Bridge 2017 december slovakia by Bridge

Magazine for English-language students

B1–B2 level

04 December 2017 Volume 21

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SLOVAKIA

S U M MER

MonthlY theMe

unexpected

Winter is Coming TO AU S TRA L IA

Published by BRIDGE PUBLISHING HOUSE www.bridge-online.cz www.bridgebooks.cz

ČAsopisy K vÝuČBe AngliČtiny

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contents & info 6

Volume 21 Issue 03 November 2017 Monthly magazine for English-language students B1–B2 level Published by

Correspondence Address Bridge Publishing House, SE Ohradní 1421/63a 140 00 Praha 4 Michle Czech Republic +420 241 443 003 bridge@bridge-online.cz Distributor for Slovakia BRIDGE PUBLISHING HOUSE INTERNATIONAL a.s. Nerudova 209/10 118 00 Praha 1 – Malá Strana Czech Republic Registration in the CR MK ČR E 7634

12 dear readers,

Dangerous and Beautiful Australia

Publication Date

27. 11. 2017 Next Publication Date 15. 1. 2018

maturita prierezové témy

18 19

MATURITA CARD Bridge 02,

OctOBer 2015,

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The Music of Christmas A Puntastic Christmas

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Mind Benders, Shakespeare’s Corner

FUN/LANGUAGE

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PUZZLES

for subscribers who receive 11 or more copies of the magazine

Travel and Transport in the Future

DECEMBER BONUSES 7

TECHNOLOGY

www audio CD

Studying Abroad As a Life-Changing Experience

teachers' file www

INTERVIEW

Key to Icons

So, have a happy Christmas! Mira Školová & the Bridge team

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The World of Religion

PERSONAL IDENTITY

Christmas Around the World

CHRISTMAS

Cultural Tips from Students

EVENTS DIARY

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The Good News

Proofreading Gareth Bowers, Mary Matz Subscriptions Henrieta Kollárová +421 905 425 447 kollarova@bridge-online.sk E-shop Jan Jásek +420 241 440 968 eshop@bridge-online.sk Photo Archive, iStockphoto, Shutterstock Graphic Design Ondřej Strnad Printing DUO PRINT s.r.o.

WHAT’S UP

Liam Axe, Lennie Bellew, Molly Emmett,

Megan LeBoeuf, Helena Lee Šrůtková, Liam Peach, Zuzana Pernicová, Auburn Scallon, Zuzana Sklenková, Josef Šorm redakce@bridge-online.cz Correspondents

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Paul Farrington-Douglas,

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Editor-in-chief Mira Školová skolova@bridge-online.sk +420 241 440 981 Editors

Bank account for the Slovak Republic (EUR) SK4009000000005128196156 BIC: GIBASKBX

Winter is here, it’s cold outside, the days are getting shorter... so it’s a good time to visit some sunny lands. How about a trip to the deserts of Australia, where it is now midsummer? Jackie Fox, one of our writers, travelled with an Aboriginal guide through the Australian Outback, and she brings you her stories of that land of bizarre wildlife and amazing rock formations in the magazine as well as on the CD. Of course, December means Christmas, which for us means snow and the longest nights of the year – but our midwinter celebration is a summer festival in many places, with Christmas barbecues on the beach and camping trips. Try our Christmas quiz and see if you can guess how people spend their festive days in countries like New Zealand, South Africa and Nigeria. But Christmas is not only a time to celebrate, eat delicious treats and open presents; it’s also a time to think of others, especially those who are not so lucky. This month’s What’s Up section doesn’t include only news from the world of culture, but also inspiring stories of people around the world who have done good for others. We also bring you an inspiring interview with a Slovak lawyer that had a chance to study in Slovakia, United Kingdom and Holland, and to compare the three school systems. So, if you are already thinking about your future university, after reading this interview, you can think it all over again during the holiday.

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B1– B2 What’s Up

And Now, the Good News Mary Matz (USA)

The year 2017 brought us some frightening, dramatic and shocking news. So let’s say goodbye to this old year with some stories to brighten our holidays. And as Christmastime is the special time when we think of others, this news brings together special people from three different parts of the world, to help us welcome the New Year with hope for a better 2018.

Haircuts for the Homeless Have a Home

A Different Kind of Fairy‑Tale Ending It started out as a horrible tragedy: a 14-year-old girl in Pakistan was shot in the head as she rode her bus to school. Why? Because the Taliban, an extreme Islamic group, didn’t like a girl getting an education, and worse, writing a blog for the BBC about it. But Malala Yousafzai survived the shooting and then continued her campaign for education for girls. In 2014 she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala’s life story has all the elements of a fairy tale – a young, brave heroine1, dangerous villains, and fairy godmothers* of the medical sort who helped her survive the shooting and start a new life in Birmingham, England. But Malala isn’t done yet. Now she’s beginning her studies in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the prestigious2 Oxford University. She may or may not meet her Prince Charming, but one thing is certain: she won’t give up fighting dragons.

Vocabulary

heroine [ˈherəʊɪn] – hrdinka 2 prestigious [preˈstɪdʒəs] – prestížny 3 to sing the praises [ˈpreɪzɪz] – ospevovať 4 stray [streɪ] – túlavý 5 aisle [aɪl] – ulička 6 persistent [pəˈsɪstənt] – neodbytný 7 veil [veɪl] – závoj 1

Bridge 4/2017

Glossary*

fairy godmother – a magical character in fairy tales (e.g. Cinderella) who helps people in trouble barbershop quartet – a group of four men or four women who sing in harmony, without any musical instruments ex-convict – sb who was in prison

BrE vs AmE

take a bus (BrE) x ride a bus (AmE) pavement (BrE) x sidewalk (AmE)

It usually takes four to make a barbershop quartet*, but in Philadelphia, USA, homeless men are singing the praises3 of two barbers with very big hearts. Barber Brennon Jones has given more than 1,000 free haircuts to homeless men on the sidewalk. In turn, ex-convict* (and also a barber) Sean Johnson has now given Mr Jones a free barber shop because, he says, he just wanted to see the business “do a great thing”. Jones now has a warm place to keep giving the free haircuts. The result is music to the ears of the homeless. And it shows that even just two barbers can make beautiful music together.

Crash a Wedding, Find a Family Getting married means getting used to the sometimes strange or annoying habits of your new spouse (= husband or wife). But what if you get an additional family member at your wedding? The Brazilian couple Matheus and Marília Pieroni were in the middle of their ceremony when a stray4 dog walked down the wedding aisle5. The persistent6 dog even lay down to sleep on the bride’s long veil7. Marília and Matheus (and the guests) burst into laughter and just carried on (= continued) with the ceremony. At the wedding reception (= formal party), the new couple searched for the mysterious dog, but couldn’t find him. Later, the whole city of Laranjal Paulista joined in the search, and the dog was found a week later. The couple adopted the dog, named him Snoop, and now all three of them can hopefully live happily ever after.

Výchova k mysleniu v európskych a globálnych súvislostiach

B1 events diary

From Students To Students Liam Peach (UK) Mira Školová (SK)

Cultural Tips

Nobody feels like studying or working hard during December. The days are short and the holiday air distracts from anything that requires concentration. But that doesn´t have to stop you from learning new things! The best way to learn is by having fun, and we bring you a few tips for cultural events where you can combine the two. And if it is all too much, a fine piece of theatre, this time a crazy comedy, will be a nice ending after all that hard studying. „IZMY a IZBY“, Bibiana, Bratislava, until February 4th 2018

„The most direct way to start to like art is to understand it. The most direct way to understand it is to live it.“ That’s the slogan of the exhibition „Izmy and Izby“, hosted by the Bibiana gallery in Bratislava. This venue*, that calls itself „The International House of Art for Children“ has prepared an exhibition about the history of art of the 20th century. Impressionism, cubism, expressionism, futurism… If you ever wonder what order all the „- isms“ come in and the historical meaning behind them, you have a chance to learn in a fun and creative way. Each of the styles has its own room where you can enter to discover it. And you don´t even have to be a child to enjoy it.

Oxford student halls*, the end of the 19th century. Charley and Jack, two best friends, are both in love and wish to propose* to their loved ones. The girls are about to travel, so there is no time for hesitation. Contemporary decorum requires a recommendation from a reliable person. Charley’s aunt from Brazil, Donna Lucia d‘Alvadorez, is to make a trip to England and everything seems to be going well, but suddenly she anounces that she will be a few days late. Is there a solution to this? Yes, when Lord Babberley, a friend of theirs, dresses as Donna Lucia. But what happens when the future brides start to like „her“ too much and on top of that, the real aunt arrives? In 1892, this comedy by the English author Brandon Thomas broke all historic records with an original run of 1466 performances, making it one of the most performed English comedies ever. Charleyho teta, Spišské divadlo, Spišská nová ves, December 10th

Banská Štiavnica is one of the most beautiful Slovak towns. Every December, Kammerhof, the museum of mining, hosts a historical Christmas market. Not only can you see the original medieval crafts1 that help you imagine the hard work people did to make this town one of the richest in Central Europe, you can also enjoy medieval Christmas food, sweets, music and dances. It might be quite cold, that’s true, but the fire from the craftsmen’s2 forges*, the dancing and the traditional Christmas mead* will make up3 for that. Štjavnycký vjanočný jarmok, Kammerhof, Banská Štiavnica, December 8th

Are you a fan of a particular film genre? Or an actor or actress? Fascinated by film soundtracks? Or just a regular moviegoer* who wants to learn something new? Film critic and journalist Peter Konečný organises a film quiz every month and goes all over Slovakia with it to entertain and share the best of his knowledge with all the cinema lovers that not only enjoy watching films, but also talking about them. Get ready to find out about film professions you might have never heard of, to see scenes you would never imagine a human mind could invent and get hooked4 on the wonderful world of cinema even more! Filmový kvíz Petra Konečného, Diera do sveta, Liptovský Mikuláš, December 8th.

Vocabulary

craft [krɑːft] – remeslo 2 craftsman [krɑːf(t)smən] – remeselník 3 to make up [tə meɪk ʌp] – vylepšiť 4 to get hooked [tə ɡɛt ˈhʊkt] – prepadnúť ničomu, namotať sa na niečo 1

Glossary*

venue – The place where an organized event such as a concert, conference, or sports competition happens.

forge – A blacksmith’s workshop; a smithy. mead – An alcoholic drink of fermented honey and water. halls – A university building containing rooms for students to live in. to propose – Make an offer of marriage to someone. moviegoer – A person who goes to the cinema, especially on a regular basis.

Bridge 4/2017

B1– B2 Christmas

Track 7

Výchova k mysleniu v európskych a globálnych súvislostiach

Sun, Sea and Santa Christmas Around the World Paul Farrington-Douglas (UK)

T‑a‑s‑ k

hristmas! It’s Santa landing his sleigh on snowy rooftops. It’s singing carols on a frosty winter night. It’s a cold plunge (= jump) into the Danube on Christmas morning (brrrr). It’s barbecued seafood on the beach. Wait – what? Christmas is celebrated all over the globe, and our traditions would seem

strange and exotic to many people. We’re going to pay Christmas visits to a few countries around the world. Can you work out where they are? Belgium England New Zealand Nigeria

North Korea Palestine South Africa The United States

_______________________________________________________ It doesn’t snow very often, but people always want to know if it will be a “white Christmas”. The “official” definition of a white Christmas (used by the Meteorological Office) is that a single snowflake has been seen falling in the 24 hours of Christmas Day. The country gets an official White Christmas about every four or five years, and there is real snow at Christmas about one in every ten years (almost always only in a tiny area in the far north of the country). Children believe that Father Christmas or Santa Claus leaves presents in stockings hung up by the fireplace or by the children’s beds on Christmas Eve. Children sometimes leave out mince pies• and brandy for Father Christmas to eat and drink when he visits them.

________________________________ There are Christmas services1 for foreign visitors in the very few churches, and Christmas parties in foreign embassies. Most native people, though, don’t care about it (it is not culturally important). Christians do care, but it is illegal for them to celebrate Christmas. Christians sometimes hold secret meetings in remote2 areas with a group of 10 to 20 people. Very occasionally, it is possible for them to go quietly into the mountains and to hold a Christmas service at a secret location. Then there might be as many as 60 or 70 people gathered together.

Bridge 4/2017

________________________________ Christmas Eve is all about having fun. Children play with firecrackers3, and many family parties last the whole night. Christmas Day is a more religious experience, and most people go to church. Local churches and their congregations (= people who go to one church) are closely connected, and the church choir4 may tour the neighbourhood to sing Christmas carols in people’s homes. The traditional Christmas meal includes turkey, but also beef, goat, sheep or chicken. Other dishes include fufu (sweet potatoes made into a sticky dough5), fried rice, vegetable salad and some type of stew6.

_______________________________ Lots of people like to spend Christmas on the beach, or they go camping or stay in their Baches (holiday homes like Slovak chaty). Many towns have a Santa parade with decorated floats7, bands and marching girls. Children leave out carrots for Santa’s reindeer, and a beer and some pineapple for Santa. People open their presents on Christmas Day before the Christmas dinner. Some people have a traditional English-style Christmas dinner, but nowadays a barbecue is more popular. The food cooked on the barbecue often includes exotic meat like venison8.

c u ltu r e P o i nt s

________________________________ On Christmas Eve there is a parade through the town. This is very important to the Christian part of the population. People dress up as Santa Claus and give out sweets, and there are bagpipe bands. Yes, bagpipes! Playing the bagpipes has been a tradition here since the British army occupied9 the area between 1920 and 1948. Perhaps the most famous part of Christmas is the Mass of the Nativity10, held on Christmas Eve in the Church of the Nativity. The Church is built over the place where it’s traditionally thought that Jesus was born.

________________________________ Family members give each other small presents at Christmas, but the big day for giving gifts is December 6th. Children put their shoes in front of the fireplace, together with a gift for “Sinterklaas”. In the night, Sinterklaas arrives from Spain on his flying horse with his helper, Zwarte Piet (“Black Peter”). Sinterklaas has a book with the names of all the children in the world, where he writes down if they’ve been bad or good. Children are told that if they’ve been bad, Zwarte Piet will put them in his sack12 and take them back to Spain.

Solutions in TF and next month on the Bridge website

_______________________________ The streets are often decorated, and all towns have their own Christmas displays11. Many people decorate their homes – not just inside, but outside, too. These displays can be pretty big, with hundreds of lights and even plastic models of snowmen, Santa and reindeer. Santa is not just found on people’s houses, but also in shopping centres and at parties. Of course, the real Santa only comes on Christmas Eve. Children hang a stocking by the bed or fireplace, and leave him a gift of milk and cookies. They open their presents on Christmas Day in the morning.

A mince pie is a sweet pie filled with a mixture of dried fruits, nuts and spices.

Christmas pudding is a mixture of dried fruits, nuts and spices held together by suet (= beef fat) and eggs.

_______________________________ Schools close for the Christmas holidays. In towns and cities, many people like to go carol singing on Christmas Eve. Traditional Christmas trees are popular, and children leave a stocking out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Traditional Christmas dishes include turkey, roast beef and suckling pig13 with yellow rice and raisins and vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding•. The Christmas meal is often eaten outside and, if it’s really hot, people might even have a “braai” – a barbecue. Some people like to go camping for Christmas, too.

Vocabulary

service [ˈsɜːvɪs] – bohoslužba, omša remote [rɪˈməʊt] – odľahlý 3 firecracker [ˈfaɪəkrækə(r)] – petarda 4 choir [ˈkwaɪə(r)] – zbor 5 dough [dəʊ] – cesto 6 stew [stjuː] – dusené mäso so zeleninou 7 float [fləʊt] – alegorický voz 8 venison [ˈvenɪsn] – srnčie / jelenie mäso 9 to occupy [ˈɒkjupaɪ] – okupovať, obsadiť 10 Nativity [nəˈtɪvəti] – Kristovo narodenie 11 display [dɪˈspleɪ] – dekorácia 12 sack [sæk] – vrece 13 suckling pig [ˈsʌklɪŋ] – prasiatko 1 2

Bridge 4/2017

B1– B2 personal identity

Výchova k mysleniu v európskych a globálnych súvislostiach

TO BELIEVE OR NOT TO BELIEVE the World of religion

Religion is often a very important part of a person’s identity, and criticizing a person’s religious beliefs can make them very unhappy. Religion can be closely connected with family and community, and with ideas of what is right and wrong. Religious beliefs have also been connected with violence1 and discrimination2 in many countries over thousands of years. For all these reasons, the topic of religion is often treated with a high level of caution3 in conversation.

No Joking Matter

Even if you are not religious yourself, it’s important to recognize the importance of faith4 if you are speaking to someone from a different culture. Some English-speakers may be fine with talking or joking about their beliefs. But in general religion isn’t something you should criticize or make fun of in conversation unless you know the other person very well. You don’t have to agree with someone else’s beliefs, but it’s a good idea to approach the topic carefully at first.

The Christian States

Religion is quite important to most Americans. Around 70% of

Bridge 4/2017

Americans consider themselves Christian, and another 5–10% practice another organized religion. Fewer than 20% say that they have no strong connection to a single faith. However, religion is less popular in the UK. A 2017 survey found that more than half of the population said they had “no religion”. This number went up to 71% among people aged 18–25.

The Big Four

Many religions are especially popular in specific areas of the world, but that does not mean that they only exist in those places. It also doesn’t mean that everyone in these places believes the same thing.

For example, roughly the same number of Jewish people live in the United States (a little over 5 million) as in Israel. And while Indonesia has the highest Muslim population in the world, there are also more than 4 million Hindus living there. To make things even more complicated, there are different versions of many religions, and their followers can disagree very strongly with each other. Ignoring this, however, the four

largest religions in the world are Christianity [ˌkrɪstiˈænəti], Islam [ˈɪzlɑːm], Hinduism [ˈhɪnduːɪzəm] and Buddhism [ˈbʊdɪzəm]. You might think that the next biggest would be Judaism [ˈdʒuːdeɪɪzəm], since it is so important to our own religious history – but in fact the next-biggest religions are Shintoism (Japan), Taoism (across Southeast Asia) and Sikhism (India). Auburn Scallon (USA)

The Largest Religious Groups Worldwide

 Buddhists  Christians  Folk religions  Hindus  Jews  Muslims  No religion

Just Kidding?

T‑a‑s‑ k

Some less‑serious religious groups can make big headlines.

Can you fill in the missing information about these major religions?

The Great Noodle in the Sky?

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and the religion of Pastafarianism began as a joke. The idea is that a giant bowl of spaghetti in the sky is just as likely (= probable) as any other religious belief. Many people now pretend to believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and you can find ID photos of people wearing colanders5 on their heads (the official religious headgear6) from the US to the UK to Austria.

1 Religion: ______________________

4 Religion: ______________________

A follower7 of the religion:

A follower of the religion:

______________________

Adjective: ______________________

Number of followers: ______________________ Popular in: North, South and Central America·, central and southern Africa·, Europe, Australia

Number of followers: ______________________ Popular in: China, Thailand, Vietnam, much of Southeast Asia

Holy8 text: ______________________ ,

Holy text: ______________________ ,

divided into the Old and New Testaments

which means “three baskets”

Best-known symbol: ______________________

Celebrations: Christmas, Easter

Celebrations: Vesakha (Buddha’s birthday)

2 Religion: ______________________

5 Religion: ______________________

A follower of the religion:

______________________

Adjective: ______________________

Number of followers: ______________________

Number of followers: ______________________ Popular in: India, Nepal, the African island of Mauritius

Popular in: Israel, the US Holy text: ______________________ ,

Holy text: __________ , made up of four major

which means “instructions”

texts

Best-known symbol: __________ Celebrations: Pesach (celebrates being freed from slavery9 in ancient Egypt), Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)

Best-known symbol: __________ Celebrations: Diwali (Festival of Lights), Holi (Festival of Colors)

3 Religion: ______________________

Is Star Wars a Religion?

A follower of the religion:

In the early 2000s, there was a movement* to choose “Jedi” or “Jedi Knight” as a religion on census surveys (= counting people) in many different countries. In the year 2001, over 70,000 Australians, 330,000 people from England and Wales, 14,000 Scots, 53,000 New Zealanders, and 21,000 Canadians joined the religion of Luke Skywalker and Yoda.

Atheist or Agnostic?

There are two main words to describe people who are not part of one organized religion. An atheist [ˈeɪθiɪst] is someone who does not believe that a god exists, often because there is no evidence. Someone who is agnostic [æɡˈnɒstɪk] is open to the idea of a god, or no god, but chooses not to think about it because they cannot know the answer.

Vocabulary

violence [ˈvaɪələns] – násilie 2 discrimination [dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃn] – diskriminácia 3 caution [ˈkɔːʃn] – opatrnosť 4 faith [feɪθ] – viera 5 colander [ˈkʌləndə(r)] – cedidlo 6 headgear [ˈhedɡɪə(r)] – pokrývka hlavy 1

Number of followers: I about 2 billion (= 2,000,000,000) II about 1.5 billion

______________________

III about 1 billion

Adjective: ______________________ Number of followers: ______________________ Popular in: Northern Africa, the Middle East, Indonesia

IV about 400 million

Holy text: ______________________ , told in

Holy text: A The Torah [ˈtɔːrɑː]

V about 15 million

fourteen different chapters

B The Vedas [ˈveɪdəz]

Best-known symbol: ______________________ Celebrations: Eid al-Fitr (the end of Ramadan*), Eid al-Adha (animals are sacrificed10 and some meat is sent to the poor)

C The Bible [ˈbaɪbl] D The Qur’an [kəˈrɑːn] E Tripitaka [trɪˈpɪtəkə]

Best-known symbol: a

follower [ˈfɒləʊə(r)] – stúpenec, prívrženec 8 holy [ˈhəʊli] – svätý, posvätný 9 slavery [ˈsleɪvəri] – otroctvo 10 to sacrifice [ˈsækrɪfaɪs] – obetovať 7

Glossary*

movement – a group of people with the same goal

Cross

Star & Crescent Moon

Star of David

Ramadan – an Islamic period of fasting (= not eating) during daylight hours for one month

Language Point•

When translating countries and geographical regions into English, adjective forms are very important. For example, southern Africa describes an

Dharma Wheel

Solutions in TF and next month on the Bridge website

area of many countries, while South Africa is a single country. Similarly, middle America is an unofficial way to describe the states in the center of the United States, while Central America is the name for countries like Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama.

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B1 Maturita / Didaktický test

Track 5

READING Part 1

7 points

THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH Read the article about the Gold Rush. Fill in the gaps 01–07 with the correct sentence A–J. There are three extra sentences which will not be used. The California Gold Rush began in 1848. James Marshall discovered gold on Sutter’s Mill, close to Sacramento. He was a carpenter and a mill operator.

They wanted to keep the discovery

a secret. They didn’t want it to ruin their agricultural plans. But rumours spread quickly.

At the end of that year, US

President James Polk officially announced that there was gold in California. At that time this area was known as Sierra Nevada because California was not yet a state. Soon after the newspaper reports, hundreds of immigrants went there to look for gold. They were called forty‑niners because the year was 1849.

From

there, they went to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was the place where prospectors - people who seek valuable metals and minerals – could find gold. Between 1848 and 1850 the population of San Francisco increased from 1,000 to 25,000. In a short time, prospectors started to come from all around the world.

Very often, the journeys were months long

and very hard. Many immigrants died in shipwrecks or from cholera

(A) The Gold Rush was the largest mass-migration in US history.

or typhoid fever. It’s estimated that around 90,000 people arrived in

(B)

The Gold Rush ended around 1855.

California in 1849 alone.

(C)

People from all around the world came to visit it.

(D)

They arrived in San Francisco, then a small town.

(E)

He found a piece of gold while working.

(F)

The mill was owned by John Sutter who employed Marshall to build it.

(G)

Soon, all the newspapers were reporting the discovery of gold.

Many towns and settlements were created during the Gold Rush. Thanks to that, a state constitution was written.

But

there were also many settlements that were later abandoned because the gold ran out. One example of an abandoned gold rush town is Bodie. Today it is a popular tourist attraction.

(H) Many of them arrived by sea. Most of the accessible gold was removed by 1850. In a few years, companies rather than individuals began mining.

(I)

In 1850, California was admitted as the 31st state of the United States.

(J)

But there was no gold left there anymore.

It had

a big impact on the environment. Hunting and agriculture became nearly impossible and chemicals killed fish. But for many people, the Gold Rush represents a golden age of opportunity.

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Solutions in TF and next month on the Bridge website

B2 matUrita / didaktiCký test

Track 6

lAnGuAGe in use PArt 1

20 points

A mirACle WorKer For questions 01–20 read the text below. Decide which word or phrase (A), (B), (C) or (D) best fits each space. There is an example at the beginning (00). Example: (00) – (C) Example: (00) – (C) Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. She lost her sight and

on the vaudeville stage. Her later

hearing due

were less successful, and in her public appearances she

an illness

the age of nineteen

months. Five years later, her parents found her a teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan.

the assistance of an interpreter to make herself

Helen learned to read and write in braille and to use the hand signals

the lectures into her hand, Keller studied

at schools for the deaf in Boston and New York City and graduated Radcliffe College in 1904. She was able to

the biography of Anne Sullivan’s life. In 1918, she made a movie in Hollywood, titled Deliverance, to dramatize the life of

blind

next two years supported herself and Sullivan

in in Through repeated at acquire issues a a activities acquired understand personally had been from started on for helps moved look

(B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B)

William Gibson, which

New York in 1959 and became a successful Hollywood film in 1962. 16

an educator, organizer, and fund-raiser was many

the world and invited to the White House by every U.S. president

made her

published her first book, The Story of My Life. Later, she also wrote

(A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A)

Worker, written

public services for the handicapped. Widely honoured throughout

a celebrity at an early age; during her junior year at Radcliffe she

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

enabled her

the subjects of a Pulitzer Prize-winning play, The Miracle

enormous, and she was responsible

the treatment of the blind and deaf.

and during 08

to acquire the support of many wealthy people. Keller and Sullivan

Her impact

an excellent education and became an important influence on

Her accomplishments in overcoming her

Helen’s international reputation and warm

of the “deaf-mute“, which she could understand only by touch. 03

her extraordinary instruction,

the little girl learned to communicate with the world around her.

With Anne

to learn to speak

for at From repeating in find disabilities these this intentions hired understanding personality have been of published as from ideas invented perception

from Grover Cleveland to Lyndon B. Johnson, Keller the world’s

of the capacities of the handicapped. More

than any act in her long life, her courage, intelligence, and dedication combined to make her a symbol of the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

to on In have repeated from study setbacks the that experiences required had understood personnel were by released in at advances alternated image

(D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)

from from For having repeated for require difficulties those the efforts represented understood personal has been with opened of on supports changed relation

solutions in tF and next month on the Bridge website

Bridge 4/2017

B1 series: English-Speaking Countries

Uluru

Tracks 9, 18

Lesson Plan

Emma Gorge

Dangerous and Beautiful Australia Some years ago I travelled through the Outback of Australia – the vast (= very large), hot and remote (= far away from any towns) area in the centre of the country. It is a land of red earth and desert.

Long Distances

I am from New Zealand, which is really not that big. You could fit about 28 New Zealands into Australia, but it wasn’t until I did this trip that I really got a sense of what that means. The first part of our journey was from Darwin to Alice Springs, a city in the centre of Australia. Darwin is the second‑nearest city to Alice Springs, a 16‑hour and 45‑minute drive. And the nearest city? Adelaide, a 16‑hour and 15‑minute drive from the other direction. Most of the journey was hours on a single straight road. We were lucky to see another car in half a day of driving. The landscape remained unchanged1 for hours. Flat, red, dry and hot.

Termite Toilets

I travelled in September, which is spring in Australia, but still the temperatures were in the high 30s and sometimes into the 40s. At every petrol station we jumped out to stretch2 our legs, buy cold drinks and use a real toilet. In between petrol stations we had to make do with hiding behind one of the hundreds of termite mounds•. There aren’t many trees (or anything else), so this was often the closest thing there was to

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privacy. The termite mounds get pretty big, though – they can be two or three metres tall.

Amazing Sights

Although the journey was sometimes long and uncomfortable, we were rewarded with some amazing sights. For example, we saw the Bungle Bungles. This is a rock formation3 in Western Australia. The sandstone rocks are made up of different layers4. We also saw the Devil’s Marbles in the Northern Territory. This was basically a collection of giant stones. Aside from rock formations, we also saw the Emma Gorge waterhole5 and waterfall. It was a beautiful sight, and really special after so much red dust.

Australia is an epic and melodramatic film starring Nicole Kidman as the owner of a cattle station who falls in love with cattle worker Hugh Jackman. It features a lot of horse riding, some insights into Aboriginal culture and amazing shots of the Australian Outback. Another good one to watch is the comedy Red Dog, based on the true story of a dog that travelled across Western Australia.

Adventures in English‑Speaking Countries

Camping

During the journey we had many nights sleeping under the stars without tents. We slept only in swags, which are like big canvas6 bags you use over your sleeping bag. I remember the stars. I had never seen so many. They were spectacular without the light pollution7 of the cities. (On the other hand, I also remember waking during the night when something walked across my face!)

Cattle Station

One night we slept in real beds. It was accommodation at the Wirrelyerna Station in Queensland. Cattle stations (= large farms) in Australia can be thousands of square kilometres in size. At the station, the managers told us how the cattle are basically allowed to run free. But when they are needed, the cattle workers have to muster8 them. In the old days they

Australia Just the Basics

Population: Almost 25 million Capital: Canberra Largest City: Sydney (4.8 million) Geography: The only country that is also a continent. More than one third of the country is desert. Official Languages: None technically, but Australian English is the majority language (and about 70% of people cannot speak any other language).

Australia

Government: Federal parliamentary democracy and part of the Commonwealth.

Devil’s Marbles

Bungle Bungles

Darwin

S c i e n c e P o i nt s

Whitsunday Islands

Western Australia

A termite is an insect that lives in large colonies, similar to ants and bees. Some species make hard earth “houses” called termite mounds.

Northern Territory Alice Queensland Springs south australia new south wales Sydney Adelaide victoria Canberra

OTHER PLACES To VISIT

Darwin is the capital of the Northern

Territory. It has a tropical climate and a multicultural atmosphere. It is only about a two-to-three hour flight to Indonesia, so it is a great connection between Australia and South-East Asia.

Melbourne

used mostly horses, but now they also use things like helicopters and motorbikes. The mouse spider is one of Australia’s most venomous (= poisonous) spiders, but it is usually too lazy to bite.

The Impressive Uluru

In the Northern Territory, of course, we visited the huge, red rock formation called Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock). It is very impressive as it stands there with nothing else around it (well, except for tour buses and tourists). You can walk around it, a walk about nine kilometres. Currently you can climb it too, but in 2019 climbing it will be banned because it’s a sacred9 place of the Aboriginal people.

The Whitsunday Islands in Queensland

are a popular destination for tourists, especially for lovers of snorkelling and diving. They’re a good base for visiting the Great Barrier Reef, which is the largest coral reef11 in the world.

The Dangers of the Outback

Although people worry about the dangers of Australian animals, in the Outback it is the harsh10 conditions that create the most problems. Yes, I saw some scary creatures. There was a mouse spider• (in a toilet), crocodiles (which I saw from a river boat) and a snake (passing by the car). But the scariest thing is the environment itself. Tourists who are unprepared can and do die in the Outback. If your car breaks down in the wrong place, you can be very far from any help. No phone signal, no internet, no shade. If you don’t have enough water or if you leave your car, it can be very

Vocabulary

unchanged [ʌnˈtʃeɪndʒd] – nemenný 2 to stretch [stretʃ] – pretiahnuť, natiahnuť 3 rock formation [fɔːˈmeɪʃn] – skalný útvar 4 layer [ˈleɪə(r)] – vrstva 5 waterhole [ˈwɔːtəhəʊl] – jazierko, napájadlo 6 canvas [ˈkænvəs] – plátno, plátenný 1

dangerous. Maybe no one will drive past for hours, a day or maybe even a week. So it is important to be prepared.

The End of the Journey

My trip through the Australian Outback was an incredible journey. I gained a new appreciation for Australia and for the people who choose to live in the Outback. It was nice to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there. Jackie Fox (NZ)

Melbourne is Australia’s second biggest

city. It has a more European feel than Sydney. It even has the largest Greek‑speaking population outside of Europe.

light pollution [pəˈluːʃn] – svetelné znečistenie, rušivé svetlo 8 to muster [ˈmʌstə(r)] – zhromaždiť, združiť na nástup 9 sacred [ˈseɪkrɪd] – posvätný 10 harsh [hɑːʃ] – drsný 11 coral reef [ˈkɒrəl riːf] – koralový útes 7

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B2 intervieW

Výchova k mysleniu v európskych a globálnych súvislostiach

An EntiRELY nEW WORLd

studying Abroad As a life‑Changing experience

lawyers in action – gabika is ﬁ rst from the left

We live in times when it is relatively easy for us to travel. But still, travelling and living abroad are two different things. And when it happens at the age when you are more open to new experiences than at any other time of your life, it might shape your character in an even more radical way. Gabriela Hirsch-Augustinyová, originally from Žilina, spent her entire university years abroad – and here she shares some of her experiences of different forms of education with us. How did you end up studying abroad?

I studied in Spanish at the Gymnázium bilingválne in Žilina, then in English at the Gymnázium Jura Hronca in Bratislava. My programme of study called International Baccalaureate was specifically designed for people who wanted to do their degrees abroad, which means that my maturita was internationally valid. How did you choose your university?

I knew that I wanted to study law and that I wanted to study in United Kingdom. Their application system is different from ours. You apply to up to1 six universities on one form, and any of the universities can offer you a place depending on your results. I wasn’t accepted to all six of my chosen universities, but I still had a choice. I decided to go to the University of Sheffield because it offered the course I wanted to do, which was international law.

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What was it like?

The beginning was extremely difficult. It was a cultural shock, but also an academic one. In my first lecture, the lecturer was talking about negligence2 – and to be honest, I had no idea what he meant. I had to work hard to catch up3 at first, but studying abroad was still the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The British university teaching approach is quite different from the Slovak method. For example, we had to write a lot of essays, and the teachers really made us think and encouraged us to express our ideas and arguments. So it wasn’t only about the factual4 knowledge, but also about our understanding of the issue. Did you make friends there?

Of course. At first I lived in halls*, but later I got a house share* and my housemates became my closest circle of friends. We also spent one semester abroad as a part

of the Erasmus programme. I decided to go to Uppsala in Sweden. The best thing about those six months was getting to know new people, new country and enjoying student life. We travelled a lot. Academically, it was all less difficult than in Britain, but that’s because the courses were designed for Erasmus students. Then I went back to Britain and finished my bachelor’s degree. What next?

After I got my bachelor’s, I felt that it was time to move on. I decided to go to Leiden University in Holland, because I wanted to specialise fully in international law. Sheffield had prepared me well and there isn’t such a big difference between Holland and Britain in terms of tertiary education. In Slovakia, the differences between undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are minimal, but elsewhere5, you do general courses during the bachelor programme and then you study for your master’s in order to become a specialist in your field. I studied in English. The proportion between local and foreign students is quite balanced, and the same among the professors. Did you work while you were a student?

Oh yes. Studying abroad wasn’t cheap, and I had to pay all the fees. In Britain, they have

Do you have any experience of tertiary education in Slovakia?

a very good system where students can get cheap loans*. That helps, but of course only if you feel that it is worth getting into debt* to fund your studies. I worked as an interpreter for an agency that provided interpretation services for Czechs and Slovaks living there. It was shortly after we entered the EU and there were many people who didn’t speak English well. Then in Holland I lived close to The Hague. The international courts there offer internships. There was a possibility to apply through my university and I was selected. I did one of these internships, and when it finished I applied for a normal job and was accepted. So I started to work straight after finishing my master’s.

CLASSWORK In Slovakia all the degrees in state education are free. But there are countries in which you have to pay in order to be able to study at university. Do you find it fair or not? Does the state have to provide education for free, or is paying for it a sign of shared responsibility? When it comes to education, what is the role of the state and what is the role of the citizens? Share your opinions and don’t forget to write to us at skolova@bridge-online.sk.

I did all my university studying abroad, but I worked in Bratislava for a year and a half as a lecturer at Comenius University in Bratislava. It was part of an EU project that supported modern educational approaches and teaching in English. We tried to make our students use legal reasoning6 and their personal judgment7 as much as possible: we prepared a case* for every lecture*, and the students were supposed to suggest how they would proceed8. The grading consisted of essays and a final exam which was about advising on a particular situation. I have to admit that I had many illusions about Slovak universities, and the reality was different. Our students were quite motivated and I enjoyed working with them very much, but it was clear that our school system was not very flexible and our future lawyers were educated in a rather mechanical way, focused on memorising rather than solving real legal problems and preparing for this profession. In Slovakia, too, there is almost no difference between the bachelor’s and the master’s degree, but from my experience, if you need to specialise, studying a master’s programme that helps you focus on your area is a great motivation. Our students had to do an evaluation at the end of each course, and the feedback was very positive. I could see that our young people have great enthusiasm. Our course wasn’t mandatory, so maybe we only had motivated students, but still their energy was a very positive sign. The whole experience was very rewarding for me. It was great to pass some of my experiences on the next generation of law students. It was amazing when I met two of my former students in New York, where I now live, one working for the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the other doing an internship at the United Nations. It feels great to know that we motivated at least some of our students to pursue their interests and reach for their dream career. To sum up* your experience?

I believe that everybody should study abroad if they have a chance. If not a complete master’s, then at least a semester with Erasmus. Studying abroad changes you, not only professionally, but most of all as a human being. It broadens* your horizons and limits

Vocabulary

up to [ʌp tə] – až po 2 negligence [ˈneɡlɪdʒəns] – nedbanlivosť 3 to catch up [tə kætʃ ʌp] – dohnať, dobehnúť 4 factual [ˈfæktʃuəl] – faktický, konkrétny 5 elsewhere [ˌelsˈweə(r)] – inde, inam 6 legal reasoning – [ˈliːɡl ˈriːzənɪŋ] právne, právnické myslenie 7 personal judgement [ˈpɜːsənl ˈdʒʌdʒmənt] – osobný úsudok 8 to proceed [prəˈsiːd] – postupovať 1

Students’ Union

Sheffield is not very big and it is quite industrial, yet students have great social life there. One of the reasons is the Students’ Union. It has a president and eight officers, who are chosen in regular elections and receive a salary. They are sabbatical – that means that while students work in the positions they take a year off from school. The union organises a variety of free‑time activities, has a student café and bars, and many different clubs for students, including a Czechoslovak one.

An Important Detail In Uppsala, the student halls are very big. There are ten single rooms on each floor, and a shared living room and kitchen. In those ten rooms, there were always eight local people and two foreigners. It was extremenly important for socialising, because students from abroad were not excluded and Swedish students included us very nicely among them.

in a way that opens an entirely new world and possibilities in front of you. I now demand much more not only from life, but also from myself. It might seem a paradox, but when you start to demand more of yourself, you also start to question what you really want and need, and learning that takes a lot of stress away. It helps you realise who you are, and what you can do for the world around you. Paul Farrington-Douglas (UK) Mira Školová (SK)

Glossary*

halls – a building for university or college students to live in house share – a property rented by a group of people responsible for the rent payments loan – money that an organization, such as a bank, lends and somebody borrows debt – a sum of money that somebody owes case – a question to be decided in court lecture – a talk given to a group of people to teach them about a particular subject, often part of a university or college course to sum up – to express the main points of something in a short and clear form to broaden – to become wider, to make wider

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B2 teChnology

Track 13

A thousand miles from home travel and transport in the future

Christmas is almost upon us, and many of us are thinking not only of all the shopping and baking we must do, but also of our travel arrangements – Christmas visits to family and friends. In the modern world we are used to travel being easy. We take it for granted* that we can look for a new life in a new place very easily and return home to visit whenever we want. But the world is changing, and transport is changing with it. Some changes will continue to shrink* the world, but others may have the reverse (= opposite) effect.

Electric Wings

In the air, we are about to see the return of supersonic* flight, with planes capable of travelling between continents in just two or three hours. Another innovation is likely to be electric aircraft (= aeroplanes). Electricity is no use for larger planes or long-distance flights due to battery limitations, but it could be a very efficient option for smaller numbers of passengers (10–15 people per flight) over shorter distances (1,000–1,500 km). Most of us won’t get to experience these major innovations for many years. Planes have long lifetimes, and the ordinary planes that most of us use will still be flying in ten years, or even twenty. The changes we will experience will be inflight Wi-Fi, new

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entertainment systems and so on. And higher prices: due to environmental and geopolitical issues, air travel is probably going to become more expensive over the next few years.

Our Poisoned Air

The biggest uncertainty is in road transport. Change is coming – but what change, and when? Right now, the future looks very uncertain, mainly because of a crisis in the use of diesel. When European

Due to diesel, the air in many European cities is poisonous. governments were looking for ways to cut carbon emissions* in the late 1990s and 2000s, the car industry promoted diesel as a better fuel than petrol, with much lower carbon emissions. In the mid-1990s, only 10 % of European cars were diesel. At present, it’s closer to half. Now we know that diesel does not produce less CO2 than petrol, which is very bad news. We also know that diesel fumes*

are very toxic, and that car companies have been hiding just how bad this is. Due to diesel, the air in many European cities is poisonous.

Cities for People

Politicians are slow to act, especially when car companies provide so many jobs. However, several cities (including London) are already banning older diesel cars. Some car companies, like Volkswagen, are fighting to protect the diesel industry. Others, like Volvo, are promising to accelerate* the switch to electric vehicles. Some expect that environmental pressures will lead to new types of transport, like electric cars. Others are fighting for new cycling infrastructure*. And many people hope that bans on polluting vehicles could be the beginning of a move to a cleaner, more human-friendly city. Paul Farrington-Douglas (UK)

Glossary*

to take sth for granted – to accept sth as normal without thinking about it to shrink – to make sth smaller supersonic – faster than the speed of sound carbon emissions – harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by cars and other sources fumes – dangerous gas to accelerate – to make sth quicker infrastructure – the basic systems and services that make sth (in this case cycling) easier and more effective

B1– B2 pUZZles

Mind Benders sAntA’s notes

One of the elves spilled eggnog* on Santa’s list of the good children on this street, and now he can only read a few parts of it. Using the information you can still read (and some notes from Santa’s memory), figure out which toy needs to be delivered to which house. And be quick! Santa has a lot more neighborhoods to visit tonight!

SHAKESPEARE’S CORNER

Auburn Scallon (USA)

Megan LeBoeuf (USA)

Presents

a copy of Minecra ft for PC

a set of new skis

an orange and w hite hamster

a kids’ tablet (for ages 8 and un

an Xbox One

Track 8

Cymbeline, published in 1623, is one of Shakespeare’s less-famous plays. It did, however, give the English language a phrase that is still used to this day. In the play, Pisanio, a servant, has been ordered to kill the princess Imogen because her husband believes she has been cheating on him. But Pisanio knows that Imogen is innocent. While talking to the princess about the stress of his situation, he uses a phrase that many students will be able to relate to.

PLAY: Cymbeline

der)

“I have not slept one wink*.”

a smartphone

Guess the meaning: A I sleep with one eye open because I’m worried about my safety. B I haven’t even closed one eye for one second to sleep.

Name

Age

Hair Color

Antonio

blond

Isabel

black

House # Present

Today, we say “I haven’t slept a wink.” *wink – mrknutí

Jenna Jose

Kevin

Katie

C I can’t sleep because I can feel everyone watching me.

• The boys all live on one side of the street, and the girls on the other. • On each side of the street, the oldest children live at the top and the youngest at the bottom. • There are two children with brown hair and they live across the street from each other.

Vocabulary in a Modern Context There are many words and phrases connected to the subject of sleep. Use the context of the following sentences to help you choose the correct meanings for the underlined words. 1 One of my favorite things about weekends is being able to take a nap after lunch. 2 I guess you could say I’m a night owl. I like to study around midnight, when the rest of my family is asleep and it’s nice and quiet. 3 I usually feel groggy in the morning until I’ve had my first cup of coffee. 4 Please don’t make me share a room with Dave. His snoring will keep me up all night.

• The youngest child is a boy.

5 I’m always terrified that I’ll oversleep when I have an important test, so I set two alarms just to be safe.

• The smartphone is going to house #2

A to wake up later than you had planned

• Jenna and Kevin are the same age.

• One of the boys wants the hamster.

B someone who likes to stay up late

• Two of the boys have the same hair color.

C breathing very noisily while you sleep

• Isabel is half Kevin’s age and one year older than Antonio.

D a short sleep

• The copy of Minecraft is not going to one of the youngest children. • The oldest girl has red hair and wants new skis. • Antonio wants the tablet. * eggnog – a drink made from milk, sugar and eggs, often mixed with alcohol

E not completely awake; unable to think clearly diSCuSS Now try talking about your sleeping habits and preferences with a partner, using some of the vocabulary above.

solutions on the Cd, in tF and next month on the Bridge website

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B1– B2 mUsiC

Tracks 14–17

the Music of

Christmas in this issue of Bridge, we take a look at Christmas around the world and pay a visit to Australia, where Christmas falls in the middle of summer. So it seems appropriate that our Christmas hymns, songs and carols• should also tell the story of Christmas in various parts of the world. Paul Farrington-Douglas (UK)

Christmas in the Sun

A Carol from the New World

The Oldest Carol?

Songs celebrating the birth of Christ date back as far as the first ever Christmas celebration in the fourth century. The earliest surviving carol, however, dates back “only” to the 12th century. This carol is French (it is one of the most popular carols in France, though it has changed a lot over 800 years), but an English version is still sung today. Called “The Friendly Beasts”, it is about the animals that surrounded Jesus in the stable1. “I,” said the donkey, shaggy2 and brown. “I carried his mother up hill and down; “I carried his mother to Bethlehem3 town.” “I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

Christmas in Australia, of course, is rooted in European traditions, and the carols and hymns are the same ones sung in Britain. A lot of Aussies feel strange singing about snow when it’s 40 degrees, though, and many songwriters have written songs celebrating the Australian Christmas. One of the most popular is “White Wine in the Sun” by Tim Minchin, a musician and comedian. Tim is an atheist, and the song is partly about how he doesn’t feel comfortable with the religious side of the festival. But mainly it’s about how much he loves Christmas because it’s a time to be together with family.

It’s strange to think of Christmas being celebrated by the First Nations people (the indigenous4 “Indians” of Canada). “The Huron Carol” was written by a Jesuit missionary5 in 1621, and the original lyrics are in Wyandot, the language of the Huron people (one of the indigenous tribes). It was translated into English in the 1920s. The song’s original Wyandot title is “Jesous Ahatonhia” (“Jesus, he is born”), and it tells of the baby Jesus being visited not by three kings but by “chiefs6 from far away”, bringing “fox and beaver pelts (= furs)”. Within a lodge of broken bark The tender babe was found A ragged robe of rabbit skin Enwrapped His beauty round But as the hunter braves drew nigh The angel song rang loud and high “Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born.”

And 1 ________ my baby girl When you’re twenty-one 2 ________ thirty-one And Christmas comes around You find yourself nine thousand miles

t‑A‑s‑ k

3 ________ home You’ll know whatever comes

In the lyrics, find expressions that mean: 1 2 3 4 5

Your brothers and sisters and me

came closer covered hut made of the hard covering of trees torn clothing young Indian warriors

4 ________ your mum Will be waiting 5 ________ you in the sun When Christmas comes

Vocabulary 1 2 3 4 5

stable [ˈsteɪbl] – stajňa shaggy [ˈʃæɡi] – chlpatý Bethlehem [ˈbeθlɪhem] – Betlehem indigenous [ɪnˈdɪdʒənəs] – domorodý Jesuit missionary [ˈdʒezjuɪt ˈmɪʃənri] – jezuitský misionár chief [tʃiːf] – náčelník

Bridge 4/2017

t‑A‑s‑ k

Language Point•

Christmas Hymns, Songs and Carols The differences between these are a bit unclear, but broadly speaking a hymn is a religious song (especially with words taken from the Book of Psalms – a part of the Bible), a carol is a traditional folk song, and Christmas song is used for modern songs written by popular artists.

Fill in the correct words into the gaps in the lyrics. AND

FOR

FROM

Solutions in TF and next month on the Bridge website

B1 FUn/langUage

LESSON PLAN

Track 12

C I T S S A A T M N T U S P I A R H C A Very British Christmas

There is something very British about sitting around the Christmas dinner table wearing colourful paper hats and telling each other terrible jokes. Other nationalities may find it difficult to understand this tradition, but it is as much a part of the British Christmas as eating too much, ignoring the Queen’s speech or getting into arguments with your relatives. For this, we have the Christmas cracker to thank.

The History of the Cracker

Like many other aspects of the British Christmas, the cracker was introduced in the 19th century. A London sweetmaker, Tom Smith, is credited with the invention. When people began to get bored with his sweets wrapped in colourful paper, he started to put love notes inside them. Soon this began to wear thin* too, so he added a mechanism that would make a noise when the sweet was opened. However, it was his son, Walter, who really took crackers to the next level*. He made them bigger, got rid of the sweet altogether and replaced it with a small toy, a paper crown and a joke – often a pun. The rest is history*.

What is a Pun?

A pun is a joke that involves a play on words. The English language contains a lot of words that mean different things but that sound similar or the same (e.g. see and sea). It is from this confusion1 that the pun

Vocabulary 1 2 3 4 5 6

Glossary*

was born. Puns are sometimes described as “the lowest form of humour”, and the typical reaction to a pun is not laughter, but a long and pained groan2. But we tell them anyway. And Christmas is clearly the best opportunity to inflict3 this particular type of pain on your nearest and dearest.

The Worst Christmas Puns?

Puns can be seen everywhere, such as in shop names – there’s a computer shop called Bits and PCs (bits and pieces) and a fried chicken restaurant called Lord of the Wings (rings). But it is around the Christmas dinner table that puns really find their rightful4 place. So in honour of5 this most British of traditions, here are some of the best (worst) Christmas puns. I’m so, so sorry. Liam Peach (UK)

TA S K Can you explain the puns? What words and expressions are they based on?

st place to put Where is the be tree? After as your Christm e and your on as tm ris Ch your o. tw as tm ris Ch Hm. That’s actually not bad.

Who hides in the bakery at Christmas? A mince spy . Ouch! How do snowmen travel around? By icicle6. Oh God, make it stop!

HA, HA, HA

confusion [kənˈfjuːʒn] – zmätok to wear thin – to become boring or groan [ɡrəʊn] – stenanie annoying to infl ict [ɪnˈflɪkt] – spôsobiť to take sth to the next level – to rightf ul [ˈraɪtf l] – právoplatný improve sth in honour of [ˈɒnə(r)] – na počesť the rest is history – everything that icicle [ˈaɪsɪkl] – cencúľ has happened since is well-known

t if you What do you ge as with tm ris Ch cross Father as quacker. tm ris Ch A ? ck a du No, no, no. Enough.

What do you ca ll a ﬁsh with no eyes? Fsh. Right, that’s enough. No Christmas for you!

Solutions in TF and next month on the Bridge website

Listen to the Bridge CD for a dialogue with more Christmas cracker jokes. Bridge 4/2017

detergent – washing powder; Yuletide – Christmas time; cheer – happiness

flea – a small jumping insect that feeds on the blood of animals