Instructions: Please fill up the gaps below with appropriate options listed

Want to soak up the Christmas atmosphere somewhere this December? Try a new direction and
head south, to Sorrento. This classic summer resort is __________ its glittering best just __________
Christmas, says Fleur Kinson.

You cant wrap it up __________ shiny paper or squeeze it __________ the prickly arms __________
the Christmas tree, but its what millions __________ people give themselves __________ Christmas
every year. It is, __________ course, a quick getaway. Just a few days somewhere shortly __________
The Big Day, to buy exotic gifts, admire the twinkly lights, and generally absorb lots __________
festive ambience. Nothing is more guaranteed to put you __________ the proper Christmas spirit.
The usual target is a lovely northern European city __________ a magical Christmas market. All
that spicy gingerbread and steaming Glhwein! All those cute, hand-carved wooden trinkets! A
session __________ carol-singing, a spot __________ ice-skating. Some travellers venture as far
__________ Lapland, __________ its deep snow and Santa-kitsch. Others go all the way to New York,
__________ its legendary department stores and cornucopian window displays.
But surprisingly few __________ us realize how lovely southern Europe can be __________ the
run-up to December 25th. Especially Italy, a country __________ excels __________ so many
__________ the things __________ Christmas is all __________ : gorgeous ornament, stunning food,
and an almighty reverence __________ family. __________ December __________ Italy the lights are
heart-meltingly pretty, the shops are stocked __________ glossy and mouthwatering goods, and
the streets teeming __________ friendly people genetically predisposed to stroll __________ town
all evening, whatever the temperature. Not __________ the temperature ever gets too ruthless.
Cold, clear days graced __________ cheering sunshine are the December norm __________ most
__________ the country.
Some __________ Italys most well-loved places are arguably lovelier __________ the run-up to
Christmas __________ they are __________ the height __________ summer. Sorrento is a perfect
example. This unashamed tourist-town __________ a rocky cliff overlooking the magnificent Bay
__________ Naples is crowded __________ foreign visitors all summer long. They dont come
__________ the beaches (Sorrento has none to speak __________ ). They dont come __________ the
monuments or museums (Sorrento is too fun-oriented to boast many __________ these). They
come __________ the sheer pleasure __________ wandering Sorrentos buzzy lanes and piazzas.
Southern Lights
Grammar Gap Fill Exercise
for | before | about | by | through | across | until | because | of | toward | on | along | between | beneath |
throughout | with | so | under | at | into | as | in | till | around | that | than | against | en | outside | out
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They come __________ the lively cafs and bars, the boisterous nighttime passeggiata (the
communal stroll round town). __________ December all these pleasures are undiminished, but the
town is full __________ high-spirited local people rather __________ foreign holidaymakers.
__________ December, Sorrentos outdoor market stalls groan __________ the weight __________
sumptuous food hampers, or stand ablaze __________ shiny gift-wrapped boxes __________
delicious panettone (Italian Christmas cake). Nip __________ the towns cute little churches and
youll find enchanting presepi elaborate nativity scenes wrought __________ antique figurines, a
big tradition __________ the Campania region. __________ , delicate lights fizz up the trunks
__________ the palm trees and stretch __________ to illuminate every arcing frond. Excited locals
mill __________ , and the whole town hums __________ colour and life.
__________ Sorrentos shopping streets, even __________ the winter, summer colour is
everywhere __________ the ubiquitous bright bottles __________ limoncello, __________ the
cascades __________ vivid dried chillies, and __________ the massive citrus fruits that blaze
undimmed __________ cool December. Sorrento is practically overwhelmed __________ its oranges
and lemons some so embarrassingly big and breast-like __________ you cant help but look away
abashed __________ they ripely poke __________ you.
And fecundity isnt just limited to the stuff __________ the shops. Sorrento is a hugely popular
wedding venue __________ the young people __________ nearby Naples. __________ any Saturday
__________ December, romantic love is likely to be reaching its colourful nuptial apex here. Youll
see crowds __________ well-wishers throwing rice __________ a busty bride and her bashful new
spouse, and spot the newlyweds again and again __________ town posing __________ photos and
video. The Italian style __________ wedding portraiture is quite racy, so expect plenty __________
public snogs and lascivious looks __________ the dolled-up couple. No cold-hearted winter chill
here!
Naturally youll want to snap up some glossy gifts to placate the folks back home. The classic
souvenir is limoncello Sorrentos sweet lemon liqueur. __________ novelty bottles __________
wacky shapes, check out the many specialist shops __________ Via Cesareo and Via Fuoro. You can
watch limoncello being made, and sample different blends, __________ Limonoro (Via San Cesareo
51-53), __________ I Giardini di Cataldo (Corso Italia 267), andat Distillerie Correale (Via Tasso 20).
The other traditional Sorrento prezzie is anything decorated __________ inlaid wood or intarsia
a craft practiced here __________ centuries. Think gorgeous handmade chess sets, intricate little
boxes, trays, pictures and so __________ . Sorrentos best spots to buy or just admire intarsia are
the workshops __________ Salvatore Gargiulo (Via Fuoro 33), Franc and Guglielmo Cuomo (Piazza
Tasso 32) and __________ course Gargiulo & Jannuzzi (Viale Enrico Caruso 1).
Wandering Sorrentos narrow lanes full __________ little shops is a delight, __________ the
winter __________ __________ the summer. But __________ December cascades __________ tiny
bulbs brighten every shopfront, and big, bold illuminated stars are strung __________ the narrow
sky. __________ daylight fades to the pale eggshell blue __________ twilight, these stars seem to
grow ever bigger and brighter. __________ darkness falls, __________ the air __________ excitement
ratchets up. This is southern Italy, and siesta-straddling opening-hours are inviolable regardless
__________ the season. All the shops and all the traders will be bustling __________ activity
__________ 8pm. And then, __________ various stages, the passeggiata will begin the regular
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celebration __________ nighttime.
__________ a Saturday night __________ December, Sorrentos streets are packed __________
well __________ the small hours. The whole population __________ the town is __________ , their
numbers swelled __________ Neapolitans visiting __________ the weekend. Every age group is here
children, teenagers, the elderly, the middle-aged. All strolling, chatting, buzzing __________ the
excitement __________ nothing __________ particular. They stop __________ cafs and ice cream
shops, they hail friends and family, they wander __________ again. Its ridiculously convivial, and
points to one __________ the great blessings __________ a benign climate: you can wander the
streets __________ fun __________ most nights __________ the year.
Strolling __________ your hometown __________ masse every night naturally fosters a
tremendous sense __________ community. __________ the run-up to Christmas, Sorrentos sense
__________ community is __________ its height. __________ a summers night, the little town would
be packed __________ happy and welcome foreign visitors. But __________ the heart __________
winter, the town secretly reclaims itself. Everyone you see is a Sorrentine or a Neapolitan,
behaving __________ all the verve and style __________ that suggests, dressed to the nines and
flirting outrageously. To watch them __________ their stylish best, be sure check out Sorrentos
very coolest bars: Insolito (Corso Italia 38e), Il Fauno (Piazza Tasso 13-15) __________ its disco next
door, and Photo (Via Correde 19) __________ its arty wall projections and trendy winter DJs.
Wherever you wander __________ Sorrento, you cant help but be dazzled __________ exuberant
lights __________ the way. __________ Piazza Tasso, a conical Christmas tree is a blaze __________
white dots. __________ all the central streets, the contours __________ buildings doorways,
windows, ledges and roofs are carefully outlined __________ strips __________ lights. __________
the black sky, they turn Sorrento __________ a graphic cartoon, all its lines and curves drawn
__________ electric white. Its appropriate, that cartoon-feel. __________ Sorrento is a place
__________ fantasy wholly dedicated to pleasure and recreation. Its a pretty bauble whose sole
objective is to shine and make people smile. And __________ the run-up to Christmas, Sorrento is
shining its brightest __________ the year.
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Want to soak up the Christmas atmosphere somewhere this December? Try a new direction and
head south, to Sorrento. This classic summer resort is at its glittering best just before
Christmas, says Fleur Kinson.

You cant wrap it up in shiny paper or squeeze it under the prickly arms of the Christmas
tree, but its what millions of people give themselves for Christmas every year. It is, of
course, a quick getaway. Just a few days somewhere shortly before The Big Day, to buy exotic
gifts, admire the twinkly lights, and generally absorb lots of festive ambience. Nothing is more
guaranteed to put you in the proper Christmas spirit.
The usual target is a lovely northern European city with a magical Christmas market. All that
spicy gingerbread and steaming Glhwein! All those cute, hand-carved wooden trinkets! A session
of carol-singing, a spot of ice-skating. Some travellers venture as far as Lapland, with its
deep snow and Santa-kitsch. Others go all the way to New York, with its legendary department
stores and cornucopian window displays.
But surprisingly few of us realize how lovely southern Europe can be in the run-up to
December 25th. Especially Italy, a country that excels in so many of the things that
Christmas is all about : gorgeous ornament, stunning food, and an almighty reverence for
family. in December in Italy the lights are heart-meltingly pretty, the shops are stocked with
glossy and mouthwatering goods, and the streets teeming with friendly people genetically
predisposed to stroll around town all evening, whatever the temperature. Not that the
temperature ever gets too ruthless. Cold, clear days graced with cheering sunshine are the
December norm across most of the country.
Some of Italys most well-loved places are arguably lovelier in the run-up to Christmas
than they are in the height of summer. Sorrento is a perfect example. This unashamed
tourist-town on a rocky cliff overlooking the magnificent Bay of Naples is crowded with
foreign visitors all summer long. They dont come for the beaches (Sorrento has none to speak
of ). They dont come for the monuments or museums (Sorrento is too fun-oriented to boast
many of these). They come for the sheer pleasure of wandering Sorrentos buzzy lanes
and piazzas. They come for the lively cafs and bars, the boisterous nighttime passeggiata (the
communal stroll round town). in December all these pleasures are undiminished, but the town
is full of high-spirited local people rather than foreign holidaymakers.
in December, Sorrentos outdoor market stalls groan beneath the weight of
sumptuous food hampers, or stand ablaze with shiny gift-wrapped boxes of delicious
panettone (Italian Christmas cake). Nip into the towns cute little churches and youll find
enchanting presepi elaborate nativity scenes wrought with antique figurines, a big tradition
of the Campania region. outside , delicate lights fizz up the trunks of the palm trees and
stretch out to illuminate every arcing frond. Excited locals mill about , and the whole town
hums with colour and life.
on Sorrentos shopping streets, even in the winter, summer colour is everywhere in
the ubiquitous bright bottles of limoncello, in the cascades of vivid dried chillies, and in
the massive citrus fruits that blaze undimmed by cool December. Sorrento is practically
overwhelmed by its oranges and lemons some so embarrassingly big and breast-like that
Answers
Grammar Gap Fill Exercise
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you cant help but look away abashed as they ripely poke toward you.
And fecundity isnt just limited to the stuff in the shops. Sorrento is a hugely popular
wedding venue for the young people of nearby Naples. on any Saturday in December,
romantic love is likely to be reaching its colourful nuptial apex here. Youll see crowds of well-
wishers throwing rice at a busty bride and her bashful new spouse, and spot the newlyweds
again and again throughout town posing for photos and video. The Italian style of
wedding portraiture is quite racy, so expect plenty of public snogs and lascivious looks
between the dolled-up couple. No cold-hearted winter chill here!
Naturally youll want to snap up some glossy gifts to placate the folks back home. The classic
souvenir is limoncello Sorrentos sweet lemon liqueur. for novelty bottles in wacky shapes,
check out the many specialist shops on Via Cesareo and Via Fuoro. You can watch limoncello
being made, and sample different blends, at Limonoro (Via San Cesareo 51-53), at I Giardini
di Cataldo (Corso Italia 267), andat Distillerie Correale (Via Tasso 20).
The other traditional Sorrento prezzie is anything decorated with inlaid wood or intarsia a
craft practiced here for centuries. Think gorgeous handmade chess sets, intricate little boxes,
trays, pictures and so on . Sorrentos best spots to buy or just admire intarsia are the
workshops of Salvatore Gargiulo (Via Fuoro 33), Franc and Guglielmo Cuomo (Piazza Tasso 32)
and of course Gargiulo & Jannuzzi (Viale Enrico Caruso 1).
Wandering Sorrentos narrow lanes full of little shops is a delight, in the winter as in
the summer. But in December cascades of tiny bulbs brighten every shopfront, and big, bold
illuminated stars are strung against the narrow sky. as daylight fades to the pale eggshell
blue of twilight, these stars seem to grow ever bigger and brighter. as darkness falls, so
the air of excitement ratchets up. This is southern Italy, and siesta-straddling opening-hours are
inviolable regardless of the season. All the shops and all the traders will be bustling with
activity till 8pm. And then, in various stages, the passeggiata will begin the regular
celebration of nighttime.
on a Saturday night in December, Sorrentos streets are packed until well into the
small hours. The whole population of the town is out , their numbers swelled by
Neapolitans visiting for the weekend. Every age group is here children, teenagers, the elderly,
the middle-aged. All strolling, chatting, buzzing with the excitement of nothing in
particular. They stop at cafs and ice cream shops, they hail friends and family, they wander
on again. Its ridiculously convivial, and points to one of the great blessings of a benign
climate: you can wander the streets for fun on most nights of the year.
Strolling through your hometown en masse every night naturally fosters a tremendous
sense of community. in the run-up to Christmas, Sorrentos sense of community is at its
height. on a summers night, the little town would be packed with happy and welcome
foreign visitors. But in the heart of winter, the town secretly reclaims itself. Everyone you see
is a Sorrentine or a Neapolitan, behaving with all the verve and style that that suggests,
dressed to the nines and flirting outrageously. To watch them at their stylish best, be sure
check out Sorrentos very coolest bars: Insolito (Corso Italia 38e), Il Fauno (Piazza Tasso 13-15)
with its disco next door, and Photo (Via Correde 19) with its arty wall projections and trendy
winter DJs.
Wherever you wander in Sorrento, you cant help but be dazzled by exuberant lights
along the way. in Piazza Tasso, a conical Christmas tree is a blaze of white dots. on all the
central streets, the contours of buildings doorways, windows, ledges and roofs are carefully
outlined in strips of lights. against the black sky, they turn Sorrento into a graphic
cartoon, all its lines and curves drawn in electric white. Its appropriate, that cartoon-feel.
because Sorrento is a place of fantasy wholly dedicated to pleasure and recreation. Its a
pretty bauble whose sole objective is to shine and make people smile. And in the run-up to
Christmas, Sorrento is shining its brightest of the year.
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