Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Christmas Eve. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Christmas Eve is, of course, the day before Christmas Day. It’s quite a busy day for most people who celebrate Christmas. There are so many things to do – usually last minute things. For example, you have to quickly send a Christmas card to people you forgot, especially when they sent you one. You also have to do last minute Christmas shopping. I always find Christmas Eve afternoon is a good time to shop. Many people think this is a busy time, but the Christmas rush is over and the shops are quite empty. You just have to hope they haven’t run out of wrapping paper and sellotape. Then you have to go home and wrap all of your presents and put them under the Christmas tree in the living room. It’s such a lovely sight seeing a decorated tree with lots of wrapped boxes and parcels under it.
Christmas Eve is not the same in all countries. In Denmark, for example, Christmas Eve is when people have Christmas dinner and open their presents. I think most people go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. This is a special church service held at midnight to remember the birth of Jesus. I think one of the oldest jokes in the world is: “What time is Midnight Mass?” It’s an easy joke to figure out. Of course, Christmas Eve is the busiest night of the year for Santa Claus. People in England call him Father Christmas. If you look really carefully, you’ll see him flying through the air on his sleigh full of presents. He used to climb down people’s chimneys to deliver his presents. I’m not sure what he does nowadays because people don’t have chimneys.
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’s quite a busy day for
a.
run out
2
There are so many
b.
most people
3.
You also have to do last
c.
quite empty
4.
the shops are
d.
lovely sight
5.
You just have to hope they haven’t
e.
things to do
6.
It’s such a
f.
minute Christmas shopping
Paragraph 2
1.
Christmas Eve is not the
a.
through the air
2
have Christmas dinner and open
b.
the year
3.
one of the oldest jokes
c.
nowadays
4.
the busiest night of
d.
same in all countries
5.
you’ll see him flying
e.
in the world
6.
I’m not sure what he does
f.
their presents
LISTENING GAP FILL
Christmas Eve is, of course, the day before Christmas Day. It’s quite a __________________ people who celebrate Christmas. There are so many things to do – usually last minute things. For example, you have to quickly send a Christmas card to people you forgot, especially when they sent you one. You also have __________________ Christmas shopping. I always find Christmas Eve afternoon is a good time to shop. Many people think this is a busy time, but the Christmas __________________ shops are quite empty. You just have to hope they haven’t run out of wrapping paper and sellotape. Then you have to go home __________________ your presents and put them under the Christmas tree in the living room. It’s such a lovely sight seeing a decorated tree with lots of wrapped boxes __________________.
Christmas Eve is __________________ all countries. In Denmark, for example, Christmas Eve is when people have Christmas dinner and open their presents. I think most people go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. This is a special church __________________ midnight to remember the birth of Jesus. I think one of the oldest jokes in the world is: “What time is Midnight Mass?” It’s an easy joke to figure out. Of course, Christmas Eve is the busiest __________________ for Santa Claus. People in England call him Father Christmas. If you look really carefully, you’ll see him flying __________________ his sleigh full of presents. He used to climb down people’s chimneys to deliver his presents. __________________ he does nowadays because people don’t have chimneys.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Christmas Eve is, of __________, the day before Christmas Day. It’s quite a busy day for most people who celebrate Christmas. There are so __________ things to do – usually last minute things. For example, you have to quickly send a Christmas card to people you __________, especially when they __________ you one. You also have to do last minute Christmas shopping. I always find Christmas Eve afternoon is a good time to __________. Many people think this is a busy time, but the Christmas __________ is over and the shops are quite empty. You just have to hope they haven’t run out of wrapping paper and sellotape. Then you have to go home and __________ all of your presents and put them under the Christmas tree in the living room. It’s such a __________ sight seeing a decorated tree with lots of wrapped boxes and parcels under it.
rush sent lovely forgot course wrap shop many
Christmas Eve is not the __________ in all countries. In Denmark, for example, Christmas Eve is when people have Christmas dinner and __________ their presents. I think most people go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. This is a special church service __________ at midnight to remember the birth of Jesus. I think one of the oldest __________ in the world is: “What time is Midnight Mass?” It’s an easy joke to __________ out. Of course, Christmas Eve is the busiest night of the year for Santa Claus. People in England __________ him Father Christmas. If you look really carefully, you’ll see him flying through the air on his sleigh __________ of presents. He used to climb down people’s chimneys to deliver his presents. I’m not sure what he does __________ because people don’t have chimneys.
jokes nowadays open call same figure full held
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Christmas Eve is, of course, the day / days before Christmas Day. It’s quite a busy day for most people who celebrate Christmas. There are so many things to do – usually last / lastly minute things. For example, you have to quickly sent / send a Christmas card to people you forgot, especially when they sent you ones / one. You also have to do last minute Christmas shopping. I always find Christmas Eve afternoon is a good time to shop. Many people think this is a busy time, but the Christmas rushed / rush is over and the shops are quite / quiet empty. You just have to hope they haven’t run out of wrapping paper and sellotape. Then you have to go home and wrap all / every of your presents and put them under the Christmas tree in the living room. It’s such a lovely / lovelier sight seeing a decorated tree with lots of wrapped boxes and parcels under it.
Christmas Eve is not the some / same in all countries. In Denmark, for example, Christmas Eve is when people have Christmas dinner and open / opening their presents. I think most people go to midnight mass in / on Christmas Eve. This is a special church service holding / held at midnight to remember the birth of Jesus. I think one of the oldest jokes / joking in the world is: “What time is Midnight Mass?” It’s an easy joke to figure out. Of course, Christmas Eve is the busiest night of the year for Santa Claus. People in England caller / call him Father Christmas. If you look really carefully, you’ll see him flying through the air on his sleigh full / filled of presents. He used to climb down people’s chimneys to deliver / delivery his presents. I’m not sure what he does nowadays because people don’t have chimneys.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Christmas Eve is, of course, the day before Christmas Day. It’s (1) ____ a busy day for most people who celebrate Christmas. There are so many things to do – usually (2) ____ minute things. For example, you have to quickly send a Christmas card to people you (3) ____, especially when they sent you one. You also have to do last minute Christmas shopping. I always (4) ____ Christmas Eve afternoon is a good time to shop. Many people think this is a busy time, but the Christmas (5) ____ is over and the shops are quite empty. You just have to hope they haven’t run out of wrapping paper and sellotape. Then you have to go home and wrap all of your presents and put them under the Christmas tree in the living room. It’s such a (6) ____ sight seeing a decorated tree with lots of wrapped boxes and parcels under it.
Christmas Eve is not the same in (7) ____ countries. In Denmark, for example, Christmas Eve is when people have Christmas dinner and open (8) ____ presents. I think most people go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. This is a special church service held at midnight to (9) ____ the birth of Jesus. I think one of the oldest jokes in the world is: “What time is Midnight Mass?” It’s an easy joke to (10) ____ out. Of course, Christmas Eve is the busiest night of the year for Santa Claus. People in England call him Father Christmas. If you look really (11) ____, you’ll see him flying through the air on his sleigh full of presents. He used to climb down people’s chimneys to (12) ____ his presents. I’m not sure what he does nowadays because people don’t have chimneys.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
quite
(b)
quit
(c)
quiet
(d)
quits
2.
(a)
least
(b)
last
(c)
lasting
(d)
lastly
3.
(a)
forget
(b)
forgotten
(c)
forgetful
(d)
forgot
4.
(a)
found
(b)
finds
(c)
find
(d)
findings
5.
(a)
rushed
(b)
rush
(c)
rushing
(d)
rushes
6.
(a)
lovely
(b)
lovelier
(c)
love
(d)
lover
7.
(a)
whole
(b)
every
(c)
the
(d)
all
8.
(a)
they
(b)
them
(c)
their
(d)
these
9.
(a)
memory
(b)
remember
(c)
memories
(d)
memorize
10.
(a)
figures
(b)
figured
(c)
figuring
(d)
figure
11.
(a)
carefully
(b)
careful
(c)
careless
(d)
care
12.
(a)
delivery
(b)
delivered
(c)
delivering
(d)
deliver
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
It’s quite a busy day for most people
2.
last minute things
3.
the Christmas rush is over
4.
run out of wrapping paper and sellotape
5.
a decorated tree
6.
lots of wrapped boxes and parcels
Paragraph 2
7.
not the same in all countries
8.
a special church service
9.
one of the oldest jokes in the world
10.
It’s an easy joke to figure out
11.
the busiest night of the year
12.
deliver his presents
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Christmas dinner and open their presents. I think most people go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. This is a special
( )
shopping. I always find Christmas Eve afternoon is a good time to shop. Many people think this is a busy time, but the
( )
him flying through the air on his sleigh full of presents. He used to climb down people’s chimneys to
( 1 )
Christmas Eve is, of course, the day before Christmas Day. It’s quite a busy day for most people who celebrate
( )
world is: “What time is Midnight Mass?” It’s an easy joke to figure out. Of course, Christmas Eve is the busiest
( )
Christmas. There are so many things to do – usually last minute things. For example, you have to quickly send a
( )
paper and sellotape. Then you have to go home and wrap all of your presents and put them under the Christmas
( )
night of the year for Santa Claus. People in England call him Father Christmas. If you look really carefully, you’ll see
( )
Christmas Eve is not the same in all countries. In Denmark, for example, Christmas Eve is when people have
( )
church service held at midnight to remember the birth of Jesus. I think one of the oldest jokes in the
( )
tree in the living room. It’s such a lovely sight seeing a decorated tree with lots of wrapped boxes and parcels under it.
( )
Christmas rush is over and the shops are quite empty. You just have to hope they haven’t run out of wrapping
( )
Christmas card to people you forgot, especially when they sent you one. You also have to do last minute Christmas
( )
deliver his presents. I’m not sure what he does nowadays because people don’t have chimneys.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
most for day busy a quite It’s people
2.
you Christmas forgot card quickly to send people a
3.
last also minute have Christmas to shopping do You
4.
quite empty the Christmas rush is over and the shops are
5.
you have to go home and wrap all of your presents
6.
Eve in is all not countries the Christmas same
7.
midnight special service at a church held
8.
an joke figure It’s easy to out
9.
the the year busiest for night Santa of Claus
10.
chimneys used climb people’s He to down
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 Eve. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Christmas Eve. 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 Eve. 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.
