Lesson 1

Vocabulary

1. Read the definitions and write the words. There is one extra word you don't need.

1. a time when something happens occasion
2. make something ready for use prepare
3. give someone food or drinks as part of a meal serve
4. meet with other people get together
5. a way of doing something that has existed for a long time traditional
6. how much of something there is amount

Reading

2. Complete the article about New Year's Day with the words in Exercise 1.

As one year changes to the next, many countries around the world choose to celebrate the start of the New Year with special food. However, different countries eat very different things to enjoy the 1 occasion.

In Mexico, for example, many people eat 2 out at the many restaurants around the country on New Year’s Day.

The most popular dish is always tamales, which is made from meat, cheese and vegetables that are cooked inside banana leaves.

However, when the New Year arrives in Japan, people make special little cakes from sweet rice.

Then they 3 get together with their family and friends to eat them and celebrate.

In Spain, it is 4 traditional to eat twelve grapes to welcome the New Year.

The Spanish people eat this particular 5 amount of grapes late at night, when the clock reaches midnight, or twelve o’clock, and they have one
grape for each hour of the clock.

In Poland, people start to 6 prepare a fish called ‘herring’ at least five days before they eat it.

They put the fish in a jar with water, onions and sugar and then they wait for the big day.

Finally, in Greenland, it is traditional for the men to 7 serve a special meal of whale for women to enjoy.

It takes months for the meat to become ready to eat and people say the smell is very strong.

3. Read the article again and answer the questions.

1. Which dish is prepared in banana leaves? tamales.
2. What do they make the special cakes from in Japan? They make them from sweet rice.
3. Why do they eat 12 grapes in Spain? They eat 12 grapes in Spain to welcome the New Year by having one grape for each hour of the clock at midnight.
4. What do they do in Poland before they eat a herring? They put it in a jar with water, onions and sugar.