Unit 7: Celebrations & culture | Vocabulary | B1

EXERCISE 1  |  Celebrations and culture

How do you celebrate your birthday?

1._____________________________

What traditional customs (e.g. music, food) surround this event?

2._____________________________

EXERCISE 2  |  Religious festivals

Each of the following Christian festivals has a special name. Match the festival with its name from the list given below.

A. The resurrection of Christ

B. The birth of Christ

C. The beginning of Lent (fasting)

D. The visit of the three wise men to the baby Jesus

E. The death of Christ

EXERCISE 3

The following are all non-religious festivals. Can you match each with the date on which it falls?

A. Guy Fawkes' Night

B. Hallowe'en

C. St Valentine's Day

D. Labour Day

E. American Independence Day

F. April Fools' Day

EXERCISE 4  |  Three Celebrations

Complete each paragraph using the words in the boxes:

St Valentine’s Day is a day when 1.________ celebrate by sending each other 2.________ and flowers. Great mystery is supposed to surround the 3._________ of the card who 4.________ does not reveal his or her 5.________.

On the first of April each year, hundreds of 6.__________, old and new, are played on unwary 7.___________. Memorable tricks of the past have included a television news report claiming that spaghetti was 8.__________ in the fields of Italy and claims of various 9._________ of ‘little green men’, supposedly 10._________ from the planet Mars. All stunts have to be completed by 12:00 midday, however, or they cease to be valid.

Hallowe’en is the night when witches and evil spirits are banished. People often 11.________ with fancy 12.________ parties, dressing in 13.__________ style as witches and ghosts. Games sometimes played include ‘Trick or Treat’, where children go from 14.__________ to house hoping to fill an empty bag with sweets and toys.

A game called ‘apple bobbing’ is also played: 15._________ are placed in a bowl of water and everyone has to try to catch one using their mouths only - no hands! Of course, everyone gets very wet!

EXERCISE 5

Match the following to form phrases:

EXERCISE 6

Complete the above and then fill the gaps in the sentences below:

1. It's ____________ in many countries to have a carnival every year as a celebration.

2. In Japan, it's ____________ to take off your shoes before entering a house.

3. The ____________ beliefs of some societies prohibit the consumption of pork.

4. ____________ differences can lead to misunderstandings: in some countries drinking alcohol is encouraged as a social activity while in others it is strictly forbidden.

EXERCISE 7  |  Cultural knowledge quiz

Match the following:

Where would you see the following famous sights?

1. The Eiffel Tower		A. New York
2. The Statue of Liberty		B. Athens
3. Big Ben		C. Paris
4. The Acropolis		D. Sydney
5. The Great Wall		E. London
6. The Opera House		F. China

Which forms of headgear do you associate with the following countries?

1. stetson		A. Mexico
2. beret		B. England
3. fez		C. U.S.A.
4. sombrero		D. Pakistan
5. turban		E. France
6. bowler		F. Morocco