The giant Christmas tree made entirely out of Lego

A very unusual Christmas tree has been unveiled in London - it's made out of Lego bricks!
The 12 metre high tree is made out of a whopping 600,000 bricks and has taken two months to build. It's so tall that the builders needed to use a crane to put the star on the top !
The 1200 baubles are also made of Lego and have been made by kids at local schools and Scout groups.
The tree is on show at St Pancras International rail station in London and will be there until the new year.
The tree was created by Duncan Titmarsh who is the UK's only Lego Professional. Duncan has built many weird and wonderful things out of the plastic bricks, including a Lego house, but this is his most ambitious project yet.


Match the words below to their definitions

ambitious / baubles / crane / professional / unveiled / whopping

showed something new for the first time
very large
ball-shaped Christmas decoration for hanging on a tree
tall metal machine used for lifting heavy things
person who does a job that people usually do as a hobby
something that needs a lot of skill and effort to do


True or false?

1. The baubles were made by Duncan Titmarsh.
2. The tree took a long time to build.
3. The tree will be taken down right after Christmas.
4. St Pancras International station is in London.
5. There are 1200 baubles hanging on the tree.
6. This was Duncan Titmarsh’s first Lego project.
7. Children put the star on top of the tree.
8. There is only one Lego Professional in the UK.

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

1. weird
a) the same as familiar
b) the same as peculiar
c) the same as missing
2. unusual
a) the same as uncommon
b) the same as expected
c) the same as ordinary
3. created
a) the same as destroyed
b) the same as forecast
c) the same as made
4. project
a) the same as decision
b) the same as undertaking
c) the same as thought



KEY

True or false?
1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. True

Vocabulary

unveiled showed something new for the first time
whopping very large
baubles ball-shaped Christmas decoration for hanging on a tree
crane tall metal machine used for lifting heavy things
professional person who does a job that people usually do as a hobby
ambitious something that needs a lot of skill and effort to do

What is the missing word?

1. peculiar
2. uncommon
3. made
4. undertaking

Shopping in London

Read this article about the different shopping areas in London and complete the gaps with a correct missing word.

Missing words:
• Alternative
• Groceries
• Bargain
• Traffic
• Legends
• Revitalised
• crowds
• Market
:
Covent Garden
Originally a monastery garden and then a fruit and vegetable _1_, Covent Garden has been reinvented in recent decades as a shopping and tourism attraction. Saved from demolition, the main, glass-covered market building serves as the centerpiece of a revitalized piazza. These days, _2_ wander the streets, browsing for clothing, antiques, crafts, books and souvenirs. Plenty of bars, restaurants and cafes cater to visitors, and talented street musicians add lively ambience to the whole district.
Camden Town
Set in a bohemian, _3_ neighborhood north of London's center, Camden Market promises lots of cool, hip merchandise, often at _4_ prices. It's also a favorite of students and tourists, who relish the idea of getting terrific buys on leather goods, shoes, funky clothing, CDs and jewelry. Ethnic items, crafts, and all manner of souvenirs can also be found, along with a bounty of food shops and other local market venues. Great for people-watching too. TUBE: Camden Town
Knightsbridge
A neighborhood rife with upscale designer shopping venues, Knightsbridge prominently features two London _5_Not only are Harvey Nichols and Harrods (where the Queen gets her _6_ popular — they've also become tourist attractions. Accompanying them are plenty of historic attractions and boutiques, not to mention popular restaurants and bars.
Carnaby Street
What was, in the '60s, London's fashion epicenter has been _7_ as a pedestrian-friendly area offering the odd souvenir shop amongst the many trendy boutiques. Off Oxford Street and parallel to Regent Street, Carnaby gets a lot of foot _8_ and its bars and restaurants serve as gathering places for lunchtime and evening socializing. After you've braved the crowds on Oxford, step into this also-busy neighborhood for something more offbeat and contemporary-minded.


KEY

1. market
2. crowds
3. alternative
4. bargain
5. legends
6. groceries
7. revitalised
8. traffic

CU after summer

Now that the "busy days" are coming, here are our last posts of this school year.
Hope that you find Our Blog useful. We'll see you again in September.
In the meanwhile, let's listen to some music to get ready for the summer hols.



“Summercat” – Billie the Vision & The Dancers

I kissed you good bye at the airport. I held you so close to me. I said ‘So here we are now and I can’t stop from crying Lilly’. And you said ‘Hey hey hoo, you know this is the way to go. You will forget about me when I’m on that plane. Forget about me when I’m on that plane.’

Tonight tonight tonight tonight
I wanna be with you Tonight tonight tonight tonight
I wanna be with you tonight

The plane took off and my love went with it. The chilly wind whipped my both cheeks hard. And the man next to me said ‘Everything is gonna be alright’. I said ‘Nothing is gonna be alright, but thank you anyway’. And then I saw your face in the airplane window. I waved my hands and I shouted to you:

Tonight tonight tonight tonight
I wanna be with you Tonight tonight tonight tonight
I wanna be with you tonight

I wore a T-shirt and my worn out hat. Abandoned as a summer cat. And as I stood there as a broken hearted I realized you got the car keys still. So I broke into my own old car. I fell asleep on the passenger seat. I dreamed of summer sex with you and you whispered in my ear:

Tonight tonight tonight tonight
I wanna be with you Tonight tonight tonight tonight
I wanna be with you tonight

Why can’t you leave me tomorrow instead?

And above the clouds she said to herself ‘I can’t believe how naive a man can be. That’s why I love you so and that’s why I can’t be with you…’

Tonight tonight tonight tonight
I wanna be with you Tonight tonight tonight tonight
I wanna be with you tonight

..... and some others for you to enjoy.

Holiday snaps

What’s on your computer screen?

Would you put any of these images on your screen?

Holiday snaps of 'smiling' three-ton hippo 'Otis' become web hit

When Jay Parker told his wife Lauren to say ‘cheese’, it seems someone else was listening, too. Otis the hippo pressed his face against the glass of his tank and produced what appears to be a beaming smile.
And when the couple exchanged positions, the three-ton beast duly obliged with another grin for the camera next to her husband. The Parkers, from Little Rock, Arkansas, took their extraordinary photographs during a holiday visit to San Diego Zoo in California.

'We took the picture on holiday at San Diego Zoo, my wife is a big fan of animals so we always try and visit somewhere when we are away,' said Mr Parker.

'Actually the week we were there the zoo had just put two hippos together for the first time in the tank. Hippos are not usually that friendly and the two they had in the tank - the male Otis and the female Funani - had been having a bit of a fight with each other that day. Mr Parker said 'When I look at his face I think he looks pretty tired by it all, or maybe he's having a happy dream - either way it's a great picture.'

To add another dimension to the memorable snap, the picture has become an internet hit after Jay posted them on the internet and pops up on blogs and chatrooms from USA to China. Mr Parker, 35, from Little Rock, Arkansas, even gets fan mail from people far away telling him he is their computer screensaver or Facebook profile picture.

He said: 'It's kind of strange to think there are people out there with a picture of me on their computer, but I guess I'm just the hippo man as far they're concerned.’


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) Jay Parker appears in the first photograph of Otis in San Diego. b) Lauren likes animals a lot.
c) Otis has always had company in his tank. (
d) Mr Parker received emails from people all over the world.

Question 2 [2 points] Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) When and where were the photos taken?
b) Who has used the photos of Mr and Mrs Parker and how?

Question 3 [1.5 points] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a) very wide and happy (paragraph 1)
b) animal (paragraph 2)
c) to appear (paragraph 5)

Question 4 Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a) The Parkers, from Little Rock, Arkansas, took their extraordinary photographs during a holiday visit to San Diego Zoo in California.
The extraordinary photographs ……..

b) My wife is a big fan of animals so we always try and visit some when we are away.
If my …….

c) Mr Parker said: 'It's kind of strange to think there are people out there with a picture of me on their computer, but I guess I'm just the hippo man as far they're concerned.’
Mr Parker said that it …………

Question 5 Write a short essay (between120-150 words) on the following topic:
‘Nowadays, the internet makes it possible for everyone to be famous’. Do you agree? Is it always a good thing?