New York allows revellers at New Year's Eve celebrations

Revellers will be allowed to attend this year's New Year's Eve celebrations in New York's Times Square, the city's mayor has confirmed. The event was closed to spectators last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

People wanting to see the ball drop this year will have to show proof of full vaccination or a negative Covid test if exempt. The ball drop signifies the start of the New Year with hundreds of thousands of people usually turning up to watch."We can finally get back together again. It's going to be amazing, it's going to be a joy for this city," Mayor Bill de Blasio said. He added that he had been working with the Department of Health and New York Police Department "to get this right".

People over the age of five will need to bring photo ID along with their proof of vaccination in order to gain access to Times Square. Children under five-years-old will have to be accompanied by a vaccinated adult. Those who are unvaccinated will have to wear a mask, head of the Times Square Alliance, Tom Harris said.

People have been celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square since 1904. But last year, celebrations were muted after the Centers for Disease Control urged people to avoid gatherings. Only a few health workers were allowed into the square to watch and they were placed in socially distanced pods.

The US has recorded the highest number of Covid cases in the world, with 2.1 million recorded since the pandemic began. More than 765,000 people there have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

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.       Nobody will be able to watch the ball drop unless they are vaccinated.

 b.       New York's authority is enthusiastic about the celebration.

 c.       All children will have to prove they are vaccinated to enjoy the event.

 d.      There were no people at Times Square to watch last year due to the sanitary conditions. 

QUESTION 2: [2 POINTS] Answer the following questions in your own words according to the text.

a.       What happened in New York on New Year's Eve in 2020?          

b.        What will the restrictions for the public be this year?          

QUESTION 3: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the definitions given.

a.       Someone who enjoys partying greatly (paragraph 1)

b.       Be present (paragraph 1)

c.       Arrive (paragraph 2)

d.       Encourage, exhort (paragraph 4)

e.       Crowd (paragraph 4) 

QUESTION 4: [1,5 POINTS] Choose the correct option, a, b, c, or d for each question and COPY the sentences onto your answer sheet.

1.       The event was closed last year

a.       because Covid-19 pandemic.

b.       since Covid-19 pandemic.

c.       for Covid-19 pandemic.

d.       because of Covid-19 pandemic.

2.       If you want to see the ball drop this year

a.       you would have to be vaccinated.

b.       you will be vaccinated.

c.       you will have to be vaccinated.

d.       you won't be vaccinated.

3.       A child under five

a.       need to be accompanied.

b.       has to be accompanied.

c.       must accompanied.

d.       have to be accompanied. 

QUESTION 5: [3 POINTS] Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) giving your opinion on the following topic: 

How do you like to celebrate Christmas holidays?

 

KEY

Question 1

a. False. " People wanting to see the ball drop this year will have to show proof of full vaccination or a negative Covid test if exempt."

b. True. " We can finally get back together again. It's going to be amazing, it's going to be a joy for this city," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

c. False. " Children under five-years-old will have to be accompanied by a vaccinated adult."

d. False "Only a few health workers were allowed into the square to watch"

Question 2

a. In 2020, because of the pandemic, the public was not allowed to see the traditional ball drop in Times Square. There were only some health workers present respecting social distances.

b. Everybody will have to prove they are vaccinated. Those who have been excused will need a negative Coronavirus test. They will also need to show a photo ID. Children under five will need to go with a vaccinated adult. Wearing a mask will be obligatory for those who haven' been vaccinated.

Question 3

a. reveller

b. to attend

c. turning  up / to turn up

d. urged / to urge

e. gatherings

Question 4

a. d

b. c

c. b