We suggest you do the vocabulary activity below before you listen. Then listen to the episode and do the first task to check your understanding. Finally, practise some vocabulary and grammar.

　　Match the words and phrases in the boxes to the definitions.

　　1.speciality

　　2.course

　　3.festival

　　4.candle

　　5.nephew

　　6.present

　　7.invent

　　8.excuse

　　Definitions:

　　a.The son of one’s sister or brother

　　b.A celebration, often official

　　c.A reason you give why you did something wrong

　　d.Something that is special or specific to a place, organisation, etc

　　e.A part of a meal served separately from the other parts

　　f.A light source made from wax, used before electricity

　　g.Something given as a treat or gift

　　h.Create or design something new

　　Now, listen to episode 7.

　　Our friends are staying here for Christmas. Find out if they are spending this festive season alone. Written by Chris Rose.

　　Comprehension Task

　　Look at the list of Christmas things. Tick the boxes next to the ones mentioned in the episode.

　　Christmas Item

　　Mentioned in the episode?

　　1Christmas presents

　　2Christmas cards

　　3Christmas cake

　　4Christmas pudding

　　5Christmas tree

　　6Christmas dinner

　　7Christmas crackers

　　8Father Christmas

　　Comprehension Task 2

　　tence.

　　2. Johnny likes Christmas in China / London.

　　3. Magda is / isn’t going to Poland f

　　1. Fadi wants Tony to open the café on Christm

　　4. Joe is Olivia’s cousin / nephew.

　　5. Tony refuses / offers to wash the di

　　Vocabulary Task

　　Complete the words below by checking the hints.

　　1.decorat_ _ _ _  (things that are put on or around something to make it

　　2.car_ _     (a song that is usually sung at Christmas) 3. rein_ _ _ _   (the animals that pull the Christmas sleigh)

　　4. ca_ _      (it is made of paper and inside it is usually printed

　　5. can_ _ _    (it produces light when it burns) 6. pre_ _ _ _  (the same as gift)

　　7. tur_ _ _     (a type of bird which is usually cooked and eaten during Christ

　　8. ho_ _ _     (a small evergreen tree with shiny leaves and small red fruit)

　　9. pud _ _ _ _   (a dessert which is eaten at the end of a meal du

　　Grammar Task

　　staying

　　going

　　trying

　　doing washing

　　1. What are you __________ for

　　2. I can stop __________ now.

　　3. The café is __________ open!

　　4. I love __________ new things!

　　5. Aren’t you __________ back to visit your fam

　　Audio Script

　　Fadi:   What a fantastic Christmas present!Did someone say “present”? I love

　　presents... I just mean the café staying open –

　　early Christmas present!

　　presents...

　　Fadi:   Come on, it’s only a few days now!

　　worrying

　　Tony:   What? Come on Tony! Even you must be

　　open!

　　Fadi:   Our campaign was successful!

　　Tony:   Yeah... erm, thanks everybody!

　　Christmas?

　　my family... Yeah, me too - it’d be great to spend

　　the whole family... Yeah, it’d be greaChristmas with you... er, I mean,

　　everyone here...

　　Olivia:  Oh, yeah, erm... hmmm.

　　Fadi:   Tell you what – let’s invent an exc

　　Olivia: An excuse? How do you mean?

　　hours... come and have dinner hereHere? I don’t think the café will be

　　open on Christmas day... We can persuade Tony to open – just for us

　　too...

　　bring Joe...

　　Fadi:  Oh no! Joe, your

　　I’d forgotten about him...  Hi Johnny!

　　Johnny:  Hello everyone! We were just talking about Christmas...  Of course, I’ve come back just in time for Christma

　　love Christmas here in London... We don’t really celebrate Christmas in China, but I love it here – lots of food,

　　:  I love Christmas too, but Christmas Poland isthis year...

　　Sarah:  Aren’t you going back to visit your   family? You uPoland.

　　MagdaI wanted to go, but I couPlane tickets are so expensive at this

　　time of year. (sighs) So,

　　our own for Christm

　　Carlos:  Me too – there’s no way I can go bato Brazil! That’s a long way.

　　Carlos:  I’ve got an idea – if Fadi and Oliviacan ask Tony to open the café, I’ll cook a proper Christmas dinner for

　　everyone! I love cooking.

　　Magda:  Good i

　　twelve-course meal at Christmas!Twelve courses! Wow, that’s a lotIt is...

　　Carlos:  I’ll try and make some traditional Polish food for you Magda... and perhaps something special for you too, Sarah... I’d like that

　　Sarah:  That’s very kind

　　Chinese food for me! It’s difficult... make one of your own specialities – I love trying new things!

　　Carlos: OK, you’re on! This sounds like a part

　　about you? What are you doing for Christmas?

　　Harry:  Well, I’ve only got my mum, so I guess I’ll be with her.

　　Bindyu:  It’d be nice to have Christmas dinner with you...

　　Harry:  Yeah, it would... don’t you have to be

　　with your family... We don’t really celebrate Christmas...

　　Olivia:  Don’t forget it’s a religious festival!

　　Harry:  Of course, yeah, I know theveryone can enjoy Christmas!

　　Olivia:  Well, why don’t you two try and join

　　us....

　　Harry:  I’ll see what we can do....

　　CarlosThere is a problem though... What’s that?

　　Carlos: Nobody has asked Tony...

　　Fadi:  Oh, erm, yeah... Go on Olivia – you

　　ask him...

　　Olivia:  Why me

　　Fadi:  You’re the best at that kind of thing..

　　Olivia:  OK, OK

　　Tony:   Yeah? What are you doing for

　　Tony:   Why?

　　Olivia:  We wanted to

　　Christmas with us! Well... well, th

　　thank y

　　Olivia:  Just one thin

　　Tony:   What’s that? Erm, we’d like to ha

　　dinner

　　Tony:   Here? Yes. Here!

　　y:  Hmm... OK, but I’m not washing the

　　dishes afterwards! Deal!

　　Johnny:  This is goin

　　party ever!

　　(sounds of eating

　　Carlos:  So here it is! Some Brazspecialties – this is papa

　　Magda:  Mmmm...

　　Carlos:  This is cassava...

　　Harry:  Delicious...

　　Carlos: And capirinha to drink!

　　Cheers! Hap

　　Harry And I’ve brought my mum’s Christmas pudding!

　　Sarah:  Euurrgghh!

　　Olivia:  No, you must try it! It's d

　　(crashing noise)

　　All:    What’s going on! What’s happened?

　　JohnnyIt’s all dark!

　　Fadi:   I can’t see a

　　Olivia:  Joe! What have you done?

　　Harry:  What’s happ

　　Tony:   He’s broken the lights! That little...

　　All:    Oh no!

　　Bindyu:  Never mind – let’s light candles!!

　　Olivia:  Good idea!

　　Fadi:   Wow, yeah, this is rea

　　Olivia:  Isn’t it! Jo

　　Fadi:   It’s great to be with you Olivia... Erm, yeah, you too...

　　Bindyu:  Yes, very romantic...

　　Harry:  Great... Everybody thinks it’s romantic... I

　　hope y

　　Sarah:  Erm, yes, I suppose

　　Answers