Unit 5

Vocabulary
 Special days

1 Match the pictures (1-4) with the celebrations (A-D).

A birth B marriage C New Year D birthday

1 2 3 4

 Celebrations & Customs

2 Match the columns to form phrases.

1 exchange A a boat race

2 sing B presents

3 decorate C carols

4 light D our house

5 let off E a bonfire

6 hold F fireworks

 Embarrassing moments

3 Complete the dialogue, with: broke, tore, slipped, took, ate, fell.

Jim:
Jim: Hi,
Hi, Mark.
Mark. I’m
I’m sorry
sorry about
about thethe party
party last
last night.
night. ItIt was
was terrible!
terrible!
Mark:
Mark: It’s
It’s OK,
OK, Jim.
Jim. II just
just can’t
can’t believe
believe so so many
many accidents
accidents happened!
happened!
Jim:
Jim: Yes.
Yes. Things
Things started
started badly
badly when
when James
James 1) 1) ………………..
……………….. on on the
the wet
wet floor
floor and
and 2)
2) ………………..
………………..
his
his glass!
glass!
Mark:
Mark: Poor
Poor James.
James. II feltfelt sorry
sorry for
for Anna.
Anna. She She 3)
3) ………………..
……………….. something something tootoo spicy
spicy and
and looked
looked illill all
all
evening.
evening.
Jim:
Jim: Yeah,
Yeah, she
she really
really hates
hates spicy
spicy food.
food. What
What about
about Martin
Martin though?
though? HeHe 4)
4) ………………..
……………….. down down the the
stairs
stairs and
and 5) 5) ………………..
……………….. his his shirt!
shirt! II offered
offered toto buy
buy himhim aa new
new one,
one, but
but he
he said
said itit was
was alright.
alright.
Mark:
Mark: Wow!
Wow! II didn’t
didn’t see
see that.
that. II was
was busy
busy withwith Mary
Mary looking
looking for for her
her coat.
coat. The
The problem
problem was was that
that she
she was was
in
in such
such aa hurryhurry to
to catch
catch her her train
train that
that she
she 6) 6) ………………..
……………….. the the wrong
wrong one.
one.
Jim:
Jim: Oh,
Oh, no!
no! ItIt really
really was
was an an unlucky
unlucky evening
evening for for everyone!
everyone!
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 Unit 5
General Revision
4 Underline the correct item.

1 Erica hung a crown/garland on her door to 4 The festival is the biggest event/gathering of
decorate the house. dancers in the country.
2 On May Day, a May Queen watches the festival 5 At the winter festival, Sandra learnt how to ride
from her throne/pole. a sledge/kayak.
3 Even people/locals visiting the village can join 6 The Lord Mayor’s Show is the largest street
in the celebration. display/parade in London.

5 Fill in: delicious, traditional, special, changing, impressive.

1 We watched ……………………… dances at the 4 I was amazed by the ……………………… floats

May Day celebration. at the carnival this year.
2 I love Christmas because we eat lots of 5 On May Day, at the end of spring, people
……………………… food for dinner. celebrate the ……………………… seasons.
3 Bonfire Night is a very ……………………… day;
I love watching the fireworks!

6 Choose the correct item.

Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is an event in Britain that 1) remembers/honours soldiers who 2) fought/defeated in World
War I and other wars since then. It happens every November across the country, and people 3) take/grab
wreaths to monuments as a sign of respect. The Royal family visit the biggest Remembrance Day monument,
called the Cenotaph. It 4) commemorates/represents soldiers who died in wars in other countries. During the
ceremony, crowds 5) participate/watch as the Queen lays a wreath while soldiers play slow music.

 Prepositions

7 Choose the correct preposition.

This weekend come and join 1) in/on

the fun 2) in/at Grove Hill School! Our
Halloween party is 3) on/at Saturday
evening and takes place 4) at/on 5pm
5) at/in the main hall. Make sure you
bring a costume 6) with/for you and
don’t forget your pumpkin 7) to/for the
pumpkin carving competition!

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 Unit 5
Grammar
8 Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect.

1 Martin …………………………. (make) tea for 4 The girls …………………………. (go) to the
everyone. concert already.
2 Kevin …………………………. (not/read) this 5 I …………………………. (attend) the Guy
book before. Fawkes’ Night for the last five years.
3 …………………………. (you/ever/be) to 6 Oh, no! I …………………………. (burn) the
Hogmanay in Edinburgh? dinner in the oven!

9 Choose the correct word.

1 Jenny has already/yet prepared the food for 4 The Hendersons have been living here
the party tonight. since/for two years.
2 This is the first time I've never/ever been to a 5 Tom has just/yet graduated from university.
food festival.
3 I haven't seen Kathryn since/for New Year’s
Eve.

10 Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect or the past simple.

1 A: …………………………… (you/ever/hear) 4 A: …………………………… (you/already/

the band perform live? wrap) Jane’s birthday presents?
B: No, but I …………………………… (listen) to B: No, I …………………………… (not/buy) the
all their albums. wrapping paper yet.

2 A: …………………………… (you/bake) the 5 A: I …………………………… (never/see) such

mince pies yet? beautiful fireworks!
B: Yes, I …………………………… (try) one this B: I know, I’m glad I ……………………………
morning; they’re delicious! (catch) it all on video!

3 A: I …………………………… (never/wear)
fancy dress to a festival before.
B: Neither have I, but I …………………………
(order) my costume last night.

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 Unit 5
Everyday English
11 Read the dialogues below. Complete them with the appropriate item (A, B or C).

1 X: Did you have a nice time?

Y: .................................................................................
A It was amazing.
B I went to a party.
C They enjoyed it a lot.

2 X: Were there a lot of people?

Y: .................................................................................
A She had a huge wedding.
B No, Mary went with her cousin.
C All her friends and relatives were there.

3 X: .................................................................................
Y: I didn’t do anything special.
A Did you enjoy yourself?
B What was your weekend like?
C How was the birthday party?

4 X: Did you get the invitation?

Y: .................................................................................
A Not yet.
B No, thank you!
C That would be nice.

5 X: How do you usually celebrate?

Y: .................................................................................
A We danced and played games.
B We have a special meal.
C I enjoy singing a lot.

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 Unit 5
Reading
12 Read the texts and answer the questions.

Which person (A, B or C) …

1 went to a festival with a relative?

2 took a lot of photographs?
3 wore a special costume?
4 participated in a contest?

A I’ve just got back from Eltham Palace, a famous palace and country house in South East London. I
was there for the Grand Medieval Joust, an event that happens every June. It’s a great day out and
a wonderful festival about all things medieval. There are lots of historical reenactments of life in
medieval England. You can even see knights fight each other on horseback! You can learn all about
kings and queens, and there are lots of activities for children. My little brother learnt how to be a
knight and we took part in lots of fun competitions!
POST A COMMENT

B This January, I also went to an event with a war reenactment. It’s called Holly Holy Day and it
happens in Cheshire in North West England. The event commemorates the battle of Nantwich,
which was an important event in the English Civil War. The battle reenactment was amazing!
People wore costumes from the seventeen century and two huge armies fought against each other.
Luckily, I got loads of amazing pictures!
Barry S

C I’ve been to an exciting festival, too. Last May, I went to the Rochester Sweeps Festival in
Rochester, Kent, after my mother told me about it. This festival celebrates the holiday that people
who used to clean chimneys enjoyed on May Day. On this day chimney sweeps put away their tools
and had lots of fun! There is a huge parade, music and lots of dancing! People wear lots of amazing
costumes and I dressed up too, it was really fun!
Jenny H

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 Unit 5
Listening
13 Read the rubric and do the listening task.

You are going to listen to a TV presenter describing an event he is attending. Listen and mark the statements
(1-3) as T (true) or F (false).

1 The parade happens when the next Lord Mayor begins his role. ……….
2 The parade starts at 9 am from Fleet Street. ……….
3 The celebration ends with a firework display. ……….

Writing
14 Read the rubric, then write your email.

You have just come back from a carnival. Write an email to your English-speaking friend (50-100 words). In your
email:
 tell him/her where you went.
 write what you did & saw there.
 recommend it to your friend.

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 Unit 5
Pairwork Activities Student A
Work with Student B. Ask Student B questions about a film festival. Then answer Student
B’s questions about a dance event.

18th – 20th March

Experience a huge celebration of dance at the ExCel Centre London.

Enjoy classes, performances, workshops and even shopping!

TICKETS: ADULTS £15

CHILDREN £11
FAMILY PASS £46

Visit www.moveitdance.co.uk for more info.

Film festival

 what/name/festival?
 what/people/do?
 how many/festival locations?
 how much/ticket/cost/IMAX film?
 membership needed?

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 Unit 5
Pairwork Activities Student B
Work with Student A. Answer Student A’s questions about a film festival. Then ask Student
A questions about a dance event.

Britain’s most
important film festival
runs from 7 – 18
October this year.

Come and watch

award-winning films or attend
classes with famous
directors.

Festival locations: BFI

Southbank Cinema,
Belvedere Road
BFI IMAX Cinema, London
Waterloo

Prices:
Films - Southbank £12.50,
IMAX £20,
Classes - £15
BFI membership not needed

Dance event

 what/event/ called?
 when/happen?
 what/activities?
 how much/tickets/cost?
 how/get/more information?

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 Unit 5
Portfolio Activities
Name: ………………………………………………… Date: ………………………. Class: ...................

Design a poster advertising a local celebration/festival in your area.

Include a picture and information about:
The name of the festival, when and where it happens, what activities there are at the festival.

place picture here

Name of event: ......................................................................................................................................................

Where it is held: ....................................................................................................................................................

When it happens: ..................................................................................................................................................

What it celebrates: ................................................................................................................................................

Activities you can do there: .................................................................................................................................

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 Unit 5
Game
Ask students to create a questionnaire about experiences using yes/no questions in the
present perfect tense. Check students work, then students take turns asking each other
their questions. If students get a “no” answer, they move on and ask another student. If
they get a “yes” answer, they write that person’s name on the questionnaire and ask a
follow up question in order to get more information. Give students 8-10 minutes to go
around the class and get information. When the time is up, students present what they
have learned about their classmates.

Sample Questionnaire:

Find someone who… Name of student More information

has been to a festival. Martin Martin has been to a

Medieval Festival at Leeds
Castle.

has celebrated an important event.

has travelled abroad. Helen Helen has travelled to Spain.

has participated in a contest.

has had an embarrassing accident.

Harry asks Martin: “Have you been to a festival?”

Martin answers: “Yes, I have been to a Medieval festival at Leeds Castle.”

Harry then moves on to another student and asks another question.

Harry asks Helen: “Helen, have you participated in a contest?”
Helen answers: “No, I haven’t.”

Harry then asks a follow up question: “Have you ever travelled abroad?”
Helen answers, “Yes, I have. I have travelled to Spain.”

Variation: Have students write their own questionnaires.

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