Part 2. Chinese New Year.

A. Keywords. pig, zodiac signs, animal.

Vocabulary. zodiac, domesticate, insulation, manufacture, insecticide,

pharmaceutical, heart valve, nominate, charity, stage, chauvinist, bacon.

A1. The year 2007 is the year of the pig in China.

The following passage is going to tell you something interesting about pigs.

Listen carefully and deicide whether the following statements are true or false.

Circle the correct answer.

I'm a pig, my son is a rabbit, I have snakes for daughters, and my wife, believe it or not, is a dragon.

Do I live in a zoo? No, of course not.

I'm talking about our Chinese zodiac signs, depending on the year of your birth.

Each person has an animal for a sign.

That's way I'm a pig, and my wife is a dragon.

February the 18th is Chinese New Year, and 2007 is the year of the pig.

So let's take a closer look at this interesting animal.

Pigs were first domesticated by man about 9,000 years ago, and are still a very common farm animal in many parts of the world.

We don't just use pigs for their meat, almost every part of the animal is used.

The bones and skill are used for glue and footballs.

The hair is used for artists' brushes and insulation.

The fat is used in the manufacture of insecticides, floor waxes, rubber and plastics.

Amazingly, pigs are a source of nearly 40 pharmaceutical drugs.

And their heart valves can be used in surgery to replace human ones.

Pigs have also been important in the world of entertainment.

In the 1995, the film Babe starred a lovable taking pig as its main character.

The firm won an Oscar and was nominated for six more.

In England, you can even go to watch pig racing.

A farmer, Rob Shepherd, has been raising money for charity by staging pig races on his farm.

The events have been very successful.

People just don't want to eat pigs, it seems.

Pigs also feature in the English language.

To say that something is unlikely to happen, you can say "pigs might fly".

A man that thinks men are superior to women is a "chauvinist pig".

Hungry? Well, then you can "pig out" and eat lots of food.

And what about if someone rescues you? Well, you can say that they "saved your bacon".

If you, like me, were born in the year of the pig, then you are brave, thoughtful and loyal.

The year of the pig is filled with good fortune.

Happy Chinese New Year!

A2. Answer the following questions about the text. You should write a short answer.

A3. Now choose the correct answer, A,B or C.

A4. Complete the summary with words from the box.

B. Keywords. Kung Hei Fat Choi, Chinatown, Chinese community, Chinese descent, New Year festivity.

Vocabulary. spectacular, parade, procession, multiculturalism, immigrant, immigration,

flourishing, synonymous, descent, lion-dancing, elephant chess, mayor, outspoken, advocate.

B1. Do you know how people in London celebrate Chinese New Year?

Listen to the following passage about a London style Chinese New Year.

After the passage, you'll hear four statements, decide whether they are true or false. Write "T" or "F" in the brackets.

Kung Hei Fat Choi. That's a phrase that's just been heard many times in London's Chinatown over the last few days.

Why? Because it's Chinese New Year, and the UK's Chinese community are celebrating the year of the dog.

This year the celebrations have been more spectacular than ever, with more than 200,000 people congregating to watch a huge parade of lions, dragons, drums and ribbon and fun dancers.

The procession made its way from Chinatown to Trafalgar Square, the very heart of London.

London has a proud history of multiculturalism, and the Chinese Community is one of the oldest in the city.

Chinese immigrants first came to London in the mid-19th century, consisting mainly of seamen involved in the tea trade, via Canton.

For that reason, Cantonese is still spoken more widely in the UK than Mandarin.

A more recent wave of immigration took place in the 1960's when many workers came from Hong Kong to find work in the flourishing restaurant business.

One part of the central London neighborhood of Soho becomes synonymous with Chinese restaurants and began to be known as a Chinatown.

Today, more than 60,000 people of Chinse descent live in London, which means that there are plenty of people to conduct the New Year festivities.

This year's celebrations include more than 100 events, from lion-dancing to elephant chess.

Whilst London's museums, art galleries and theaters are running special Chinese-themed seasons.

Much of this has been organized through partnership between Chinese community groups and the mayor of London's office.

Indeed London's mayor, Ken Livingstone, has been an outspoken advocate of strengthening ties between the UK and China.

In his Chinese New Year speech, he said "To everyone in China, think of London as your second home. So, whether you're in London, Beijing or Hong Kong, have a happy Chinese New Year."

Statements.

1. Chinese New Year has been celebrated in the UK with an enormous circus in Trafalgar Square.

2. There are more Cantonese speakers in Britain than Mandarin speakers.

3. The first Chinese immigrants to the UK were sailors.

4. There are a handful of events celebrating the Chinese New Year in London.

B2. Listen again, what do the following items refer to?

Please give detailed explanations.