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Answer the questions.
1 What country did the tradition of April Fool come from?
2 What was originally celebrated in medieval France on April 1st?
3 Why did people start celebrating New Year in January then?
4 The news travelled slowly at that time, didn’t` t it?
5 Why were some people called ‘fools’?
6 Is this date celebrated in many countries?
7 Does each country celebrate it in a special way?
8 Where will you find a chocolate fish of April?
9 How do Americans and the British celebrate April Fools Day?
10 How do you like the trick with the film about spaghetti trees?
Text 8B B Cnews
A Teenage Businessman
When most 14-year-old boys are playing football or computer games after school, James Kenyon from Manchester is running his own successful business. “I’ve heard of a company in Scotland selling homemade bath products and thought it was a good idea.
My dad said I could do that, so I decided to take a chance,” James explains. That was two and a half years ago.
James started selling bath products to his friends and neighbours, but soon he began working for two local shopkeepers. Since he started his own soap company, selling homemade soap, bath salt and other bath products, James has earned over & 4,500.
James is proud of his success in business but he thinks there are more important things in his life. “I’ve learnt lots and I’m really enjoying it, but my school work always comes first.
James` s parents are proud of their son, they think that he plans everything really well – he does homework and he can focus on the business in his spare time. James says his parents have been a big support.
In 2006 James became a finalist in the Enterprising Young Brit Award. James is just one of an extraordinary group of enterprising young British businessmen who have innovative ideas and enthusiasm for business. Age and experience is certainly no obstacle to their success; their ambition and energy inspires them to create their money-making ideas. (1119)
Answer the questions.
1 What is the main idea of this text?
2 What business does James Kenyon run?
3 How did he start his business?
4 How much has he earned since he started business?
5 Is business the only important thing for him?
6 His parents help him, don` t they?
7 Why do his parents support him?
8 Why do you think he became a finalist of the Enterprising Young Brit Award?
9 What do you think helps him to be a successful businessman?
10 Do you think it` s good or bad for teenagers to run their own business?
Text 9Michael Swan
The Lost Gold Coin
After the First World a small group of war veterans returned to their native village in England. Most of them found work and were able to earn some money for the living, but Michael Cole, who had been wounded and never recovered his strength, was unable to work regularly and became poorer and poorer.
Each year the veterans had dinner together, that was their traditions. On one of such occasions they met in the house of Grandian who had made a lot of money and was rich. During the party Grandian showed his friends a large gold coin.
The coin attracted everybody’s attention, and each of those who were present examined it with great interest. However, soon the coin was forgotten.
Later when Grandian thought of it and asked his friends about it, the coin was nowhere to be found. After a long discussion the decisions was taken to search everyone. All immediately agreed except Michael Cole. “I haven’t stolen the gold coin and I will not let you search me,” answered Cole.
From that day on Cole was a disgraced man. He became poorer and poorer, and when his wife died, everybody knew it was from hunger.
A few years later Grandian decided to rebuild the house. One of the workmen found the gold coin between two planks of the floor.
As he was an honest man, Grandian hurried to Cole` s poor house to apologize to him. “But why didn’t` t you let us search you?” asked Grandian. “It was a long time ago, and now I can tell you that my pockets were full of food. I was going to take it home for my wife.” (1228)