7. Answer the questions:

1. When do we celebrate «Kupalle»? 2. What kind of holiday is it? 3. Are there any legends associated with this holiday? 4. How do people entertain themselves during this holiday? 5. Why do people light bonfires on «Kupalle»? 6. When is the best time to gather herbs? 7. What can be done of these herbs? 8. What do young boys and girls look for on «Kupalle»? 9.Why do they look for a magic fern-flower? 10. Have you ever seen fern in blossom? 11. Why do people jump over the fire? 12. Why do girls throw their coronets into the water? 13. People have forgotten the majority of folk song connected with «Kupalle», don't they? 14. Are young people ashamed to revive the national customs and traditions? 15. Why is it necessary for us to reassert our national identity? 16. Has «Kupalle» been widely featured in the Belarusian literature and works of art? Name some books or pictures.

8. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. «Kupalle» is an old English holiday brought to our country by the invaders. 2. It is celebrated in spring. 3. According to the old belief, the dark forces become very active at day time. 4. People light candles in their houses at that period. 5. Boys and girls have their own traditions and customs. 6. Young people look for rare and precious stones in the forest. 7. Young and old make fireworks on the Midsummer day. 8. One of the culminating moments of the holiday is the search for a magic rose-flower in someone's garden 9. The fern-flower in blossom is a symbol of love 10. People jump over the fire at Midsummer Day in order to keep fit. 11. Girls hide their wreaths in their houses. 12. The boys try to find the girls` wreaths.

9. Choose a word from the box to put into each gap:

1. «Kupalle» is one of the . . . holidays in Belarus. 2. People want . . . the forces of evil. 3. It is the best time to gather . . . for . . . and ... .4. Girls . . . coronets. 5. On «Kupalle» people . . . for a magic . . . flower. 6. As the old legend says this flower . . . only once a year, on «Kupalle».

1 Herbs, legends, search, love potions, to defeat, fern, blossoms, medicine, weave, mysterious 0. Complete the sentences using the text:

As it is known______________________;

According to one of the legends_______________;

The old legend says________________;

We must admit that ____________;

It's great that ______________;

11. Comprehension check. Choose the best alternative according to the text:

1. In accordance with the Orthodox calendar the holiday of «Kupalle»

a) is celebrated on the night of July, 25;

b) is celebrated on the night of July, 7;

c) is celebrated on the night of June, 7.

2. «Kupalle» is a magic holiday,

a) with a lot of ancient legends and customs;

b)which has been forgotten by Belarusians;

c)which was introduced by young people.

3. According to an old belief on the day when the sun achieves its highest point

a)the forces of good win the forces of evil;

b) the forces of evil intensify their activity at night;

c)the forces of evil intensify their activity at daytime.

4. People try to help forces of good

a) making fireworks;

b) lightening lamps;

c) lightening bonfires.

5.People gather round bonfires on «Kupalle»

a)to worship God;

b) to dance and sing;

c) to warm themselves.

6. It's the best time to

a)gather herbs for medicine;

b) gather flowers for wreathe

c)gather sticks for bonfires.

7. The girls throw their wreaths

a) into the river and let them float downstream;

b) into hot ovens and к them bun tо ashes;

c) into wastepaper-baskets and let them dry .

8. Throwing wreaths into the water is sort of

a)pastime;

b) riddle;

c)fortune-telling.

9. They say the boy who fishes the girl's coronet out of

the river

a) will give it to another girl;

b) will forget this girl soon;

c) will marry her in the future.

10. On «Kupalie» young people

a) go from house to house and sing carols;

b) look for a magic fern-flower in the forest;

c) disguise as Goats, Bears, Gypsies and Storks.

11. The person who is lucky to find the fern-flower in blossom will

a) be the master of the whole world;

b) master the language of nature and be happy;

c) master the language of nature and turn into an animal.

12. Dozens of beautiful folk songs were composed to celebrate «Kupalie» but

a) all of them are forgotten nowadays;

b) all of them are forbidden nowadays;

c) a lot of them are forgotten nowadays.

13.Young peole are

a) ashamed of their national customs and traditions;

b)anxious to revive their national customs and traditions;

c) not interested in their national customs and traditions.