Language Practice

Upper-intermediate

Vocabulary    Intermediate 09 Culture and language

Every year on the August bank holiday weekend, the annual Notting Hill carnival takes
place in London. It’s a globally-famous festival which celebrates the culture of Black Afro-
Caribbean citizens living in the city and across the UK. The opening ceremony on the
Sunday morning is followed by two days of music, dancing, and costumes.
carnival (noun) — a public festival, usually one that happens at a regular time
each year, that involves music and dancing in the streets, for which people wear
brightly-coloured clothes
globally (adverb) — in a way that covers or affects the whole world
festival (noun) — a series of performances of music, plays, films / movies, etc., usually
organized in the same place once a year; a series of public events connected with a
particular activity or idea
citizens (noun) — people who live in a particular place and have a legal right to be there
ceremony (noun) — a public or religious occasion that includes a series of formal or
traditional actions
costumes (noun) — the clothes worn by people from a particular place, or during a
particular historical period

Lorries and trucks are beautifully decorated and a parade of people follow them as they
blast out music from the bands and speakers on board. It truly is a vibrant celebration of
the customs and culture of the Caribbean.
decorate (verb) — to make something look more attractive by putting things on it
parade (noun) — a public celebration of a special day or event, usually with bands in the
streets and decorated vehicles
truly (adverb) — used to emphasize a particular quality
customs (noun) — the accepted and traditional ways of behaving or of doing things in a
society or a community

The Notting Hill carnival was first established back in 1966, when the local
neighbourhood was very different to today. Back then, it had become home to a
community of immigrants, many of whose ancestors had been removed from Africa
and taken to the Caribbean as part of the slave trade.
establish (verb) — to start or create an organization, a system, etc. that is meant to last
for a long time
neighbourhood (noun) — an area of a town and the people who live there
community (noun) — a group of people who live in a particular area
immigrants (noun) — people who have come to live permanently in a country that is not
their own
ancestors (noun) — the people in your family who lived a long time ago
slave (noun) — a person who is owned by another person and is forced to work for them

In recent years, Notting Hill has transformed into one of the most expensive areas to live
in London, and today, the descendants of these immigrants have had to adjust as their
neighbourhood has changed around them.
transform (verb) — to completely change in appearance or character
descendants (noun) — all the children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc. who live
after someone
adjust (verb) — to change something slightly to make it more suitable for a new set of
conditions or to make it work better