Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Valentine's Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Valentine's Day is one of the most famous holidays in the world. It falls on February the 14th and is celebrated across the world. It is the traditional day for lovers to express their love to each other. They do this by sending Valentine’s cards with romantic messages. It is common to leave the card unsigned. Other traditions on this day are buying chocolates and giving red roses. Valentine’s Day used to be an American and European thing, but now it has gone all over the world. It has become very commercial. Companies that make Valentine’s goods even encourage people to send Valentine’s cards to their parents and other family members! In Japan, only women give Valentine’s gifts – to all the men they know.
There is confusion over which Saint Valentine the day is named after. It is either Valentine of Rome, who lived in the third century, or Saint Valentine, bishop of Terni, from the 14th century. The custom of exchanging romantic messages seems to have started in 19th-century England. In 1847, an American woman, Esther Howland, started producing and selling Valentine cards. Today, over one billion are sent worldwide, with women sending 85 per cent of them. Different companies slowly saw the opportunities to make money from Valentine’s Day. In the 1980s, diamond companies began promoting jewellery as the ultimate Valentine’s gift. French and Italian restaurants are also very busy on this day.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
It falls on
a.
unsigned
2
the traditional day for lovers
b.
American and European thing
3.
It is common to leave the card
c.
to express their love
4.
Valentine’s Day used to be an
d.
give Valentine’s gifts
5.
It has become
e.
February the 14th
6.
In Japan, only women
f.
very commercial
Paragraph 2
1.
confusion over
a.
are sent worldwide
2
The custom of
b.
Valentine’s gift
3.
over one billion
c.
very busy on this day
4.
opportunities to make money
d.
which Saint Valentine
5.
the ultimate
e.
exchanging romantic messages
6.
Italian restaurants are also
f.
from Valentine’s Day
LISTENING GAP FILL
Valentine's Day is __________________ famous holidays in the world. It falls on February the 14th and is celebrated across the world. It is the traditional day for lovers __________________ love to each other. They do this by sending Valentine’s cards with romantic messages. __________________ leave the card unsigned. Other traditions on this day are buying chocolates and giving red roses. Valentine’s Day used to be an American and European thing, but now _____________ over the world. It has become very commercial. Companies that make Valentine’s __________________ people to send Valentine’s cards to their parents and other family members! In Japan, only women give Valentine’s gifts – __________________ they know.
There __________________ which Saint Valentine the day is named after. It is either Valentine of Rome, who lived __________________, or Saint Valentine, bishop of Terni, from the 14th century. The custom of exchanging romantic messages __________________ started in 19th-century England. In 1847, an American woman, Esther Howland, started producing and selling Valentine cards. Today, over one billion __________________, with women sending 85 per cent of them. Different companies slowly saw the opportunities to __________________ Valentine’s Day. In the 1980s, diamond companies began promoting jewellery as the ultimate Valentine’s gift. French and Italian restaurants __________________ on this day.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Valentine's Day is __________ of the most famous holidays in the world. It falls on February the 14th and is celebrated __________ the world. It is the traditional day for lovers to express their love to each other. They do __________ by sending Valentine’s cards with romantic messages. It is common to leave the card unsigned. __________ traditions on this day are buying chocolates and giving red roses. Valentine’s Day used to be an American and European thing, but now it has __________ all over the world. It has become very commercial. Companies that make Valentine’s goods __________ encourage people to send Valentine’s cards to their parents and other family members! In Japan, __________ women give Valentine’s gifts – to all the men __________ know.
even this one they only other gone across
There is confusion __________ which Saint Valentine the day is named __________. It is either Valentine of Rome, who lived in the third century, or Saint Valentine, bishop of Terni, __________ the 14th century. The custom of exchanging romantic messages __________ to have started in 19th-century England. In 1847, an American woman, Esther Howland, started producing and selling Valentine cards. Today, over one billion are sent worldwide, __________ women sending 85 per cent of them. Different companies slowly saw the opportunities to __________ money from Valentine’s Day. In the 1980s, diamond companies began promoting jewellery __________ the ultimate Valentine’s gift. French and Italian restaurants are also __________ busy on this day.
as after make seems over very from with
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Valentine's Day is one of the mostly / most famous holidays in the world. It falls / fell on February the 14th and is celebrated across the world. It is the traditional day for lovers to expression / express their love to each other. They do this at / by sending Valentine’s cards with romantic messages. It is common to leave the card unsigned. Other / Another traditions on this day are buying chocolates and giving red roses. Valentine’s Day used to be an American and European things / thing, but now it has gone all over the world. It has become very commercial / commercialize. Companies that make Valentine’s goods even encourage people to send Valentine’s cards to their parents and other family members! In Japan, only women give Valentine’s gifts – to all / some the men they know.
There is confusion under / over which Saint Valentine the day is named after. It is either Valentine of Rome, who lived / alive in the third century, or Saint Valentine, bishop of Terni, for / from the 14th century. The custom / costume of exchanging romantic messages seems to have started in 19th-century England. In 1847, an American woman, Esther Howland, started producing and selling Valentine cards. Today, over one billionth / billion are sent worldwide, with women sending 85 per cent of them. Different companies slowly see / saw the opportunities to make money from Valentine’s Day. In the 1980s, diamond companies began promoting / promotion jewellery as the ultimate Valentine’s gift. French and Italian restaurants are also very busy / busier on this day.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Valentine's Day is (1) ___ of the most famous holidays in the world. It falls on February the 14th and is celebrated across the world. It is the (2) ___ day for lovers to express their love to each other. They do this by sending Valentine’s cards with romantic (3) ___. It is common to leave the card unsigned. Other traditions on this day are buying chocolates and giving red roses. Valentine’s Day used to be an American and European (4) ___, but now it has gone all over the world. It has become very commercial. Companies that make Valentine’s goods even (5) ___ people to send Valentine’s cards to their parents and other family members! In Japan, (6) ___ women give Valentine’s gifts – to all the men they know.
There is (7) ___ over which Saint Valentine the day is named after. It is either Valentine of Rome, who (8) ___ in the third century, or Saint Valentine, bishop of Terni, from the 14th century. The custom of exchanging romantic messages seems to have started in 19th-century England. In 1847, an American woman, Esther Howland, started producing and (9) ___ Valentine cards. Today, over one billion are sent worldwide, with women sending 85 per cent (10) ___ them. Different companies slowly saw the opportunities to make money from Valentine’s Day. In the 1980s, diamond (11) ___ began promoting jewellery as the ultimate Valentine’s gift. French and Italian restaurants are also very (12) ___ on this day.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
only
(b)
one
(c)
once
(d)
ones
2.
(a)
tradition
(b)
traditionally
(c)
traditional
(d)
traditions
3.
(a)
messaging
(b)
messager
(c)
message
(d)
messages
4.
(a)
things
(b)
thing
(c)
thingy
(d)
thingamy
5.
(a)
encourage
(b)
encouragement
(c)
encouraging
(d)
encourages
6.
(a)
known
(b)
knows
(c)
knowing
(d)
know
7.
(a)
confusion
(b)
confused
(c)
confusing
(d)
confuse
8.
(a)
alive
(b)
living
(c)
lived
(d)
life
9.
(a)
sales
(b)
sell
(c)
selling
(d)
sells
10.
(a)
for
(b)
of
(c)
by
(d)
with
11.
(a)
companies
(b)
company
(c)
companies
(d)
companion
12.
(a)
busier
(b)
busiest
(c)
busily
(d)
busy
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
It alfls on February the 14th
2.
exspser their love
3.
toriacnm messages
4.
leave the card uginsden
5.
It has become very coilrmeacm
6.
alymif members
Paragraph 2
7.
nmade after
8.
from the 14th ucnrtey
9.
one lobnili are sent worldwide
10.
make ymone
11.
the elmiutat Valentine’s gift
12.
Italian tusertrsaan
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
day are buying chocolates and giving red roses. Valentine’s Day used to be an American and European thing, but now it has
( 1 )
Valentine's Day is one of the most famous holidays in the world. It falls on February the 14th and is celebrated
( )
Valentine’s Day. In the 1980s, diamond companies began promoting jewellery as the
( )
gone all over the world. It has become very commercial. Companies that make Valentine’s goods even encourage
( )
in the third century, or Saint Valentine, bishop of Terni, from the 14th century. The custom of exchanging romantic
( )
sending 85 per cent of them. Different companies slowly saw the opportunities to make money from
( )
messages seems to have started in 19th-century England. In 1847, an American woman, Esther Howland,
( )
sending Valentine’s cards with romantic messages. It is common to leave the card unsigned. Other traditions on this
( )
There is confusion over which Saint Valentine the day is named after. It is either Valentine of Rome, who lived
( )
started producing and selling Valentine cards. Today, over one billion are sent worldwide, with women
( )
across the world. It is the traditional day for lovers to express their love to each other. They do this by
( )
ultimate Valentine’s gift. French and Italian restaurants are also very busy on this day.
( )
women give Valentine’s gifts – to all the men they know.
( )
people to send Valentine’s cards to their parents and other family members! In Japan, only
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
the the most world famous one holidays of in
2.
to traditional express day their for love lovers the
3.
is It unsigned card the leave to common
4.
become It very has commercial
5.
In gifts Valentine’s give women only , Japan
6.
of custom The messages romantic exchanging
7.
are billion one over , Today worldwide sent
8.
companies money make to opportunities the saw slowly
9.
Valentine’s ultimate the as jewellery gift
10.
this also day very Italian busy restaurants on are
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 Valentine’s Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Valentine’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 Valentine’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.
