Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Boxing Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
I love Christmas. It’s one of the best times of the year. It’s such a great time for everyone – kids and adults alike. The thing I like most about it is everyone getting together and eating and giving presents. When I was a kid, Christmas was an amazing occasion. We’d spend weeks at school making decorations, singing Christmas carols and practicing to perform in the nativity play. As I got older, I enjoyed giving presents more than receiving them. Even though Xmas shopping is stressful, it can be fun trying to find the perfect present for my children. One thing that has stayed with me since I was a child is my love of Christmas dinner. It has to be my favourite meal ever. Christmas just isn’t Christmas without roast turkey.
I’m sure Christmas brings the same happy feelings wherever it is celebrated. I hope it continues to keep its message of love and peace. The Christmas spirit is very important. Nowadays it seems to get a bit lost. Everyone is so busy buying presents they forget the true meaning of Christmas. I spent quite a few Christmases in Japan, which was interesting. Everything looked as Christmassy as in England. The stores even had Frosty the Snowman playing. People bought presents and had a party, but then they went for a Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner. One thing I would like to experience is Christmas on the beach in Australia. I can’t imagine Christmas being so hot. But then I suppose it wasn’t that cold in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
It’s one of the best
a.
everyone getting together
2
The thing I like most about it is
b.
making decorations
3.
We’d spend weeks at school
c.
without roast turkey
4.
it can be fun trying to find the
d.
favourite meal ever
5.
It has to be my
e.
times of the year
6.
Christmas just isn’t Christmas
f.
perfect present
Paragraph 2
1.
Christmas brings the same happy feelings
a.
meaning of Christmas
2
The Christmas spirit is
b.
beach in Australia
3.
they forget the true
c.
being so hot
4.
Everything looked as
d.
wherever it is celebrated
5.
Christmas on the
e.
very important
6.
I can’t imagine Christmas
f.
Christmassy as in England
LISTENING GAP FILL
I love Christmas. It’s _________________ times of the year. It’s such a great time for everyone – kids and adults alike. The thing I like _________________ everyone getting together and eating and giving presents. When I was a kid, Christmas was an amazing occasion. We’d spend weeks at school making decorations, singing Christmas carols and practicing _________________ nativity play. As I got older, I enjoyed giving presents more than receiving them. Even though Xmas shopping is stressful, it can be _________________ the perfect present for my children. One thing that has stayed with me since I was a child is my love of Christmas dinner. _________________ favourite meal ever. Christmas just isn’t Christmas without roast turkey.
I’m sure Christmas brings the same happy feelings _______________ celebrated. I hope it continues to keep its message of love and peace. The Christmas _______________ important. Nowadays it seems to get a bit lost. Everyone is so busy buying presents they _______________ meaning of Christmas. I spent quite a few Christmases in Japan, which was interesting. Everything looked as Christmassy as in England. The _______________ Frosty the Snowman playing. People bought presents and had a party, but then they went for a Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner. One thing I would like to experience is Christmas on the beach in Australia. I can’t imagine Christmas being so hot. But then I suppose it _______________ in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
I love Christmas. It’s one of the __________ times of the year. It’s such a great time for everyone – kids and adults __________. The thing I like most about it is everyone getting together and eating and giving presents. When I was a __________, Christmas was an amazing occasion. We’d spend weeks at school __________ decorations, singing Christmas carols and practicing to perform in the nativity play. As I got older, I __________ giving presents more than receiving them. Even though Xmas shopping is __________, it can be fun trying to find the perfect present for my children. One thing that has __________ with me since I was a child is my love of Christmas dinner. It has to be my favourite meal ever. Christmas just isn’t Christmas __________ roast turkey.
stayed kid best stressful enjoyed alike without making
I’m sure Christmas __________ the same happy feelings wherever it is celebrated. I hope it continues to keep its message of love and __________. The Christmas spirit is very important. Nowadays it seems to get a bit __________. Everyone is so busy buying presents they forget the true meaning of Christmas. I spent __________ a few Christmases in Japan, which was interesting. Everything looked as Christmassy as in England. The stores __________ had Frosty the Snowman playing. People bought presents and had a party, but then they went for a Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner. One __________ I would like to experience is Christmas on the beach in Australia. I can’t __________ Christmas being so hot. But then I __________ it wasn’t that cold in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
even peace quite imagine brings thing suppose lost
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
I love Christmas. It’s one of the best times / time of the year. It’s such a great time for everyone – kids and adults alike. The thing I like most about it is everyone getting together and eating and given / giving presents. When I was a kid, Christmas was an amazing occasion. We’d spend weeks at / on school making decorations, singing Christmas carols and practicing to perform in the nativity play. As I got / get older, I enjoyed giving presents more than receiving it / them. Even though / through Xmas shopping is stressful, it can be fun trying to find the perfect present for my children. One thing that has stayed with me for / since I was a child is my love of Christmas dinner. It has to be my favourite meal ever. Christmas just / only isn’t Christmas without roast turkey.
I’m sure Christmas brings / bring the same happy feelings wherever it is celebrated. I hope it continues to keep its / it’s message of love and peace. The Christmas spirit is very important. Nowadays it seems to get a bite / bit lost. Everyone is so busy buying presents they forget the true / truth meaning of Christmas. I spent quite a few Christmases in Japan, which was interesting. Everything looked as Christmas / Christmassy as in England. The stores even had Frosty the Snowman playing. People bought presents and had a party, but then they went for / from a Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner. One thing I would like to experience is Christmas on the beach in Australia. I can’t imagine Christmas being so / such hot. But then I suppose it wasn’t this / that cold in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
I love Christmas. It’s one of the (1) ____ times of the year. It’s such a great time for everyone – kids and adults (2) ____. The thing I like most about it is everyone getting together and eating and giving presents. When I was a kid, Christmas was an amazing (3) ____. We’d spend weeks at school making decorations, singing Christmas carols and practicing to (4) ____ in the nativity play. As I got older, I enjoyed giving presents more than receiving (5) ____. Even though Xmas shopping is stressful, it can be fun trying to find the perfect present for my children. One thing that has stayed with me since I was a child is my love of Christmas dinner. It has to be my favourite meal (6) ____. Christmas just isn’t Christmas without roast turkey.
I’m sure Christmas brings the same (7) ____ feelings wherever it is celebrated. I hope it continues to keep its message of love and peace. The Christmas (8) ____ is very important. Nowadays it seems to get a bit lost. Everyone is (9) ____ busy buying presents they forget the true meaning of Christmas. I spent quite a few Christmases in Japan, which was interesting. Everything looked as Christmassy as in England. The stores even (10) ____ Frosty the Snowman playing. People bought presents and had a party, but then they went for a Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner. One thing I would like to experience is Christmas on the beach in Australia. I can’t (11) ____ Christmas being so hot. But then I (12) ____ it wasn’t that cold in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
bust
(b)
best
(c)
beast
(d)
boast
2.
(a)
alike
(b)
like
(c)
liken
(d)
likely
3.
(a)
occasionally
(b)
occasions
(c)
occasioned
(d)
occasion
4.
(a)
performance
(b)
performs
(c)
perform
(d)
performer
5.
(a)
it
(b)
them
(c)
they
(d)
these
6.
(a)
ever
(b)
even
(c)
never
(d)
every
7.
(a)
happy
(b)
happily
(c)
happiness
(d)
happier
8.
(a)
spirits
(b)
spirited
(c)
spirit
(d)
spiritual
9.
(a)
so-so
(b)
such
(c)
so-called
(d)
so
10.
(a)
has
(b)
having
(c)
had
(d)
have to
11.
(a)
imagination
(b)
imagine
(c)
imagined
(d)
imagines
12.
(a)
supposedly
(b)
supposes
(c)
supposing
(d)
suppose
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
It’s such a great time for eyvnreeo
2.
everyone etnggti together and eating and giving presents
3.
When I was a kid, Christmas was an amazing cioocsna
4.
Xmas shopping is lsstusfer
5.
trying to find the tecfrep present for my children
6.
Christmas just isn’t Christmas without roast ektyru
Paragraph 2
7.
happy igfelens
8.
its sgesame of love and peace
9.
the true eganmni of Christmas
10.
The oetssr even had Frosty the Snowman playing
11.
I would like to npxreceiee is Christmas on the beach
12.
But then I upessop it wasn’t that cold in Bethlehem
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
everyone – kids and adults alike. The thing I like most about it is everyone getting together and eating and giving
( )
imagine Christmas being so hot. But then I suppose it wasn’t that cold in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
( )
Christmases in Japan, which was interesting. Everything looked as Christmassy as in England. The stores even had
( )
of love and peace. The Christmas spirit is very important. Nowadays it seems to get a bit
( )
singing Christmas carols and practicing to perform in the nativity play. As I got older, I enjoyed giving
( )
I’m sure Christmas brings the same happy feelings wherever it is celebrated. I hope it continues to keep its message
( )
presents. When I was a kid, Christmas was an amazing occasion. We’d spend weeks at school making decorations,
( )
lost. Everyone is so busy buying presents they forget the true meaning of Christmas. I spent quite a few
( 1 )
I love Christmas. It’s one of the best times of the year. It’s such a great time for
( )
my children. One thing that has stayed with me since I was a child is my love of Christmas
( )
Frosty the Snowman playing. People bought presents and had a party, but then they went for a Kentucky
( )
presents more than receiving them. Even though Xmas shopping is stressful, it can be fun trying to find the perfect present for
( )
Fried Chicken dinner. One thing I would like to experience is Christmas on the beach in Australia. I can’t
( )
dinner. It has to be my favourite meal ever. Christmas just isn’t Christmas without roast turkey.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
of of the the year best It’s times one
2.
weeks school decorations spend at making We’d
3.
I them receiving than more presents giving enjoyed
4.
find my the children perfect trying present to for
5.
Christmas roast Christmas isn’t without turkey just
6.
feelings happy same the brings Christmas sure I’m
7.
peace to message and continues its love it keep of
8.
Christmas forget true of they the meaning
9.
I Japan in Christmases few a quite spent
10.
that wasn’t it suppose I Bethlehem in cold
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 Christmas Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Christmas 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 Christmas 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.
