Discuss the questions in groups of four or five.

1. Was 2008 a good year for you? Why (not)?

2. Do you think 2009 will be better?

3. What are you looking forward to in 2009? Think about the following: work, study music, film sport family trips, holidays dates, anniversaries

 

 

BEFORE YOU READ

You are going to read a text about the next year and some things which will happen in each month. Take a look at the events below. Do you know when they will happen? Match each event to the correct month. The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Russia

 

JANUARY Asterix the Gaul will be fifty years old

FEBRUARY The Running of the Bulls will take place in Pamplona, Spain

MAY The Rio de Janeiro Carnival will take place in Brazil

JULY The Chinese New Year starts - the Year of the Ox

OCTOBER

 

FIRST READING

Read the text quickly to check your answers.

 

VOCABULARY 1

Look at the words below and match them with the definitions. 1. endure

a. to be involved in something, especially a project or activity of some kind 2. hardship

b. someone who enjoys not wearing any clothes because they think it is natural and healthy 3. take part

c. the quality of being brave when you are in danger, in pain, in a difficult situation etc. 4. tough

d. to be in a difficult or painful situation for a long time without complaining 5. cover

e. something that makes your life difficult or unpleasant, especially a lack of money 6. gaze

f. to have a meeting, party, election etc in a particular place or at a particular time 7. a naturist

g. brave and exciting adventures that someone has had 8. courage

h. gas or other substances that are sent into the air 9. hold

i. being very loyal or stubborn in your ideas; not wanting to change or accept new ideas 10. diehard

j. difficult to do or deal with 11. exploits

k. to try to stop something bad from happening or getting worse 12. treaty

l. to spread over an area or a distance 13. emissions

m. a formal written agreement between two or more countries or governments 14. combat

n. to look at someone or something for a long time, often without realizing you are doing so.

 

 

VOCABULARY 2

Now use one of the words above to complete each sentence. Be careful - not all the words are used.

1. This year's conference ________________ at the Hilton Hotel.

2. The film shows the daring ________________ of the explorer Indiana Jones.

3. Nell sat for a long time, just ________________ out of the window.

4. The reporters were asking a lot of ________________ questions.

5. Nobody likes that film any more, except a few ________________ fans.

6. We've had our problems, but our friendship ________________ for many years now.

7. European countries have agreed to cut ________________ of nitrogen oxide from power stations.

8. The city ________________ 25 square miles.

9. The government raised interest rates to ________________ inflation.

10. Many people are suffering severe financial ________________ at the moment.

 

SECOND READING

Read the text again, this time more carefully, and find the answers to the questions below:

1. Do you think oxen (according to the Chinese zodiac) are good characters for difficult times? Why/Why not?

2. A marathon is approximately 40 km long. How many marathons do you have to run each day to complete the Marathon de Sables?

3. What criticisms of the Eurovision Song Contest are offered in the text?

4. The Running of the Bulls festival is both dangerous and controversial. How?

5. What are the attractions of the Star Trek Convention?

6. How long has the Oasis of the Seas been sailing?

After you answer the questions check your answers with a partner.

 

 

SPEAKING 1: DISCUSSION

Work with a partner to discuss the questions below.

1. Would you like to compete in the Marathon de Sables? What would you have to do to prepare for it?

2. Do you agree with the criticisms of the Eurovision Song Contest in the text?

3. Why do people take part in dangerous activities like the Running of the Bulls? Would you ever like to do so?

4. Would you like to got to a conference like the Star Trek Conference - perhaps for another film/series/star? Why/Why not?

5. What is the tallest building you have ever been in? Would you like to live in a skyscraper like the Burj Dubai? What are the pros and cons of living in such a building?

6. Have you ever been on a cruise ship? Did you/Would you enjoy such a holiday?

 

 

JANUARY

The Chinese will be celebrating the start of the Year of the Ox on the 26th of January. Oxen endure hardship without complaining and achieve success through hard work and patience.

 

FEBRUARY

The middle of February marks the start of the traditional carnival in Rio de Janeiro. The Rio Carnival is the biggest and the most famous in the world, with over a million people taking part in different ways and over half a million tourists visiting.

 

MARCH

The toughest race in the world will take place in Morocco in March: the Marathon des Sables. The race lasts six days and covers over 240 kilometres of the Sahara desert. Good luck!

APRIL

In 1609 Galileo Galilei gazed through a telescope for the first time and so 2009, the 400th anniversary of this, will be the International Year of Astronomy. There will be a series of events in April called lThe Hundred Hours of Astronomy' for you to take part in.

 

MAY

In May the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Russia. As usual, the quality of the music will be very mixed, and the voting is sure to be controversial.

 

JUNE

World Naturist Day falls on the 8th of June this year so if you enjoy taking your clothes off there will be plenty of opportunities this summer.

 

JULY

The famous lRunning of the Bulls takes place in July, when participants can test their courage and speed by running ahead of sixteen animals in

the narrow streets of Pamplona in northern Spain. The Festivals controversial with

animal rights groups, who hold protests before it.

 

AUGUST

The 2009 Star Trek Convention will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in August.

Thousands of diehard fans of the Star Trek series (lTrekkies') and films will gather to dress as their favourite character and meet the stars of the show.

 

SEPTEMBER

The tallest man-made structure in the world will be completed in late September 2009. The Burj Dubai

(lDubai Tower') will cost over $4 billion and will be over 800 metres tall when it is finished, making it the tallest building of any type anywhere in the world.

 

OCTOBER.

 

Asterix has his fiftieth birthday. The famous little Gaul's stories have been translated into over 100 languages and many films have been made of his exploits, including two recent films starring Gerard Depardieu.

 

NOVEMBER

The UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen opens. Delegates will try to agree a new treaty to cut greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming.

 

DECEMBER

The Oasis of the Seas takes its maiden voyage. Costing $1.2 billion and carrying 5,400 passengers, it will be the largest cruise ship ever built.