The Reading / Listening - Level 0

Christmas in the USA is now less religious. Nine out of ten Americans celebrate Christmas, but half think it is a cultural holiday. Many people answered questions about Christmas. Younger people think Christmas is not a religious holiday. Fewer young people go to church. Fewer believe in the story of the birth of Jesus.

People also say different things to each other nowadays. They say "Happy Holidays" and not "Merry Christmas". This is because there are many holidays at the end of December. Most Americans will watch a Christmas movie. Over half will go to church. People spend about $914 each on Christmas. People most like being with family.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 1,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/poll-christmas-is-a-commercial-holiday-not-a-sacred-holy-day-for-many/2013/12/17/
    • e07cd7fa-672e-11e3-997b-9213b17dac97_story.html
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/18/christmas-non-religious_n_4453828.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

less

a.

people

2.

celebrate

b.

it is a cultural holiday

3.

half think

c.

go to church

4.

answered questions

d.

holiday

5.

Younger

e.

religious

6.

a religious

f.

Christmas

7.

Fewer young people

g.

of Jesus

8.

the story of the birth

h.

about Christmas


MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

People also say different things

a.

of December

2.

They say "Happy Holidays" and

b.

each on Christmas

3.

there are

c.

Christmas movie

4.

at the end

d.

being with family

5.

watch a

e.

not "Merry Christmas"

6.

Over half will

f.

many holidays

7.

People spend about $914

g.

to each other

8.

People most like

h.

go to church

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Christmas in the USA is now (1) ___________________. Nine out of ten Americans celebrate Christmas, (2) ___________________ it is a (3) ___________________. Many people answered questions about Christmas.                   (4) ___________________ think Christmas (5) ___________________ religious holiday. Fewer young people go to church. Fewer believe in the story of (6) ___________________ Jesus.

People (7) ___________________ things to each other nowadays. They say "(8) ___________________ " and not "Merry Christmas". This is because (9) ___________________ holidays at the end of December. Most Americans (10) ___________________ Christmas movie. (11) ___________________ go to church. People spend about $914 each on Christmas. People (12) ___________________ with family.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ChristmasintheUSAisnowlessreligious.NineoutoftenAmericansce
lebrateChristmas,buthalfthinkitisaculturalholiday.Manypeoplea
nsweredquestionsaboutChristmas.YoungerpeoplethinkChristma
sisnotareligiousholiday.Feweryoungpeoplegotochurch.Fewerbel
ieveinthestoryofthebirthofJesus.Peoplealsosaydifferentthingsto
eachothernowadays.Theysay"HappyHolidays"andnot"MerryChri
stmas".ThisisbecausetherearemanyholidaysattheendofDecemb
er.MostAmericanswillwatchaChristmasmovie.Overhalfwillgotoc
hurch.Peoplespendabout$914eachonChristmas.Peoplemostlike
beingwithfamily.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about Christmas for 10 minutes. Read and talk about your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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