The Lemon Festival in the French Riviera town of Menton is celebrating the year of the Paris Olympics by creating giant sculptures of athletes made entirely out of lemons and oranges. This annual event has taken on a special significance this year, with the festival organizers using about 140 tonnes of citrus fruit, which amounts to nearly 500,000 fruits, to construct the floats and historical scenes. It is expected that up to 200,000 people will visit the two-week carnival-style event.

The Lemon Festival is a unique and vibrant celebration that showcases the creativity and artistry of the local community. The sculptures made from lemons and oranges are truly impressive, capturing the spirit and energy of the Olympic Games. Visitors to the festival can admire these intricate creations and marvel at the skill and dedication that goes into making them.

The festival is not only a visual spectacle, but it also offers a range of activities and entertainment for visitors of all ages. There are parades, concerts, and street performances, creating a lively and festive atmosphere throughout the town. In addition, there are stalls selling local produce, including citrus fruits, as well as traditional food and drinks.

The Lemon Festival is a wonderful opportunity for both locals and tourists to come together and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Menton. It is a testament to the town’s commitment to preserving its traditions and promoting its unique identity. The festival also serves as a reminder of the importance of the Olympic Games and the values they represent, such as unity, sportsmanship, and excellence.

Overall, the Lemon Festival in Menton is a must-see event for anyone visiting the French Riviera. It offers a unique and unforgettable experience, combining art, culture, and celebration. Whether you are a fan of the Olympics or simply appreciate the beauty of citrus fruit sculptures, this festival is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Original news source: French Riviera town turns lemons into Olympic gold (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades

Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team will take turns acting out a word or phrase related to the Lemon Festival article. The other team must guess what the word or phrase is within a certain time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– News Summary

Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will summarize the main points of the Lemon Festival article in their own words. They should focus on the key details and events mentioned in the article. Afterward, each group will share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll

Instructions: Have students discuss and share their opinions about the Lemon Festival. Ask questions such as: What do you think about the concept of creating sculptures out of lemons and oranges? Would you like to visit the festival? Why or why not? Encourage students to explain their opinions and provide reasons for their answers.

– Vocabulary Pictionary

Instructions: Create a list of vocabulary words from the Lemon Festival article and write each word on a separate piece of paper. Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and pick a word from a hat. They must then draw a picture representing the word while their team tries to guess what it is. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Future Predictions

Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will discuss and make predictions about the future of the Lemon Festival. They should consider factors such as the festival’s popularity, potential changes or additions to the event, and its impact on the local community. Each group will share their predictions with the class and explain their reasoning.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How many tonnes of citrus fruit were used to construct the floats and historical scenes at the Lemon Festival?
2. What is the expected number of visitors to the Lemon Festival?
3. What is the purpose of the Lemon Festival?
4. What types of activities and entertainment are offered at the festival?
5. What are some of the items sold at the stalls at the festival?
6. What does the Lemon Festival celebrate?
7. What values do the Olympic Games represent?
8. What makes the Lemon Festival in Menton a unique and unforgettable experience?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The Lemon Festival in the French Riviera town of Menton is celebrating the year of the Paris Olympics by creating giant sculptures of athletes made entirely out of lemons and oranges. This annual (1)______ has taken on a special significance this year, with the festival organizers using about 140 tonnes of citrus fruit, which amounts to nearly 500,000 fruits, to (2)______ the floats and (3)______ scenes. It is expected that up to 200,000 (4)______ will visit the two-week carnival-style event.

The Lemon (5)______ is a unique and vibrant celebration that showcases the creativity and artistry of the local community. The sculptures made from lemons and oranges are truly impressive, capturing the spirit and energy of the Olympic Games. Visitors to the festival can admire these intricate creations and marvel at the (6)______ and dedication that goes into making them.

The festival is not only a visual spectacle, but it also offers a range of (7)______ and entertainment for (8)______ of all ages. There are parades, concerts, and street performances, creating a lively and festive atmosphere throughout the town. In (9)______, there are stalls selling (10)______ produce, including citrus fruits, as well as traditional food and drinks.

The Lemon Festival is a wonderful opportunity for both locals and tourists to come together and celebrate the rich cultural (11)______ of Menton. It is a testament to the town’s commitment to (12)______ its traditions and promoting its unique identity. The festival also (13)______ as a reminder of the importance of the Olympic (14)______ and the values they represent, such as unity, sportsmanship, and excellence.

Overall, the Lemon Festival in Menton is a must-see event for anyone visiting the French Riviera. It offers a unique and unforgettable experience, combining art, culture, and celebration. Whether you are a fan of the Olympics or simply appreciate the beauty of citrus fruit sculptures, this festival is sure to (15)______ a (16)______ impression.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on using fruits to create sculptures?
2. How would you feel if you were able to participate in creating the lemon and orange sculptures?
3. Do you like attending festivals and carnivals? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for communities to celebrate and showcase their cultural heritage? Why or why not?
5. What is a unique festival or celebration in your country? Describe it.
6. How would you feel if your town had a festival that required the use of a large amount of a specific fruit or vegetable?
7. Do you think events like the Lemon Festival help to promote tourism in a town or city? Why or why not?
8. What is your opinion on the Olympic Games? Do you think they are important? Why or why not?
9. How would you feel if you were able to attend the Lemon Festival in Menton? Why?
10. Do you think it’s important for festivals to offer a range of activities and entertainment for visitors? Why or why not?
11. What is your favorite type of fruit? Why do you like it?
12. How would you feel if you were able to taste the traditional food and drinks at the Lemon Festival?
13. Do you think it’s important for communities to preserve their traditions? Why or why not?
14. What is your opinion on the use of art and culture to bring people together?
15. How would you feel if you were able to witness the parades, concerts, and street performances at the Lemon Festival? Why?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Riviera
2. sculptures
3. significance
4. citrus
5. carnival-style
6. intricate
7. dedication
8. spectacle
9. parades
10. stalls
11. heritage
12. preserving
13. unity
14. excellence
15. unforgettable

Meanings:
(A) The quality of being outstanding or extremely good
(B) Resembling a festive occasion with music, processions, and public entertainment
(C) So memorable or impressive as to be unlikely to be forgotten
(D) A coastal region with a subtropical climate and lush vegetation
(E) Three-dimensional artworks created by shaping or combining materials
(F) The quality of being committed and devoted to a task or purpose
(G) Booths or stands where goods are displayed for sale
(H) The traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation
(I) Fruits belonging to the genus Citrus, such as lemons and oranges
(J) Having many complexly arranged elements; detailed
(K) The act of maintaining something in its original or existing state
(L) An event or scene regarded in terms of its visual impact
(M) The state of being united or joined as a whole
(N) Processions, especially celebratory ones, involving a large number of people moving through a public place
(O) The importance or meaning of something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the Lemon Festival in Menton celebrating this year?
(a) The harvest of citrus fruits
(b) The anniversary of the town’s founding
(c) The arrival of spring
(d) The year of the Paris Olympics

2. How many citrus fruits were used to construct the floats and historical scenes at the Lemon Festival?
(a) About 140
(b) Nearly 500,000
(c) Up to 200,000
(d) Over 1 million

3. What is one of the main attractions of the Lemon Festival?
(a) Parades, concerts, and street performances
(b) Stalls selling local produce
(c) Traditional food and drinks
(d) Sculptures made from lemons and oranges

4. What does the Lemon Festival showcase?
(a) The history of Menton
(b) The importance of the Olympic Games
(c) The creativity and artistry of the local community
(d) The beauty of citrus fruits

5. How many people are expected to visit the Lemon Festival?
(a) Over 1 million
(b) About 140
(c) Up to 200,000
(d) Nearly 500,000

6. What values do the Olympic Games represent?
(a) Unity, sportsmanship, and excellence
(b) Creativity, artistry, and celebration
(c) Tradition, culture, and heritage
(d) Harvest, community, and identity

7. What does the Lemon Festival offer for visitors of all ages?
(a) Sculptures made from lemons and oranges
(b) Activities and entertainment
(c) Local produce and traditional food
(d) Parades, concerts, and street performances

8. What does the Lemon Festival celebrate?
(a) The rich cultural heritage of Menton
(b) The beauty of citrus fruit sculptures
(c) The arrival of spring
(d) The anniversary of the town’s founding

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The sculptures made from lemons and oranges capture the spirit and energy of the Olympic Games.
2. The Lemon Festival in Menton celebrates the year of the Paris Olympics.
3. There are no parades, concerts, or street performances during the festival.
4. The festival provides a limited selection of activities and entertainment for visitors of all ages.
5. The festival combines art, culture, and celebration to create a unique and unforgettable experience.
6. The festival organizers use approximately 120 tonnes of citrus fruit to build the floats and historical scenes.
7. The festival showcases the creativity and artistry of the local community.
8. The Lemon Festival commemorates the diverse cultural heritage of Menton.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. How many citrus fruits were used to construct the floats and historical scenes at the Lemon Festival?
2. What is the significance of this year’s Lemon Festival in relation to the Paris Olympics?
3. Besides the sculptures, what other activities and entertainment are offered at the festival?
4. What does the Lemon Festival represent in terms of the cultural heritage of Menton?
5. Why is the Lemon Festival considered a must-see event for visitors to the French Riviera?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How many tonnes of citrus fruit were used to construct the floats and historical scenes at the Lemon Festival?
– About 140 tonnes of citrus fruit were used to construct the floats and historical scenes at the Lemon Festival.

2. What is the expected number of visitors to the Lemon Festival?
– It is expected that up to 200,000 people will visit the Lemon Festival.

3. What is the purpose of the Lemon Festival?
– The purpose of the Lemon Festival is to celebrate the year of the Paris Olympics and showcase the creativity and artistry of the local community.

4. What types of activities and entertainment are offered at the festival?
– The festival offers parades, concerts, street performances, and stalls selling local produce, including citrus fruits, as well as traditional food and drinks.

5. What are some of the items sold at the stalls at the festival?
– Some of the items sold at the stalls at the festival include citrus fruits, as well as traditional food and drinks.

6. What does the Lemon Festival celebrate?
– The Lemon Festival celebrates the year of the Paris Olympics and the rich cultural heritage of Menton.

7. What values do the Olympic Games represent?
– The Olympic Games represent values such as unity, sportsmanship, and excellence.

8. What makes the Lemon Festival in Menton a unique and unforgettable experience?
– The Lemon Festival in Menton is a unique and unforgettable experience because of the giant sculptures made entirely out of lemons and oranges, the vibrant atmosphere created by parades, concerts, and street performances, and the celebration of the town’s cultural heritage.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) event
(2) construct
(3) historical
(4) people
(5) Festival
(6) skill
(7) activities
(8) visitors
(9) addition
(10) local
(11) heritage
(12) preserving
(13) serves
(14) Games
(15) leave
(16) lasting
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Riviera
Answer: (D) A coastal region with a subtropical climate and lush vegetation

2. sculptures
Answer: (E) Three-dimensional artworks created by shaping or combining materials

3. significance
Answer: (O) The importance or meaning of something

4. citrus
Answer: (I) Fruits belonging to the genus Citrus, such as lemons and oranges

5. carnival-style
Answer: (B) Resembling a festive occasion with music, processions, and public entertainment

6. intricate
Answer: (J) Having many complexly arranged elements; detailed

7. dedication
Answer: (F) The quality of being committed and devoted to a task or purpose

8. spectacle
Answer: (L) An event or scene regarded in terms of its visual impact

9. parades
Answer: (N) Processions, especially celebratory ones, involving a large number of people moving through a public place

10. stalls
Answer: (G) Booths or stands where goods are displayed for sale

11. heritage
Answer: (H) The traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation

12. preserving
Answer: (K) The act of maintaining something in its original or existing state

13. unity
Answer: (M) The state of being united or joined as a whole

14. excellence
Answer: (A) The quality of being outstanding or extremely good

15. unforgettable
Answer: (C) So memorable or impressive as to be unlikely to be forgotten
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the Lemon Festival in Menton celebrating this year?
Answer: (d) The year of the Paris Olympics

2. How many citrus fruits were used to construct the floats and historical scenes at the Lemon Festival?
Answer: (b) Nearly 500,000

3. What is one of the main attractions of the Lemon Festival?
Answer: (d) Sculptures made from lemons and oranges

4. What does the Lemon Festival showcase?
Answer: (c) The creativity and artistry of the local community

5. How many people are expected to visit the Lemon Festival?
Answer: (c) Up to 200,000

6. What values do the Olympic Games represent?
Answer: (a) Unity, sportsmanship, and excellence

7. What does the Lemon Festival offer for visitors of all ages?
Answer: (b) Activities and entertainment

8. What does the Lemon Festival celebrate?
Answer: (a) The rich cultural heritage of Menton
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The sculptures made from lemons and oranges capture the spirit and energy of the Olympic Games. (Answer: True)
2. The Lemon Festival in Menton celebrates the year of the Paris Olympics. (Answer: True)
3. There are no parades, concerts, or street performances during the festival. (Answer: False)
4. The festival provides a limited selection of activities and entertainment for visitors of all ages. (Answer: False)
5. The festival combines art, culture, and celebration to create a unique and unforgettable experience. (Answer: True)
6. The festival organizers use approximately 120 tonnes of citrus fruit to build the floats and historical scenes. (Answer: False)
7. The festival showcases the creativity and artistry of the local community. (Answer: True)
8. The Lemon Festival commemorates the diverse cultural heritage of Menton. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧