Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Dictionary Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
October the 16th is National Dictionary Day. It falls on this day because that is the birthday of America’s most famous dictionary maker, Noah Webster, who was born in 1758. It is a day for us all to get out our dictionaries and start using them more often. We all need dictionaries. Many people have paper dictionaries and others use online ones on their computers or mobile phones. Some people have dictionaries in many languages. We also have dictionaries for specific areas. There are pronunciation dictionaries, medical dictionaries and even a Harry Potter dictionary. Most of the celebrations for this day take place in schools. It is a good day for teachers to improve the dictionary-using skills of their students.
My dictionary says a dictionary is “a book that lists the words of a language in alphabetical order and gives their meaning, or that gives the meaning in a different language”. It also says a dictionary is “a reference book on any subject, the items of which are arranged in alphabetical order”. An example of this is a dictionary of quotations. We start using dictionaries when we are very young. There are special versions for children and there are even picture dictionaries. Some people might say you have swallowed a dictionary. This means you use lots of long and difficult words when you speak. Another interesting expression is to say someone is a walking dictionary. This means a person knows the definition of every word.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
America’s most famous
a.
their dictionaries
2
get out
b.
more often
3.
start using them
c.
place in schools
4.
others use online
d.
dictionary maker
5.
celebrations for this day take
e.
skills
6.
dictionary-using
f.
ones
Paragraph 2
1.
in alphabetical
a.
quotations
2
a reference
b.
a dictionary
3.
a dictionary of
c.
book
4.
special versions for
d.
order
5.
you have swallowed
e.
of every word
6.
a person knows the definition
f.
children
LISTENING GAP FILL
October the 16th is National Dictionary Day. It ________________ because that is the birthday of America’s most famous dictionary maker, Noah Webster, who was born in 1758. It is ________________ get out our dictionaries and start using them more often. We all need dictionaries. Many people have paper dictionaries and others use ________________ computers or mobile phones. Some people have dictionaries in many languages. We also have dictionaries ___________________. There are pronunciation dictionaries, medical dictionaries and even a Harry Potter dictionary. Most of the celebrations for ________________ in schools. It is a good day for teachers to improve the ________________ skills of their students.
My dictionary says a dictionary is “a book that __________________ language in alphabetical order and gives their meaning, or that gives ________________ different language”. It also says a dictionary is “a reference book on any subject, ________________ are arranged in alphabetical order”. An example of this is a dictionary of quotations. We start using dictionaries when we are very young. There are ________________ children and there are even picture dictionaries. Some people __________________ swallowed a dictionary. This means you use lots of long and difficult words when you speak. Another interesting expression is to say someone is a walking dictionary. This means a person __________________ of every word.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
October the 16th is National Dictionary Day. It ____________ on this day because that is the birthday of America’s most famous dictionary ____________, Noah Webster, who was born in 1758. It is a day for us all to get out our dictionaries and start using them more ____________. We all need dictionaries. Many people have paper dictionaries and others use ____________ ones on their computers or mobile phones. Some people have dictionaries in many languages. We also have dictionaries for ____________ areas. There are pronunciation dictionaries, ____________ dictionaries and even a Harry Potter dictionary. Most of the celebrations for this day take ____________ in schools. It is a good day for teachers to improve the dictionary-using ____________ of their students.
online medical falls maker skills place specific often
My dictionary says a dictionary is “a book that ____________ the words of a language in alphabetical order and gives their meaning, or that ____________ the meaning in a different language”. It also says a dictionary is “a reference book on any ____________, the items of which are arranged in alphabetical order”. An example of this is a dictionary of quotations. We start using dictionaries when we are very ____________. There are special versions for children and there are even ____________ dictionaries. Some people might say you have swallowed a dictionary. This means you use lots of long and ____________ words when you speak. Another interesting ____________ is to say someone is a walking dictionary. This means a person knows the ____________ of every word.
gives picture difficult subject definition lists expression young
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
October the 16th is National Dictionary Day. It fallen / falls on this day because that is the birthday of America’s most famous dictionary maker, Noah Webster, who was birthday / born in 1758. It is a day for us all to get / put out our dictionaries and start using them more often. We all need dictionaries. Many people have paperless / paper dictionaries and others use online ones on their computers or mobile phones. Some people have dictionaries in many languages / language. We also have dictionaries for specific area / areas. There are pronunciation dictionaries, medical dictionaries and even a Harry Potter dictionary. Most of the celebrations for this day take space / place in schools. It is a good day for teachers to improvement / improve the dictionary-using skills of their students.
My dictionary says a dictionary is “a book that lasts / lists the words of a language in alphabetical disorder / order and gives their meaning, or that gives the meaning in a different language”. It also says a dictionary is “a reference book on any subject, the items of which are arranged / arrangement in alphabetical order”. An example of this is a dictionary of quotations. We start used to / using dictionaries when we are very young. There are special version / versions for children and there are even picture dictionaries. Some people might say you have swallowed / gulped a dictionary. This means you use lots of long and difficult words when you speak. Another interesting expression is to say someone is a running / walking dictionary. This means a person knows / known the definition of every word.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
October the 16th is National Dictionary Day. It (1) ____ on this day because that is the birthday of America’s most famous dictionary maker, Noah Webster, who was (2) ____ in 1758. It is a day for us all to get out our dictionaries and start using them more often. We all need dictionaries. Many people have (3) ____ dictionaries and others use online ones on their computers or mobile phones. Some people have dictionaries in many languages. We also have dictionaries for (4) ____ areas. There are pronunciation dictionaries, medical dictionaries and (5) ____ a Harry Potter dictionary. Most of the celebrations for this day take place in schools. It is a good day for teachers to (6) ____ the dictionary-using skills of their students.
My dictionary says a dictionary is “a book that (7) ____ the words of a language in alphabetical order and gives their meaning, or that gives the meaning in a (8) ____ language”. It also says a dictionary is “a reference book on any subject, the items of which are (9) ____ in alphabetical order”. An example of this is a dictionary of quotations. We start using dictionaries when we are very young. There are special versions for children and there are even (10) ____ dictionaries. Some people might say you have (11) ____ a dictionary. This means you use lots of long and difficult words when you speak. Another interesting expression is to say someone is a walking dictionary. This means a person knows the (12) ____ of every word.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
fallen
(b)
falls
(c)
fell
(d)
falling
2.
(a)
born
(b)
birth
(c)
birthday
(d)
birthing
3.
(a)
paperless
(b)
papered
(c)
paper
(d)
papers
4.
(a)
specifics
(b)
specifically
(c)
specify
(d)
specific
5.
(a)
ever
(b)
never
(c)
even
(d)
evens
6.
(a)
improve
(b)
proof
(c)
prove
(d)
improvise
7.
(a)
lists
(b)
listless
(c)
listing
(d)
listings
8.
(a)
difference
(b)
different
(c)
differently
(d)
differences
9.
(a)
arrangement
(b)
arranging
(c)
arranges
(d)
arranged
10.
(a)
pictured
(b)
picturesque
(c)
picture
(d)
picturing
11.
(a)
swallowed
(b)
swallows
(c)
swallow
(d)
swallowing
12.
(a)
define
(b)
defined
(c)
defines
(d)
definition
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
It flsla on this day
2.
start gunis them
3.
others use nilone ones
4.
delciam dictionaries
5.
teachers to evirmop
6.
dictionary-using kslsli
Paragraph 2
7.
a book that stlsi the words
8.
gives the gniamen
9.
in alphabetical drreo
10.
special sevnoirs for children
11.
interesting snexisorep
12.
the nitdniioef of every word
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( 1 )
October the 16th is National Dictionary Day. It falls on this day because that is the birthday of America’s most famous
( )
often. We all need dictionaries. Many people have paper dictionaries and others use online ones on their computers or
( )
dictionary. This means you use lots of long and difficult words when you speak. Another interesting expression is to say
( )
this day take place in schools. It is a good day for teachers to
( )
someone is a walking dictionary. This means a person knows the definition of every word.
( )
book on any subject, the items of which are arranged in alphabetical order”. An example of
( )
mobile phones. Some people have dictionaries in many languages. We also have dictionaries for specific
( )
order and gives their meaning, or that gives the meaning in a different language”. It also says a dictionary is “a reference
( )
My dictionary says a dictionary is “a book that lists the words of a language in alphabetical
( )
children and there are even picture dictionaries. Some people might say you have swallowed a
( )
this is a dictionary of quotations. We start using dictionaries when we are very young. There are special versions for
( )
areas. There are pronunciation dictionaries, medical dictionaries and even a Harry Potter dictionary. Most of the celebrations for
( )
improve the dictionary-using skills of their students.
( )
dictionary maker, Noah Webster, who was born in 1758. It is a day for us all to get out our dictionaries and start using them more
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
famous most America’s maker dictionary.
2.
us all to get out our dictionaries A day for.
3.
have also We areas specific for dictionaries.
4.
place for in this schools day take Celebrations.
5.
day to It good teachers a for improve is.
6.
that words language book the a A lists of.
7.
different a in meaning the Gives language.
8.
dictionary of a quotations example is of An this.
9.
for are versions children There special.
10.
the definition A of person every knows word.
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
Write five questions about National Dictionary Day in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.
STUDENT 1
_____________
STUDENT 2
_____________
STUDENT 3
_____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.
Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out. Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
WRITING
Write about National Dictionary Day for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.
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 National Dictionary Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about National Dictionary 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 National Dictionary 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.
