But I ain’t stupid! You’re asking if it’s real!

No, I’m not perfect! You wanted honesty! 

Hey, I’m not making fake promises!

I’m not your ex-boyfriend, I know he left you a little bit broken!

But I’m falling deeper, every time I look in your eyes

I’m not perfect, you wanted honesty ohh (so)

Chorus:

Can I promise you!

All it takes is two

Verse 2

Under this moonlight we’re dancing with the stars!

I know who you are! Let’s heal our battle scars!

If looking for a reason! 

Can treasure you no matter what the season!

‘Cuz I’m falling deeper into your eyes!

Chorus:

Can I promise you!

All it takes is two

Bridge

I’ll be by your side

No matter the storms in life

Let me in tonight

Chorus:

Can I promise you!

All it takes is two.

PROMISE

A „promise” szó, sok más angol szóhoz hasonlóan egyszerre több szófajban is ugyanabban az alakban jelenik meg. Tehát van a „promise” ige, ahogy a dalban a „Can I promise you?” mondatban szerepel „megígérni” jelentésben és van a „promise” főnév is, mindjárt magában a címben, „promises”, azaz „ígéretek” formában. Ez akkor okozhat például gondot, ha egy ilyen -s végződésű alak, mint a „promises” megjelenik egy mondatban valahol és el kell döntenünk, hogy a „promise” főnév többes számáról van-e szó vagy a „promise” ige kap –s végződést egyes szám harmadik személyben, például: „he never promises anything to me”. A dalban szerencsénkre ez teljesen világos: Az „I’m not making fake promises” mondatban látjuk, hogy a „make” az ige és a „promises” ígéreteket jelent.

Can you tell the opposites?

1. honesty

2. perfect

3. fake

4. moonlight

5. to heal

Key: 

1. dishonesty

2. imperfect

3. real

4. sunlight

5. to make ill

Here’s why she has two birthdays, and you only get one

Happy birthday to the Queen! On 21^st of April Her Majesty celebrated her actual birthday (as opposed to her official birthday, which falls in June). Here’s a complete guide to why we celebrate her birthday twice each year.

So the Queen gets two birthdays? Yep. Her Majesty was born on April 21, 1926 and she turned 93 this year. She will celebrate her official birthday on June 14.

Why does she get two? It’s tradition – the sovereign is given two birthdays if their birth date is not in the summer. This is because there will be a better chance of good weather for the birthday parade, called Trooping the Colour, which is a ceremony performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies.

Have other kings and queens done this? Yes. All British monarchs have been given the option of having two birthdays since 1748. Edward VII, whose birthday fell in November, did it too.

Does she get presents? And cake? Well, we don’t know. The Queen celebrates her actual birthday in private (although last year she spent the day at the races) but we like to think she tucks into a very regal slice of birthday cake on occasion. At midday on April 21, she gets a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London.

So surely this is a national holiday. Do we get a day off? No, but you’re welcome to toast her if you like. Some places in the Commonwealth (such as Australia and New Zealand) get a public holiday on her official birthday, but we’re not so lucky.

source: www.metro.co.uk

to celebrate – ünnepelni
as opposed to – valamivel ellentétben
official – hivatalos
Her Majesty – Őfelsége
sovereign – uralkodó
a chance of – esély valamire
parade – parádé, felvonulás
regiment – ezred
the Commonwealth – Brit Nemzetközösség
the option of – valaminek a lehetősége
although – habár
the races (horserace) – lóverseny
to tuck into – bekebelez, jó étvággyal eszik
gun salute – díszsortűz
to toast someone – valakinek az egészégére inni, pohárköszöntőt mondani 

True or false?

1. The Queen was born in the summer.

2. Her Majesty celebrates her birthday in private.

3. The Queen’s official birthday is held in June.

4. The Queen’s birthday is a national holiday in the United Kingdom.

5. She is the first British Queen to have two birthdays.

Answers: 1-F 2-T 3-T 4-F 5-F

Yes, yes I know you’re dying to know how hamburgers came about in this world – so here it is.

While there are multiple theories, many believe the Mongols started the craze when raw beef was kept under saddles while they tried to conquer the world. The meat then became tender enough to eat after spending a good amount of time – ahem – between a horse and human backside. Kids, don’t try this at home. Eventually the tender meat phenomenon spread to Hamburg, Germany, where a dish called ‘Hamburg steak’ gained popularity. These events led to the experimentation with hamburg.

By the end of the 1800s, European emigrants had reached their destination of America on ships registered to Hamburg lines. Those travelers were served meat patties that had been cooked on a grill and placed between two pieces of bread.

There is an ongoing debate, as several men have been named as the true first inventors of this fine creation. The word hamburg first appeared in print in 1834 in Delmonico Restaurant, located in New York. By 1902, chefs began putting beef through a grinder mixed with pepper and onion. The burger gained worldwide popularity after the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904.

Vendors had served the burger to many customers and the New York Tribune described it as “the innovation of a food vendor on the pike.” Then, in 1921, White Castle opened the first hamburger stand in Wichita, Kansas.

Now, pop quiz time – roughly, how many hamburgers you have had in your lifetime a) hundreds b) thousands c) are you crazy, I am a vegetarian.

source: Geobeats

to be dying to know – furdalja a kíváncsiság
theory – elmélet
craze – őrület
saddle – nyereg
to conquer – hódítani
backside – alfele valakinek
phenomenon – jelenség
emigrant – kivándorló
meat patty – húspogácsa
ongoing debate – folyamatban levő vita
vendor  – árus, mozgó árus
pike – régies, nyárs
stand – bódé

Fill in the gaps with the words in the table.

Summer loving had me a blast
Summer loving ……………….. so fast
I met a girl crazy for me
Met a boy ……………….. as can be

Summer days drifting away
To, oh, oh, the summer nights.

Well-a well-a well-a, huh
Tell me more, tell me more
Did you get very far?
Tell me more, tell me more
Like does he have a ………………..?

She ……………….. by me, she got a cramp
He ran by me, got my suit damp
I ……………….. her life, she nearly drowned
He showed off, splashing around

Summer ……………….., something’s begun
But, oh, oh, the summer nights

Well-a well-a well-a huh
Tell me more, tell m,e more
Was it ……………….. at first sight?
Tell me more, tell me more
Did she put up a fight?

Took her bowling in the Arcade
We went strolling, drank ………………..
We made out under the dock
We stayed up ’till ten o’clock

Summer fling, don’t mean a thing
But, oh, oh, the summer nights

Well-a well-a well-a huh
Tell me more, tell me more
But you don’t gotta brag
Tell me more, tell me more
‘Cause he ……………….. like a drag

He got friendly, holding my hand
She got friendly down in the ………………..
He was sweet just turned eighteen
Well, she was good you know what I mean

Summer heat, boy and girl meet
But, oh, oh, the summer nights
Tell me more, tell me more
How much dough did he spend?
Tell me more, tell me more
Could she get me a ………………..?

It turned colder, that’s where it ends
So I told her we’d still be friends
Then we made our true love vow
Wonder what she’s ……………….. now

Summer dreams ripped at the seams
But, oh, those summer nights
Tell me more, tell me more

———————————————————————–

Grease – Summer Nights

Summer loving had me a blast
Summer loving happened so fast
I met a girl crazy for me
Met a boy cute as can be

Summer days drifting away
To, oh, oh, the summer nights

Well-a well-a well-a, huh
Tell me more, tell me more
Did you get very far?
Tell me more, tell me more
Like does he have a car?

She swam by me, she got a cramp
He ran by me, got my suit damp
I saved her life, she nearly drowned
He showed off, splashing around

Summer sun, something’s begun
But, oh, oh, the summer nights

Well-a well-a well-a huh
Tell me more, tell m,e more
Was it love at first sight?
Tell me more, tell me more
Did she put up a fight?

Took her bowling in the Arcade
We went strolling, drank lemonade
We made out under the dock
We stayed up ’till ten o’clock

Summer fling, don’t mean a thing
But, oh, oh, the summer nights

Well-a well-a well-a huh
Tell me more, tell me more
But you don’t gotta brag
Tell me more, tell me more
‘Cause he sounds like a drag

He got friendly, holding my hand
She got friendly down in the sand
He was sweet just turned eighteen
Well, she was good you know what I mean

Summer heat, boy and girl meet
But, oh, oh, the summer nights

Tell me more, tell me more
How much dough did he spend?
Tell me more, tell me more
Could she get me a friend?

It turned colder, that’s where it ends
So I told her we’d still be friends
Then we made our true love vow
Wonder what she’s doing now

Summer dreams ripped at the seams
But, oh, those summer nights
Tell me more, tell me more

to have a blast – baromi jól érzi magát
to be crazy for – megőrülni valakiért
cute – helyes, aranyos
to drift away – lassan halad, sodródik
to get very far – messzire elmenni (szexben)
cramp – görcs
(swim)suit – fürdőruha
damp – nedves
to drown – megfulladni
to show off – felvágni
love at first sight – szerelem első látásra
to put up a fight – tiltakozni, ellenállni
to go strolling – sétálni menni
to make out with someone – smárolni, szeretkezni
fling – kaland (szerelmi)
don’t (doesn’t) mean a thing – nem jelent semmit
to brag – dicsekedni
drag – uncsi
to turn eighteen – betölti a 18-at
dough – dohány (pénz)
to make a love vow – szerelmet fogadni
to wonder – gondolkodni, vajon …
ripped at the seams – széttépett, szétfoszlott
 

Number 10. There’s one that’s made with meteorites. The people at Dogfish Head Brewery in Delaware have a brew infused with crushed lunar meteorites. To get their hands on the stuff, they partnered with ILC Dover, a company that makes space suits and has an in with NASA.

Number 9. It’s good for your hair. To get the conditioning and cleansing benefits, the beer must be applied directly to the tresses, so going out and throwing back a few won’t help with split ends

Number 8. Beer can be made from facial hair. A brewer in Oregon used yeast he harvested from his own beard to whip up a batch.

Number 7. Ancient Egyptians were paid with it. At least the ones working on the pyramids, anyway. Evidence has been found suggesting they were compensated with loaves of bread and a serving of beer.

Number 6. Beer and marijuana are related. Hops, used to flavour beer, and cannabis hail from the same plant family. The answer to your question, by the way, is yes. People have attempted to make beer from pot.

Number 5. In Prague, it’s cheaper than water. There, a bottle of water can cost more than double what a pint of beer does.

Number 4. Beer is good for you. It’s one of the few consumables that contains bone-benefitting silicon. A beer a day can also keep kidney stones away.

Number 3. 51 million cases of beer are sold on Super Bowl Sunday. Well, people have to wash down the billion chicken wings eaten on that weekend with something.

Number 2. There was a beer with a 55% alcohol content. It was called ‘The End of History’ and holds the Guinness record as the world’s strongest. It’s sold out now, but ran about 800 dollars a bottle. 11 hundred if you wanted it packaged with a taxidermied squirrel. Normal beer is about 4 and a half percent.

Number 1. They make home brew at the White House. President Obama got the ball rolling a while ago when he bought a kit.

source: Geobeats

when it comes to– ami a … illeti
versatile – változatos
infused with – ízesített
to get one’s hands on – megkaparintani
to have an in with – protekciója, befolyása van
tresses – hajfürtök
to throw back a few – legurítani egy párat
split ends – töredezett haj
yeast – élesztő
to whip up – összedob valamit
evidence – bizonyíték
hop – komló
to hail from – származik valahonnan
pot – fű (szleng: marihuána)
consumable – fogyasztási cikk
bone-benefitting – csont
kidney stone –  vesekő
a case of – egy rekesznyi
the Super Bowl – az amerikai futball bajnokság döntője
to be sold out – elfogyott, nem kapható
taxidermied – kitömött (állat)
squirrel – mókus
home brew – házisör
to get the ball rolling – beindít valamit
kit – készlet, felszerelés

 Let It Go

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight,
not a footprint to be seen.
A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I’m the queen.

1. ………………..
Couldn’t keep it in, Heaven knows I tried.
Don’t let them in, don’t let them see.
Be the good girl you always have to be.
Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know.

2. ………………..

 Let it go, let it go!
Can’t hold it back any more.
Let it go, let it go!
Turn away and slam the door.
3. ………………..
Let the storm rage on.
The cold never bothered me anyway.

 It’s funny how some distance,
4. ………………..
And the fears that once controlled me, can’t get to me at all
It’s time to see what I can do,
5. ………………..
No right, no wrong, no rules for me.
I’m free!

 Let it go, let it go.
6. ………………..
Let it go, let it go.
You’ll never see me cry.
Here I’ll stand, and here I’ll stay.
Let the storm rage on.

 My power flurries through the air into the ground.
My soul is spiralling in frozen fractals all around
7. ………………..
I’m never going back; the past is in the past!

 Let it go, let it go.
And I’ll rise like the break of dawn.
Let it go, let it go
8. ………………..
Here I stand, in the light of day.

Let the storm rage on!
The cold never bothered me anyway…

answers:  1-D 2-F 3-A 4-C 5-H 6-E 7-G 8-B

————————————————————

Let It Go 

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight,
not a footprint to be seen.
A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I’m the queen.
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside.
Couldn’t keep it in, Heaven knows I tried.
Don’t let them in, don’t let them see.
Be the good girl you always have to be.
Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know.
Well, now they know!

Let it go, let it go!
Can’t hold it back any more.
Let it go, let it go!
Turn away and slam the door.
I don’t care what they’re going to say.
Let the storm rage on.
The cold never bothered me anyway.

It’s funny how some distance,
makes everything seem small.
And the fears that once controlled me, can’t get to me at all
It’s time to see what I can do,
to test the limits and break through.
No right, no wrong, no rules for me.
I’m free!

Let it go, let it go.
I am one with the wind and sky.
Let it go, let it go.
You’ll never see me cry.
Here I’ll stand, and here I’ll stay.
Let the storm rage on.

My power flurries through the air into the ground.
My soul is spiralling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I’m never going back; the past is in the past!

Let it go, let it go.
And I’ll rise like the break of dawn.
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone
Here I stand, in the light of day.

Let the storm rage on!
The cold never bothered me anyway…

————————————————————

to glow – ragyogni, csillogni
isolation – elszigeteltség
howling – üvöltő
swirling – kavargó
to conceal – leplezni
to hold something back – visszatartani valamit
to slam the door – becsapni az ajtót
to rage – dühöngeni
to bother – zavarni, idegesíteni
to get to someone – rossz hatással valakire, bosszant valakit
to test the limits – feszegetni a határokat
to flurry – kavarog
soul – lélek
icy blast – jeges széllökés
the break of dawn – hajnalhasadta

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics: Tim Rice

Jesus Christ Superstar (movie: 1973)

Fill in the gaps with the right words.

Gethsemane (Ted Neely)

I only want to say if there is a way
Take this cup away from me
For I don’t want to 1 ………………… its poison
Feel it burn me, I have changed
I’m not as 2 ………………… as when we started

Then I was 3 …………………, now I’m sad and tired
Listen, surely I’ve 4 ………………… expectations
Tried for three years, seems like thirty
Could you ask as much from any other man?

But if I die
See the saga 5 ………………… and do the things you ask of me
Let them hate me, hit me, hurt me, nail me to their tree

I’d want to know, I’d want to know my God
I’d want to know, I’d want to know my God
Want to see, I’d want to see my God
Want to see, I’d want to see my God

Why I 6 ………………… die?
Would I be more noticed than I ever was before?
Would the things I’ve said and done 7 ………………… any more?

I’d have to know, I’d have to know my Lord
Have to know, I’d have to know my Lord
Have to see, I’d have to see my Lord
Have to see, I’d have to see my Lord

If I die what will be my reward?
If I die what will be my reward?
Have to know, I’d have to know my Lord
Have to know, have to know my Lord

Why should I die?
Why should I die?

Can you show me now that I would not be killed 8 …………………?
Show me just a little of your omnipresent brain
Show me there’s a 9 ………………… for your wanting me to die
You’re far too keen on where and how and not so 10 ………………… on why

Alright I’ll die
Just, just watch me die
See how, see how I die
See how I die

Then I was inspired, now I’m sad and tired
After all I’ve tried for three years
Seems like ninety

Why then am I 11 ………………… to finish what I started?
What you started, I didn’t start it

God, Thy will is hard but You hold every card
I will drink Your cup of poison
12 ………………… me to Your cross and break me
Bleed me, beat me, kill me, take me now
Before I change my mind

Answers: 1-h 2-l 3-c 4-f 5-d 6-j 7-a 8-k 9-b 10-i 11-e 12-g

—————————————————————————————————-

Gethsemane

I only want to say if there is a way
Take this cup away from me
For I don’t want to taste its poison
Feel it burn me, I have changed
I’m not as sure as when we started

Then I was inspired, now I’m sad and tired
Listen, surely I’ve exceeded expectations
Tried for three years, seems like thirty
Could you ask as much from any other man?

But if I die
See the saga through and do the things you ask of me
Let them hate me, hit me, hurt me, nail me to their tree

I’d want to know, I’d want to know my God
I’d want to know, I’d want to know my God
Want to see, I’d want to see my God
Want to see, I’d want to see my God

Why I should die?
Would I be more noticed than I ever was before?
Would the things I’ve said and done matter any more?

I’d have to know, I’d have to know my Lord
Have to know, I’d have to know my Lord
Have to see, I’d have to see my Lord
Have to see, I’d have to see my Lord

If I die what will be my reward?
If I die what will be my reward?
Have to know, I’d have to know my Lord
Have to know, I’d have to know my Lord

Why should I die?
Why should I die?

Can you show me now that I would not be killed in vain?
Show me just a little of your omnipresent brain
Show me there’s a reason for your wanting me to die
You’re far too keen on where and how and not so hot on why

Alright I’ll die
Just, just watch me die
See how, see how I die
See how I die

Then I was inspired, now I’m sad and tired
After all I’ve tried for three years
Seems like ninety

Why then am I scared to finish what I started?
What you started, I didn’t start it

God, Thy will is hard but You hold every card
I will drink Your cup of poison
Nail me to Your cross and break me
Bleed me, beat me, kill me, take me now
Before I change my mind

if there is a way – ha van rá mód

poison – méreg

inspired – ihletett

to exceed expectations – felülmúlja a várakozást

to see something through – befejezni, végigcsinálni valamit

to nail – felszegelni

to be noticed – észreveszik

to matter – számítani

reward – jutalom

in vain – hiába

omnipresent – mindenütt jelenlevő

to be keen on – lelkes, buzgó

to be hot on – nagyon érdekli valami, lelkes

will – akarat

to hold every card – nála van az adu ász

to change one’s mind – meggondolja magát

To win an Oscar is everyone’s secret dream. So if you ever do get the chance to win an Academy Award, allow us to help you perfect your acceptance speech for when you receive your Oscar.

Paint your face, put on your glad rags, and borrow a million dollars’ worth of diamonds. Oscar’s here! And you can learn a lot about the do’s and don’ts of speech making just by looking at him: he’s short, he’s shiny and he has no naughty bits. VideoJug has sifted through 79 years of Oscar history to bring you the dos and don’ts of Oscar etiquette so that when you have to make an impromptu speech, you’ll look like a star.

Step 1: And the winner is….

The first thing to get right is your reaction to the result.
“And the winner for Best Supporting Actor Oscar goes to…”
It is critical that if you lose you don’t do what Samuel L Jackson did at the 1994 Oscars.
Whatever your studio executives have told you, expect to lose, and when you win your delight will be beamed across the world … it’ll be the first really honest performance of your career.

Step 2: Small ones are more juicy

In the 1940s, Greer Garson managed a speech that seemed to go on for about three days. Now there is a long standing rule at the Academy Awards that no speech should be longer than 45 seconds. So none of this:
“I would really like to thank my ancestors, because if it wasn’t for my ancestors they wouldn’t have given birth to my great-great grandparents, who wouldn’t have given birth to my grandparents”
Be clear and structured, so the audience know where they are. This doesn’t mean you can’t tell a joke, but do it fast enough to ensure the whole world has not switched off and gone to bed by the time you get to the punchline.
“I wanted to thank them because without them, I would not be stood in front of y’all today, so I want to say thanks and God Bless America – this is for you Cleetus!”

Step 3: Fight the power

The political speech is a fine art. If you really want to get people talking about your speech then you can’t do better than bringing up on stage a small indigenous character in traditional garb, whose home is under threat from a war, chemical spill or multinational plastic toy manufacturer.
“This is Takawana. His entire village has just been bought by Disney- this is an outrage!”
Remember to only accept your Oscar on behalf of his entire tribe, and finish with a clenched fist that suggests solidarity with all other troubled tribes everywhere. This is well worth doing for the massive DVD market that will open up for your subsequent films.

Step 4: Crying a river

When Gwyneth Paltrow dissolved into floods of tears for her best actress win for Shakespeare in Love, she tapped into something that had been irritating Oscar lovers for years: the excess of emotion.
“You know what. When I was little- all we had to eat was wild turkey, and when there was no more wild turkey, we ate squirrel! And when there was no more squirrel, we ate dust! We just had to put our faces in the dust and suck and lick it up! Oh god!
You’re a professional! Keep those emotions in check! Dry your eyes, get it together and smile for the cameras, sweetheart, you’re ruining your own big moment.

Step 5: Make your clothes work for you

Although lots of people win Oscars each year, only one actor really “wins” – and that’s the one that gets written about most afterwards. One of the best ways to make sure you get more column inches than anyone else is to wear something truly astonishing like Bjork did in 2001 when she turned up as a swan. Be super super glamorous, and if you are going to go to all this trouble, make sure your clothes stay on.

Step 6: Make ’em laugh

When the English Patient won nine Oscars in 1997, director Anthony Minghella remarked that “this is a great day for the Isle of Wight.”
A single good joke can stay in the audience’s minds far more than a parade of poor ones. So if you think you might win something, work hard on a good gag. And if you can’t think of one, ask your funniest friend.

acceptance speech – átvevő beszéd
glad rags – a legpuccosabb ruha
the do’s and don’ts – mit szabad és mit nem
naughty bits – csintalan, pajzán rész
impromptu – rögtönzött
to expect to – számítani valamire
delight – öröm
long-standing rule – régóta fennálló szabály
ancestor – ős
structured – jól szerkesztett
punchline – poén
cleetus – paraszt
indigenous – bennszülött
traditional garb – népviselet, hagyományos öltözék
outrage – felháborodás, felháborító dolog
clenched fist – ökölbe szorított kéz
subsequent – következő
to dissolve in tears – könnyekben tör ki
to keep something in check – kordában tartani
to ruin – tönkretenni
column – újság hasábja
astonishing – döbbenetes
to go to trouble – veszi a fáradságot
single – egyetlen
to stay in someone’s mind – megmarad a fejében
gag – poén

Let’s travel all around the world!

Test your vocabulary: countries, nationalities, languages

Answers:

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-GB
X-NONE
X-NONE

For most people, Christmas is a time for loosening their belts and indulging in calorific treats. But for those wanting to watch their figure over the festive season, one chef has created a guilt-free Christmas lunch, which contains fewer calories than a bag of nuts. Gurpareet Bains has come up with the three-course meal called the ‘Guilt-Free Gala’ by replacing traditional ingredients with superfoods, meaning it only contains 930 calories, around one third of a classic lunch.

It includes turkey with roast potatoes and all the trimmings, a lobster and vegetable starter, and a rich fruit pudding with mascarpone cheese for dessert. And not only is the meal gluten free, it also contains 11 portions of fruit and vegetables, more than double the government’s recommended five-a-day and is said to taste ‘exquisite’.

A normal Christmas dinner, with fat-soaked spuds, sugar-coated parsnips, Christmas pudding and canapes, would weigh in with an average of 3,200 calories, 2.5g of salt, and anything up to 90g of fat – more than a woman’s entire recommended daily allowance of 70g. 

The banquet includes a starter of butternut squash and pear soup with lobster (150 calories), a main of turkey breast poached in mulled wine spices with blueberry sauce and all the trimmings (470 calories) and a dessert of superfruit Pudding with green tea and chia seeds (310 calories). 

The entire meal contains just 19 grams of fat – the equivalent of three mince pies or a single serving of cheese and biscuits. By comparison, a 200g bag of Tesco salted mixed nuts contains 1,300 calories and 116g of fat.  

According to research, Britons will unwittingly consume a shocking 7,000 calories on Christmas Day alone, with some exceeding the daily recommended allowance before sitting down for dinner. 

The endless supply of chocolate, snacks, mince pies and festive drinks also means the average British person will gain 6lbs in the eight days between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.

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How Does a Christmas Tree Grow

This is the size of the tree when we buy them from the nurseries to plant on our farm. These are an average of 4 years old when we buy them. Average height 14 to 16 inches tall. We have a tree planter which just kind of opens up the ground, we place a tree in the ground, press the soil back closed, and then they continue growing – we hope! This tree behind me is in its second year of growth. You can see how the new growth we have gotten above there, just a little bit taller. These first years they will average about 6 to 8 inches of growth in their second year here. After that we will probably get 14 to 16 inches in the subsequent years.

The trees every year put one stem up the middle. This is called the leader. It is going to be the trunk of the tree, and it adds a set of branches every year. Now in the White Pines we can see how much the tree has grown. It added this set of branches this spring and grew this new leader. The year before it added these branches and grew this leader. The year before that, you can see from this set of branches, the trunk of the tree up to this set of branches. You can see how the tree is growing every year. Now up on the very tip of the top here, the buds are already set. The one bud, the strongest bud right in the center will grow up next spring and be the new leader. I expect about 14 to 16 inches over the year. The buds around the outside are going to form a set of laterals, a set of branches up here. Grow up, and it just does that every year.

One thing I’d like to point out to people: if there is a dead needle in your tree, that is not a bad thing. Trees shed their needles every year. The needles that are on the interior of the tree, the trees have decided they do not need those needles to continue growing, and it sheds those, usually when the needles are about 3 or 4 years old. Now this time of year especially this tree is filled with dead needles in here. And on the ground a nice solid mat of needles that have dropped over the years. This is a naturally occurring event on all Christmas trees.

source :Geobeats

Can you match the words and the definitions? 

Key:

1. e

2. h

3. a

4. g.

5. b.

6. c.

7. f

8. d.

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London has been revealed as one of the world’s most expensive destinations to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Research conducted by Travelex showed that 24 per cent of Britons prefer to celebrate abroad in cities such as Prague and Budapest where the cost of alcohol and food is cheaper. Traditionally one of the most lavish nights of the year, the survey showed that Londoners and visitors spend £336.14 per person in the capital on December 31 based on the average cost of a pint of beer, a bottle of champagne, an evening meal and admission to fireworks displays.

However, the same night out in New York was said to be £118.60, while in Budapest it was even cheaper, costing £66.81 – with the price of a meal for two as little as £22. The cheapest destination out of those surveyed was found to be Prague, where dinner and drinks were shown to cost an average of just £42.90.

Of each of the six destinations surveyed, chosen because they are within a six-hour flight of London, the UK capital was the only city that is charging to see fireworks. London Mayor Boris Johnson recently confirmed the famous Thames fireworks will have an entry fee of £10 for the first time ever. Only half the number of attendees from previous years will be let in – meaning many families won’t be able to enjoy the traditional celebration, which was previously free.

Britons would need to budget for around £245 to ring in the New Year in Paris. Although it’s not cheap, spending New Year’s Eve in the French capital is still shown to be almost £100 cheaper than in the UK capital. Of the 2,000 people surveyed, 30 per cent of people said would like to spend their New Year in New York. The Canadian city of Toronto was also found to be good value for Britons looking to celebrate abroad.

The survey also reveals that men are much more likely than women to splash the cash on New Year’s Eve, with the average UK man spending £200 on the event – 18 per cent more than the women’s average of £169.

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Fill in the gaps with the right word from the table. There is one extra.

1. Not many people have enough money ……………….. these days.

2. An ……………….. student can’t afford to fly to the USA.

3. How much do you ……………….. for the house for a week?

4. You need to ……………….. about $35o for a round trip to Canada.

5. Mary decided to travel ……………….. she was afraid of flying.

answers: 1-to splash the cash 2-average 3-charge 4-budget 5-although