Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Bastille Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Bastille Day is France’s most important national holiday. It is celebrated on the 14th of July every year. Every city, town and village becomes red, white and blue as everyone hangs out the French tricolour flag. The holiday’s name in French is Fête Nationale, which means “National Celebration". The 14th of July commemorates the storming of the Bastille on the 14th of July, 1789. The Bastille was a prison that held prisoners who disagreed with the French monarchy. The biggest celebrations are on Paris’ famous Champs-Élysées. There are parades, military bands and festivities during the day, and fireworks displays in the evening. It is a wonderful, happy occasion when French people show their pride in their country.
Bastille Day celebrates the most important day in French history. The storming of the Bastille prison marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The prison was a symbol of the total power of King Louis the 16th. Most French people were very poor and hated how the monarchy and its supporters were so wealthy. The Bastille only had seven prisoners when Parisians attacked it, but it signalled Louis 16th’s power was no longer absolute. Parisians believed their actions meant they were free. It led to the creation of the first French republic in 1792 and the three French ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The French national anthem, La Marseillaise, was written that same year and became official in 1795.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
France’s most important
a.
tricolour flag
2
everyone hangs out the French
b.
famous Champs-Élysées
3.
prisoners who disagreed
c.
in their country
4.
The biggest celebrations are on Paris’
d.
with the French monarchy
5.
fireworks
e.
national holiday
6.
French people show their pride
f.
displays
Paragraph 2
1.
the most important day
a.
King Louis the 16th
2
the beginning of the
b.
of the first French republic
3.
a symbol of the total power of
c.
anthem
4.
Louis 16th’s power was no
d.
in French history
5.
It led to the creation
e.
longer absolute
6.
The French national
f.
French Revolution
LISTENING GAP FILL
Bastille Day is France’s ________________________ holiday. It is celebrated on the 14th of July every year. Every city, town and village becomes red, white and blue ________________________ the French tricolour flag. The holiday’s name in French is Fête Nationale, which means “National Celebration". The 14th of July commemorates ________________________ Bastille on the 14th of July, 1789. The Bastille was a prison that held prisoners ________________________ French monarchy. The biggest celebrations are on Paris’ famous Champs-Élysées. There are parades, military bands ________________________ day, and fireworks displays in the evening. It is a wonderful, happy occasion when French people show ________________________.
Bastille Day celebrates the most important day in French history. The storming of the Bastille prison ________________________ of the French Revolution. The prison was ________________________ of King Louis the 16th. Most French people were very poor and hated how the monarchy and its ________________________. The Bastille only had seven prisoners when Parisians attacked it, but it signalled Louis 16th’s power was ________________________. Parisians believed ________________________ were free. It led to the creation of the first French republic in 1792 and the three French ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The French national anthem, La Marseillaise, was written that same year and ________________________.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Bastille Day is France’s most important __________ holiday. It is celebrated on the 14th of July every year. Every city, town and __________ becomes red, white and blue as everyone __________ out the French tricolour flag. The holiday’s name in French is Fête Nationale, which __________ “National Celebration". The 14th of July commemorates the storming of the Bastille on the 14th of July, 1789. The Bastille was a prison that __________ prisoners who disagreed with the French monarchy. The biggest celebrations are on Paris’ famous Champs-Élysées. There are parades, __________ bands and festivities during the day, and fireworks __________ in the evening. It is a wonderful, happy occasion when French people show their __________ in their country.
held village means pride national military displays hangs
Bastille Day celebrates the most important day in French __________. The storming of the Bastille prison __________ the beginning of the French Revolution. The prison was a __________ of the total power of King Louis the 16th. Most French people were very poor and hated how the monarchy and its supporters were so __________. The Bastille only had seven prisoners when Parisians attacked it, but it signalled Louis 16th’s __________ was no longer absolute. Parisians believed their actions meant they were __________. It led to the creation of the first French republic in 1792 and the three French __________ of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The French national __________, La Marseillaise, was written that same year and became official in 1795.
ideals wealthy marked anthem history power free symbol
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Bastille Day is France’s most importance / important national holiday. It is celebrated on the 14th of / for July every year. Every city, town and village becomes red, white and blue as everyone hangs / hanging out the French tricolour flag. The holiday’s name in French is Fête Nationale, which meaning / means “National Celebration". The 14th of July commemorates the storming of the Bastille on the 14th of July, 1789. The Bastille was a prison that held / hold prisoners who disagreed with the French monarchy. The biggest celebrations are on Paris’ famous Champs-Élysées. There are parades, military bands and festivities during one / the day, and fireworks displays in / at the evening. It is a wonderful, happy occasion when French people show their pride by / in their country.
Bastille Day celebrates the most important day in French history. The storming of the Bastille prison marked the beginning at / of the French Revolution. The prison was a symbol of the total powerful / power of King Louis the 16th. Most French people were very poor and hatred / hated how the monarchy and its supporters were such / so wealthy. The Bastille only had seven prisoners when Parisians attacked it, but it signalled Louis 16th’s power was no length / longer absolute. Parisians believed their actions meant they were free / freely. It led to the creation of the first French republic in 1792 and the three French ideals of / for liberty, equality, and fraternity. The French national anthem, La Marseillaise, was written that same year and became officially / official in 1795.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Bastille Day is France’s (1) ____ important national holiday. It is celebrated on the 14th of July (2) ____ year. Every city, town and village becomes red, white and blue as everyone hangs out the French tricolour flag. The holiday’s name (3) ____ French is Fête Nationale, which means “National Celebration". The 14th of July commemorates the storming of the Bastille on the 14th of July, 1789. The Bastille was a prison that (4) ____ prisoners who disagreed with the French monarchy. The biggest celebrations are on Paris’ famous Champs-Élysées. There are parades, (5) ____ bands and festivities during the day, and fireworks displays in the evening. It is a wonderful, happy occasion when French people show their pride (6) ____ their country.
Bastille Day celebrates the most important day in French history. The storming of the Bastille prison (7) ____ the beginning of the French Revolution. The prison was a symbol of the total (8) ____ of King Louis the 16th. Most French people were very poor and hated how the monarchy and its supporters were (9) ____ wealthy. The Bastille only had seven prisoners when Parisians attacked it, but it signalled Louis 16th’s power was no (10) ____ absolute. Parisians believed their actions meant they were free. It led to the (11) ____ of the first French republic in 1792 and the three French ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The French national anthem, La Marseillaise, was written that (12) ____ year and became official in 1795.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
most
(b)
more
(c)
much
(d)
mostly
2.
(a)
all
(b)
whole
(c)
every
(d)
ever
3.
(a)
on
(b)
in
(c)
by
(d)
at
4.
(a)
holding
(b)
holds
(c)
hold
(d)
held
5.
(a)
militia
(b)
militaries
(c)
military
(d)
militarize
6.
(a)
in
(b)
on
(c)
by
(d)
to
7.
(a)
marked
(b)
parked
(c)
barked
(d)
larked
8.
(a)
powerful
(b)
power
(c)
powered
(d)
powering
9.
(a)
soon
(b)
such
(c)
sew
(d)
so
10.
(a)
length
(b)
longish
(c)
longer
(d)
longing
11.
(a)
creative
(b)
creator
(c)
creates
(d)
creation
12.
(a)
some
(b)
same
(c)
similar
(d)
sometime
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
national iyoahdl
2.
The Bastille was a pnoris
3.
the biggest atsbceoeilnr
4.
amilyrti bands
5.
rnugdi the day
6.
happy inoscaco
Paragraph 2
7.
the prison was a slmoby
8.
the ayrmhocn
9.
its supporters were so tlhwaey
10.
their actions tnmae they were free
11.
the first French biceulpr
12.
national eamthn
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
of the French Revolution. The prison was a symbol of the total power of King Louis the 16th. Most French people were very
( )
their actions meant they were free. It led to the creation of the first French republic in
( )
bands and festivities during the day, and fireworks displays in the evening. It is a wonderful,
( )
poor and hated how the monarchy and its supporters were so wealthy. The Bastille only had seven
( )
monarchy. The biggest celebrations are on Paris’ famous Champs-Élysées. There are parades, military
( )
prisoners when Parisians attacked it, but it signalled Louis 16th’s power was no longer absolute. Parisians believed
( 1 )
Bastille Day is France’s most important national holiday. It is celebrated on the 14th of July every year. Every city,
( )
anthem, La Marseillaise, was written that same year and became official in 1795.
( )
town and village becomes red, white and blue as everyone hangs out the French tricolour flag. The holiday’s name
( )
happy occasion when French people show their pride in their country.
( )
Bastille on the 14th of July, 1789. The Bastille was a prison that held prisoners who disagreed with the French
( )
Bastille Day celebrates the most important day in French history. The storming of the Bastille prison marked the beginning
( )
1792 and the three French ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The French national
( )
in French is Fête Nationale, which means “National Celebration". The 14th of July commemorates the storming of the
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
holiday important France’s national most
2.
village and town , city Every blue and white , red becomes
3.
storming Bastille of The the
4.
French Prisoners disagreed the monarchy who with
5.
in pride their show people French country their
6.
symbol The of prison the was total a power
7.
were people French Most poor very
8.
The prisoners seven had only Bastille
9.
longer Louis power no absolute 16th’s was
10.
fraternity , French equality ideals , of and liberty
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 Bastille Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Bastille 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 Bastille 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.
