lunes, 26 de diciembre de 2016

Listening test: The Christmas story

Listen to Melanie talk about what Christmas means for her. Complete the blanks in the sentences with up to THREE WORDS. 0 is an example.


0 Example:
For Melanie the Christmas season begins with the Santa Claus parade at the end of November.

1 It’s a popular tradition to watch your __________________ every year.

2 Melanie’s neighbour has a giant inflatable reindeer outside his house, which __________________ .

3 At Christmas, you’re supposed to spend lots of money to buy __________________ .

4 Melanie finds the Christmas build-up __________________ for just one day.

5 Melanie does her shopping two days before Christmas with all the other __________________ .

6 But she enjoys __________________ and seeing how people are when they open their presents.

7 For her, the fun part of Christmas now is watching her __________________ open their presents.



For me, the Christmas season begins with my town’s Santa Claus parade at the end of November. It’s a fun community event. I also enjoy watching Christmas movies on TV. It’s a popular tradition to watch your favorite Christmas movies every year. My neighbourhood always looks festive at Christmas because so many families decorate their houses. My next-door neighbour has a giant inflatable reindeer outside his house and it makes me smile! And, of course, I enjoy spending time with my family at Christmas, because that’s what’s important.
Christmas can be a lot of pressure, and there are some things I don’t like. You’re supposed to be happy all the time because “it’s the most wonderful time of the year!” You have to spend a lot of money to buy the perfect presents for everyone. And you have to be busy, because the busier you are, the more fun you’re having and the happier you are! It’s stressful and it’s a lot of build-up for just one day.
I don’t enjoy Christmas shopping. Every year I say that I will get my shopping done early, and every year I’m at the mall a couple days before Christmas with all the other last-minute shoppers! My family is difficult to buy for. I usually end up wandering around the mall waiting for gift ideas to jump out at me. I do, however, enjoy wrapping presents, and I enjoy seeing how happy people are when they open their gifts.
When I was a kid, my brother and I would wait on the stairs until our parents woke up and then we would run downstairs and open all the presents. I don’t remember what we did for the rest of the day! We may have spent time with relatives, but when you’re a kid, Christmas is all about toys. Now Christmas is all about family and the fun part is watching my niece and nephew open their presents. I spend Christmas day with my family, which includes my mom’s sister and her family, and my mom cooks a big dinner for everyone. If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful day with your family, too!

Key:
1 favorite Christmas movies
2 makes her smile
3 the perfect presents
4 stressful
5 last-minute shoppes
6 wrapping presents
7 niece and nephew