HEAAADERLOGORIGHT

GENERAL ENGLISH · GENERAL ISSUES · PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

GREEN
CHRISTMAS
QrrkoD Scan to review worksheet

Expemo code:
1BVM-6PD9-DXK

1 Warm up

Lots of people around the world bring a Christmas tree home in December to celebrate the holidays.
Look at the pictures and answer the questions.

picture A picture B picture C

1. Which tree in the pictures is alive?

2. Which one has never been alive?

3. Which one was once alive?

4. Have you ever bought / Would you like to buy one of these?

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 1/6

Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in Lucie Kačerová's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

GREEN CHRISTMAS

What do you think are the positives and negatives of each type? Make some notes in the table.

positives negatives

picture A

picture B

picture C

2 Focus on vocabulary

You are going to read an article about different Christmas tree options. First, complete the vocabulary
exercises.

Part A: Match the items with their meanings.

1. benefit a. things we throw away because we don’t want them

anymore; also: garbage, rubbish
2. damage b. negative effects on the condition of something

3. delivery c. safe for the natural world, plants, animals, etc

4. environmentally friendly d. taking letters or other items directly to people’s homes

5. global warming e. the slow increase in the world’s temperatures caused by

extra carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere
6. trash f. a positive effect

Part B: Match the sentence halves to show you understand the meanings of the words in bold.

1. Pleaseremove a. how much money I spend on coffee every week.

2. In this area, we can recycle b. this tree at the back of the garden.

3. I’m trying to reduce c. these old boxes when you move to your new flat?

4. I’m planning to replant d. for leaving all these dirty dishes in the kitchen sink?

5. Who is responsible e. paper, glass and metal but not plastic.

6. Do you think you could reuse f. your clothes from the washing machine when it is
finished.

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 2/6

Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in Lucie Kačerová's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

GREEN CHRISTMAS

Part C: Answer the following questions.

1. In the first group, all of the items are nouns except for one adjective. Which is it?

2. In the second group, all of the items are verbs except for one adjective. Which is it?

3. All of the items in the second group begin with the prefix re-, which often means again. Which of
the items have this meaning?

3 Reading comprehension

Part A: Read the article about searching for a Christmas Tree and fill in the gaps with words from the
vocabulary exercises on page two. You do not need to change the forms of the words.

Which Christmas tree do I choose?

Picking what is the best for the planet

A. In countries around the world, many families put up some kind of Christmas tree every year. And these days, when
1
everyone is trying to be more , people are thinking very carefully about what
type of tree to get.

B. There are several options. Of course, when we think of Christmas, we think of a real tree. Usually, these are grown
in special areas, and then cut down and sold in markets or shops in December. It’s also possible to buy real trees
growing in pots. Finally, there are plastic trees.

2 3
C. The of real trees is that they carbon dioxide
4
(CO2) from the air while they’re growing, which slows down . However, when
5
we throw real Christmas trees away with our other , they put CO2 back into
the environment. For example, if we put a 1.8-metre real tree in the ground, it produces 16 kg of CO2. However,
6
if we the same tree by cutting it up into very small pieces to use in our gardens,
the amount of CO2 it produces goes down to 3.5 kg. We should consider transport as well. Cut trees take up less
7
space in a van than potted trees and buying trees from local businesses can
8
travel distances and make a big difference to the environment.

D. Lots of people get a potted tree so they can keep them for next year. Although many believe that they can
9
these trees in their own gardens after Christmas, the trees usually die.

10
E. Finally, a plastic tree is for 40 kg of CO2, and of course you can’t recycle it.
However, if you already have one of these, you should continue to use it as long as possible because throwing it
11
away will cause to the environment. In the short term, a plastic tree may be
cheaper, but, of course, in the long term, it’s not a good choice.

F. In fact, none of these options are very good. I wish someone would think of a good way to
12
living trees year after year ...

Sources: standard.co.uk, countryliving.com

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 3/6

Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in Lucie Kačerová's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

GREEN CHRISTMAS

Part B: Read the article again and underline or highlight the answers to these questions. Get ready to
respond in your own words.

1. What’s the best thing to do with a real tree when you’re finished with it?

2. How are cut trees more environmentally friendly than trees growing in a pot?

3. What problem do people often have with trees growing in a pot?

4. How can you reduce the damage caused by artificial trees?

5. Are you surprised by anything you read?

6. Read the final sentence of the article, in bold. Can you think of a good way to do this?

4 Listening comprehension

You are going to listen to a podcast about a new environmentally friendly Christmas tree option.
Listen to the whole recording and then say what this option is. Did you predict it?

Read these sentences and remember/predict the correct option. Listen again to check.

1. Every year, people in the UK throw away6-8 million / 7-9 million / 8-10 million Christmas trees.

2. Patrick’s company supplies people with a tree that they can keep at home for ten days / three weeks
/ one month.

3. You have to remember to water the tree once a day / once a week / twice a week.

4. Patrick says you should look for a company with low prices / close to your home / with large trees.

5. Sandra says the basic price she’s paying is £20 / £40 / £45 but there are some other costs as well.

6. A tree can grow as much as 30 / 40 / 50 cm in one year.

7. Sandra’s tree is called Molly / Holly / Polly.

8. This year, Sandra also plans to buy second-hand things as presents / spend less on Christmas presents
/ reuse the paper from last year for presents.

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 4/6

Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in Lucie Kačerová's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

GREEN CHRISTMAS

5 Activity
Choose one of these activities. Use vocabulary from the lesson where possible.

Activity 1: Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups. Give reasons and examples for your
answers and explore other points of view.

1. What type of tree would you choose – cut, potted, or artificial? Would you buy or rent a tree?
Give reasons for your answer.
2. These days, homemade tree decorations are also popular. Can you think of some different types?
Explain how to make them.
3. There are lots of traditional ways that people use other plants to decorate their homes at Christmas.
Can you think of any examples?
4. Apart from people’s homes, where else can you see Christmas trees in December? What other
decorations can you see in these places? How environmentally friendly are these?

Activity 2: Patrick from Pine and Company wants to advertise his business. Create a poster or
webpage that explains what the company does and why people might want to rent a tree instead
of buying one. Include full details of the service.

Activity 3: Imagine that you have tried renting a Christmas tree for the first time. Share your experiences
via social media, explaining why you rented a tree and what you liked or didn’t like about doing this.
Would you recommend renting to anyone?

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 5/6

Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in Lucie Kačerová's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

GREEN CHRISTMAS

6 Optional extension
Read the article and answer the questions.

December decisions
Your guide to selecting the ideal holiday tree

So, you’re planning to get a real tree this year. But wait! You also have to think about what kind to choose.
Christmas trees are evergreen trees, that is they stay green all year round. They also have needles instead of
leaves. There are actually around fifty types of evergreen trees but only a few of those are grown for Christmas.
And each one is slightly different.
One popular type is called the Norway Spruce. This is the one with a super pine-y smell that really makes you feel
like it’s Christmas. Smaller ones will be happy in a pot, so you may even be able to rent one.
The Nordmann Fir, on the other hand, is not going to do well in a pot, so you’ll have to have a cut tree if you want
one of these. People like Nordmanns because they don’t drop their needles all over the carpet. It’s classic A-shape
and well-spaced branches make it fun to decorate.
If you want something a bit different, try the Blue Spruce. As the name suggests, it has an attractive silver-blue
colouring. However, be careful! The needles on this tree can be very sharp to touch or step on.
Finally, the Lodgepole pine has a lot to offer: a good shape, a fresh pine smell, and softer needles. It’s a great
choice for rooms with high ceilings.
Sources: homebase.co.uk, forestryengland.uk

Which is the best choice for each group? Give reasons for your answer.

1. Someone who lives in a castle?

2. A household with a dog or cat?

3. Someone who is worried about global warming?

4. A family with kids?

5. An older person who finds it difficult to move around?

Which type of Christmas tree would you choose and why?

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 6/6

Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in Lucie Kačerová's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
TEACHER MATERIALS · PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

GREEN CHRISTMAS

Transcripts

4. Listening comprehension

Reporter: I’m dreaming of a green Christmas. And I don’t mean that I hate snow. I mean, I’m hoping
to find a way to make Christmas more environmentally friendly. So, I’m starting with the
tree. Most people have asked themselves why they spend so much money on a real tree,
only to throw it away a month later. In the UK, we put between six and eight million trees
a year out with the trash - not a very green option. At last, there’s a new solution to this
problem – it’s called Rent-A-Tree. And I’m here talking to Patrick Simpson of Pine and
Company. Patrick, how does renting a tree work?

Patrick: Well, it’s very simple. We offer our customers a living Christmas tree that’s growing in a
pot. They keep it in their house during the holiday period for around three weeks. Then
we come and pick it up again and return it to our farm. We’ll look after it all year, watering
it, feeding it, even replanting it in a bigger pot if we need to. And the next year, you can
order another tree.

Reporter: That’s so clever. How difficult is it to look after the tree while it’s in your home?

Patrick: It’s really easy. You just have to remember two things: water it every day and keep it
somewhere cool.

Reporter: Can you explain why renting a tree helps slow down global warming?

Patrick: Well, a rented tree reduces damage to the environment in several ways. First of all, our
trees provide places for birds, insects and animals to live while they’re growing and, of
course, they also remove CO2 from the air. Finally, you can recycle this product – when
the tree reaches the end of its life, we make it into chips that people can put on their
gardens.

Reporter: What advice would you give for choosing the best rental company?

Patrick: The main thing is to choose someone local, you know, near where you live. The benefit
here is that the delivery guy won’t need to make such a long journey to get to your house.

Reporter: Thanks so much, Patrick! Now I’m going to have a word with Sandra, who’s just rented
a tree here at Patrick’s market stall. Hello, Sandra! Tell me why you’ve decided to have a
rented tree this year.

Sandra: Hi! Well, I don’t want to be responsible for producing extra CO2 when I throw things
away. This seems like a good solution – we actually rented a tree last year too.

Reporter: Does renting cost a lot of money?

FOOOOTERAPPENDIXRIGHT
Learn without forgetting! i
Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in Lucie Kačerová's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
TEACHER MATERIALS · PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

GREEN CHRISTMAS

Sandra: Not really. We’re paying forty-five pounds for the rental and another twenty for the
delivery and pick-up. Of course, you also have to pay a deposit of twenty pounds – you’ll
get that back if the tree is in good condition when you return it. It feels like good value
for money and anyway, it’s the right thing to do.

Reporter: I hear that some families even ask for the same tree back every year!

Sandra: Yeah – we’re doing that! It will be great to see our tree again, although, of course, she will
have grown. Patrick said she could be 30 cm taller.

Reporter: She? Did you say, she?

Sandra: Yeah, we named our tree - she’s called Holly. I see her as a family member who visits for
the holidays.

Reporter: And are you doing anything else to help the environment this Christmas?

Sandra: Of course! I’m going to reuse all the paper we used to wrap presents last year. I kept it all.

Reporter: That’s a great idea too. Wishing you Happy Holidays!

FOOOOTERAPPENDIXLEFT
Learn without forgetting! ii
Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in Lucie Kačerová's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
TEACHER MATERIALS · PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

GREEN CHRISTMAS

Key

1. Warm up

10 mins.
Students identify three types of trees and discuss their own experiences, as well as evaluating the different types.
They may lack some vocabulary, but they will be introduced to useful items in the next stage of the lesson. Students
should record their ideas as they will be comparing their predictions to information in reading in the next stage.

1. C is alive – it is growing in a pot. 2. A has never been alive – it is made of plastic.

3. B was once alive, but someone cut it down. 4. Students’ own answers.
Table:
Students’ own answers - they may mention tradition, cost, how long they last, mess, the environment, etc.

2. Focus on vocabulary

10 mins.
Students complete vocabulary exercises to prepare for the next stages. Set the tasks and check answers, as well
as pronunciation – stressed syllables are underlined. Pose the follow-up questions to help students process the
items. They will have a further chance to work with these items in the next stage. Note that environmentally is
tricky to pronounce /In­vaI.r@n"men.t@l.i/.
Part A:

1. → f. 2. → b. 3. → d. 4. → c. 5. → e. 6. → a.
Part B:

1. → f. 2. → e. 3. → a. 4. → b. 5. → d. 6. → c.
Part C:

1. environmentally friendly 2. responsible 3. recycle, replant and reuse

3. Reading comprehension

15 mins.
Students activate vocabulary from the previous stage by using the words to complete the text of the article. No
changes in form should be necessary. Check answers.
Then pose the first four comprehension questions and allow students a few minutes to locate the answers. They
could check answers in pairs but when you check with the whole class, ask students to cover the text and use
their own words. Focus on content rather than accuracy but help them to express their ideas clearly. Finally pose
the last two questions and elicit a few responses from the class.
Part A:

1. environmentally 2. benefit 3. remove 4. global warming

friendly
5. trash 6. recycle 7. delivery 8. reduce
9. replant 10. responsible 11. damage 12. reuse
Sources:

FOOOOTERAPPENDIXRIGHT
Learn without forgetting! iii
Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in Lucie Kačerová's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
TEACHER MATERIALS · PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

GREEN CHRISTMAS

https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/rent-christmas-tree-renting-rental-london-price-cost-buy-ecofriendly-b1049126.html

https://www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/interiors/a29695669/rent-christmas-tree-cotswold-fir/
https://www.goodelf.co.uk/pages/rent-a-real-christmas-tree
Part B:

1. Cutting a real tree into small pieces (to use in your garden) produces much less CO2 compared to burning it.
2. They take up less room in a delivery van and that will reduce the number of journeys needed.
3. They think they can replant them in their garden for next year, but it’s very difficult to keep the trees alive.
4. Use an artificial tree as many times as you can before throwing it away.
5. Students’ own answers.
6. Students’ own answers.

4. Listening comprehension

15 mins.
Students listen twice to the recording. The first time they listen compare their answer to the last question in
the reading. Then call attention to the multiple-choice sentences - students should look through these in pairs
and recall or predict the answers. Play the recording again for them to complete the exercise and then check
answers with the class. If you have time, students may benefit from working with the tapescript, either listening
and reading at the same time or reading it out loud in pairs.

1. 6-8 million 2. three weeks

3. once a day 4. close to your home
5. £45 6. 30
7. Holly 8. reuse the paper from last year for presents

5. Activity

10+ mins.
Three options are provided to activate the vocabulary and respond to the issues raised. You could choose which
option you want your class to do, or let students choose. Perhaps do the discussion questions as a preliminary
and then assign one of the other tasks for homework.
Activity 1
Monitor and support as necessary and offer some feedback on accuracy and pronunciation at the end. This activity
also offers multi-cultural classes a chance to share ideas, and the teacher might contribute information about
Anglophone traditions during feedback.
Activity 2
If you have the option, students could work on computers to create their posters, using fonts and graphics.
Activity 3
If you have the option, students could film or record themselves delivering their review instead of writing it.

6. Optional extension

10 mins.
This activity is intended as a cooler or filler if you have time in your lesson. Students read about four different
types of evergreen trees and then decide which is most suitable for different groups of people. You may need to

FOOOOTERAPPENDIXLEFT
Learn without forgetting! iv
Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in Lucie Kačerová's lessons.
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
TEACHER MATERIALS · PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

GREEN CHRISTMAS

explain that spruce and fir are types of evergreen trees, and these words appear in the names of some species.
Pose the follow-up question.
Sources:
https://www.homebase.co.uk/ideas-advice/christmas/best-real-christmas-tree-guide/
https://www.forestryengland.uk/blog/the-experts-guide-choosing-the-right-christmas-tree

1. Lodgepole – good for rooms with high ceilings

2. Nordmann or Lodgepole – pets have sensitive feet, so a tree that doesn’t drop needles or with softer needles
would be good.
3. Norway spruce – you can get one in a pot
4. Lodgepole – softer needles
5. Nordmann – doesn’t drop its needles, so doesn’t require a lot of cleaning

FOOOOTERAPPENDIXRIGHT v
Learn without forgetting!
Scan the QR at the top of Page 1 to review the lesson flashcards with Expemo.
© Linguahouse.com. Photocopiable and licensed for use in Lucie Kačerová's lessons.