The Reading / Listening - Level 2

A report from the Pew Research Center says Christmas in the USA is getting less religious. Nine out of ten Americans celebrate Christmas, but only about half think it is a religious holiday. Over two thousand people took a survey about Christmas. Just over 30 per cent said it was "more of a cultural holiday" than a religious one. Greg Smith from Pew Research said: "Younger adults are less likely than older adults to see Christmas as a religious…holiday. They're less likely to...attend [church at] Christmas…and they are less likely to believe in the virgin birth."

People are also changing what they say to each other and what they write in cards. More people are choosing to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". This is because there are also non-Christian holidays at the same time as Christmas. Many people want to include all holidays in their holiday wishes. Almost 80 per cent of Americans will watch a Christmas movie, but only 59 per cent will go to church. The average amount of money people spend on Christmas is $914. People most look forward to spending time with their family.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 1   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.

A report from the

a.

took a survey

2.

getting less

b.

than older adults

3.

Nine out of

c.

a cultural holiday

4.

Over two thousand people

d.

birth

5.

it was more of

e.

ten Americans

6.

Younger adults are less likely

f.

attend church

7.

less likely to

g.

Pew Research Center

8.

believe in the virgin

h.

religious


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 are also changing what they

a.

go to church

2.

what they write

b.

of money people spend

3.

say "Happy Holidays" instead

c.

same time as Christmas

4.

non-Christian holidays at the

d.

time with their family

5.

holiday

e.

say to each other

6.

only 59 per cent will

f.

of "Merry Christmas"

7.

The average amount

g.

wishes

8.

look forward to spending

h.

in cards

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

(1) ___________________ Pew Research Center says Christmas in the USA is getting less religious. (2) ___________________ Americans celebrate Christmas, but only (3) ___________________ it is a religious holiday. Over two thousand people took a survey about Christmas. Just over 30 per cent said it was "more of a cultural holiday" than (4) ___________________. Greg Smith from Pew Research said: "Younger adults are (5) ___________________ older adults to see Christmas as a religious…holiday. They're less likely to...attend [church at] Christmas…and they are less likely to believe (6) ___________________."

People are also changing (7) ___________________ to each other and what they write in cards. More people (8) ___________________ say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". This is because there are also (9) ___________________ at the same time as Christmas. Many people want to include all holidays in (10) ___________________. Almost 80 per cent of Americans will watch a Christmas movie, but only 59 per cent (11) ___________________. The average amount of money people spend on Christmas is $914. People most look   (12) ___________________ time with their family.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AreportfromthePewResearchCentersaysChristmasintheUSAisge
ttinglessreligious.NineoutoftenAmericanscelebrateChristmas,bu
tonlyabouthalfthinkitisareligiousholiday.Overtwothousandpeopl
etookasurveyaboutChristmas.Justover30percentsaiditwas"mor
eofaculturalholiday"thanareligiousone.GregSmithfromPewRese
archsaid:"YoungeradultsarelesslikelythanolderadultstoseeChris
tmasasareligious…holiday.They'relesslikelyto...attend[churchat
]Christmas…andtheyarelesslikelytobelieveinthevirginbirth."Peo
plearealsochangingwhattheysaytoeachotherandwhattheywritei
ncards.Morepeoplearechoosingtosay"HappyHolidays"insteadof"
MerryChristmas".Thisisbecausetherearealsonon-Christianh
olidaysatthesametimeasChristmas.Manypeoplewanttoincludeall
holidaysintheirholidaywishes.Almost80percentofAmericanswillw
atchaChristmasmovie,butonly59percentwillgotochurch.Theaver
ageamountofmoneypeoplespendonChristmasis$914.Peoplemos
tlookforwardtospendingtimewiththeirfamily.

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)

________________________________________________________

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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.

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_____________________________________________________________________________

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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