Text 6 Christmas Tree
I. 1. Read the article and say in 2-3 sentences what it is about.
Just before Christmas in 1944, a letter arrived at our house in Philadelphia. The postmark was from Tuskegee, Alabama, so we all knew who it was from. We excitedly gathered around Mother as she opened it.
My Dear Mother,
I did not get the leave I expected for Christmas. I will miss all of you. Please leave the Christmas tree up until I make it back. I hope to be home by March.
Love from your son,
Clifton.
I was 17 years old at the time. My heart sank. I felt a deep sadness that my favourite brother would not be home for Christmas. He was one of the Tuskegee Airmen* and was responsible for maintaining* the airplanes flying off to fight in World War II. My mother, being the optimist, said, “Well, it looks like we’ll get to have two Christmases this year!” After Christmas, my sister and I worked together to make sure we kept that Christmas tree looking as pretty as possible. This was no easy feat.
By mid-January, the branches dropped so low to the ground that they became a sliding board for the decorations. Each day, ornaments would come crashing to the ground and there were brand new pine needles* all over the wooden floor. My sister and I took turns sweeping them up. We moved the ornaments to the stronger branches on the tree, hoping they would stay on.
Each time we freshened that tree up, my sister and I were full of thoughts about Clifton and how happy we would be to see him again. It made us feel that he was close by, even though he was hundreds of miles away. On March 5, the doorbell rang. We ran to the door and gave Clifton a big hug. As he hugged Mother, I could see him looking over her head at the Christmas tree.
“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Thank you.” Clifton opened his presents and told us all sorts of stories about his work in Tuskegee. That night as we slept, we heard a crash in the living room. We all ran to see what had happened. The tree had toppled* onto the sofa and there were needles and broken ornaments everywhere.
We all had a good laugh. It was fortunate that Clifton got!
____________________________________________________________
1. *Tuskegee Airmen [tʌsˈkiːˈeəmən] пилоты из Таскиги
2. to maintain [meɪnˈteɪn] обслуживать, готовить
3. a pine needle [ˈpaɪnˌ niːdl] сосновая иголка
4. to topple [ˈtɒpl] опрокинуться, свалиться
2. The family got a message from Clifton. Find the extract which says about it and read it aloud.
3. What was Clifton’s job?
4. What facts show that all the family loved Clifton very much?
Just before Christmas in 1944, a letter arrived at our house in Philadelphia. The postmark was from Tuskegee, Alabama, so we all knew who it was from. We excitedly gathered around Mother as she opened it.
My Dear Mother,
I did not get the leave I expected for Christmas. I will miss all of you. Please leave the Christmas tree up until I make it back. I hope to be home by March.
Love from your son,
Clifton.
I was 17 years old at the time. My heart sank. I felt a deep sadness that my favourite brother would not be home for Christmas. He was one of the Tuskegee Airmen* and was responsible for maintaining* the airplanes flying off to fight in World War II. My mother, being the optimist, said, “Well, it looks like we’ll get to have two Christmases this year!” After Christmas, my sister and I worked together to make sure we kept that Christmas tree looking as pretty as possible. This was no easy feat.
By mid-January, the branches dropped so low to the ground that they became a sliding board for the decorations. Each day, ornaments would come crashing to the ground and there were brand new pine needles* all over the wooden floor. My sister and I took turns sweeping them up. We moved the ornaments to the stronger branches on the tree, hoping they would stay on.
Each time we freshened that tree up, my sister and I were full of thoughts about Clifton and how happy we would be to see him again. It made us feel that he was close by, even though he was hundreds of miles away. On March 5, the doorbell rang. We ran to the door and gave Clifton a big hug. As he hugged Mother, I could see him looking over her head at the Christmas tree.
“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Thank you.” Clifton opened his presents and told us all sorts of stories about his work in Tuskegee. That night as we slept, we heard a crash in the living room. We all ran to see what had happened. The tree had toppled* onto the sofa and there were needles and broken ornaments everywhere.
We all had a good laugh. It was fortunate that Clifton got!
____________________________________________________________
1. *Tuskegee Airmen [tʌsˈkiːˈeəmən] пилоты из Таскиги
2. to maintain [meɪnˈteɪn] обслуживать, готовить
3. a pine needle [ˈpaɪnˌ niːdl] сосновая иголка
4. to topple [ˈtɒpl] опрокинуться, свалиться
2. The family got a message from Clifton. Find the extract which says about it and read it aloud.
3. What was Clifton’s job?
4. What facts show that all the family loved Clifton very much?
II. Listen to three teenagers talking about homework and answer the questions below.(13)
1. Why does the first speaker dislike doing homework?
2. What does the second speaker have regrets about?
3. What are the benefits of doing homework according to the third speaker?
1. Why does the first speaker dislike doing homework?
2. What does the second speaker have regrets about?
3. What are the benefits of doing homework according to the third speaker?
Script
Speaker 1
Homework affects my family. Whenever we want to go out as a family, we can’t because I have my homework to do. And it just puts us in a bad mood. Nobody likes to help me with my homework. When I get home I want to relax instead of having to work in my spare time. I wish I could see the day when there is no homework. I hope to see such a day.
Speaker 2
In high school I did very little homework, except right before tests. I usually copied homework. I graduated and got into a really good college: now I’m dying. I can’t do my homework properly just because I have huge amounts of it. I practically have no time to finish it all even though I have no job, not to mention that I never party or go out. It’s a pity that I haven’t got used to doing homework.
Speaker 3
Everybody hates homework at some point just because we get too much of it. I used to hate the idea of homework, but within the last years I realised that any school wants what’s best for your own future. You may be young, and you really don’t understand what homework does, but it develops a sense of logic. Not only does it make you more intelligent, but it also enhances* your personality. It makes us more disciplined and ready for future working obligations.
Homework affects my family. Whenever we want to go out as a family, we can’t because I have my homework to do. And it just puts us in a bad mood. Nobody likes to help me with my homework. When I get home I want to relax instead of having to work in my spare time. I wish I could see the day when there is no homework. I hope to see such a day.
Speaker 2
In high school I did very little homework, except right before tests. I usually copied homework. I graduated and got into a really good college: now I’m dying. I can’t do my homework properly just because I have huge amounts of it. I practically have no time to finish it all even though I have no job, not to mention that I never party or go out. It’s a pity that I haven’t got used to doing homework.
Speaker 3
Everybody hates homework at some point just because we get too much of it. I used to hate the idea of homework, but within the last years I realised that any school wants what’s best for your own future. You may be young, and you really don’t understand what homework does, but it develops a sense of logic. Not only does it make you more intelligent, but it also enhances* your personality. It makes us more disciplined and ready for future working obligations.
III. Let’s talk about science and modern technologies
1. What role does science play in our life?
2. Do you use many gadgets and devices at home?
3. What would you ask a famous scientist about?
4. Your friend is taking part in an experiment. He must live a month without a computer or a laptop. What advice will you give him?
5. Can you predict what kind of technologies, gadgets, and devices we will use in the future? Tell us about them.
2. Do you use many gadgets and devices at home?
3. What would you ask a famous scientist about?
4. Your friend is taking part in an experiment. He must live a month without a computer or a laptop. What advice will you give him?
5. Can you predict what kind of technologies, gadgets, and devices we will use in the future? Tell us about them.