1 BAC - U7 / READING Instr.

Abdelkarim Foulfoula
From : Sandra Evans < sandra.e@gmail.com <
To : Kamal Sidki < kamal.s@gmail.com <
Subject : Our celebrations
Dear Kamal ,
I hope you’re doing great. Thank you very much for your e-mail. I
was very happy to learn about some aspects of Moroccan culture. Now,
I’m writing to tell you about one of our strange celebrations in the
U.S.A : Halloween.
Here, Halloween is celebrated each year on October 31 st. Many
people all over the world celebrate it. This celebration marks the end
of autumn and the beginning of the dark, cold winter. During the
celebration, many people like to wear a costume. Some people like to
wear a mask. Here are some common costumes : Ghost, monster,
mummy, vampire, witch, zombie … .
On Halloween, children like to go trick-or-treating . They dress up
in a costume and go out with friends and parents. They walk around
their neighborhood and knock on doors. People give them a treat, such
as candy. If not, the children may play a trick, such as TP’ing a house.
Many people like to decorate their home for Halloween. Some
people put decorations on the front lawn, while others decorate the
inside of their house – even the bathroom. A common Halloween
decoration is made with a pumpkin. You cut a face in the pumpkin and
put a candle inside. This is called a jack-o-lantern. Some jack-o-
lanterns are horrifying , while others are funny. When the celebration
is over, we set fire to protect ourselves from the coming winter.
Well, that’s all for now. Can you tell me about any celebration in
your country ? Please write soon. Take good care and give my best
wishes to your family.
Your pen-friend ,
Sandra
A. Fill in the blanks with information from the text.
- E-mail sender : …………………………………………………………
- E-mail receiver : ……………………………………………….………..
- Subject : …………………………………………………..……..
B. Are these statements TRUE or FALSE. Correct the false ones.
1. Sandra is Canadian.
 T  F ……………………………………………..………………………………….….…….….
2. Halloween is celebrated on the last day of October each year.
 T  F ………………………………………………………………………………….….……….
3. Only parents and younger people celebrate Halloween.
 T  F ………………………………………………..……………………………….….……….
4. Sandra and Kamal are classmates.
 T  F ………………………………………………….……………………………….….……….
C. Answer the following questions ?
1. Why do people celebrate Halloween ?
………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………
2. What clothes do people wear to celebrate Halloween ?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………
3. What activities do people like to do on Halloween ?
……………………………..………………………………..……………..………………………..………
D. Find in words or expressions which mean the same as
- examples of ( pr1) = ……………………. - popular ( pr 2) = ………………..….
- wear ( pr 3 ) = ………………….…. - scary ( pr 4) = ………………….….
E. What do the underlined words refer to in the text ?
Here : ………………….……………….. others : ……………………..………….
F. Match each item in the list with its appropriate definition:
candy - costume - decorations - mask
1. ………..………….….: something special you wear
2. ……………………….: something you put on your face to cover it
3. ……………………….: sweets, such as chocolate bars , gums …
4. ………………..……. : things we put around the house to make it look nice

1 BAC - U7 / WRITING : Informal e-mail Instr. Abdelkarim Foulfoula

A. STUDY THE FOLLOWING PARTS OF AN E-MAIL. From :
To :
Dear Subject :
SALUTATION Hello Sandra ,
Hi Hello Sandra,

Ask about health : How have you been ? Thanks for giving me some cultural
- How are you ? / How have you been ? insight into one of your interesting celebrations. Well, I ……….…..
- How’s life treating you ? ………………………………………………………………………………………….…….
- I hope you’re doing great.
INTRODUCTION ………………………….………………………………………………………………
- I Hope all is well.
Subject / purpose of the e-mail : …………………………………………………………………………………………………
- I’m writing to … / I just want to …
…………………………………………………………………………………………….…..
- I thought I’d write to .. / This is just to..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
BODY Give more details about the subject
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Closing :
…………………………………………………………………………………………….…..
- That’s all for now.
- Take good care and give my best wishes …………………………………………………………………………………………………
to your family. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
CONCLUSION - Write back soon.
- I look forward to hearing back from you. ………………………………………………………………………………………..………..
- I can’t wait to meet you. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
Final wishes:
- Your best friend, - Best wishes, …………………………………………………………………………………………………
- Yours, - Love and kisses, …………………………………………………………………………………………………

B . TASK : E-mail Sandra back about a popular celebration ……………………………………….…………………………………………………….…..

in Morocco. Use the unfinished e-mail and these cues : …………………………………………………………………………………………………
- wear traditional / new clothes - take a morning shower
- go to the mosque - have fun / a party …………………………………………………………………………………………………
- eat /cook special food - donate alms and money ………………………………………………………………………………………..………..
- visit friends and relatives - watch fireworks , air show
- have a family gathering - exchange gifts , visits ...