Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Labor Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States. It is celebrated on the first Monday in September. It is a time for American workers to celebrate their efforts. It is also when most Americans mark the end of the summer. The holiday started in 1894. The Central Labor Union in New York City campaigned for "a day off for the working citizens”. Working conditions were much harder back then and there were few holidays and times for rest. Many people worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The original Labor Day celebrations were street parades and festivals for workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. There were also speeches by important men and women.
Today, most Americans view Labor Day as a day of rest and an opportunity to look at street parades. Many families have picnics or barbecues in the daytime and attend fireworks displays in the evening. There are many community events, often involving sports. Families with children often use the holiday to go on a final trip before school starts again in September. Labor Day is an important date in the sporting calendar. It marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. The tradition of speeches continues, although the speeches tend to be by politicians trying to get more votes in the run-up to elections. The big speeches on labor issues happen on May Day, another holiday that celebrates workers.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
It is celebrated on the first
a.
to celebrate their efforts
2
a time for American workers
b.
end of the summer
3.
most Americans mark the
c.
and their families
4.
Working conditions were much
d.
important men
5.
festivals for workers
e.
Monday in September
6.
speeches by
f.
harder back then
Paragraph 2
1.
Americans view Labor Day
a.
school starts
2
attend fireworks displays
b.
of the NFL
3.
go on a final trip before
c.
in the evening
4.
It marks the beginning
d.
happen on May Day
5.
the speeches tend to
e.
as a day of rest
6.
The big speeches on labor issues
f.
be by politicians
LISTENING GAP FILL
Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States. ______________ the first Monday in September. It is a time for American workers to celebrate their efforts. It is also when most Americans ______________ the summer. The holiday started in 1894. The Central Labor Union in New York City campaigned for "______________ working citizens”. Working conditions were much __________________ there were few holidays and times for rest. Many people worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The original Labor Day celebrations _________________ and festivals for workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. There ________________ by important men and women.
Today, most Americans view Labor Day ________________ and an opportunity to look at street parades. Many families have picnics or barbecues ________________ and attend fireworks displays in the evening. There are many community events, often involving sports. Families with children often use the holiday ________________ trip before school starts again in September. Labor Day is an important date in the sporting calendar. It _________________ of the NFL and college football seasons. The tradition of speeches continues, although the speeches ______________ politicians trying to get more votes in the run-up to elections. The big speeches ______________ happen on May Day, another holiday that celebrates workers.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States. It is ____________ on the first Monday in September. It is a time for American workers to celebrate their ____________. It is also when most Americans mark the ____________ of the summer. The holiday started in 1894. The Central Labor Union in New York City campaigned for "a day off for the working ____________”. Working conditions were much harder ____________ then and there were few holidays and times for rest. Many people worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The ____________ Labor Day celebrations were street parades and festivals for workers and their families. This became the ____________ for Labor Day celebrations. There were also ____________ by important men and women.
back celebrated pattern end original speeches efforts citizens
Today, most Americans view Labor Day as a day of ____________ and an opportunity to look at street parades. Many families have picnics or barbecues in the daytime and ____________ fireworks displays in the evening. There are many community events, often involving sports. Families with children often use the holiday to go on a ____________ trip before school starts again in September. Labor Day is an important date in the sporting ____________. It ____________ the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. The tradition of speeches continues, although the speeches ____________ to be by politicians trying to get more votes in the ____________ to elections. The big speeches on labor ____________ happen on May Day, another holiday that celebrates workers.
calendar tend rest run-up final attend issues marks
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States. It is celebration / celebrated on the first Monday in September. It is a time / timing for American workers to celebrate their efforts. It is also when most Americans marking / mark the end of the summer. The holiday started in 1894. The Central Labor Union in New York City campaigned for / by "a day off for the working citizens”. Working conditions were much harder back / backed then and there were few holidays and times for rest. Many people worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The originals / original Labor Day celebrations were street parades and festivals for workers and their families. This becomes / became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. There were also speech / speeches by important men and women.
Today, most Americans view / viewing Labor Day as a day of rest and an opportunity to look at street parades. Many families have picnics or barbecues in the daytime and attendance / attend fireworks displays in the evening. There are many community events, often involved / involving sports. Families with children often useful / use the holiday to go on a final trip before school starts again in September. Labor Day is an important date in the sporting calendar. It markings / marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. The tradition of speeches continues / continuing, although the speeches tend to be by politicians trying to get more votes in the run-up / run down to elections. The big speeches on labor issues happen / happened on May Day, another holiday that celebrates workers.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States. It is celebrated (1) ____ the first Monday in September. It is a time for American workers to celebrate their efforts. It is also when most Americans (2) ____ the end of the summer. The holiday started in 1894. The Central Labor Union in New York City campaigned (3) ____ "a day off for the working citizens”. Working conditions were much harder back then and there were (4) ____ holidays and times for rest. Many people worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The (5) ____ Labor Day celebrations were street parades and festivals for workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. There were also speeches (6) ____ important men and women.
Today, most Americans (7) ____ Labor Day as a day of rest and an opportunity to look at street parades. Many families have picnics or barbecues in the daytime and (8) ____ fireworks displays in the evening. There are many community events, often involving sports. Families with children often use the holiday to go on a (9) ____ trip before school starts again in September. Labor Day is an important date in the sporting calendar. It marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. The tradition of speeches continues, although the speeches (10) ____ to be by politicians trying to get more votes in the run-(11) ____ to elections. The big speeches on labor issues (12) ____ on May Day, another holiday that celebrates workers.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
in
(b)
on
(c)
at
(d)
by
2.
(a)
marks
(b)
marking
(c)
markings
(d)
mark
3.
(a)
at
(b)
to
(c)
on
(d)
for
4.
(a)
little
(b)
small
(c)
few
(d)
any
5.
(a)
original
(b)
origin
(c)
origins
(d)
originally
6.
(a)
at
(b)
by
(c)
over
(d)
around
7.
(a)
sight
(b)
vision
(c)
view
(d)
look
8.
(a)
attendance
(b)
attends
(c)
attend
(d)
attended
9.
(a)
final
(b)
finally
(c)
finality
(d)
finalize
10.
(a)
tends
(b)
tend
(c)
tended
(d)
tending
11.
(a)
down
(b)
around
(c)
over
(d)
up
12.
(a)
happen
(b)
happened
(c)
happens
(d)
happening
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
a aaoinnlt holiday
2.
workers to celebrate their feortsf
3.
gpaacmnied for a day off
4.
working niciootsdn
5.
street aapsder
6.
This became the aretntp
Paragraph 2
7.
have picsinc or barbecues
8.
fireworks lpsadsyi
9.
community tvense
10.
the sporting laaedrcn
11.
The tradition of espeesch
12.
labor uissse
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
the speeches tend to be by politicians trying to get more votes in the run-up
( 1 )
Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States. It is celebrated on the first Monday in September. It is a time
( )
rest. Many people worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The original Labor Day celebrations were street
( )
to elections. The big speeches on labor issues happen on May Day, another holiday that celebrates workers.
( )
parades and festivals for workers and their families. This became the pattern
( )
at street parades. Many families have picnics or barbecues in the daytime and attend fireworks displays in the
( )
evening. There are many community events, often involving sports. Families with children often use the holiday to go
( )
for American workers to celebrate their efforts. It is also when most Americans mark the end of the summer. The holiday
( )
citizens”. Working conditions were much harder back then and there were few holidays and times for
( )
started in 1894. The Central Labor Union in New York City campaigned for "a day off for the working
( )
on a final trip before school starts again in September. Labor Day is an important date in the sporting
( )
for Labor Day celebrations. There were also speeches by important men and women.
( )
Today, most Americans view Labor Day as a day of rest and an opportunity to look
( )
calendar. It marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. The tradition of speeches continues, although
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
is a national holiday in the . U.S. Labor Day
2.
celebrate for to efforts time workers their A American.
3.
end Most of Americans the mark summer the.
4.
then back harder much were conditions Working.
5.
speeches also were There men important by.
6.
Most Labor a rest view as of Americans Day day.
7.
evening Attend displays the fireworks in.
8.
before again on trip starts Go final school a.
9.
more trying get votes Politicians to.
10.
on on May labor Day issues happen Speeches.
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 Labor Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Labor 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 Labor 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.
