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Practice Reading Activity Markets
Practice Reading Activity Markets
Practice Reading Activity Markets
Read the text carefully and answer the questions. Use a dictionary to find the
meaning of new words.
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?
(2) Which of these things are always a feature of the Nuremburg Christmas market,
according to the video?
(a) False
(b) True
(c) It doesn’t say
(7) Who recites the prologue at the opening of Nurnberg Christmas Market?
(a) Dresden
(b) Nurnberg
(c) Lübeck
(11) Which of these things are always a feature of the Nuremburg Christmas market,
according to the video?
(12) What are Christmas candle arches (schwibbogen) traditionally made from?
(a) pottery
(b) cake
(c) wood
(14) fare .
(15) figs .
(16) flock .
(17) plum .
(18) stalls .
(19) tinsel .
(20) tuck .