Abstract
Christmas tree sparks protests in Brussels
Thousands of people
have signed a petition against an abstract light installation replacing the
traditional Christmas tree in Brussels city centre. More than
11,000 signatures have been gathered in the online petition and a Facebook page
attacking the new feature has been launched. Critics accuse officials of opting
for the installation for fear of offending non-Christians, especially Muslims.
Traditionally, a 20m (65ft) pine tree taken from
the forests of the Ardennes has adorned the city's central square, the Grand
Place. This year, it has been
replaced with a 25m (82ft) construction, though smaller real Christmas trees
still decorate the square, a spokesman at the mayor's office said.
The city's website said the new "tree"
was one of five "light" installations around the Grand Place this
year, offering visitors the chance to climb to the top and enjoy
"beautiful views" of the city.
Tourism councillor Philippe Close at the mayor's
office said the aim was to show off the "avant-garde character" of
Brussels by blending the modern and the traditional, to produce something new
and different.
'Offensive'
Brussels hosts one of the most popular winter
markets in Europe and many are worried that the contemporary construction is
incongruous with the 17th-Century buildings that surround it. The light installation has
even been nicknamed The Pharmacy by some who say the glowing cubes resemble the
green cross symbol you find outside many chemists around the world.
"What we want is just to modernise the
pleasure of winter, of this Christmas market and all the image of
Brussels," said Councillor Philippe Close. "For people who want a
traditional religious symbol, we have the nativity scene here in the square.
For people who want modernity, we have this new tree."
Miryam Oostling, a visitor from Leeuwarden in the
Netherlands, said: "I quite like the tree. It's a piece of modern art.
It's cosy!"
Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are
true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.
a)
There is only one Christmas tree in the Grand Place
this year.
b)
Many people visit Brussels at this time of the year.
c)
There are four more exhibits like this nearby.
d)
Some Christmas traditions are still preserved in the
Grand Place.
Question 2. Answer
the following questions in your own words.
a) What different ways have people found to protest about the
new tree?
b) What criticisms have been made of the tree?
Question 3. Find a
word or a phrase in the text that means the same as
a)
collect
par. 1
b)
mix, combine par. 4
c)
organise
par. 5
Question 4. Rewrite
the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) Thousands of people have signed a petition against
an abstract light installation in Brussels city centre.
The petition …..
b)
The glowing cubes resemble the green cross symbol you find outside
many
chemists around the world.
The glowing cubes resemble the green cross
symbol which can …………
c) Councillor Philippe
Close said: "For people who want a traditional religious
symbol,
we have the nativity scene here in the square. For people who want
modernity,
we have this new tree."
Councillor Philippe Close said that for
people who …. , ……………..
and
that for people who ………………. , ……………………
Question 5. Write a
short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
‘Traditions
are important and should be preserved? Do you agree?
