Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on D-Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this reading:
READING
June 6, 1944 was one of the most important days in the modern history of the USA and Europe. It was on this day that the tide turned against Hitler’s plans to take over the whole of Europe. The day is known today as D-Day. The “D” represents the day which military commanders planned their operation. They had no date for it. There was also an “H-Hour” when the operation would start. D-Day marks the biggest air, land and sea operation ever undertaken. American, British and Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in France to try and repel the Nazi troops and avoid an invasion of Britain. The operation is also known as the Normandy Landings. Over 4,000 soldiers died but the German forces were defeated.
D-Day was a major turning point in World War II. It was also one of the most stunning and heroic victories of any war. Britain’s King George VI broadcast a message to the British people the night before the operation. He warned of a "supreme test" for Allied forces and called on the nation to pray for the liberation of Europe. The prayers worked, as what was called “Fortress Europe” during the war had been breached. There were many bloody battles on the Normandy beaches. One British soldier said: “It looked just like the main road to Hell!”. US President Roosevelt knew there was still a long way to go after D-Day, and that the war was far from over. He told Americans: "You don't just walk to Berlin…the sooner this country realizes that, the better."
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
the modern history
a.
operation ever undertaken
2
the tide turned
b.
of Britain
3.
military commanders planned
c.
were defeated
4.
the biggest air, land and sea
d.
of the USA and Europe
5.
avoid an invasion
e.
their operation
6.
the German forces
f.
against Hitler’s plans
Paragraph 2
1.
D-Day was a major
a.
a message
2
one of the most stunning and
b.
turning point
3.
King George VI broadcast
c.
the better
4.
There were many bloody
d.
from over
5.
the war was far
e.
heroic victories
6.
the sooner this country realizes that,
f.
battles
LISTENING GAP FILL
June 6, 1944 __________________ most important days in the modern history of the USA and Europe. It was on this __________________ turned against Hitler’s plans to take over the whole of Europe. The day is known today as D-Day. The “D” represents the day which military commanders planned their operation. They __________________ it. There was also an “H-Hour” when the operation would start. D-Day marks the biggest air, land and sea operation __________________. American, British and Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in France to try and repel the Nazi troops and __________________ of Britain. The operation is also known as the Normandy Landings. Over 4,000 soldiers died but the German ____________________.
D-Day was a major __________________ World War II. It was also one of the most stunning and heroic victories of any war. Britain’s King George VI broadcast __________________ British people the night before the operation. He warned of a "supreme test" for Allied forces and called on the __________________ the liberation of Europe. The prayers worked, as what was called “Fortress Europe” during the war had been breached. There were many __________________ the Normandy beaches. One British soldier said: “It looked just like the main road to Hell!”. US President Roosevelt knew there was still a long way to go after D-Day, and that the war __________________. He told Americans: "You don't just walk to Berlin…the sooner this country realizes __________________ better."
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
June 6, 1944 was one of the most important days in the __________ history of the USA and Europe. It was on this day that the __________ turned against Hitler’s plans to take over the whole of Europe. The day is known today as D-Day. The “D” __________ the day which military commanders planned their operation. They had no date for it. There was also an “H-Hour” when the __________ would start. D-Day marks the biggest air, land and sea operation ever undertaken. American, British and Allied forces __________ on the beaches of Normandy in France to try and __________ the Nazi troops and __________ an invasion of Britain. The operation is also known as the Normandy Landings. Over 4,000 soldiers died but the German forces were __________.
avoid tide landed represents modern defeated operation repel
D-Day was a major __________ point in World War II. It was also one of the most stunning and __________ victories of any war. Britain’s King George VI broadcast a message to the British people the __________ before the operation. He warned of a "supreme test" for Allied forces and called on the nation to __________ for the liberation of Europe. The prayers worked, as what was called “Fortress Europe” during the war had been breached. There were many bloody __________ on the Normandy beaches. One British soldier said: “It looked just like the __________ road to Hell!”. US President Roosevelt knew there was still a long way to go after D-Day, and that the war was __________ from over. He told Americans: "You don't just walk to Berlin…the sooner this country __________ that, the better."
main heroic battles turning pray realizes night far
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
June 6, 1944 was one / two of the most important days in the modern history of the USA and Europe. It was on this day that the tide turning / turned against Hitler’s plans to take over the whole / hole of Europe. The day is known today was / as D-Day. The “D” represents the day which military commanders planned their operation. They had no date for it. There was also an “H-Hour” when the operation will / would start. D-Day marks the biggest air, land and sea operation ever undertaken. American, British and Allied forces landed / land on the beaches of Normandy in France to try and repel the Nazi troops and avoid an invitation / invasion of Britain. The operation is also known as the Normandy Landings. Over 4,000 soldiers died but the German forces were defeated / won.
D-Day was a major / majority turning point in World War II. It was also one of the most stunning and heroic / hero victories of any war. Britain’s King George VI broadcast / texted a message to the British people the night before the operation. He warned of a "supreme test" for Allied forces and called in / on the nation to pray for the liberation of Europe. The prayers worked, as / was what was called “Fortress Europe” during the war had been breached. There were many bloody battles / noses on the Normandy beaches. One British soldier said: “It looked just like the main road to Hell!”. US President Roosevelt knew there was still a long way to go after D-Day, and that the war was for / far from over. He told Americans: "You don't just walk to Berlin…the sooner this country realizes that, the good / better."
MULTIPLE CHOICE
June 6, 1944 was one of the most important days in the (1) ____ history of the USA and Europe. It was on this day that the tide turned against Hitler’s plans to take (2) ____ the whole of Europe. The day is known today as D-Day. The “D” represents the day which military commanders (3) ____ their operation. They had no date for it. There was also an “H-Hour” when the operation would start. D-Day (4) ____ the biggest air, land and sea operation ever undertaken. American, British and Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in France to try and (5) ____ the Nazi troops and avoid an invasion of Britain. The operation is also known as the Normandy Landings. Over 4,000 soldiers died but the German forces were (6) ____.
D-Day was a major turning point in World War II. It was also one of the most stunning and (7) ____ victories of any war. Britain’s King George VI (8) ____ a message to the British people the night before the operation. He warned of a "supreme test" for Allied forces and called on the nation to pray for the liberation of Europe. The (9) ____ worked, as what was called “Fortress Europe” during the war had been breached. There were many bloody (10) ____ on the Normandy beaches. One British soldier said: “It looked just like the main road to Hell!”. US President Roosevelt knew there was still a long way to go after D-Day, and that the war was far (11) ____ over. He told Americans: "You don't just walk to Berlin…the sooner this country realizes that, the (12) ____."
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
modernity
(b)
modern
(c)
modernize
(d)
mod-cons
2.
(a)
under
(b)
all
(c)
every
(d)
over
3.
(a)
planned
(b)
planning
(c)
plans
(d)
planner
4.
(a)
mark
(b)
marking
(c)
marks
(d)
markings
5.
(a)
rebel
(b)
repeal
(c)
repel
(d)
reveal
6.
(a)
beat
(b)
defeated
(c)
won
(d)
victory
7.
(a)
heroic
(b)
heroics
(c)
hero
(d)
heroism
8.
(a)
texted
(b)
broadcast
(c)
e-mailed
(d)
faxed
9.
(a)
pray
(b)
prays
(c)
players
(d)
prayers
10.
(a)
battles
(b)
battle
(c)
battling
(d)
battler
11.
(a)
for
(b)
far
(c)
form
(d)
from
12.
(a)
good
(b)
well
(c)
better
(d)
best
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the domnre history of the USA
2.
the tide tudrne against Hitler’s plans
3.
military commanders pdnlena their operation
4.
British and Allied forces dndlea on the beaches
5.
idoav an invasion of Britain
6.
the German forces were ededefta
Paragraph 2
7.
a major gtrnnui point in World War II
8.
the most nnugtnis and heroic victories
9.
called on the ionatn to pray
10.
the alieriotnb of Europe
11.
many ydolbo battles
12.
the sooner this country aerslzei that, the better
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( 1 )
June 6, 1944 was one of the most important days in the modern history of the USA and Europe. It was on this day
( )
been breached. There were many bloody battles on the Normandy beaches. One British soldier said: “It looked just
( )
and repel the Nazi troops and avoid an invasion of Britain. The operation is also known
( )
D-Day was a major turning point in World War II. It was also one of the most stunning and heroic
( )
before the operation. He warned of a "supreme test" for Allied forces and called on the nation to pray
( )
D-Day. The “D” represents the day which military commanders planned their operation. They had no
( )
as the Normandy Landings. Over 4,000 soldiers died but the German forces were defeated.
( )
that the tide turned against Hitler’s plans to take over the whole of Europe. The day is known today as
( )
like the main road to Hell!”. US President Roosevelt knew there was still a long way to go after D-Day, and that the war
( )
operation ever undertaken. American, British and Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in France to try
( )
victories of any war. Britain’s King George VI broadcast a message to the British people the night
( )
date for it. There was also an “H-Hour” when the operation would start. D-Day marks the biggest air, land and sea
( )
was far from over. He told Americans: "You don't just walk to Berlin…the sooner this country realizes that, the better."
( )
for the liberation of Europe. The prayers worked, as what was called “Fortress Europe” during the war had
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
the history the in modern of USA
2.
turned tide the plans Hitler’s against
3.
their commanders operation planned military
4.
landed forces Allied beaches the on
5.
defeated forces the were German
6.
turning major a II War World in point
7.
a to British broadcast message the people
8.
for pray Europe of liberation the
9.
to like Hell the It main looked road just
10.
better realizes the that sooner , this the country
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 D-Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about D-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 D-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.
