Практикум по английскому языку (с дифференцированными лексико-грамматическими заданиями): Учебно-методическое пособие к комплексу “Headway Elementary”, страница 12

The Spanish New Year – report of Manuela:

«Today is the 31st of December, and Spanish people are waiting until twelve p.m. with  twelve grapes on the plate in front of them. It is a funny Spanish tradition - when it is midnight, people put one grape in their mouth each time the clock strikes. Look! Everybody is sitting with a full mouthful of grapes. It's almost impossible to finish eating the grapes so people are looking at each other and laughing».

The Chinese New Year – report of Lee:

«We celebrate our New Year in February. Today we are having big parades in the streets. People are dancing, are singing, are watching acrobats and magic tricks and are carrying paper dragons and lions. The Chinese buy oranges for the New Year Day because we believe it brings good luck».

Follow-up

Vocabulary and speaking

A.

1. Make the phrases with the words from two lines. Use the text if you don’t remember the phrase.

is striking   are carrying       are making          is shutting           are having        are watching       is waiting

acrobats     the door     dragons      the midnight       fun    the clock resolutions

2. Say where people are doing this:

- are letting the New Year out                  - are making resolutions

- are eating grapes                                     - are dancing in the street

-are watching parades                               - are going to pubs

-are spending time with co-workers        - are laughing at each other

B.

1. Answer the questions:

1.  What is happening at the midnight in Spain? In England?

2. Are bonenkai parties family days?

3. Why are the Chinese buying oranges?

4. Are Spanish people looking funny at the moment of eating the grapes?

5. What promises do English people make in December?

6. When is the Japanese New Year’s Day?

2. Are the sentences true or false?

1. In Spain people see the New Year in with a mouthful of cherries.

2. Japanese people celebrate the New Year with their co-workers.

3.  In China people go out into the streets and have fun, dance and sing.

4. Children always try to keep their New Year resolutions.

5. Bonenkai parties are popular in China.

C.

1. Describe:

1. The Spanish tradition of celebrating the New Year’s Day. 

2. The English children’s customs. 

3. The Chinese celebration.

4. Japanese bonenkai party .

5. Letting the New Year out.

2. You are at the New Year’s party art the moment. Make the report about the seeing the new Year’s day in your country. Are there any special traditions? What are people doing?

Grammar

Present Continuous

A.

1. Use the words in brackets in Present Continuous.

e.g.The Japanese (have) fun with co-workers in a pub .

The Japanese are having fun with co-workers in a pub.

1. Manuela (laugh) at the plate with grapes.

2. On the parade the people (sing and watch) magic tricks.

3. In English family the father (open) the door for the New Year..

4. This Chinese man (buy) oranges for the New Year party.

5. You (celebrate) the bonenkai party.

2. Ask general questions to the sentences.

e.g. Tomoko is having fun in the pub– Is Tomoko having fun in the pub?

1. Lee is watching the parade.

2. Johnny and Mary are writing the papers with their resolutions.

3. Anna is sitting with mouthful of grapes.

4. Mr. Smith is opening the door for the New Year.

5. We are enjoying funny tricks.

B.

1. Choose between Present Simple and Present Continuous. 

e.g. People like / are liking  having New Year’s parties.

1. Generally we buy / are buying much food for New Year’s dinner.

2. Look! That boy makes / is making tricks in the street.

3. We don’t celebrate / are not celebrating the New Year with our friends.

4. I go / am going to the pub because my friends wait / are waiting for me there.

5. In Britain people usually make / are making promises for themselves.

2. Ask questions to the parts in bold. Watch the tense!

e.g. We always go to the bonenkai parties with colleagues. – Where do you always go?

1. The Chinese are singing and dancing together in the streets.