UNIT 4

## Special Occasions

### Lesson 1. Have a Good Holiday!

Getting ready for the task:
• What special days do you know?
• Why are these days special?
Key words:
to reconcile - to make people become friends again after disagreement
an occasion - a special event
memorable - unforgettable
ideal - perfect, most suitable, existing only in the imagination
to be at odds - to be on bad terms
a rescuer - a savior
a wedding - a marriage ceremony
1

GW. Look at the pictures of holidays and talk about them.

Sample:
Azerbaijan is a multinational country with its ancient customs and traditions. Holidays, memorable days and special occasions play a very significant role in the people’s life. One of the national holidays is Novruz. On this holiday people visit each other very often. Azerbaijani people are really happy to receive guests. People who are at odds reconcile with each other on the eve of Novruz holiday.

LISTEN AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS! Read Listening Material
Listen to the passage and answer the following questions.

1. Complete the sentence according to the passage.
   People celebrate Novruz as the birthday of … and … .

   1. customs | 2. nature | 3. traditions

   4. occasions | 5. life

   A) 1, 4 | B) 2, 3 | C) 3, 4 | D) 2, 5 | E) 1, 5

2. What is the passage mainly about?
   A) the favourite guests
   B) a national holiday
   C) the children’s birthday
   D) a multinational country
   E) the unpleasant things
3. What is not mentioned in the passage?
   A) Novruz belongs to many people of the world.
   B) The Azerbaijanis have ancient customs and traditions.
   C) Peope shout at each other angrily on this holiday.
   D) Novruz holiday is time for charity.
   E) “Spring Holiday” is the other name of Novruz holiday.
4. Write the answer to the question according to the passage.
   What do parents usually have for their children?
5. Which word in the passage is closest in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence below?
   Grandchildren usually come to see their grandparents on summer holidays.

Azerbaijan is a multinational country that has ancient customs and traditions. Holidays, memorable days and special occasions play a significant role in the people’s lives. One of the national holidays is Novruz.

This holiday belongs to many people of the world. People celebrate Novruz as the birthday of nature and life. The Azerbaijanis celebrate Novruz on the 21st of March. People also call this holiday “Spring Holiday”. “Samani” (green sprouting wheat) is the symbol of Novruz.

People clean and decorate houses, yards, streets, and squares. It is a time for charity, too. Parents usually have gifts for their children.

Everybody talks about pleasant things. People who are at odds reconcile with each other on the eve of Novruz holiday. On this holiday people visit each other often. Azerbaijani people are really happy to receive guests. When people meet, they wish a Happy Holiday to each other.

1. Complete the sentence according to the passage.
   People celebrate Novruz as the birthday of … and … .

   1. customs | 2. nature | 3. traditions

   4. occasions | 5. life

   A) 1, 4 | B) 2, 3 | C) 3, 4 | D) 2, 5 | E) 1, 5

2. What is the passage mainly about?
   A) the favourite guests
   B) a national holiday
   C) the children’s birthday
   D) a multinational country
   E) the unpleasant things
3. What is not mentioned in the passage?
   A) Novruz belongs to many people of the world.
   B) The Azerbaijanis have ancient customs and traditions.
   C) Peope shout at each other angrily on this holiday.
   D) Novruz holiday is time for charity.
   E) “Spring Holiday” is the other name of Novruz holiday.
4. Write the answer to the question according to the passage.
   What do parents usually have for their children?
   Answer: “gifts”
5. Which word in the passage is closest in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence below?
   Grandchildren usually come to see their grandparents on summer holidays.
   Answer: “(to) visit”