Unit 13: Special Days

Expanding Tactics for Listening, 3rd Edition » Unit 13: Special Days

Word List

admission
anniversary
bother
celebrate
Earth
environment
honor
midnight
romantic
valentine
a big fan
April Fool's Day
at home
buy (oneself) a present
community gardens
got together
invite (someone) over
look forward to (something)
loved ones
moved around (something)
play tricks
stay out late
stay upstairs
take (someone) out
takes over
Those were the days!
waste of time

Vocabulary Worksheet

‣ Use the words in the box to complete the sentences.

a. bother
b. honor
c. admission
d. celebrate
e. invite
f. fan
g. anniversary
h. romantic
i. midnight
j. valentine

On Sundays, _____ to the Natural History Museum is free.
They threw a big party for their parents' fiftieth wedding _____.
My girlfriend and I enjoyed a _____ dinner at an Italian restaurant.
On Memorial Day, Americans _____ soldiers who died in wars.
Are you going to _____ a lot of guests to the party?
After we won the soccer match, we decided to go out and _____.
Look how late it is; it's past _____!
Please be quiet, so we don't _____ our neighbors.
I sent a card, some chocolates, and a red rose to my special _____.
Mia is a big _____ of Halloween, because she loves to wear costumes.

Answer Key

Match the special days on the left with the description on the right.

Valentine's Day
April Fool's Day _____
Thanksgiving _____
Children's Day _____

a. People like to play tricks on their friends on this day.
b. Adults honor kids on this day and do special things with them.
c. Families spend time toghether and cook a big meal on this day.
d. People give cards, candy or flowers to their friends and loved ones on his day.

Listening 1

Listening 1 ‣ People are describing holidays and special events. Listen and number the picture.

_____
_____
_____
_____
_____

Listening 2

‣ Task 1

People are talking about how they celebrate their birthdays. Do they stay home or go out? Check (x) the correct answer.

	Stays home	Goes out
1.	⁽¹⁾	⁽²⁾
2.	⁽³⁾_____	⁽⁴⁾_____
3.	⁽⁵⁾_____	⁽⁶⁾_____
4.	⁽⁷⁾_____	⁽⁸⁾_____
5.	⁽⁹⁾_____	⁽¹⁰⁾_____
6.	⁽¹¹⁾_____	⁽¹²⁾_____

‣ Task 2

Listen again. What do the people do on their birthdays now? Circle the correct answer.

- a. go to a restaurant
- b. eat cake
- c. have a party
- a. go to school
- b. go to clubs
- c. come home early
- a. go to a restaurant
- b. open presents
- c. eat cake
- a. have a party
- b. go to clubs
- c. have dinner with family
- a. go to a friend's house
- b. have a party
- c. spend time with parents
- a. go to a movie
- b. go out to a restaurant
- c. eat cake at home

Listening 3

‣ Task 1

People are talking about special days. Do they like or dislike each day? Check (x) the correct answer.

	Likes	Doesn't like
1. Valentine's Day	⁽¹⁾	⁽²⁾
2. April Fool's Day	⁽³⁾_____	⁽⁴⁾_____
3. Earth Day	⁽⁵⁾_____	⁽⁶⁾_____
4. Mother's Day	⁽⁷⁾_____	⁽⁸⁾_____
5. Father's Day	⁽⁹⁾_____	⁽¹⁰⁾_____
6. New Year's Eve	⁽¹¹⁾_____	⁽¹²⁾_____

‣ Task 2

Listen again. Circle the correct answer.

- a. She didn't get any valentines.
- b. She go a real valentine.
- c. She broke up with her boyfriend.
- a. His co-worker played tricks on everyone.
- b. He had a wonderful time.
- c. He played tricks on all his friends.
- a. He didn't go anywhere on Earth Day.
- b. He helped plant flowers.
- c. He gave money to a kid's playground.
- a. Her kids had a party for her.
- b. Her kids cleaned the kitchen.
- c. Her kids made her breakfast in bed.
- a. He spent Father's Day alone.
- b. He had a party with his friends.
- c. He went to a big family dinner.
- a. She went to a great party.
- b. She went to a club.
- c. The neighbors had a noisy party.

✺ Pronunciation

Reduction of t in numbers

Pronunciation Help
How we spell it	How we say it
twenty	twenny
thirty	thirdy
fourty	fourdy
fifty	fifdy
sixty	sixdy

‣ Task 1

Listen and repeat.

1. Mark is turning twenty-on in September.
2. This will be their fiftieth wedding anniversary!
3. Her birthday is on the thirty-first.

‣ Task 2

Read the sentences to a partner. Be sure to reduce the t sounds in the numbers.

✺ Dictation

‣ Task 1

Listen to the conversation. Write the missing words and numbers.

A: Hey Alex. What's up?
B: Oh, nothing. I'm just planning for my dad's ⁽¹⁾_____ ⁽²⁾_____.
A: Wow. Your dad's sixty already? He looks so young. I would have thought he was ⁽³⁾_____ ⁽⁴⁾_____ ⁽⁵⁾_____.
B: Ha! He'd love to hear that. Anyway, it's a special occasion, so I want to plan a ⁽⁶⁾_____ ⁽⁷⁾_____ for him.
A: That's nice. I'm sure he'll appreciate that. So when's the big day?
B: On the ⁽⁸⁾_____.
A: That's only ⁽⁹⁾_____ ⁽¹⁰⁾_____ ⁽¹¹⁾_____! You'd better start planning!

‣ Task 2

Practice the conversation with a partner. Be sure to reduce the t sounds in the numbers.

✺ Conversation

Work in pairs. Talk about your family member's birthdays.

Answer Key

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