Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you.




Gap filling activity

WHITE CHRISTMAS

I’m dreaming of a ………… Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
And children listen
To hear……… …….. in the ……….

I’m dreaming of a …………Christmas
With every Christmas ………. I write
May your days be ………… and bright
And may all your Christmases be ………..

All we want for Christmas is an old festive song

Christmas and music

Vocabulary

1 Look at these words and expressions. They are all in the text below. Do we use them to talk about money or music?
pay, cheque, hits, airing, generates, revenue, release ,
profitable, money-spinners, digital downloads, playlists, tracks
2 Now, match each of the words to the correct definition.
a) very successful songs

b) produce/create
c) making money for a person or company

d) music made available to buy
e) one of several songs on a CD f) money paid for work
g) when a song is played on the radio
h) something that you copy onto your computer from the internet
i) a product or activity that produces a lot of money
j) the money that a company earns on a regular basis
k) all the music that people will listen to on a particular occasion

All we want for Christmas is an old festive song

Whether you love Mariah Carey or loathe Jona Lewie, there is no escaping them at this time of year. The annual resurrection of songs from Christmas past is well underway – and for the artists who penned or performed those festive favourites decades ago, the pay cheques are waiting under the tree.
Of the 20 most-played Christmas songs during the past ten years, the most modern – Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" – dates from 1994. Most of the others in the list were hits in the Seventies and Eighties. They include Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" and Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
A single airing of a three-minute song on BBC Radio One generates about £37.50 for writers and £37.50 for performers, while commercial stations pay a percentage of their advertising revenue.
This means that even songs that failed to make an impact on their original release can prove highly profitable later. Chris Rea's "Driving Home For Christmas" reached just number 53 in 1988. Yet, now seventh in the most-played list, it remains one of Rea's most reliable money-spinners.
The breadth of music choice permanently available through digital downloads also means that songs no longer have to be re-released as in years gone by to take a march up the charts. "All I Want For Christmas has charted in the top 20 in each of the past three Decembers, and has already reached number 22 this year.
Martin Talbot, the managing director of The Official Charts Company, said: "At this time of year people are putting together lots of Christmas party playlists and they want to make their own compilations of tracks at home. Five or ten years ago, you'd have to buy a Christmas hits package, but now it's more democratic. People can choose what they like."

Question 1 (2 points)

Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) The youngest song in the top twenty list of Christmas songs is sung by Mariah Carey.
b) “Merry Xmas Everybody” and “ Do They Know It’s Christmas” were both sung by Slade.
c) Chris Rea’s song “Driving Home for Christmas” is more popular now than in 1988.
d) Some people buy old songs because they are going to meet friends and celebrate Christmas.

Question 2 (2 points)
Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) How do old songs continue to make money?
b) Why is it now easier to select the songs you want to listen to?

Question 3 (1.5 points)
Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a) write (Paragraph 1)
b) wide choice (Paragraph 5)
c) the list of the highest selling records for one week (Paragraph 5)

Question 4 (1.5 points)

Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) Mariah Carey first sang “All I want for Christmas” in1994.
The song “All I want for Christmas” …………………………………… in 1994.

b) Martin Talbot said: “Five or ten years ago, you'd have to buy a Christmas hits package, but now it's more democratic. People can choose what they like."
According to Martin Talbot, five or …………………………………………….…..

c) A single airing of a three-minute song on BBC Radio One generates about £37.50 for writers and £37.50 for performers.
If a three-minute song is played once on BBC Radio one, both ...................................................

Question 5 (5 points)

Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
“Music is just one of many things which help us to celebrate.” What do you think?

Most played Christmas tunes

1 All I Want For Christmas Is You (1994) Mariah Carey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ymlnxMZkXA

2 Last Christmas (1984) Wham!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1zWafQF1hc

3 Fairytale of New York (1987) The Pogues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwHyuraau4Q&feature=related

4 Merry Xmas Everybody (1973) Slade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqiDo28s70w

5 I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day (1973) Wizzard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r8UVR9DDBo

6 Do They Know It's Christmas? (1984) Band Aid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5cX_ncZLls

7 Driving Home For Christmas (1988) Chris Rea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czhZbqpyBm8&feature=fvsr

8 Stop The Cavalry (1980) Jona Lewie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOe18JcatZo

9 White Christmas (1942) Bing Crosby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddVZOK_9UUI

10 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (1966) Dean Martin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mSSPM3ies0

Key Vocabulary tasks

1
Money

pay cheque, generates, percentage, revenue, profitable, money-spinners

Musicsongs, hits, airing, release, digital downloads, playlists, compilations, tracks

2
a) hits b) generate c) profitable d) release e) tracks
f) pay cheque g) airing h) digital download i) money-spinner
j) revenue k) playlist

Christmas Traditions

Questionnaire

1. What bird is cooked for Christmas dinner?

2. Where are the presents kept before opening them?

3. What is hung outside on the door?

4. What kind of songs are sung?

5. Before electricity, these were put on the trees?

6. What is a common four letter abbreviation of Christmas?

7. What plant with red berries is used for decorations?

8. What do you kiss under?

9. What kind of calendar is opened by children leading up to Christmas?

10. What are pulled at the table?




KEY


1. a turkey
2. under the tree
3. a wreath
4. carols
5. candles
6. X’mas
7. Holly
8. mistletoe
9. an Advent calendar
10. crackers

All we want for Christmas is an old festive song

Key PAU task
Question 1
a) True. Of the 20 most-played Christmas songs during the past ten years, the most modern –
Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" – dates from 1994
b) False Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" and Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
c) True Chris Rea's "Driving Home For Christmas" reached just number 53 in 1988. Yet, now seventh in the most-played list,
d) True At this time of year people are putting together lots of Christmas party playlists

Question 2
a) The people who wrote or sung or played the music in songs are paid every time their record is played on the radio.
b) Songs are available on the internet and you can choose the songs you want to have and listen to and download them to create your own album

Question 3
a) pen/penned
b) breadth
c) charts/Charts

Question 4
a) The song “All I want for Christmas” was first sung by Mariah Carey in 1994.
b) According to Martin Talbot, five or ten years ago, people would have had to buy a Christmas hits package, but now it was more democratic. People could choose what they liked.
c) If a three-minute song is played once on BBC Radio One, both writers and performers can earn £37.50.
OR
If a three-minute song is played once on BBC Radio One, both writers and performers will be paid £37.50.

Online shoppers splash out

Online shoppers are set to spend a total of £537m today in what is predicted to be the busiest internet shopping day of the year. Total spending on the day called Manic Monday is forecast to hit £22.4m an hour, according to shopping comparison website Kelkoo. The cold weather and a strike by London Underground workers are also expected to boost the number of shoppers choosing to buy online.
Visa Europe said the busiest online shopping day in the previous two years had been on the last Monday in November. It predicted transactions would peak in the lunch hour between 1pm and 2pm and again at around 7pm as shoppers go online after returning home from work.
A study found 74% of consumers planned to buy presents online this Christmas, with 30% looking to do more shopping on the internet than last year. Visa Europe commercial director Steve Perry said: "Shopping online is now a natural part of the gift-buying process for consumers and a key part of Christmas sales strategy for retailers.
The combination of monthly salaries being paid and people taking delivery times into consideration should combine to deliver a record day for internet shopping."
Retailer Argos also said it was predicting today to be the busiest for online delivery orders, falling after the last pay day before Christmas but still allowing time for delivery and wrapping before December 25. The busiest day on the high street is expected to be December 18.

Vocabulary exerciseAll the words below are in the text. Match the words and expressions on the left to the words with the same meaning on the right.
1 splash out a shoppers choosing to buy online
2 buy online b forecast
3 predict c an order
4 a transaction d spend money
5 online shoppers e a gift
6 a present f shop on the internet

Question 1 (2 points)

Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) More money is usually spent on buying items online on the last Monday in November.
b) The number of people shopping for Christmas presents online will grow by 30% this year..
c) If you buy something online today, it will arrive before Christmas.
d) The day when city shops will be busiest will probably be December 18th.

Question 2 (2 points)

Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) Why will there be even more people shopping online this year?
b) What times of the day will most people buy things online today?

Question 3 (1.5 points)

Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a) to increase (Paragraph 1)
b) reach the highest point (Paragraph 2)
c) important, crucial (Paragraph 3)

Question 4 (1.5 points)

Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) Shopping comparison website Kelkoo predicts that the cold weather and the London Underground strike will boost total spending.
Shopping comparison website Kelkoo predicts that total spending …………………. ……….............

b) ‘People have just been paid and they will want their gifts to be delivered in time for Christmas.’, said Steve Perry.
Steve Perry said that people …………...…………………………………………………....................
c) Shopping on the internet is convenient, but there are many risks involved and you should be very careful.
Although ....................................................., you should .................................................. because ............................................................................................................................

Question 5 (3 points)Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
‘Nowadays, it is possible to buy absolutely anything’. Do you agree?

Schoolboy to climb Mount Everest

A 13-year-old is planning to make history by becoming the youngest ever person to climb the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest.
Jordan Romero from the USA will attempt to summit the 8,850 metre peak which is above the height some planes fly at.
Jordan will be joined by his dad and stepmum on the expedition, both are experienced climbers.
Climbing so high can be dangerous though, the cold and lack of oxygen has killed lots of climbers in the past.
It's likely Jordan will use bottled oxygen as he climbs higher up the mountain as there is less oxygen to breathe in the higher up you go.
Record books
At age 10, he became the youngest American to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak.
The current record holder for the youngest person to climb Mount Everest is Temba Tsheri from Nepal who was 16.
Because of the extreme cold though he lost five fingers during his climb due to frostbite.

True or False?

1. Jordan Romero is 13 years-old.
2. Romero is from Canada.
3. The 13-year-old is planning to climb Mount Everest.
4. Jordan will climb the mountain with his father and uncle.
5. Jordan's father has never climbed a mountain before.
6. It can be dangerous to climb mountains.
7. Lack of oxygen can kill climbers.
8. The peak of Mount Everest is above the height at which some planes fly.
9. Jordan will probably use oxygen when he climbs the mountain.
10. There is less oxygen at the bottom of Mount Everest.

What is the missing word?

1. The summit of Mount Everest is 8,850___________tall.

2. The cold has _____________lots of climbers in the past.

3. Jordan became the_______________American to climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro when he was 10.

4. Temba Tsheri____________five fingers when he climbed to the top of Mount Everest.



KEY

1. TRUE
2. FALSE
3. TRUE
4. FALSE
5. FALSE
6. TRUE
7. TRUE
8. TRUE
9. TRUE
10. FALSE

1. metres
2. killed
3. youngest
4. lost

Warning about falling icicles

Kids in Scotland are being warned to look out for falling icicles, as the weather warms up this weekend.
Parts of Scotland have experienced temperatures as low as -20 degrees over the past few weeks.
Weather forecasters say temperatures are rising, and icicles that were frozen solid are starting to melt and could snap off buildings.
People are also being warned to be careful, as melting ice could make roads and pavements very slippery.
Forecasters said Friday would be a milder day but it would start to get cold again on Saturday night.
They said there might be more snow towards the end of next week too.

True or False?

1. Children in Scotland are being given icicles.
2. The weather is warming up this weekend.
3. Parts of Scotland have been as cold as minus 40 degrees.
4. Weather forecasters say temperatures are going to stay cold.
5. Icicles may melt and snap off buildings.
6. People are being warned as roads and pavements could be slippery.
7. Friday is going to be a hot day.
8. The weather will get colder again on Saturday.
9. There will be no more snow.

Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?
warms up

a) the same as gets colder
b) the same as gets warmer
c) the same as starts raining
low

a) the same as hot
b) the same as cold
c) the same as interesting

rising
a) the same as getting colder
b) the same as getting warmer
c) the same as starting to snow

starting
a) the same as beginning
b) the same as ending
c) the same as happening



KEY
1. FALSE
2. TRUE
3. FALSE
4. FALSE
5. TRUE
6. TRUE
7. FALSE
8. TRUE
9. FALSE

1. B
2. B
3. B
4. A

Online shoppers splash out

Key

Vocabulary exercise
1 splash out d spend money
2 buy online f shop on the internet
3 predict b forecast
4 a transaction c an order
5 online shoppers a shoppers choosing to buy online
6 a present e a gift

Question 1

a) True …… the busiest online shopping day in the previous two years had been on the last Monday in November
b) False. 74% of consumers planned to buy presents online this Christmas, with 30% looking to do more shopping on the internet than last year.
c) True still allowing time for delivery and wrapping before December 25.
d) True The busiest day on the high street is expected to be December 18.

Question 2

a) The freezing temperatures and the fact that the people who work in the London Underground will be taking industrial action today as well as the fact that people have just received their monthly salaries will mean that there will be an increase in the number of people shopping online this year on this day.
b) There will be two busiest times today: when people stop to have lunch between 1 and 2pm and later in the evening when workers arrive home.

Question 3
a) to boost
b) (to) peak
c) key

Question 4
Shopping comparison website Kelkoo predicts that the cold weather and the London Underground strike will boost total spending.
a) Shopping comparison website Kelkoo predicts that total spending will be boosted by the cold weather and the London Underground strike
b) ‘People have just been paid and they will want their gifts to be delivered in time for Christmas.’, said Steve Perry.
Steve Perry said that people had just been paid and that they would want their gifts to be delivered in time for Christmas.
c) Shopping on the internet is convenient, but there are many risks involved and you should be very careful.
Although shopping on the internet is convenient, you should be very careful because there are many risks involved.

Deathly Hallows: Harry Potter cast at world premiere

Thousands of Harry Potter fans braved cold winds and heavy showers to see their favourite stars at the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Some camped out for two nights to make sure they grabbed a good spot by the red carpet before the cast started arriving at London's Leicester Square.
As well as Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, there were loads of celebrity Potter fans there too, including the latest X Factor contestants and Tom and Harry from McFly.
We sent Ricky to the red carpet to check it out and get all the gossip from the stars - including CBBC's Hacker T Dog!!


Vocabulary

cast the actors and actresses in a film, play etc.
premiere the first public showing of a film or play etc.
braved to have done something that is difficult
camped out slept outside in a tent
celebrity famous person
contestants people who are trying to win something in a contest
gossip talk about other people which might be unkind or not true

True or false?

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows had its world premiere in London.
2. Thousands of Harry Potter fans wanted to see their favourite stars.
3. The sun was shining.
4. Some fans slept outside the cinema before the premiere.
5. The premiere was in Leicester Square.
6. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are in the Harry Potter films.
7. There were no other people there.
8. Ricky talked to the stars.
Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?

9. fans

a) the same as people who like something a lot
b) the same as people who don't like anything
c) the same as people who are famous
10. grabbed
a) the same as left
b) the same as gave
c) the same as took
11. spot
a) the same as place
b) the same as film
c) the same as star
12. arriving
a) the same as leaving
b) the same as staying
c) the same as coming