Foundations Level 1

UFP

Unit 13 - Holidays and Festivals: How Do you Celebrate?

(Active Skills for Reading: Book 1 )

Pre-Reading

Getting Ready

Discuss the following questions with a partner.

1. What do you think is happening in the photos above?

2. What do you understand by the word ‘holiday’?

3. What do you understand by the word ‘festival’?

4. Name one holiday and one festival held in your country every year.

Foundations Level 1

UFP

Before you read

Read the statements below. Do you think they are true or false. Choose the correct answer.

1. People in many Western countries make promises to change their lives in the New Year.

2. In some countries a festival called Carnival is celebrated in January or February.

3. Carnival first started in Brazil.

4. At Carnival people wear flamboyant costumes and dance.

5. The two biggest Carnivals are now held in Brazil and the United States.

Reading Comprehension: What Do You Remember?

The following statements are all about the reading. Complete each one using the correct words or

phrases.

1. A New Year’s resolution is a ________________________ to yourself to change your life.

2. In many Asian countries, the ______________________________ New Year is celebrated.

3. During Carnival people dress in _______________________________________________.

4. The largest Carnival celebrations are held in New Orleans and ______________________.

TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN

According to the text, are the following statements TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.

1. In Asian countries, people celebrate New Year’s on January 1.

2. Western people make promises to do something different in the New Year.

3. Carnival comes before Lent.

4. Carnivals take place in most countries of the world.

5. The Carnival parade in Rio is three weeks long.

Vocabulary Comprehension: Words in Context

A. The words in italics are vocabulary items from the reading. Read each question or

statement and choose the correct answer. Compare your answers with a partner.

1. Which of these things would you welcome? A lot of money/a bad cold

2. If you make a promise to do something you will forget to do it/do it immediately.

3. A flamboyant dress is plain and simple/bright and colourful.

Foundations Level 1

UFP

4. In a parade people are moving in the street/standing still.

5. If you combine things, you put them together/separate them.

B. Now think of other examples using the vocabulary from A. Share your ideas with a partner.

1. Name something that you would welcome in your life at the moment.

2. What is a promise that you have made recently?

3. Name someone you know who is a flamboyant person.

4. Are any parades held in your town or city each year? Why are they held?

5. Name two things that you can combine to make something else.

Vocabulary Skill: Word Families

When you learn a new word in English, it is helpful to learn words in the same ‘family’ that form

the different parts of speech. Learning these parts of speech can help you to build your

vocabulary.

A. Complete the chart with the missing parts of speech. Use your dictionary to help you.

Compare your answers with a partner.

Noun Verb Adjective

1. welcome

2. celebration

3. combine

4. color

5. parade X

6. party X

Foundations Level 1

UFP

B: Now choose the correct part of speech to complete the following sentences. Write the word

on the line, then write n, v, or adj beside each word to show which part of speech it is.

1. That was a very ________________ piece of news. I’m so happy to hear that your mother is

out of the hospital.

2. You passed your exams! We need to go and _________________________.

3. Ron wears a lot of black and red clothes. That’s a good ____________________ of colors for

him.

4. I love your dress, Beth; it’s so bright and_____________________________.

5. Jane and Katie are taking part in the summer ___________________________ this year.

6. Hajime is very sociable. He likes to go out and _____________________ on the weekend.