FINAL EXAM

READING: CHRISTMAS IN BRITAIN.

Christmas is Britain's most popular holiday. Its traditions and early ceremonies were rooted in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. They are still part of contemporary Christmas celebrations.
The Druids, for example, honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. The red berry of the holly was believed to protect one against witchcraft. Ivy symbolised immortality. The Vikings introduced the Yule log which used to be burnt in honour of God Thor. The English adapted this practice for Christmas and today's (electric) Christmas candle is a holdover from baronial days.
The custom of sending Christmas cards to friends and family originated in Britain, too. In 1843 John Calcott Horsley designed the first one for Sir Henry Cole. Thus began a real spread of sending Christmas cards and this practice soon became an established traditon. Favoured designs were Christmas feasts, church bells, plum and turkey as well as religious themes. Every year more than a billion Christmas cards are now sent in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities.
Since 1840 the decorated and illuminated Christmas tree has gained popularity in England. Prince Albert brought this rite over from Germany. In 1848 the Illustrated London News published a picture of the Royal Family around one. The English families followed the Royal example and it can truly be called a Victorian innovation. Each year a giant Christmas tree is set up and decorated near the statue of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square. It commemorates Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II.
On Christmas Eve carols are often sung by groups of singers walking from house to house, and children hang a stocking on the fireplace or at the foot of their bed for Father Christmas to fill. Caroling dates back to the Middle Ages when beggars were seeking for money, food or drink wandering the streets singing holiday songs.
On Christmas Day gifts are opened in the morning. Later the family will gather for the traditional Christmas dinner consisting of Brussels sprouts, fried potatoes with roast turkey, roast beef or goose. Sweet mince pie or Christmas pudding is served for dessert.
The pudding might contain coins or lucky charms for children. For afternoon tea Christmas cake is offered. It is rich baked fruit cake with marzipan and icing. A party favourite are Christmas crackers. There will be one to each plate on the Christmas dinner table. A Christmas cracker is a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy.
The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message is on Christmas Day afternoon. In 1932 King George brought this custom into being.
Boxing Day is on December 26th. This day takes its name from a former custom giving a Christmas box to delivery men and trades people called regularly through the year. Nowadays dustmen, milkmen, or postmen get a tip for a good service at Christmas time.

Reading: Christmas in Britain

Matching exercise

Match the items on the right to the items on the left.

Its traditions and early ceremonies were rooted...	in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities. tea Christmas cake is offered. on December 26th. a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy. in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. the first one for Sir Henry Cole. commemorating Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II. gifts are opened.
The Druids...	in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities. tea Christmas cake is offered. on December 26th. a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy. in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. the first one for Sir Henry Cole. commemorating Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II. gifts are opened.
In 1843 John Calcott Horsley designed...	in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities. tea Christmas cake is offered. on December 26th. a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy. in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. the first one for Sir Henry Cole. commemorating Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II. gifts are opened.
Every year more than a billion Christmas cards are sent...	in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities. tea Christmas cake is offered. on December 26th. a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy. in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. the first one for Sir Henry Cole. commemorating Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II. gifts are opened.
Each year a giant Christmas tree is set up and decorated near the statue of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square for...	in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities. tea Christmas cake is offered. on December 26th. a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy. in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. the first one for Sir Henry Cole. commemorating Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II. gifts are opened.
In the morning...	in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities. tea Christmas cake is offered. on December 26th. a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy. in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. the first one for Sir Henry Cole. commemorating Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II. gifts are opened.
For afternoon...	in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities. tea Christmas cake is offered. on December 26th. a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy. in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. the first one for Sir Henry Cole. commemorating Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II. gifts are opened.
A Christmas cracker is...	in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities. tea Christmas cake is offered. on December 26th. a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy. in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. the first one for Sir Henry Cole. commemorating Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II. gifts are opened.
On Christmas Day afternoon is...	in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities. tea Christmas cake is offered. on December 26th. a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy. in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. the first one for Sir Henry Cole. commemorating Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II. gifts are opened.
Boxing Day is ...	in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities. tea Christmas cake is offered. on December 26th. a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy. in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. the first one for Sir Henry Cole. commemorating Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II. gifts are opened.

Listening: Hall of Fame

Gap-fill exercise

Fill in all the gaps, then press "Check" to check your answers. Use the "Hint" button to get a free letter if an answer is giving you trouble. You can also click on the "[?]" button to get a clue. Note that you will lose points if you ask for hints or clues!

Yeah, you could be the greatest
You can be the best
You can be the king kong on your chest

You could beat the
You could beat the
You could talk to God, go banging on his door

You can throw your hands up
You can beat the clock
You can move a
You can break rocks
You can be a
Don't for luck
yourself and you can find yourself

Standing in the hall of fame
And the 's gonna know your name
'Cause you burn with the flame
And the 's gonna know your name
And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame

You could go the distance
You could run the mile
You could walk straight through hell with a smile

You could be the
You could get the gold
all the records
That never could be broke

Do it for your
Do it for your
Never gonna know if you never even try

Do it for your country
Do it for you name
' there's gonna be a day

When you're standing in the hall of fame
And the 's gonna know your name
'Cause you burn with the brightest flame
And the 's gonna know your name
And you'll be on the of the hall of fame

Be a (bis 3)

On the walls of the hall of fame
Be
Be
Be
Be preachers

Be believers
Be
Be
Be champions
Be true seekers

Be
Be
Be
Be preachers

Be believers
Be
Be
Be champions

Standing in the hall of fame
And the 's gonna know your name
'Cause you burn with the flame
And the 's gonna know your name
And you'll be on the of the hall of fame

(You can be a champion)
You could be the greatest
(You can be a champion)
You can be the best
(You can be a champion)
You can be the banging on your chest

(You can be a champion)
You could beat the world
(You can be a champion)
You could beat the war
(You can be a champion)
You could talk to God, go banging on his door

(You can be a champion)
You can throw your hands up
(You can be a champion)
You can beat the clock
(You can be a champion)
You can move a mountain
(You can be a champion)
You can break rocks

(You can be a champion)
You can be a master
(You can be a champion)
Don't for luck
(You can be a champion)
Dedicate yourself and you can find yourself
(You can be a champion)

Standing in the of fame

Test: Vocabulary

Crossword

Complete the crossword, then click on "Check" to check your answer. If you are stuck, you can click on "Hint" to get a free letter. Click on a number in the grid to see the clue or clues for that number.

												1
			2														3
4															5
								6		7
							8
							9
		10

Across: 2. Physical exercises designed to develop and display strength, balance and agility, especially those performed on or with specialized apparatus. 4. Tempestuous weather. 7. Official identification document for citizens travelling abroad. 8. "Soda is ____, it has no taste. I prefer a fruit juice because the mixture of fruits makes it very savory." 9. Going into another person's home or business with force. 10. Bleeding from the blood vessels of the nose.

Down: 1. The study of matter and energy and how they affect each other. 2. The flag of _______ is black, red and yellow. 3. A loan for the purchase of real property, secured by a lien on the property. 5. The typical house we find in the countryside. 6. A series of more or less connected mountains ranged in a line. 7. A material that is made from a chemical process and that is used for making many different products including clothes.

Test: Grammar

Mixed-up sentence exercise

Put the parts in order to form a sentence. When you think your answer is correct, click on "Check" to check your answer. If you get stuck, click on "Hint" to find out the next correct part.