Reading

I) Read the text carefully and answer the questions. Use a dictionary to find the meaning of
new words.
German Christmas Markets – Customs and Traditions
The history of Christmas street markets in Germany dates back to the Middle Ages, and historic
crafts have always been an important feature. Many of the things we traditionally associate with
celebrating Christmas originated in Germany - for instance, glass Christmas decorations were
invented in South East Germany, and tinsel is also a German invention. It is traditional for German
Christmas markets to set up their stalls at the start of Advent, the four week period leading up to
Christmas Eve, and then to trade continuously from that point onwards until the twenty fourth of
December.

Christmas markets in Germany are as varied as Germany itself, and there are many regional
differences between them. One of the oldest German Christmas markets is the Striezelmarkt at
Dresden, which dates back to 1434. The name of the market is derived from a very famous type of
Christmas cake called Stollen, which is sold at the market. Regional arts and crafts such as wooden
candle arches (schwibbogen) featuring intricate carved scenes are very popular in Dresden and other
markets close to the Ore mountains, as are revolving pyramids and nutcrackers. Dresden's
Striezelmarkt has more than two hundred and fifty stalls and it attracts up to two million visitors
every year.

The Christmas markets close to the North Sea have a special Hanseatic flavour. At the Christmas
street market in the historic city of Bremen, stalls are adorned with twinkling fairy lights and
charming traditional decorations. Set against the backdrop of the historic Bremen town hall and
Roland statue, tourists stock to the market during December to shop for gifts and tuck into
traditional fare such as gluhwein, (hot, spiced wine, served in a mug) bratwurst (German sausage),
baked apples, cinnamon biscuits and fried fish specialities. Visit the schlachte-zauber (stalls near the
river bank) to discover the Germany of Mediaeval times. With over a hundred and seventy stalls,
there are plenty of things to do and see.

Nuremberg Christmas market is probably the most famous Christmas market in Germany, as well as
being one of Germany's biggest Christmas markets. Nuremberg's Christmas market dates back to at
least 1697, and attracts more than two million visitors annually. Around twenty five thousand people
flock to the opening ceremony to await the arrival of the Christmas angel, who recites a traditional
welcome speech to launch the proceedings. The market features around 200 stalls selling a wide
range of traditional foods and local crafts. Local specialities include Lebkuchen (spicy cookies, similar
to gingerbread), hand-made angels crafted from gold foil, and Nuremberg plum people, tiny
decorative figures crafted from dried plums, figs and walnuts.

(1) How long has the Nuremberg market been opened by a Christmas angel?

(a) since the nineteen thirties

(b) since the sixteen nineties
(c) The video doesn't say

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(2) Which of these things are always a feature of the Nuremburg Christmas market, according to the
video?

(a) hand-made angels crafted from gold foil

(b) hand-made figures of Father Christmas
(c) hand-made Christmas crackers patient

(3) A new Christmas Angel is appointed every year. False or true?

(a) False
(b) True
(c) It doesn’t say

(4) Advent coincides with …?

(a) The Christmas shopping season

(b) the month of December
(c) the four weeks leading up to
Christmas Eve

(5) Where were glass Christmas decoration originally invented?

(a) South East Germany

(b) South West Germany
(c) North East Germany

(6) What is Bratwurst?

(a) a type of sausage

(b) a type of dance
(c) a type of bread

(7) Who recites the prologue at the opening of Nurnberg Christmas Market?

(a) The Christmas Angel

(b) Father Christmas
(c) The Christmas Fairy

(8) Where does Stollen Cake come from?

(a) Dresden
(b) Nurnberg
(c) Lübeck

(9) Where do the Christmas markets have a Hanseatic feeling?

(a) near the North Sea and the Baltic

(b) in the mountains
(c) in Southern Germany

(10) What is Glüwein and how is it served?

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 (a) a drink which is served hot, in a mug
(b) type of soup which is served cold, in a mug
(c) a drink which is served chilled, in a glass

(11) Which of these things are always a feature of the Nuremburg Christmas market, according to the
video?

(a) hand-made angels crafted from gold foil

(b) hand-made figures of Father Christmas
(c) hand-made christmas crackers

(12) What are Christmas candle arches (schwibbogen) traditionally made from?

(a) pottery
(b) cake
(c) wood

II) Write the Spanish meaning of the following words

(13) backdrop .

(14) fare .

(15) figs .

(16) flock .

(17) plum .

(18) stalls .

(19) tinsel .

(20) tuck .

telón de fondo.

(14) tarifa.

(15) HIGOS

(16) rebaño.

(17) ciruela.

(18) puestos.

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(19) oropel.

(20) pliegue

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