The Reading / Listening - Year of the Snake - Level 6

The Lunar New Year is a huge occasion in China. Hundreds of millions of people return to their hometowns to celebrate it. This year is no exception. Airports, railway stations and bus stations are packed with travellers making their annual trek. This year corresponds to the Year of the Snake in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. The festivities and celebrations begin on the 29th of January and last for up to 16 days. The first seven are national holidays. Reuters reported that overseas travel is particularly popular this year. It quoted a travel agency that said "bookings for outbound flights and holiday packages on its platform had doubled from last year". The most popular destinations are in Asia.

The AP news agency said China's New Year is "the world's biggest annual movement of humanity". With the advent of modern, high-speed transport in China, the number of people on the move has skyrocketed. The Xinhua news agency said journeys are expected to "hit record highs" this year. When the first New Year holiday began in China, some 3,500 years ago, far fewer people would have left their hometowns. However, following the rapid growth of China's economy, billions of people have relocated across the country for work, study, or to greener pastures. The subsequent annual exodus has been a boon for the economy. The tourism, hospitality and retail sectors see an uplift in profits.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Year of the Snake - Level 4  or  Year of the Snake - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-readies-lunar-new-year-amid-worries-about-economy-2025-01-24/
  • https://www.yahoo.com/news/lifestyle/chinas-lunar-travel-rush-kicks-103144154.html
  • https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/01/23/lunar-new-year-chinese-2025-year-of-the-snake.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Year of the Snake. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       New Year / occasion / hometown / celebrate / railway stations / zodiac / snake / Asia
       humanity / high-speed transport / journey / holiday / greener pastures / tourism
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NEW YEAR: Students A strongly believe New Year is the best time of the year; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HUGE OCCASIONS: What do you think of these occasions? What have you done to celebrate them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Think

Celebrations

New Year

 

 

Birthdays

 

 

Weddings

 

 

Religious events

 

 

Moving house

 

 

Important tests

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. HOMETOWN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "hometown". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. GREENER PASTURES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best places to relocate to at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • A nearby town
  • A faraway town
  • A mountaintop
  • A beach community
  • Another country
  • The desert
  • The jungle
  • Space

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. occasion a. A long and/or difficult walk or journey.
      2. exception b. Going away from a place, especially to another country.
      3. trek c. A special time or event.
      4. correspond d. Something that is not like the rest; something different or special.
      5. festivities e. To match or be the same as something.
      6. outbound f. Fun activities or celebrations for a special event.
      7. destination g. The place you are going to.

    Paragraph 2

      8. annual h. Coming after something else.
      9. advent i. Happening every year.
      10. skyrocket j. A better place or situation.
      11. greener pastures k. When many people leave a place at the same time.
      12. subsequent l. The start or beginning of something.
      13. exodus m. Parts or areas of a business, economy, or activity.
      14. sectors n. To rise or go up very fast.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says one hundred thousand people relocate for the New Year. T / F
  2. The article says many Chinese people go trekking during the New Year.   T / F
  3. The article says the snake is number seven in the Chinese zodiac.     T / F
  4. Asia is the most popular New Year travel destination for Chinese people.  T / F
  5. The Lunar New Year is the world's biggest yearly movement of people.    T / F
  6. China's growing economy means people are moving to greener pastures. T / F
  7. China celebrated its first Lunar New Year around 3,500 years ago.     T / F
  8. The Lunar New Year negatively impacts China's hospitality industry.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. occasion
  2. packed
  3. annual
  4. quoted
  5. bookings
  6. humanity
  7. advent
  8. greener pastures
  9. exodus
  10. uplift
  1. reservations
  2. cited
  3. arrival
  4. thronged
  5. migration
  6. event
  7. boost
  8. yearly
  9. better places
  10. mankind

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. The Lunar New Year is a huge
  2. overseas
  3. packed with travellers making their annual
  4. holiday
  5. The most popular destinations
  6. the world's biggest annual
  7. the number of people on the move
  8. the rapid
  9. greener
  10. a boon
  1. has skyrocketed
  2. packages
  3. for the economy
  4. are in Asia
  5. movement of humanity
  6. growth of China's economy
  7. trek
  8. pastures
  9. occasion in China
  10. travel

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
zodiac
quoted
destinations
exception
outbound
occasion
trek
last

The Lunar New Year is a huge (1) _________________________________ in China. Hundreds of millions of people return to their hometowns to celebrate it. This year is no (2) _________________________________. Airports, railway stations and bus stations are packed with travellers making their annual (3) _________________________________. This year corresponds to the Year of the Snake in the 12-year Chinese (4) _________________________________ cycle. The festivities and celebrations begin on the 29th of January and (5) _________________________________ for up to 16 days. The first seven are national holidays. Reuters reported that overseas travel is particularly popular this year. It (6) _________________________________ a travel agency that said "bookings for (7) _________________________________ flights and holiday packages on its platform had doubled from last year". The most popular (8) _________________________________ are in Asia.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
far
rapid
humanity
skyrocketed
exodus
advent
sectors
relocated

annual movement of (9) _________________________________". With the (10) _________________________________ of modern, high-speed transport in China, the number of people on the move has (11) _________________________________. The Xinhua news agency said journeys are expected to "hit record highs" this year. When the first New Year holiday began in China, some 3,500 years ago, (12) _________________________________ fewer people would have left their hometowns. However, following the (13) _________________________________ growth of China's economy, billions of people have (14) _________________________________ across the country for work, study, or to greener pastures. The subsequent annual (15) _________________________________ has been a boon for the economy. The tourism, hospitality and retail (16) _________________________________ see an uplift in profits.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Hundreds of millions of people return to their hometowns ______
     a.  for celebrate it
     b.  to celebrate it
     c.  as celebrate it
     d.  with celebrate it
2)  Airports, railway stations and bus stations are packed with travellers making ______
     a.  their annual trek
     b.  their annual track
     c.  their annual tread
     d.  their annual trick
3)  This year corresponds to the Year of the Snake in the 12-year ______
     a.  Chinese zodiac cycle
     b.  Chinese zodiac cycled
     c.  Chinese zodiac cyclist
     d.  Chinese zodiac sickle
4)  Reuters reported that overseas travel is particularly ______
     a.  popularize this year
     b.  popularity this year
     c.  popular that year
     d.  popular this year
5)  It quoted a travel agency that said "bookings for outbound flights ______
     a.  and holiday package is
     b.  and holiday packages
     c.  and holiday packaged
     d.  and holiday pack ages

6)  The AP news agency said China's New Year is the world's biggest annual ______
     a.  movement of who manatee
     b.  movement of humane tea
     c.  movement of humanity
     d.  movement of hue manatee
7)  The Xinhua news agency said journeys are expected to ______
     a.  hit album highs
     b.  hit record highs
     c.  hit song highs
     d.  hit artist highs
8)  billions of people have relocated across the country for work, study, or _______
     a.  to whiter pastures
     b.  to redder pastures
     c.  to bluer pastures
     d.  to greener pastures
9)  The subsequent annual exodus has ______
     a.  bin a boon
     b.  been a boo
     c.  been a boon
     d.  bin a bomb
10)  The tourism, hospitality and retail sectors see an ______
     a.  up lifting profits
     b.  uplifting profits
     c.  uplift on profits
     d.  uplift in profits

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The Lunar New Year is a (1) _______________________________________________ China. Hundreds of millions of people return to their hometowns to celebrate it. This year (2) _______________________________________________. Airports, railway stations and bus stations are packed with travellers making (3) _______________________________________________. This year corresponds to the Year of the Snake in the 12-year (4) _______________________________________________. The festivities and celebrations begin on the 29th of January and last for up to 16 days. The first seven are national holidays. Reuters reported that overseas travel (5) _______________________________________________ this year. It quoted a travel agency that said "bookings for outbound flights and holiday packages on its platform had doubled from last year". The most (6) _______________________________________________ in Asia.

The AP news agency said China's New Year is "the world's biggest annual (7) _______________________________________________". With the advent of modern, high-speed transport in China, the number of people on the (8) _______________________________________________. The Xinhua news agency said journeys are expected to "(9) _______________________________________________" this year. When the first New Year holiday began in China, some 3,500 years ago, far fewer people would have left their hometowns. However, following the (10) _______________________________________________ China's economy, billions of people have relocated across the country for work, study, or to greener pastures. The (11) _______________________________________________ has been a boon for the economy. The tourism, hospitality and retail sectors see an (12) _______________________________________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. How many people does the article say return to their hometowns?
  2. What annual thing does the article say travellers make?
  3. For how long can the Lunar New Year last?
  4. How many national holidays are there during the Lunar New Year?
  5. What is the most popular international destination for the New Year?
  6. What has led to an increase in the number of people in China travelling?
  7. Who said journeys in China are expected to "hit record highs" this year?
  8. When was the first Lunar New Year celebrated in China?
  9. Where have many people relocated to?
  10. What does the hospitality sector see an uplift in?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many people does the article say return to their hometowns?
a) billions
b) tens of millions
c) hundreds of thousands
d) hundreds of millions
2) What annual thing does the article say travellers make?
a) a cake
b) a trek (home)
c) resolutions
d) a special dish
3) For how long can the Lunar New Year last?
a) 13 days
b) 14 days
c) 15 days
d) 16 days
4) How many national holidays are there during the Lunar New Year?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8
5) What is the most popular international destination for the New Year?
a) South Korea
b) The USA
c) Europe
d) Asia

6) What has led to an increase in the number of people in China travelling?
a) better jobs
b) climate change
c) modern, high-speed transport
d) a rise in the population
7) Who said journeys in China are expected to "hit record highs" this year?
a) the Xinhua news agency
b) AP Press
c) Reuters
d) the BBC
8) When was the first Lunar New Year celebrated in China?
a) just over 3,500 years ago
b) exactly 3,500 years ago
c) around 3,500 years ago
d) just under 3,500 years ago
9) Where have many people relocated to?
a) to larger farms
b) to greener pastures
c) to small vegetable patches
d) to inner cities
10) What does the hospitality sector see an uplift in?
a) profits
b) custom
c) complaints
d) reservations

Role play

Role  A – A Nearby Town
You think a nearby town is the best place to relocate to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): a beach community, another country or space.

Role  B – A Beach Community
You think a beach community is the best place to relocate to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): a nearby town, another country or space.

Role  C – Another Country
You think another country is the best place to relocate to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): a beach community, a nearby town or space.

Role  D – Space
You think space is the best place to relocate to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): a beach community, another country or a nearby town.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'New Year'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'snake'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • huge
    • packed
    • 12
    • 16
    • popular
    • last
    • movement
    • advent
    • move
    • 3,500
    • billions
    • tourism

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Year of the Snake

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'New Year'?
    3. What do you know about the Lunar New Year?
    4. What do you think of the New Year?
    5. How has this year been for you so far?
    6. How do you celebrate the New Year?
    7. What do you think of domestic travel in your country?
    8. Are you pessimistic or optimistic about this year?
    9. Is overseas or domestic travel best?
    10. What do you hope happens this year?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'snake'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What is the character of someone born in the Year of the Snake?
    5. What do you know about the Chinese zodiac?
    6. How do you think this year will go?
    7. What's the transport system like in your country?
    8. Which greener pastures would you like to relocate to?
    9. What do you think of snakes?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a zodiac expert?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The Lunar New Year is a (1) ____ occasion in China. Hundreds of millions of people return to their hometowns to celebrate it. This year is no (2) ____. Airports, railway stations and bus stations are packed with travellers making their annual trek. This year corresponds (3) ____ the Year of the Snake in the 12-year Chinese zodiac (4) ____. The festivities and celebrations begin on the 29th of January and last for up to 16 days. The first seven are national holidays. Reuters reported that overseas travel is particularly popular this year. It (5) ____ A travel agency said "bookings for outbound flights and holiday packages on its platform had (6) ____ from last year". The most popular destinations are in Asia.

    The AP news agency said China's New Year is "the world's biggest annual movement of (7) ____". With the (8) ____ of modern, high-speed transport in China, the number of people on the move has skyrocketed. The Xinhua news agency said journeys are expected to "hit record (9) ____" this year. When the first New Year holiday began in China, some 3,500 years ago, far fewer people would have left their hometowns. However, (10) ____ the rapid growth of China's economy, billions of people have relocated across the country for work, study, or for (11) ____ pastures. The subsequent annual exodus has been a boon for the economy. The tourism, hospitality and retail sectors see an (12) ____ in profits.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     hug     (b)     hugs     (c)     huge     (d)     hugging    
    2. (a)     exception     (b)     extract     (c)     extraction     (d)     excretion    
    3. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    4. (a)     cycle     (b)     round     (c)     rhythm     (d)     rotation    
    5. (a)     quartered     (b)     quested     (c)     quashed     (d)     quoted    
    6. (a)     paired     (b)     twofold     (c)     twinned     (d)     doubled    
    7. (a)     humanity     (b)     humane     (c)     humanly     (d)     humanitarian    
    8. (a)     inventory     (b)     passing     (c)     wisdom     (d)     advent    
    9. (a)     highs     (b)     ups     (c)     uppers     (d)     climaxes    
    10. (a)     follows     (b)     following     (c)     followed     (d)     follower    
    11. (a)     bluer     (b)     greener     (c)     whiter     (d)     redder    
    12. (a)     uplift     (b)     downdraft     (c)     ongoing     (d)     upheaval

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a huge osccanio in China
    2. This year is no otxcpeien
    3. This year rornsscpoed to the Year of the Snake
    4. It teuqdo a travel agency
    5. holiday peakacsg
    6. The most popular odintstnaesi are in Asia

    Paragraph 2

    1. the world's biggest annual movement of htyunmai
    2. the nvdaet of modern, high-speed transport
    3. billions of people have rectdeoal
    4. greener spetraus
    5. The subsequent annual uosedx
    6. retail ecsstor

    Put the text back together

    (...)   their hometowns to celebrate it. This year is no exception. Airports, railway stations and bus stations are packed
    (...)   boon for the economy. The tourism, hospitality and retail sectors see an uplift in profits. 
    (...)   highs" this year. When the first New Year holiday began in China, some 3,500 years ago, far fewer people would have
    (...)   left their hometowns. However, following the rapid growth of China's economy, billions of people have relocated
    (...)   move has skyrocketed. The Xinhua news agency said journeys are expected to "hit record
    (...)   year Chinese zodiac cycle. The festivities and celebrations begin on the 29th of January and last
    (...)   The AP news agency said China's New Year is "the world's biggest annual movement of
    (...)   packages on its platform had doubled from last year". The most popular destinations are in Asia.
    (...)   with travellers making their annual trek. This year corresponds to the Year of the Snake in the 12-
    (...)   popular this year. It quoted a travel agency that said "bookings for outbound flights and holiday
    (...)   for up to 16 days. The first seven are national holidays. Reuters reported that overseas travel is particularly
    (...)   humanity". With the advent of modern, high-speed transport in China, the number of people on the
    (...)   across the country for work, study, or to greener pastures. The subsequent annual exodus has been a
    (  1  )   The Lunar New Year is a huge occasion in China. Hundreds of millions of people return to

    Put the words in the right order

    1. occasion   New   in   a   China   .   is   huge   Year
    2. annual   with   travellers   trek   .   It's   their   making   packed
    3. is   Overseas   this   particularly   popular   travel   year   .
    4. platform   .   flights   Outbound   on   packages   holiday   its   and
    5. The   popular   most   in   Asia   .   are   destinations
    6. biggest   world's   humanity   .   annual   movement   of   The
    7. number   The   the   people   move   on   of   skyrocketed   .
    8. journeys   expected   highs   The   are   to   hit   record
    9. have   people   would   fewer   left   their   hometowns   .   Far
    10. exodus   boon   .   subsequent   annual   has   The   been   a

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The Lunar New Year is a huge / hug occasion in China. Hundreds of millions of people return to their hometowns to celebrate them / it. This year is no exception. Airports, railway stations and bus stations are packaged / packed with travellers making their annually / annual trek. This year corresponds to the Year of the Snake in / at the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. The festivities and celebrations begin on the 29th of January and last / lasts for up to 16 days. The first seven are national holidays. Reuters retorted / reported that overseas travel is particularly popular that / this year. It quoted a travel agency that said "bookings for outbound flights and holiday packages on its platform had dubbed / doubled from last year". The most popular destinations are at / in Asia.

    The AP news agency said China's New Year is "the world's biggest annual movement of humane / humanity". With the advent / advert of modern, high-speed transport in China, the number of people on / in the move has skyrocketed. The Xinhua news agency said journeys are expected to "hit record highs / ups" this year. When the first New Year holiday began / beginning in China, some 3,500 years ago, for / far fewer people would have left their hometowns. However, following the rapid grown / growth of China's economy, billions of people have relocated across the / a country for work, study, or to greener pastures. The sequence / subsequent annual exodus has been a boon for the economy. The tourism, hospitality and retail sectors see / seeing an uplift in profits.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_  L_n_r  N_w  Y__r  _s  _  h_g_  _cc_s__n  _n  Ch_n_.  H_ndr_ds  _f  m_ll__ns  _f  p__pl_  r_t_rn  t_  th__r  h_m_t_wns  t_  c_l_br_t_  _t.  Th_s  y__r  _s  n_  _xc_pt__n.  __rp_rts,  r__lw_y  st_t__ns  _nd  b_s  st_t__ns  _r_  p_ck_d  w_th  tr_v_ll_rs  m_k_ng  th__r  _nn__l  tr_k.  Th_s  y__r  c_rr_sp_nds  t_  th_  Y__r  _f  th_  Sn_k_  _n  th_  12-y__r  Ch_n_s_  z_d__c  cycl_.  Th_  f_st_v_t__s  _nd  c_l_br_t__ns  b_g_n  _n  th_  29th  _f  J_n__ry  _nd  l_st  f_r  _p  t_  16  d_ys.  Th_  f_rst  s_v_n  _r_  n_t__n_l  h_l_d_ys.  R__t_rs  r_p_rt_d  th_t  _v_rs__s  tr_v_l  _s  p_rt_c_l_rly  p_p_l_r  th_s  y__r.  _t  q__t_d  _  tr_v_l  _g_ncy  th_t  s__d  "b__k_ngs  f_r  __tb__nd  fl_ghts  _nd  h_l_d_y  p_ck_g_s  _n  _ts  pl_tf_rm  h_d  d__bl_d  fr_m  l_st  y__r".  Th_  m_st  p_p_l_r  d_st_n_t__ns  _r_  _n  _s__.

    Th_  _P  n_ws  _g_ncy  s__d  Ch_n_'s  N_w  Y__r  _s  "th_  w_rld's  b_gg_st  _nn__l  m_v_m_nt  _f  h_m_n_ty".  W_th  th_  _dv_nt  _f  m_d_rn,  h_gh-sp__d  tr_nsp_rt  _n  Ch_n_,  th_  n_mb_r  _f  p__pl_  _n  th_  m_v_  h_s  skyr_ck_t_d.  Th_  X_nh__  n_ws  _g_ncy  s__d  j__rn_ys  _r_  _xp_ct_d  t_  "h_t  r_c_rd  h_ghs"  th_s  y__r.  Wh_n  th_  f_rst  N_w  Y__r  h_l_d_y  b_g_n  _n  Ch_n_,  s_m_  3,500  y__rs  _g_,  f_r  f_w_r  p__pl_  w__ld  h_v_  l_ft  th__r  h_m_t_wns.  H_w_v_r,  f_ll_w_ng  th_  r_p_d  gr_wth  _f  Ch_n_'s  _c_n_my,  b_ll__ns  _f  p__pl_  h_v_  r_l_c_t_d  _cr_ss  th_  c__ntry  f_r  w_rk,  st_dy,  _r  t_  gr__n_r  p_st_r_s.  Th_  s_bs_q__nt  _nn__l  _x_d_s  h_s  b__n  _  b__n  f_r  th_  _c_n_my.  Th_  t__r_sm,  h_sp_t_l_ty  _nd  r_t__l  s_ct_rs  s__  _n  _pl_ft  _n  pr_f_ts.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the lunar new year is a huge occasion in china hundreds of millions of people return to their hometowns to celebrate it this year is no exception airports railway stations and bus stations are packed with travellers making their annual trek this year corresponds to the year of the snake in the 12year chinese zodiac cycle the festivities and celebrations begin on the 29th of january and last for up to 16 days the first seven are national holidays reuters reported that overseas travel is particularly popular this year it quoted a travel agency that said bookings for outbound flights and holiday packages on its platform had doubled from last year the most popular destinations are in asia

    the ap news agency said chinas new year is the worlds biggest annual movement of humanity with the advent of modern highspeed transport in china the number of people on the move has skyrocketed the xinhua news agency said journeys are expected to hit record highs this year when the first new year holiday began in china some 3500 years ago far fewer people would have left their hometowns however following the rapid growth of chinas economy billions of people have relocated across the country for work study or to greener pastures the subsequent annual exodus has been a boon for the economy the tourism hospitality and retail sectors see an uplift in profits

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheLunarNewYearisahugeoccasioninChina.Hundredsofmillionsofpe
    oplereturntotheirhometownstocelebrateit.Thisyearisnoexception.Ai
    rports,railwaystationsandbusstationsarepackedwithtravellersmaki
    ngtheirannualtrek.ThisyearcorrespondstotheYearoftheSnakeinthe1
    2-yearChinesezodiaccycle.Thefestivitiesandcelebrationsbeginonth
    e29thofJanuaryandlastforupto16days.Thefirstsevenarenationalholi
    days.Reutersreportedthatoverseastravelisparticularlypopularthisy
    ear.Itquotedatravelagencythatsaid"bookingsforoutboundflightsand
    holidaypackagesonitsplatformhaddoubledfromlastyear".Themostp
    opulardestinationsareinAsia.TheAPnewsagencysaidChina'sNewYea
    ris"theworld'sbiggestannualmovementofhumanity".Withtheadvent
    ofmodern,high-speedtransportinChina,thenumberofpeopleonthem
    ovehasskyrocketed.TheXinhuanewsagencysaidjourneysareexpecte
    dto"hitrecordhighs"thisyear.WhenthefirstNewYearholidaybeganinC
    hina,some3,500yearsago,farfewerpeoplewouldhavelefttheirhomet
    owns.However,followingtherapidgrowthofChina'seconomy,billionso
    fpeoplehaverelocatedacrossthecountryforwork,study,ortogreenerp
    astures.Thesubsequentannualexodushasbeenaboonfortheecono
    my.Thetourism,hospitalityandretailsectorsseeanupliftinprofits.

    Free writing

    Write about Year of the Snake for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    The year 2025 will be a great one for you and for the world. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE: Make a poster about the Year of the Snake. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. RESOLUTIONS: Write a magazine article about all of us making and keeping 10 New Year resolutions. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    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 an expert on the Year of the Snake. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on how this year will be. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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