HA yPOKE
Easter
Read the text about Easter and then do the exercises to check your understanding.
In the UK, schools close for two weeks at Easter time. Read on to find out more about how Easter is celebrated in Britain.
What does it mean?
Easter is a spring festival of new life. As a pagan tradition it is the beginning of growth and new life after the cold, winter months. The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn and spring - Eostre. For Christians, Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and practising Christians attend special church services at Easter time. Easter celebrates life and rebirth, which is why we see lots of symbols of new life and fertility at Easter, like eggs, chicks and rabbits.
When is it?
Unlike Christmas, Easter isn't on the same date each year. It takes place on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. Schoolchildren and students in the UK have a two-week holiday at Easter time which is almost as long as the Christmas holiday. It's also the first public holiday after Christmas and everyone looks forward to their Easter break as a moment to relax, have a short holiday or visit family and friends.
Chocolate eggs
For most British children, Easter means chocolate Easter eggs. The shops are full of bright Easter displays decorated with chicks, rabbits and flowers, all with the objective of selling
chocolate eggs in huge numbers. And it works! 90 million chocolate eggs are sold in the UK each year, and each child receives on average eight chocolate eggs. The eggs are sold in cardboard boxes and sometimes there's more packaging than chocolate! Some people believe that too much chocolate is eaten at Easter time and most doctors and dentists would advise people to eat Easter eggs in moderation.
Other 'egg-straordinary' traditions
In the UK, chocolate is definitely the most popular way to enjoy eggs at Easter. But there are some less sugary traditions, too. Chickens' eggs are painted and decorated to give as presents, and eggs are also hidden for children to find as part of an 'egg hunt'. Some places even hold competitions to see who can roll an egg down a hill without it breaking!
Hot cross buns are typical cakes that are made at Easter time. They are like spiced bread rolls with raisins and they always have a cross shape on top. They are served hot with butter.
Exercises
1. Check your understanding: multiple choice.
Circle the best option to complete these sentences.
1. Easter is a celebration of ...
a. new life and rebirth.
b. chicks and chocolate.
2. The exact date of Easter is calculated .
a. according to the moon.
b. differently every year.
НА УРОКЕ
3. The Easter holiday is ...
a. two weeks long for everyone.
b. the first public holiday after Christmas.
4. Chocolate eggs are ...
a. sold in large numbers.
b. not very popular.
5. Doctors and dentists recommend
a. not eating Easter eggs.
b. only eating a small number of Easter eggs.
6. The objective of an 'egg hunt' is ...
a. to decorate eggs with chickens and flowers.
b. to find hidden Easter eggs.
2. Check your grammar: multiple choice - active or passive.
Choose and write the best answer to complete these sentences.
1. Easter_life and rebirth.
a) celebrates b) is celebrated
2. Christians _
special church services at Easter time.
a) attend b) are attended
3. The eggs_in
cardboard boxes.
a) sell b) are sold
4. Some people believe that too much chocolate_at Easter.
a) eats b) is eaten
5. Chickens' eggs_
to give as presents.
a) paint and decorate b) are painted and decorated
6. Eggs _ for
children to find.
a) also hide b) are also hidden
7. Hot cross buns are typical cakes that_at Easter time.
a) make b) are made
3. Check your grammar: gap fill -prepositions.
Complete the sentences with a preposition from the box. | at on of(x2) in(x2) as in to
1. Easter is a spring festival _new life.
2. Christians attend special church services_Easter.
3. Easter isn't _
the same date every year.
4. Everyone looks forward _their Easter break.
5. The shops are full_
bright Easter displays.
6. The aim of most shops is to sell
chocolate eggs _
huge numbers.
7. Doctors and dentists would
advise people to eat Easter eggs_
moderation.
8. Eggs are painted and decorated to give_presents.
Discussion
Is Easter celebrated where you live?
Which of these celebrations would you most like to see or do?
What's the most important festival in your country? How do you celebrate it?
Key
1. 1. а; 2. а; 3. b; 4. a; 5. b; 6. b.
2. 1. b; 2. a; 3. b; 4. b; 5. b; 6. b; 7. b.
3. 1. of; 2. at; 3. on; 4. to; 5. of; 6. in; 7. in; 8. as.
Т.В. Бортникова
Сведения об авторе: Бортникова Татьяна Владимировна, учитель английского языка высшей категории, ГБОУ СОШ № 285 им. В.А. Молод-цова, Москва.
E-mail: borticnet@mail.ru
Ключевые слова: Easter time, text for reading, exercises, key.
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