READINGA. Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a figure which was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklass, a historical, legendary and mythological figure who in many Western culture, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24 or on his Feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day). The legend is based on the tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. While Saint Nicholas was originally portrayed wearing bishops robes, today Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-beard man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots (images of him rarely have a beard with no moustache). This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, and films. In the United Kingdom and Europe, he is often depicted in a manner identical to the American Santa Claus, but he is commonly called Father Christmas.

1. What colour is the leather belt that Santa wears?

2. When did Santa become popular in the United States and Canada?

3. English words that refer to geographical terms:

4. In Europe Santa is also called

5. Santas image has been sustained by

6. What does Santa look like?

7. Santa Claus is loved by children because

B. The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminister official named Saint Stephens Tower is commonly known as the Big Ben. The tower is one of Londons most famous landmarks. The clock inside the tower was the worlds largest when it was installed in the middle the nineteenth century. The name Big Ben actually refers to the clocks hour bell, the largest of the clocks five bells. The other four are used as quarter bells. There were two bells cast as the clock towers hour bell. A first, sixteen ton weighing bell was cast by John Warner and Sons in 1856. Since the Clock Tower was not yet completed, the bell was hung temporarily in the Palace Yard. The bell soon cracked so it was recast in 1858 in the Whitechapel Bell Foundary as a 13.5 ton bell. Unfortunately soon after this bell was placed in the belfry in July 1859, it cracked as well. This time, instead of yet again recasting the bell, the crack was repaired and a lighter hammer was used to prevent any more cracks. The hour bell was probably named after Benjamin Hall, the First Commissioner of Works. Some sources however claim the bell was named after Benjamin Caunt, a British heavyweight boxing champion. The clock was the largest in the world and is still the largest in Great Britain. The clock faces have a diameter of almost 25ft (7.5m). The hour hand is 9ft or 2.7m long and the minute hand measures 14ft (4.25m) long. The clock is known for its reliability, it has rarely failed during its long life span. Even after the nearby House of Commons was destroyed by bombing during World War II, the clock kept on chiming. The clocks mechanism, designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, has a remarkable accuracy. The clocks rate is adjusted by simply adding small pennies on the shoulder of the pendulum. The tower was constructed between 1843 and 1858 as the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster. The palace is now better known as the Houses of Parliament. The clock tower rises 316ft high (96m) and consists of a 200ft (61m) high brick shaft topped by a cast iron framed spire. The clock faces are 180ft/55m above ground level.

1. Match the words in the two columns:1. Clock a. repaired2. Cracked b. champion3. Bombing c. World War II4. Benjamin Caunt d. largest.

2. The clock faces have a diameter of a. 2,7m; b. 7,5m; c. 4,25; d. 10m3. Big Ben refers to a. the tower; b. the clocks hour bell; c. the bridge; d. the door.4. The clocks mechanism was created by 5. The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster is also called 6. When was the construction of the tower ended?7. When was the clock placed inside the tower?8. Write the antonyms of the following words: repaired and smallest