Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Memorial Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday. It commemorates the American men and women who have died serving their country in the military. It holds an important place in the hearts of Americans as they remember sacrifices made for their freedom. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It first started to honour the Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. It took on greater importance after American losses in World War I. The U.S. government decided the day would remember American casualties in any war, conflict or military action. People visit cemeteries and war memorials on this day. A special ceremony takes place at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. All around the country, flags fly at half-mast until lunch time.
There is quite a history to Memorial Day. A Yale University professor said it was first celebrated in 1865 by freed slaves in South Carolina. The slaves buried dozens of Union soldiers in individual graves. They all died in prison. Waterloo, New York claims to be the official birthplace of Memorial Day, observing it every year from 1868. The name “Memorial Day” came about in 1882 but was not widely accepted until after World War II. The name became official in 1967. In 1968, the U.S. Congress decided the day should be part of a three-day weekend. The last change came in 1971, when the government moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. It took a few years after that for all U.S. states to follow.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
men and women who have died
a.
the American Civil War
2
Union soldiers who died during
b.
memorials on this day
3.
American losses
c.
serving their country
4.
remember American
d.
half-mast
5.
People visit cemeteries and war
e.
casualties
6.
flags fly at
f.
in World War I
Paragraph 2
1.
There is quite a
a.
by freed slaves
2
it was first celebrated in 1865
b.
three-day weekend
3.
New York claims to be the
c.
years after that
4.
The name “Memorial Day” came
d.
history to Memorial Day
5.
part of a
e.
official birthplace
6.
It took a few
f.
about in 1882
LISTENING GAP FILL
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday. It commemorates the American men and women ___________________ their country in the military. It holds an important place in the hearts of Americans as they remember sacrifices made ___________________. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It first ___________________ the Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. It took on greater importance after American losses in World War I. The U.S. government ___________________ remember American casualties in any war, conflict or military action. People visit cemeteries and war memorials on this day. A special ceremony ___________________ Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. All around the country, flags fly at half-___________________.
There is ___________________ Memorial Day. A Yale University professor said it was first celebrated in 1865 ___________________ South Carolina. The slaves buried dozens of Union soldiers in individual graves. They all died in prison. Waterloo, New York claims to be the official birthplace of Memorial Day, _____________________ from 1868. The name “Memorial Day” came about in 1882 but was ___________________ until after World War II. The name became official in 1967. In 1968, the U.S. Congress decided the day ___________________-day weekend. The last change came in 1971, when the government moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. It took a few years ___________________ U.S. states to follow.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Memorial Day is a United States __________ holiday. It commemorates the American men and women who have died __________ their country in the military. It holds an important place in the hearts of Americans as they remember __________ made for their freedom. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It first started to honour the Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. It took on __________ importance after American losses in World War I. The U.S. government decided the day would remember American __________ in any war, conflict or military action. People __________ cemeteries and war memorials on this day. A special __________ takes place at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. All around the country, flags fly at half-__________ until lunch time.
serving visit sacrifices mast greater ceremony federal casualties
There is __________ a history to Memorial Day. A Yale University professor said it was first celebrated in 1865 by __________ slaves in South Carolina. The slaves buried __________ of Union soldiers in individual graves. They all died in prison. Waterloo, New York claims to be the __________ birthplace of Memorial Day, observing it every year from 1868. The name “Memorial Day” came about in 1882 but was not widely __________ until after World War II. The name became official in 1967. In 1968, the U.S. Congress decided the day should be __________ of a three-day weekend. The last __________ came in 1971, when the government moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. It took a few years after that for all U.S. states to __________.
freed accepted quite follow part dozens change official
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Memorial Day is a United States federal / holidays holiday. It commemorates the American men and women who have died serving their country in the military. It holds an importance / important place in the hearts of Americans as they remember sacrifices made for their freedom / freely. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It first started to honour the Union soldiers who dead / died during the American Civil War. It took on greater importance after American losses / lost in World War I. The U.S. government decided the day would remember American casualties in any / many war, conflict or military action. People visit cemeteries and war memorials on this day. A special ceremony takes / makes place at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. All around the country, flags fly / flew at half-mast until lunch time.
There is quite / quit a history to Memorial Day. A Yale University professor said it was first celebration / celebrated in 1865 by freed slaves in South Carolina. The slaves buried dozens / dozen of Union soldiers in individual graves. They all died in prison. Waterloo, New York claims to be the officially / official birthplace of Memorial Day, observing it every year from 1868. The name “Memorial Day” came about in 1882 but was not widely / width accepted until after World War II. The name became official in 1967. In 1968, the U.S. Congress decided the day should be / been part of a three-day weekend. The last change came in 1971, when the government moved Memorial Day to / at the last Monday in May. It took a few years after that for all U.S. states to follow / following.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Memorial Day is a United States (1) ____ holiday. It commemorates the American men and women who have died (2) ____ their country in the military. It holds an important place in the hearts of Americans as they (3) ____ sacrifices made for their freedom. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It first started to honour the Union soldiers who (4) ____ during the American Civil War. It took on greater importance after American losses in World War I. The U.S. government decided the day would remember American casualties in any war, conflict or (5) ____ action. People visit cemeteries and war memorials on this day. A special ceremony takes place at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. All around the country, flags fly at half-mast (6) ____ lunch time.
There is (7) ____ a history to Memorial Day. A Yale University professor said it was first celebrated in 1865 by freed slaves in South Carolina. The slaves buried dozens of Union soldiers in individual graves. They all died in prison. Waterloo, New York claims to be the (8) ____ birthplace of Memorial Day, observing it every year from 1868. The name “Memorial Day” (9) ____ about in 1882 but was not widely accepted until after World War II. The name became official in 1967. In 1968, the U.S. Congress (10) ____ the day should be part of a three-day weekend. The (11) ____ change came in 1971, when the government moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. It took a few years after that for all U.S. states to (12) ____.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
federally
(b)
federation
(c)
fed-ex
(d)
federal
2.
(a)
serving
(b)
services
(c)
served
(d)
serves
3.
(a)
remember
(b)
memorial
(c)
memorize
(d)
remembered
4.
(a)
death
(b)
dead
(c)
died
(d)
dying
5.
(a)
militia
(b)
militarize
(c)
military
(d)
militaries
6.
(a)
since
(b)
until
(c)
ago
(d)
between
7.
(a)
quit
(b)
quiet
(c)
quiten
(d)
quite
8.
(a)
officially
(b)
official
(c)
officials
(d)
officialdom
9.
(a)
went
(b)
took
(c)
came
(d)
did
10.
(a)
decision
(b)
decide
(c)
deciding
(d)
decided
11.
(a)
list
(b)
last
(c)
lust
(d)
lost
12.
(a)
follow
(b)
follows
(c)
following
(d)
followed
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
a United States eefaldr holiday
2.
died ginervs their country
3.
sacrifices made for their reefdmo
4.
American losess in World War I
5.
American asteslcaiu in any war
6.
apcslei ceremony
Paragraph 2
7.
There is quite a rtiysho to Memorial Day
8.
freed assvel
9.
the faocifil birthplace of Memorial Day
10.
widely decapect
11.
part of a three-day weedekn
12.
all U.S. states to oolfwl
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Monday of May. It first started to honour the Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. It
( )
graves. They all died in prison. Waterloo, New York claims to be the official birthplace
( )
official in 1967. In 1968, the U.S. Congress decided the day should be
( )
and women who have died serving their country in the military. It holds an important place in the
( )
There is quite a history to Memorial Day. A Yale University professor said it was first celebrated
( )
the last Monday in May. It took a few years after that for all U.S. states to follow.
( )
in 1865 by freed slaves in South Carolina. The slaves buried dozens of Union soldiers in individual
( )
hearts of Americans as they remember sacrifices made for their freedom. It is observed on the last
( )
part of a three-day weekend. The last change came in 1971, when the government moved Memorial Day to
( )
of Memorial Day, observing it every year from 1868. The name "Memorial Day" came
( )
took on greater importance after American losses in World War I. The U.S. government decided the day would
( )
remember American casualties in any war, conflict or military action. People visit cemeteries and war memorials on this day. A special
( )
about in 1882 but was not widely accepted until after World War II. The name became
( )
ceremony takes place at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. All around the country, flags fly at half-mast until lunch time.
( 1 )
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday. It commemorates the American men
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
States United a is Day Memorial holiday federal
2.
country who died their women have serving
3.
their they sacrifices for freedom remember made
4.
People memorials war and cemeteries visit
5.
- flags mast fly until at lunch half time
6.
Memorial to history a quite is There Day
7.
of soldiers slaves dozens Union The buried
8.
New birthplace official the be to claims York
9.
in official became name The 1967
10.
be part of a three-day weekend the day should
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 Memorial Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Memorial 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 Memorial 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.
