LISTENING: THE FIRST THANKSGIVING

Watch the video and then try to answer the following questions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFDSobNnfQs

1. When did the story beging?
a) 16th century
b) 17th century
c) 18th century
2. Where did these people migrate first?
a) England
b) America
c) Holland
3. Why weren't they happy there?
a) Because they were poor and their children didn't want to pray.
b) Because they were poor and they didn't like their new home.
c) Because they were rich but the Kind didn't let them pray.
4. What was the name of the ship in which these people travel to America?
a) Maryflower
b) Mayflower
c) Myflower
5. How many people travelled in the ship?
a) One hundred people
b) Two hundred and fifty people
c) Eighty people
6. When did they arrive to America?
a) December
b) June
c) November
7. What had happened when the spring came?
a) They had all settled down and lived happy.
b) They had suffered a lot, half of the people died.
c) All the snow melted down
8. Who was Squanto?
a) An Indian who helped the colonists
b) A plant that the Indians taught the colonists how to grow
c) An Indian tribe who attacked the colonists.
9. Why did they decide to "thank God"?
a) For being happy in their new home
b) For the good and abundant harvest
c) Both a and b are correct
10. Who were invited to the first Thanksgiving party?
a) The Indians alone
b) The Colonists alone
c) The indians and the colonists

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving is the most important non-religious holiday in the United States together with the celebration of the Independence Day (July, 4th). It is celebrated every year on the last Thursday of November. The celebration consists of a fantastic dinner and the gathering of family and friends. There are also school celebrations and local parades being the most famous of all the New York City Thanksgiving parade, which is broadcasted nationwide. Those days millions of Americans travel back to their families' homes, for this holiday, the day before Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year in airports and other means of transport.

By Thanksgiving, families get together in a very special dinner party. They usually decorate their dinning table in a very special way. The centerpiece usually combines flowers, vegetables, fruit and even leaves. The usual colors displayed in these dinner tables are: orange, brown, yellow, and other earthy colors. You can see an example of the Thanksgiving decoration of an American dinning room. The traditional Thanksgiving dinner includes: Roasted Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed Potatos, Sweet Potatos or Turnip, Boiled or Steamed vegetables, Cramberry Sauce, Gravy, and desserts of different kinds, being the most typical the pumpking pie, pumpkin or corn breads, cheescakes, apple pie, etc. You can click on the links to learn more about the products.

All the dishes are usually served when the guests sit down. Before starting eating the host and one or many of the guests thank God for all the good things brought by that year. Despite of this, Thanksgiving is celebrated by Americans of all religious backgrounds and it is not uncommon to attend a dinner in which the guests professed more than two different religions. However, Thanksgiving is a moment for the families to gather and share, a moment of love, friendship and cooperation which clearly shows the good and great values of Americans.