Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on American Independence Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Independence Day in the United States is also known as the Fourth of July. It is a national holiday that commemorates the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This was the day the USA was born and became independent from Great Britain. The terms “Independence Day” and the “Fourth of July” are a well-known part of the USA’s cultural language. People celebrate with national pride. There are fireworks, parades, sporting events and lots more. It is one of the biggest days on America’s holiday calendar. Politicians make speeches celebrating America’s history and traditions. In particular, attention turns to Thomas Jefferson’s speech that declared the United States of America as an independent nation.
Independence Day is a red, white and blue affair. The whole of the country displays American flags and banners. There are many festivals that enact famous events from America’s history. It is also a day when the nation gets outdoors. Picnics and barbecues with family and friends are the most popular ways to celebrate. In the evening, there are thousands of fireworks displays across the country. One of the most popular is the Macy’s department store show on New York’s East River. This is televised nationwide by the NBC TV channel. Also in New York, you can witness the Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island. Indeed, American food is of course a big part of the day and millions of hot dogs, burgers and pizzas are eaten.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
also known as the
a.
cultural language
2
This was the day the
b.
and lots more
3.
a well-known part of the USA’s
c.
Fourth of July
4.
parades, sporting events
d.
nation
5.
attention turns to
e.
USA was born
6.
America as an independent
f.
Thomas Jefferson’s speech
Paragraph 2
1.
a red, white and blue
a.
gets outdoors
2
festivals that enact famous events
b.
nationwide
3.
It is also a day when the nation
c.
affair
4.
the most popular ways
d.
part of the day
5.
This is televised
e.
from America’s history
6.
American food is of course a big
f.
to celebrate
LISTENING GAP FILL
Independence Day in the United States ________________ the Fourth of July. It is a national holiday that commemorates the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. ________________ USA was born and became independent from Great Britain. The terms “Independence Day” and the “Fourth of July” are a ________________ of the USA’s cultural language. People celebrate with national pride. There are fireworks, parades, sporting events ________________. It is one of the biggest days on America’s holiday calendar. Politicians make speeches celebrating America’s history and traditions. In particular, __________________ Thomas Jefferson’s speech that declared the United States of America as an independent nation.
Independence Day is a red, white ________________. The whole of the country displays American flags and banners. There are many festivals ________________ events from America’s history. It is also a day when the nation gets outdoors. Picnics and barbecues with family and friends are the __________________ to celebrate. In the evening, there are thousands of fireworks displays across the country. One of the most popular is the Macy’s department store show on New York’s East River. This is _________________ by the NBC TV channel. Also in New York, you can witness the Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island. Indeed, American food is of course ________________ day and millions of hot dogs, burgers and pizzas are eaten.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Independence Day in the United States is also ___________ as the Fourth of July. It is a national holiday that commemorates the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This was the day the USA was ___________ and became independent from Great Britain. The terms “Independence Day” and the “Fourth of July” are a well-known ___________ of the USA’s cultural language. People celebrate with national pride. There are fireworks, parades, sporting ___________ and lots more. It is one of the ___________ days on America’s holiday calendar. Politicians make speeches celebrating America’s ___________ and traditions. In particular, attention ___________ to Thomas Jefferson’s speech that declared the United States of America as an independent ___________.
biggest born events nation known history turns part
Independence Day is a red, white and blue ___________. The whole of the country displays American flags and banners. There are many festivals that ___________ famous events from America’s history. It is also a day when the nation gets ___________. Picnics and barbecues with family and friends are the most ___________ ways to celebrate. In the evening, there are thousands of fireworks ___________ across the country. One of the most popular is the Macy’s department store show on New York’s East River. This is ___________ nationwide by the NBC TV channel. Also in New York, you can ___________ the Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island. Indeed, American food is of course a big part of the day and ___________ of hot dogs, burgers and pizzas are eaten.
displays outdoors millions televised affair popular witness enact
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Independence Day in the United States is also known as the Fourth of July. It is a national / nation holiday that commemorates the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This was the day the USA was born / birth and became independent from Great Britain. The terms “Independence Day” and the “Fourth of July” are a well-known part of the USA’s culture / cultural language. People celebrate with national pride / proud. There are fireworks, parades, sporting events and lot / lots more. It is one of the biggest days on America’s holiday calendar. Politicians making / make speeches celebrating America’s history and traditions. In particular, attention turns off / to Thomas Jefferson’s speech that declared the United States of America as an independent nation / nationality.
Independence Day is a red, white and blue affair / fair. The whole of the country displays American flags and banners. There are many festivals that enact / enacting famous events from America’s history. It is also a day when the nation does / gets outdoors. Picnics and barbecues with family and friends are the most popular ways at / to celebrate. In the evening, there are thousands of fireworks displays across / cross the country. One of the most popular is the Macy’s department store show on New York’s East River. This is television / televised nationwide by the NBC TV channel. Also in New York, you can witness / witnesses the Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island. Indeed, American food is of course a big part of the day and millions of hot dogs, burgers and pizzas are ate / eaten.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Independence Day in the United States is also (1) ____ as the Fourth of July. It is a national holiday that commemorates the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This was the day the USA was (2) ____ and became independent from Great Britain. The terms “Independence Day” and the “Fourth of July” are a well-known (3) ____ of the USA’s cultural language. People celebrate with national pride. There are fireworks, parades, sporting events and lots more. It is one of the biggest days on (4) ____ holiday calendar. Politicians (5) ____ speeches celebrating America’s history and traditions. In particular, attention turns to Thomas Jefferson’s speech that (6) ____ the United States of America as an independent nation.
Independence Day is a red, white and blue affair. The whole of the country (7) ____ American flags and banners. There are many festivals that enact famous events from America’s history. It is also a day when the nation (8) ____ outdoors. Picnics and barbecues with family and friends are the most popular ways to celebrate. In the evening, there are thousands of fireworks (9) ____ across the country. One of the most popular is the Macy’s department store show (10) ____ New York’s East River. This is televised nationwide by the NBC TV channel. Also in New York, you can witness the Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island. Indeed, American food is of (11) ____ a big part of the day and millions of hot dogs, burgers and pizzas are (12) ____.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
called
(b)
named
(c)
known
(d)
said
2.
(a)
birth
(b)
born
(c)
birthing
(d)
burn
3.
(a)
part
(b)
partner
(c)
partnered
(d)
party
4.
(a)
America’s
(b)
American
(c)
Americas
(d)
Americas’
5.
(a)
fake
(b)
take
(c)
make
(d)
rake
6.
(a)
declaration
(b)
declares
(c)
declaring
(d)
declared
7.
(a)
displaying
(b)
display
(c)
displayed
(d)
displays
8.
(a)
does
(b)
has
(c)
gets
(d)
takes
9.
(a)
display
(b)
displays
(c)
displaying
(d)
displayed
10.
(a)
on
(b)
under
(c)
in
(d)
with
11.
(a)
because
(b)
course
(c)
cause
(d)
case
12.
(a)
ate
(b)
eating
(c)
eats
(d)
eaten
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
also kwonn as the Fourth of July
2.
the USA’s artulclu language
3.
national ipdre
4.
America’s holiday earcldna
5.
Politicians make hpeessec
6.
an independent taonni
Paragraph 2
7.
a red, white and blue farafi
8.
ltasfivse that enact famous events
9.
Picnics and beescbrau
10.
fireworks dipssaly
11.
This is vieteelsd nationwide
12.
noiilmls of hot dogs
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
the USA’s cultural language. People celebrate with national pride. There are fireworks, parades, sporting events and lots
( )
the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This was the day the USA was born and became independent
( )
banners. There are many festivals that enact famous events from America’s history. It is also a day when the nation
( )
celebrate. In the evening, there are thousands of fireworks displays across the country. One of the most
( 1 )
Independence Day in the United States is also known as the Fourth of July. It is a national holiday that commemorates
( )
American food is of course a big part of the day and millions of hot dogs, burgers and pizzas are eaten.
( )
more. It is one of the biggest days on America’s holiday calendar. Politicians make speeches celebrating America’s
( )
Independence Day is a red, white and blue affair. The whole of the country displays American flags and
( )
gets outdoors. Picnics and barbecues with family and friends are the most popular ways to
( )
popular is the Macy’s department store show on New York’s East River. This is televised nationwide
( )
by the NBC TV channel. Also in New York, you can witness the Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island. Indeed,
( )
history and traditions. In particular, attention turns to Thomas Jefferson’s speech
( )
that declared the United States of America as an independent nation.
( )
from Great Britain. The terms “Independence Day” and the “Fourth of July” are a well-known part of
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
on , the Independence 4 of July 1776 Declaration
2.
from born GB and the became USA independent was
3.
language of cultural well-known part USA’s a the
4.
Politicians history America’s celebrating speeches make
5.
speech Jefferson’s Thomas to turns attention
6.
displays country the of whole The flags American
7.
festivals many are There events famous enact that
8.
are there displays fireworks of thousands
9.
TV nationwide channel by This the is NBC televised
10.
day American food is of course a big part of the
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 Independence Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Independence 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 Independence 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.
