HOLIDAY AND CELEBRATIONS

A. Discussion
1. Are you familiar with these holiday and celebrations?
2. Give definition and describe each of the event.
a. Christmas : __________________________________________
b. Eid Adha : __________________________________________
c. Eid Fitri : __________________________________________
d. Easter : __________________________________________
e. Veisak : __________________________________________
f. New year : __________________________________________
g. Independence Day : __________________________________________
3. What do people usually do in each of the event?

B. Reading

Ramadan in the UK

There are around 1.5 million Muslims in Britain, making Islam the second biggest religion in the
country. London alone has Muslims who originate from over 30 different countries. During the
month of Ramadan, many Muslims in Britain join Muslims all over the world in observing a month
of fasting during daylight hours.

What do people do?

Fasting Muslims do not eat or drink anything between dawn and sunset. They also give up bad
habits, and try to be model human beings for the whole month of Ramadan. Many people give
money to charity during Ramadan. For many, Ramadan is a chance to have more time to think and
reflect. It is also a time of prayer and people coming together, especially to share Iftar, the evening
meal just after sunset.

When is it?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the start date is based on the
appearance of the crescent moon. As the Islamic calendar is slightly shorter than the Western
calendar, Ramadan comes earlier and earlier every year.
 The length of daily fasting also changes. When Ramadan falls in the British summertime, the hours
of fasting are quite long because Britain is far north of the equator and has around 16 hours of
daylight in summer. In winter, though, daylight hours are much shorter. There are other
challenges too.

Does everyone have to do it?

Children, pregnant women and people who are sick are not expected to fast. Young people
normally start fasting when they are teenagers. In special cases, you can make up the days of
fasting at a later date. For example, if you are pregnant or on a tiring journey during Ramadan, you
can do the fast later, when your circumstances are different.

Ramadan and sport

If Ramadan coincides with a major sporting event, Muslim athletes have to face competing
without food and liquids. In the London Olympics there were around 3,000 Muslim athletes. Many
of them observed the fast strictly, while others decided to delay the fast until a later date. Mo
Farah, who became double Olympic champion, made the difficult decision to make up the days of
fasting after the event. For the athletes who were fasting, the Olympic Village dining room was
open 24 hours a day and stocked with special Ramadan foods such as dates, Halal beef and Halal
chicken.

http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/uk-now/read-uk/ramadan

1. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?

1) During Ramadan, Muslims who are fasting do not eat or drink anything at all during daylight
hours.
2) Iftar is the early morning meal eaten before sunrise during Ramadan.
3) The number of hours of fasting per day during Ramadan always stays the same.
4) Children from the age of 8 are expected to fast for Ramadhan.
5) In special circumstances, a person can delay the days of fasting until later date.
6) During the London Olympics, 3,000 Muslims took part while fasting.

2. Now compare The United Kingdom to Indonesia. Discuss the similarities and the differences
between two countries. Use the structure and vocabulary described on the next page.

C.Grammar

Comparative
 We use comparative adjectives to make comparisons:
 Subject Verb/Verb be Comparative Adjective

Jakarta is bigger than Solo.

Your horse runs faster than Jim's horse.

 We use than when we want to compare one thing with another:

Subject Verb/Verb be Comparative Adjective

we need bigger garden.

I am happier now.

 We use more (not ‘-er’) for other two-syllable adjectives and longer adjectives:

Subject Verb/Verb be Comparative Adjective

Max is more careful than Mike.

Today is more peaceful than yesterday.

Superlative
 We use the … -est for shorter words:

Subject Verb/Verb be Superlative Adjective

It was the happiest day of my life.

Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

 We use the most for longer words:

Subject Verb/Verb be Superlative Adjective

It was the most boring film I've ever seen.

Mary is the most intellegent person I've ever met.

D. Writing
Read the information below and make a paragraph based on the data.
India China

SIZE: 3.3 million km SIZE: 9.6 million km

POPULATION: 1.1 billion POPULATION: 1.3 billion

BIGGEST CITY: Mumbai: 14 million BIGGEST CITY: shanghai 16 million

PRICES: $ PRICES: $$$$

LONGEST RIVER: Brahmaputra 2.896 km LONGEST RIVER: Yangtze 6.378 km

HIGHEST MOUNTAIN: Kanchenjunga 8.586 m HIGHEST MOUNTAIN: Kongur Tagh 7,719 m

AVERAGE TOEFL SCORE: 500 AVERAGE TOEFL SCORE: 460

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________