds of years
5.
The tradition of Mardis Gras goes
e.
day before Ash Wednesday
6.
missionaries exported the
f.
day period
Paragraph 2
1.
Mardi Gras is a riot
a.
all over the world
2
Many people dress up in
b.
the Venetian streets
3.
Thousands of people from
c.
and lesbian community
4.
Venice is home to one of the oldest
d.
spectacular costumes
5.
mask-wearing revelers fill
e.
of colour
6.
celebrated by the city’s gay
f.
carnivals in the world
LISTENING GAP FILL
"Mardi Gras" is French for “Fat Tuesday”. It is the name of a celebration __________________ the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the 40-day period of Lent. Mardi Gras is __________________ three-day period, which starts on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. In Catholic countries, people fast during lent. People __________________ before Ash Wednesday and hold celebrations. These can be wonderful, colourful carnivals all over the world. The ____________________ in Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans and Venice. The tradition of Mardis Gras goes back hundreds of years in Catholic Europe. Explorers, settlers and missionaries __________________ worldwide.
Today, Mardi Gras is __________________, street carnivals, marching bands, dancing and all-night partying in the streets. Many people dress __________________ costumes and wear beautiful masks. The biggest Mardis Gras carnivals are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Thousands of people __________________ the world visit these cities __________________. Venice is home to one of the oldest carnivals in the world, called Carnevale di Venezia. __________________ 1268. Thousands of mask-wearing revelers fill the Venetian streets and attend special masked balls. In Sydney, Australia, Mardis Gras is celebrated by the city’s gay and lesbian community with street __________________.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
"Mardi Gras" is French for “Fat Tuesday”. It is the __________ of a celebration that takes place on the day __________ Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the 40-day __________ of Lent. Mardi Gras is the __________ day of a three-day period which starts on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. In Catholic countries, people fast __________ lent. People eat well the day before Ash Wednesday and hold celebrations. These can be wonderful, colourful carnivals all __________ the world. The most famous are those in Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans and Venice. The __________ of Mardis Gras goes back hundreds of years in Catholic Europe. Explorers, __________ and missionaries exported the tradition worldwide.
tradition final name over before during settlers period
Today, Mardi Gras is a riot of colour, __________ carnivals, marching bands, dancing and all-__________ partying in the streets. Many people dress up in spectacular costumes and wear beautiful __________. The biggest Mardis Gras carnivals are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Thousands of people from all __________ the world visit these cities to join in the fun. Venice is home to one of the __________ carnivals in the world, called Carnevale di Venezia. This dates back to 1268. Thousands of mask-wearing revelers __________ the Venetian streets and __________ special masked balls. In Sydney, Australia, Mardis Gras is celebrated by the city’s gay and lesbian __________ with street parades and costumes.
attend masks oldest community street over fill night
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
"Mardi Gras" is French for / by “Fat Tuesday”. It is the name of a celebration that takes placed / place on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the 40-day during / period of Lent. Mardi Gras is the final / finally day of a three-day period which starts on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. In Catholic countries, people fast during lent. People eat well / good the day before Ash Wednesday and hold celebrations. These can be wonderful, colourful carnivals all overall / over the world. The most famous are those in Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans and Venice. The traditional / tradition of Mardis Gras goes back hundreds of years in Catholic Europe. Explorers, settlers / settles and missionaries exported the tradition worldwide.
Today, Mardi Gras is a riot of colour / colourful, street carnivals, marching bands, dancing and all-night partying in the streets. Many people dress on / up in spectacular costumes and wearing / wear beautiful masks. The biggest Mardis Gras carnivals are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Thousands / Thousand of people from all over the world visit these cities to join in / on the fun. Venice is home to one of the oldest carnivals in the world, called Carnevale di Venezia. This date / dates back to 1268. Thousands of mask-wearing revelers fill the Venetian streets and attend special masked hoops / balls. In Sydney, Australia, Mardis Gras is celebrated by the city’s gay and lesbian community with street parade / parades and costumes.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
"Mardi Gras" is French (1) ____ “Fat Tuesday”. It is the name of a celebration that takes place on the day before Ash Wednesday, which (2) ____ the beginning of the 40-day period of Lent. Mardi Gras is the final day of a three-day period, (3) ____ starts on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. In Catholic countries, people fast during lent. People eat well the day before Ash Wednesday and (4) ____ celebrations. These can be wonderful, colourful carnivals all over the world. The most famous are those in Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans and Venice. The (5) ____ of Mardis Gras goes back hundreds of years in Catholic Europe. Explorers, settlers and missionaries (6) ____ the tradition worldwide.
Today, Mardi Gras is a riot of (7) ____, street carnivals, marching bands, dancing and all-night partying in the streets. Many people dress up (8) ____ spectacular costumes and wear beautiful masks. The biggest Mardis Gras carnivals are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Thousands of people from all over the world visit (9) ____ cities to join in the fun. Venice is home to one of the oldest carnivals in the world, called Carnevale di Venezia. This (10) ____ back to 1268. Thousands of mask-wearing revelers fill the Venetian streets and (11) ____ special masked balls. In Sydney, Australia, Mardis Gras is celebrated by the city’s gay and lesbian communities (12) ____ street parades and costumes.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
for
(b)
from
(c)
with
(d)
by
2.
(a)
marking
(b)
marker
(c)
markings
(d)
marks
3.
(a)
when
(b)
which
(c)
where
(d)
whom
4.
(a)
bold
(b)
cold
(c)
hold
(d)
fold
5.
(a)
traditions
(b)
tradition
(c)
traditionally
(d)
traditional
6.
(a)
exported
(b)
exporting
(c)
exporter
(d)
export
7.
(a)
colouring
(b)
coloured
(c)
colour
(d)
colourful
8.
(a)
along
(b)
for
(c)
to
(d)
up
9.
(a)
these
(b)
them
(c)
this
(d)
then
10.
(a)
date
(b)
dates
(c)
dating
(d)
dateline
11.
(a)
attendance
(b)
attendee
(c)
attend
(d)
attended
12.
(a)
from
(b)
at
(c)
for
(d)
with
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
marks the beginning of the 40-day ipoedr of Lent
2.
people fast rgdiun lent
3.
These can be olfwudren
4.
The most asuomf
5.
goes back ddrusneh of years
6.
exported the tradition wwrloedid
Paragraph 2
7.
a orti of colour
8.
all-night anptgriy in the streets
9.
dress up in spectacular mtssceou
10.
one of the oldest viaalcrns in the world
11.
etadnt special masked balls
12.
street esparda
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
well the day before Ash Wednesday and hold celebrations. These can be wonderful, colourful carnivals all over the
( )
partying in the streets. Many people dress up in spectacular costumes and wear beautiful masks. The biggest
( )
and attend special masked balls. In Sydney, Australia, Mardis Gras is celebrated by the city’s
( 1 )
"Mardi Gras" is French for “Fat Tuesday”. It is the name of a celebration that takes place on the day before Ash
( )
called Carnevale di Venezia. This dates back to 1268. Thousands of mask-wearing revelers fill the Venetian streets
( )
over the world visit these cities to join in the fun. Venice is home to one of the oldest carnivals in the world,
( )
gay and lesbian community with street parades and costumes.
( )
period, which starts on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. In Catholic countries, people fast during lent. People eat
( )
settlers and missionaries exported the tradition worldwide.
( )
Mardis Gras goes back hundreds of years in Catholic Europe. Explorers,
( )
Mardis Gras carnivals are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Thousands of people from all
( )
world. The most famous are those in Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans and Venice. The tradition of
( )
Today, Mardi Gras is a riot of colour, street carnivals, marching bands, dancing and all-night
( )
Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the 40-day period of Lent. Mardi Gras is the final day of a three-day
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
Mardi is for Tuesday Gras French Fat
2.
of day final the is Gras Mardi period day - three a
3.
fast people , countries Catholic In lent during
4.
goes hundreds years Gras back of Mardis
5.
tradition exported worldwide the missionaries
6.
Mardi of Gras colour is Today a , riot
7.
spectacular Many dress in costumes people up
8.
cities the people world from visit all these over
9.
Venice of is the home oldest to carnivals one
10.
revelers wearing - mask streets Venetian the fill
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 Mardi Gras. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Mardi Gras. 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 Mardi Gras. 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.
