| Santa makes changes for reindeer and elves (25th December, 2012) |
Santa Claus has decided to get with the times and make several key changes to how he operates. Press reports say he will start to incorporate the latest technology in the manufacture and delivery of his gifts and create better working conditions for his reindeers and elves. He will also concentrate on getting in better shape and trimming his bulging waistline. Santa has come under increasing pressure from Internet stores in recent years and is finding it increasingly difficult to compete. Many children are sending their Christmas wish lists to sites like Amazon.com instead of writing to him. His workshop has also struggled to keep up with the latest cutting-edge production methods used in digital toys and games.
Santa's nine reindeer and group of elves will now all work considerably fewer hours. There have been concerns for centuries about making them work non-stop over the Christmas period and fly around the world all night. The elves will now oversee a brand-new, state-of-the-art, gift-making facility at Santa's workshop. This will reduce their working load to just one hour a day. In another technological revolution, Santa's sleigh will be powered by a new environmentally-friendly fuel. Animal rights activists will be happy that Rudolph and his helpers will now sit in the sleigh instead of pulling it. These changes also mean Santa will have more time to spend working out at his North Pole gym and shed a few kilos.
Sources:
The North Pole Times
SantaLand Gazette
WARM-UPS
1. SANTA CLAUS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about Santa Claus. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.
Santa / changes / latest technology / gifts / getting in shape / waistline / pressure / reindeer / working non-stop / revolution / environmentally friendly / North Pole
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SANTA FACTS: Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again. Ask new partners what you'd like to know.
Santa Claus and…
What I (we) know
What I (we) would like to know
his name (Santa)
his appearance
the North Pole
his reindeer
his job
commercialism
4. SANTA: Students A strongly believe Santa is great for kids; Students B strongly believe he isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
MY e-BOOK
See a sample5. SANTA STUFF: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best Santa things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.
- his beard
- Rudolph
- the presents he brings
- his elves
- you can send him a wish list
- yo-ho-ho
- his clothes
- his message for kids to be good
6. CHRISTMAS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'Christmas'. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
7. CHRISTMAS SONGS Look at the lyrics (words) as you listen to these popular Xmas songs -
BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
a.
Santa is going high-tech to make life easier for his helpers.
T / F
b.
Santa is also focusing on losing some weight.
T / F
c.
The Internet has meant more and more kids are writing to Santa.
T / F
d.
Santa has found it difficult to keep up with making modern games.
T / F
e.
Santa has reduced the working hours of his reindeer and elves.
T / F
f.
The elves will work just one hour a week in future.
T / F
g.
Santa has found robot reindeer to pull his sleigh instead of Rudolph.
T / F
h.
Santa will have less time to go to the gym.
T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
1.
key
a.
reducing
2.
incorporate
b.
supervise
3.
trimming
c.
innovative
4.
bulging
d.
exercising
5.
cutting-edge
e.
increasing
6.
considerably
f.
important
7.
oversee
g.
lose
8.
facility
h.
include
9.
working out
i.
greatly
10.
shed
j.
center / centre
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
1.
get with
a.
load
2.
incorporate the
b.
edge production methods
3.
trimming his
c.
gift-making facility
4.
finding it increasingly
d.
a few kilos
5.
the latest cutting-
e.
the times
6.
work considerably
f.
activists
7.
oversee a brand-new, state-of-the-art,
g.
latest technology
8.
reduce their working
h.
fewer hours
9.
animal rights
i.
bulging waistline
10.
shed
j.
difficult to compete
WHILE READING / LISTENING
GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Santa Claus has decided to get with the (1) ____________ and make several key changes to how he operates. Press reports say he will start to (2) ____________ the latest technology in the manufacture and (3) ____________ of his gifts and create better working conditions for his reindeers and elves. He will also concentrate on getting in better shape and (4) ____________ his bulging waistline. Santa has come under increasing pressure from Internet stores in recent years and is finding it (5) ____________ difficult to compete. Many children are sending their Christmas (6) ____________ lists to sites like Amazon.com instead of writing to him. His workshop has also (7) ____________ to keep up with the latest cutting-edge production (8) ____________ used in digital toys and games.
struggled
incorporate
trimming
times
wish
delivery
methods
increasingly
Santa's nine reindeer and group of elves will now all work (9) ____________ fewer hours. There have been concerns for centuries about making them work non-stop over the Christmas (10) ____________ and fly around the world all night. The elves will now (11) ____________ a brand-new, state-of-the-art, gift-making facility at Santa's workshop. This will reduce their working (12) ____________ to just one hour a day. In another technological revolution, Santa's sleigh will be (13) ____________ by a new environmentally-friendly fuel. Animal rights activists will be happy that Rudolph and his (14) ____________ will now sit in the sleigh instead of (15) ____________ it. These changes also mean Santa will have more time to spend working out at his North Pole gym and (16) ____________ a few kilos.
helpers
shed
period
load
considerably
pulling
powered
oversee
LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.
1)
get with the times and make ______
a. several key change is
b. several key changes
c. seven key changes
d. seven all key changes2)
the latest technology in the ______ of his gifts
a. delivery and manufacture
b. delivery on manufacture
c. deliver and manufacture
d. manufacture and delivery3)
getting in better ______ bulging waistline.
a. shape and trim in his
b. trim and shaping his
c. shape and trimming his
d. shaping and trimming his4)
______ difficult to compete
a. find in it increasingly
b. finding it increasingly
c. finding it increase in Lee
d. fined it increase only5)
keep up with the ______ methods
a. lay test cut in edge production
b. latest edge-cutting production
c. late its cutting-edge production
d. latest cutting-edge production6)
There have been ______ about making them work non-stop
a. concerns for centuries
b. concerts for centuries
c. concern for centuries
d. concerns four centuries7)
This will ______ to just one hour a day.
a. reduces the working load
b. reduce their working load
c. reduce their work in load
d. reduce their work inroad8)
Santa's sleigh ______ environmentally-friendly fuel.
a. will be powerful by a new
b. will be power by a new
c. will be powered by a new
d. will be powdered by a new9)
Animal rights activists will be happy that Rudolph and his helpers will now ______ pull it.
a. sit in the sleigh in steady of
b. sitting the sleigh instead of
c. sit in the sleigh instead of
d. sitting in the sleigh instead of10)
more time to spend working out at his North Pole gym ______
a. and shed a few kilos
b. and shred a few kilos
c. and shared a few kilos
d. and shredder few kilosLISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
Santa Claus has decided to (1) ______________________ and make several key changes to how he operates. Press reports say he will start to incorporate the latest technology in the (2) ______________________ of his gifts and create better working conditions for his reindeers and elves. He will also concentrate on getting in better shape (3) ____________________ waistline. Santa has (4) ______________________ pressure from Internet stores in recent years and is finding it increasingly difficult to compete. Many children are sending their Christmas (5) ______________________ Amazon.com instead of writing to him. His workshop has also struggled to keep up with (6) ______________________ production methods used in digital toys and games.
Santa's nine reindeer and group of elves will (7) ______________________ fewer hours. There have been (8) ______________________ about making them work non-stop over the Christmas period and fly around the world all night. The elves will now (9) ______________________ -of-the-art, gift-making facility at Santa's workshop. This will (10) _____________________ to just one hour a day. In another technological revolution, Santa's sleigh (11) ______________________ environmentally-friendly fuel. Animal rights activists will be happy that Rudolph and his helpers will now sit in the sleigh instead of pulling it. These changes also mean Santa will have more time to spend working out at his North Pole (12) ______________________.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1.
What has Santa decided to get with?
2.
What will he incorporate into his operations?
3.
What will Santa trim?
4.
Why is Santa finding business is difficult?
5.
Where else are kids sending their Christmas wish lists?
6.
For how long have people worried about working conditions for elves?
7.
What role will the elves take on from now?
8.
What are the new working hours for the elves?
9.
Why will animals rights activists be happy?
10.
What can Santa do now he has more free time?
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ
1.
How many key changes has Santa decided to make?
6.
For how long have people worried about working conditions for Santa's helpers?
a) seven
b) seventeen
c) seventy
d) several
a) millennia
b) since breakfast last Friday
c) centuries
d) 17 hours, 4 minutes and 32 seconds2.
Who reported the changes?
7.
Who will look after a new production facility at Santa's workshop?
a) Santa's elves
b) the media
c) Rudolph
d) Frosty the snowman
a) the elves
b) North Pole robots
c) specially chosen children
d) Frosty the snowman3.
What will Santa focus on reducing?
8.
What are the new working hours for the elves?
a) the electricity used in his workshop
b) production costs
c) the number of presents he gives
each child
d) his weight
a) an hour a year
b) an hour a week
c) an hour a day
d) an hour a month4.
From whom or what is Santa facing competition from?
9.
What will the reindeer do now they don't have to pull the sleigh?
a) a rebel group of elves
b) iPhone apps
c) Internet stores
d) a rival Santa
a) have snowball fights
b) sit in it
c) wrap more presents
d) follow the sleigh's progress on
www.noradsanta.org/en/track.html5.
What has Santa found it difficult to do?
10.
What will Santa do with his extra free time?
a) get in YouTube's top 10 video list
b) find a way into apartments because
they don't have chimneys
c) keep pace with technology
d) win at the latest video games
a) go to the gym to lose weight
b) invent better toys for kids
c) sleep
d) play with Frosty the snowman
ROLE PLAY
Role A – Santa
You think you are one of the most important characters in children's lives. Tell the others three reasons why. You hate the Internet. Tell the others three reasons why. You have done your best to be a more up-to-date Santa so kids of today will love you more. Amazon is only interested in profit, not kids.
Role B – Amazon.com boss
You think Santa is too out of date for today's kids. Tell the others three reasons why. You think kids like Amazon.com better than Santa. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell Santa he really needs to change a lot more to stay popular, and that Amazon's wish lists are better for kids.
Role C – A kid
You love Santa. Tell the others three reasons why. You think Santa is becoming more and more popular. Tell Amazon's boss why Santa will always be bigger than the Internet. Tell him/her that Santa cares and that Internet stores don't. You don't believe the bad things Rudolph says about Santa.
Role D – Rudolph
You have studied the rivalry between Santa and the Internet very closely. You think Santa is still most popular. Tell the others three reasons why. You think stores like Amazon are making Christmas too commercial. You have three bad things to say about Santa. Tell the others what they are.
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'north' and 'pole'.
north
pole
- Share your findings with your partners.
- Make questions using the words you found.
- Ask your partner / group your questions.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
- Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
- Ask your partner / group your questions.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?
4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:
- times
- gifts
- shape
- pressure
- wish
- games
- fewer
- world
- brand
- powered
- happy
- shed
SANTA CLAUS SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about Santa Claus in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.
STUDENT 1
_____________
STUDENT 2
_____________
STUDENT 3
_____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.
- Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
- Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
SANTA CLAUS DISCUSSION
STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
a)
What did you think when you read the headline?
b)
What springs to mind when you hear the name 'Santa Claus'?
c)
What do you think of the concept of Santa Claus?
d)
What else can Santa do to get with the times?
e)
What do you think of the way Santa delivers his gifts?
f)
Is a fat Santa a good role model for kids?
g)
Do you think the Internet is decreasing or increasing Santa's popularity?
h)
Is it OK for parents to lie to children and say Santa exists?
i)
Is Santa being used too much by stores wanting bigger profits?
j)
What message should be associated with Santa's image?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
a)
Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)
What do you know about the history of Santa Claus?
c)
What do you think it's like being an elf working in Santa's workshop?
d)
How does Santa manage to deliver all his presents around the world on Christmas Eve?
e)
What do you think animal rights activists think of making the reindeer work such long hours and travel so far?
f)
Does the focus on Santa take away the real meaning of Christmas?
g)
What would you do if you visited Santa in the North Pole?
h)
What do you think the reindeer and elves think of Santa?
i)
What questions would you like to ask Santa?
j)
What do you think his answers might be?
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
________________________________________________________
2.
________________________________________________________
3.
________________________________________________________
4.
________________________________________________________
5.
________________________________________________________
6.
________________________________________________________
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.
________________________________________________________
2.
________________________________________________________
3.
________________________________________________________
4.
________________________________________________________
5.
________________________________________________________
6.
________________________________________________________
MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE
Santa Claus has decided to get with the (1) ____ and make several key changes to how he operates. Press reports say he will start to (2) ____ the latest technology in the manufacture and delivery of his gifts and create better working conditions for his reindeers and elves. He will also concentrate (3) ____ getting in better shape and trimming his bulging (4) ____. Santa has come under increasing pressure from Internet stores in recent years and is finding it increasingly difficult to compete. Many children are sending their Christmas (5) ____ lists to sites like Amazon.com instead of writing to him. His workshop has also struggled to keep (6) ____ with the latest cutting-edge production methods used in digital toys and games.
Santa's nine reindeer and group of elves will now all work (7) ____ fewer hours. There have been concerns for centuries about making them work non-stop over the Christmas period and fly around the world all night. The elves will now (8) ____ a brand-new, state-of-the-(9) ____, gift-making facility at Santa's workshop. This will reduce their working (10) ____ to just one hour a day. In another technological revolution, Santa's sleigh will be powered by a new environmentally-friendly fuel. Animal rights activists will be happy that Rudolph and his helpers will now sit in the sleigh (11) ____ of pulling it. These changes also mean Santa will have more time to spend working out at his North Pole gym and (12) ____ a few kilos.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1.
(a)
timers
(b)
times
(c)
timings
(d)
digital times
2.
(a)
incense
(b)
incorporate
(c)
incur
(d)
include
3.
(a)
as
(b)
at
(c)
in
(d)
on
4.
(a)
waste
(b)
waistline
(c)
wait times
(d)
wastepaper
5.
(a)
hope
(b)
wish
(c)
please
(d)
Day
6.
(a)
of
(b)
down
(c)
up
(d)
along
7.
(a)
considered
(b)
considers
(c)
considerably
(d)
considerately
8.
(a)
overseas
(b)
oversight
(c)
oversee
(d)
overs
9.
(a)
statue
(b)
digital
(c)
painting
(d)
art
10.
(a)
load
(b)
lead
(c)
lad
(d)
laid
11.
(a)
instead
(b)
rather
(c)
prefer
(d)
in place
12.
(a)
shack
(b)
cabin
(c)
shed
(d)
hut
SPELLING
Paragraph 1
1.
velsrea key changes
2.
rapioonrcte the latest technology
3.
ttorcaecnen on getting in better shape
4.
trimming his bulging ilwtasein
5.
finding it rnynaelsicig difficult
6.
ggesdultr to keep up
Paragraph 2
7.
work relsbncyoadi fewer hours
8.
there have been concerns for ncireuset
9.
gift-making ftciayli
10.
another technological ivontuerlo
11.
a new eilyennrnovlmat-friendly fuel
12.
animal rights iaittcssv
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
load to just one hour a day. In another technological revolution, Santa's sleigh will be powered by a new environmentally-
( )
delivery of his gifts and create better working conditions for his reindeers and elves. He will also concentrate
( )
to keep up with the latest cutting-edge production methods used in digital toys and games.
( )
for centuries about making them work non-stop over the Christmas period and fly around the world all night. The elves will now
( )
oversee a brand-new, state-of-the-art, gift-making facility at Santa's workshop. This will reduce their working
( )
friendly fuel. Animal rights activists will be happy that Rudolph and his helpers will now
( )
on getting in better shape and trimming his bulging waistline. Santa has come under increasing pressure from Internet stores in recent
( 1 )
Santa Claus has decided to get with the times and make several key changes to
( )
how he operates. Press reports say he will start to incorporate the latest technology in the manufacture and
( )
years and is finding it increasingly difficult to compete. Many children are sending their Christmas wish
( )
lists to sites like Amazon.com instead of writing to him. His workshop has also struggled
( )
sit in the sleigh instead of pulling it. These changes also mean Santa will have
( )
more time to spend working out at his North Pole gym and shed a few kilos.
( )
Santa's nine reindeer and group of elves will now all work considerably fewer hours. There have been concerns
PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
1.
times several the make changes with and key Get.
2.
technology Reports say he will start to incorporate the latest.
3.
better Create reindeers his for conditions working.
4.
also getting shape will on better He concentrate in.
5.
struggled His to workshop keep has up also.
6.
work period Making them stop over the Christmas. non -
7.
load to just one hour a day Reduce their working.
8.
by friendly a fuel new environmentally Powered -.
9.
the now His pulling sleigh sit helpers it instead in will of.
10.
More gym Pole North his at out working spend to time.
CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)
Santa Claus has decided to get / let with the times and make several key changes to how he operates. Press reports say he will start to incorporate the latest technology in / on the manufacture and delivery / delivers of his gifts and create better working conditions for his reindeers and elves. He will also concentrate in / on getting in better shape and trimming his bugling / bulging waistline. Santa has come under / over increasing pressure from Internet stores in recently / recent years and is finding it increasingly / increased difficult to compete. Many children are sending their Christmas wish / wishful lists to sites like Amazon.com instead of writing to him. His workshop has also struggled to keep up / down with the latest cutting-edge production methods used in digital toys and games.
Santa's nine reindeer and group of elves will now all work considerately / considerably fewer hours. There have been concerns / concerning for centuries about making them work stoppage / non-stop over the Christmas period and fly around the world all night. The elves will now oversight / oversee a brand-new, state-of-the-statue / state-of-the-art, gift-making facility / faculty at Santa's workshop. This will reduce their working load / lead to just one hour a day. In another technological revulsion / revolution, Santa's sleigh will be powered by a new environmentally-friendly fuel. Animal rights activists will be happy that Rudolph and his helpers will now sit in the sleigh instead / rather of pulling it. These changes also mean Santa will have more time to spend working out at his North Pole gym and shed / shack a few kilos.
Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.
INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)
S_nt_ Cl__s h_s d_c_d_d t_ g_t w_th th_ t_m_s _nd m_k_ s_v_r_l k_y ch_ng_s t_ h_w h_ _p_r_t_s. Pr_ss r_p_rts s_y h_ w_ll st_rt t_ _nc_rp_r_t_ th_ l_t_st t_chn_l_gy _n th_ m_n_f_ct_r_ _nd d_l_v_ry _f h_s g_fts _nd cr__t_ b_tt_r w_rk_ng c_nd_t__ns f_r h_s r__nd__rs _nd _lv_s. H_ w_ll _ls_ c_nc_ntr_t_ _n g_tt_ng _n b_tt_r sh_p_ _nd tr_mm_ng h_s b_lg_ng w__stl_n_. S_nt_ h_s c_m_ _nd_r _ncr__s_ng pr_ss_r_ fr_m _nt_rn_t st_r_s _n r_c_nt y__rs _nd _s f_nd_ng _t _ncr__s_ngly d_ff_c_lt t_ c_mp_t_. M_ny ch_ldr_n _r_ s_nd_ng th__r Chr_stm_s w_sh l_sts t_ s_t_s l_k_ _m_z_n.c_m _nst__d _f wr_t_ng t_ h_m. H_s w_rksh_p h_s _ls_ str_ggl_d t_ k__p _p w_th th_ l_t_st c_tt_ng-_dg_ pr_d_ct__n m_th_ds _s_d _n d_g_t_l t_ys _nd g_m_s.
S_nt_'s n_n_ r__nd__r _nd gr__p _f _lv_s w_ll n_w _ll w_rk c_ns_d_r_bly f_w_r h__rs. Th_r_ h_v_ b__n c_nc_rns f_r c_nt_r__s _b__t m_k_ng th_m w_rk n_n-st_p _v_r th_ Chr_stm_s p_r__d _nd fly _r__nd th_ w_rld _ll n_ght. Th_ _lv_s w_ll n_w _v_rs__ _ br_nd-n_w, st_t_-_f-th_-_rt, g_ft-m_k_ng f_c_l_ty _t S_nt_'s w_rksh_p. Th_s w_ll r_d_c_ th__r w_rk_ng l__d t_ j_st _n_ h__r _ d_y. _n _n_th_r t_chn_l_g_c_l r_v_l_t__n, S_nt_'s sl__gh w_ll b_ p_w_r_d by _ n_w _nv_r_nm_nt_lly-fr__ndly f__l. _n_m_l r_ghts _ct_v_sts w_ll b_ h_ppy th_t R_d_lph _nd h_s h_lp_rs w_ll n_w s_t _n th_ sl__gh _nst__d _f p_ll_ng _t. Th_s_ ch_ng_s _ls_ m__n S_nt_ w_ll h_v_ m_r_ t_m_ t_ sp_nd w_rk_ng __t _t h_s N_rth P_l_ gym _nd sh_d _ f_w k_l_s.
PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS
santa claus has decided to get with the times and make several key changes to how he operates press reports say he will start to incorporate the latest technology in the manufacture and delivery of his gifts and create better working conditions for his reindeers and elves he will also concentrate on getting in better shape and trimming his bulging waistline santa has come under increasing pressure from internet stores in recent years and is finding it increasingly difficult to compete many children are sending their christmas wish lists to sites like amazoncom instead of writing to him his workshop has also struggled to keep up with the latest cutting-edge production methods used in digital toys and games
santa's nine reindeer and group of elves will now all work considerably fewer hours there have been concerns for centuries about making them work non-stop over the christmas period and fly around the world all night the elves will now oversee a brand-new state-of-the-art gift-making facility at santa's workshop this will reduce their working load to just one hour a day in another technological revolution santa's sleigh will be powered by a new environmentally-friendly fuel animal rights activists will be happy that rudolph and his helpers will now sit in the sleigh instead of pulling it these changes also mean santa will have more time to spend working out at his north pole gym and shed a few kilos
PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE
SantaClaushasdecidedtogetwiththetimesandmakeseveralkeychangestohowhe
operates.Pressreportssayhewillstarttoincorporatethelatesttechnologyinthe
manufactureanddeliveryofhisgiftsandcreatebetterworkingconditionsforhis
reindeersandelves.Hewillalsoconcentrateongettinginbettershapeandtrimming
hisbulgingwaistline.SantahascomeunderincreasingpressurefromInternetstores
inrecentyearsandisfindingitincreasinglydifficulttocompete.Manychildrenare
sendingtheirChristmaswishliststositeslikeAmazon.cominsteadofwritingtohim.His
workshophasalsostruggledtokeepupwiththelatestcutting-edgeproductionmethods
usedindigitaltoysandgames.Santa'sninereindeerandgroupofelveswillnowall
workconsiderablyfewerhours.Therehavebeenconcernsforcenturiesaboutmaking
themworknon-stopovertheChristmasperiodandflyaroundtheworldallnight.The
elveswillnowoverseeabrand-new,state-of-the-art,gift-makingfacilityatSanta's
workshop. Thiswillreducetheirworkingloadtojustonehouraday.Inanother
technologicalrevolution,Santa'ssleighwillbepoweredbyanewenvironmentally-
friendlyfuel.AnimalrightsactivistswillbehappythatRudolphandhishelperswillnow
sitinthesleighinsteadofpullingit.ThesechangesalsomeanSantawillhavemoretimeto
spendworkingoutathisNorthPolegymandshedafewkilos.FREE WRITING
Write about Santa Claus for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.
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ACADEMIC WRITING
It is wrong for parents to lie to small children by telling them Santa Claus exists. Discuss.
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HOMEWORK
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about Santa Claus. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. SANTA CLAUS: Make a poster about Santa Claus. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. NORTH POLE CHANGE: Write a magazine article about the changes Santa is making. Include imaginary interviews with Santa, the reindeer Rudolph and an elf who works in Santa's workshop.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to Santa Claus. Ask him three questions about being Santa Claus. Give him three suggestions on how he can do his job better. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
ANSWERS
TRUE / FALSE (p.4)
a
T
b
T
c
F
d
T
e
T
f
F
g
F
h
F
SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)
1.
key
a.
important
2.
incorporate
b.
include
3.
trimming
c.
reducing
4.
bulging
d.
increasing
5.
cutting-edge
e.
innovative
6.
considerably
f.
greatly
7.
oversee
g.
supervise
8.
facility
h.
center / centre
9.
working out
i.
exercising
10.
shed
j.
lose
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)
1.
The times
2.
The latest technology
3.
His bulging waistline
4.
Because of competition from the Internet
5.
To Internet stores like Amazon.com
6.
For centuries
7.
Overseers of a new, modern facility
8.
One hour a day
9.
The reindeer will no longer have to pull the sleigh
10.
Go to the gym and lose weight
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)
1.
d
2.
b
3.
d
4.
c
5.
d
6.
c
7.
a
8.
c
9.
b
10.
a
ALL OTHER EXERCISES
Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)
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