Christmas becoming less religious in U.S.

The Reading / Listening - Level 1

People are also changing what they say to each other. More people are saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". This is because people want to include all holidays in their holiday wishes. Almost 80 per cent of Americans will watch a Christmas movie. Only 59 per cent will go to church. People spend an average of $914 on Christmas. People most look forward to spending time with their family at Christmas.

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Level 0, 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/
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.	Christmas in the USA is now less	a.	Christmas
2.	Nine out of	b.	was a cultural holiday
3.	celebrate	c.	in the story
4.	Over two thousand people	d.	religious
5.	Over 30 per cent said it	e.	of Jesus
6.	They're less likely to	f.	answered questions
7.	less likely to believe	g.	go to church
8.	the birth	h.	ten Americans

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	People are also changing what	a.	a Christmas movie
2.	saying "Happy Holidays" instead	b.	of $914 on Christmas
3.	people want to	c.	of "Merry Christmas"
4.	holiday	d.	time with their family
5.	watch	e.	they say to each other
6.	Only 59 per cent	f.	wishes
7.	People spend an average	g.	include all holidays
8.	People most look forward to spending	h.	will go to church

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A report says Christmas in the USA is (1) ___________________. Nine (2) ___________________ Americans celebrate Christmas, but only half think (3) ___________________. Over two thousand people answered questions about Christmas. Over 30 per cent said it was (4) ___________________. The report said more (5) ___________________ Christmas is not a religious holiday. They're less likely to go to church. They are also less likely to believe in the (6) ___________________ of Jesus.

People are also changing what they (7) ___________________. More people are saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". This is because people (8) ___________________ all holidays in their (9) ___________________. Almost 80 per cent of Americans (10) ___________________ Christmas movie. Only 59 per cent will go to church. People (11) ___________________ of $914 on Christmas. People most look forward to spending time with (12) ___________________ Christmas.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AreportsaysChristmasintheUSAisnowlessreligious.Nineoutoften
AmericanscelebrateChristmas,butonlyhalfthinkitisreligious.Over
twothousandpeopleansweredquestionsaboutChristmas.Over30
percentsaiditwasaculturalholiday.Thereportsaidmoreyoungerpe
oplethinkChristmasisnotareligiousholiday.They'relesslikelytogot
ochurch.TheyarealsolesslikelytobelieveinthestoryofthebirthofJe
sus.Peoplearealsochangingwhattheysaytoeachother.Morepeo
plearesaying"HappyHolidays"insteadof"MerryChristmas".Thisis
becausepeoplewanttoincludeallholidaysintheirholidaywishes.Al
most80percentofAmericanswillwatchaChristmasmovie.Only59p
ercentwillgotochurch.Peoplespendanaverageof$914onChristma
s.PeoplemostlookforwardtospendingtimewiththeirfamilyatChrist
mas.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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

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

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about Christmas for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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