Comprehensive reading

Read the text about a Mexican festival.

The Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead is Mexico’s best-known festival. It takes place on 2^nd November. On this day the souls of the dead are believed to return to the earth. The festival is celebrated everywhere in Mexico.

Before the festival, families decorate their homes with flowers. The night before the festival, they visit cemeteries to sit with their dead friends and relatives by candlelight. On the day itself, they visit cemetery again, and take presents, such as flowers. It is celebration of the life of the dead person. The souls of dead children are called angelitos, because they are assumed to become angels. The festivities in the Patzcuaro region are the most famous, especially those on the Isla Janitzio in the Lago de Patzcuaro. There are traditional dances, and there is a parade of decorated canoes late in the evening. It is thought that this tradition originated with the Purepecha Indians. It involves the story of the royal Purepechan lovers, Mintzita and Itzihuapa, whose love was destroyed by the Spanish conquistador, Nuno de Guzman. It is said that the souls of the lovers come to the cemetery of the island’s church on this night.

If you want to visit Patzcuaro at this time, you will need to book your hotel in advance. Also, bring a warm sweater, as it can get quite cold in this mountainous area in November.

Decide if these statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. The Day of the Dead is the most famous festival in Mexico.

2. The atmosphere is cheerful, and one of celebration.

3. The souls of dead children are also celebrated on 2^nd November.

4. The festival was introduced by the Spanish conquistadors.

Complete the definitions (5 – 9) with the words in the box.

atmosphere parade festivities celebrate tradition

5. You ……… to show you’re happy on a special day.

6. A ……… is a group of people walking in a line.

7. ……… are happy events.

8. ……… is the mood of a place.

9. A ……… is an old way of doing things.

Brochure language

Fill in the correct word derived from the words in brackets.

To escape from the routine of cooking and eating at home, many people visit their 10) ……… (favour) restaurant or, if they are feeling 11) ……… (adventure), then try an unfamiliar eating place. Eating out is a great 12) ……… (please). You have the chance to sample 13) ……… (taste) dishes which are 14) ……… (care) prepared by 15) ……… (experience) chefs. You can try foods from around the world, everything from 16) ……… (spice) eastern dishes to 17) ……… (tradition) French and English cuisines. Eating out also gives you the chance to 18) ……… (social) with friends and to enjoy a 19) ……… (relax) meal without having to make any tiring 20) ……… (prepare) beforehand. For a break from the ordinary, having a meal out is an easy and 21) ……… (enjoy) option.

Vocabulary

Match the people in the box to the sentences.

22 holidaymaker 25 tripper 28 commuter 23 migrant 26 nomad 29 passenger 24 globetrotter 27 itinerant 30 hiker

a I travel daily on this route to work.

b I travel from place to place for grass for my cattle.

c I travel to a nearby attraction for a short period, usually a day, for pleasure.

d I travel widely around the world but not necessarily for pleasure, sometimes for my work.

e I am traveling in this vehicle but I am not driving it.

f I travel by walking across country. It is not my normal means of transport and I usually do it for pleasure.

g I travel from place to place because I do not have a permanent home.

h I am traveling for my vacation.

i I am traveling because I wish to make another country my home.

Complete the sentences with the words from the box.

excursion trip tour crossing journey

31. We had a very tough ……..in the Bay of Biscay.

32. His wife’s away on a business ……… to Singapore.

33. They’ve booked sightseeing ……… of the city on an open-air bus.

34. We arrived in Geneva after a five-hour train ……….

35. There’s an interesting ……… leaving from the hotel to a nearby Neolithic village. It lasts three and a half hours.