A store in Japan called Takashimaya said sorry because they sent out 807 bad Christmas cakes. These cakes had strawberries on them and were supposed to be special for Christmas. People who got the bad cakes put pictures on the internet to show how the cakes were smashed. The store felt bad and said it was their fault, but they don’t know why the cakes were ruined.

Even though not many people in Japan are Christians, they still like to celebrate Christmas. They give each other presents and have special food. One of the favorite foods is a cake with strawberries that are red and white, the colors of a party. The store sold these cakes for about $38, but some people got cakes that didn’t look good. The strawberries and cream were all messed up.

The store is very sorry about the bad cakes and wants to make sure it doesn’t happen again. They sent out almost 3,000 cakes, but a lot of them were not okay. The store is going to work better with the people who make and send the cakes. They want everyone to be happy with their Christmas cakes next time.

Original news source: Japan: Takashimaya apologises for 807 collapsed Christmas cakes (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small teams. Give each team a slip of paper with a word related to the article (e.g. cake, strawberry, Christmas) written on it. One student from each team will come to the front and act out the word without speaking, while their teammates try to guess what the word is.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students take turns summarizing the article to their partner. They should try to include the main points and key details. After both partners have had a chance to summarize, they can compare their summaries and discuss any differences.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: As a class, create a list of questions related to the article (e.g. Do you like strawberry cake? How do you celebrate Christmas?). Students will go around the room and ask their classmates the questions, recording their answers. Afterward, they can share their findings with the class and discuss any interesting responses.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. store, Christmas, cake). One student from each group will choose a word and draw a picture to represent it, while their teammates try to guess the word. The group with the most correct guesses wins.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have students think individually about the following question: “What would you do if you received a bad Christmas cake?” After a few minutes, they can pair up with a partner and share their ideas. Finally, as a class, discuss some of the different responses and reasons behind them.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did the store in Japan called Takashimaya do wrong?
2. What did people do when they got the bad cakes?
3. Why did the store feel bad?
4. How do people in Japan celebrate Christmas, even if they are not Christians?
5. What is one of the favorite foods during Christmas in Japan?
6. How much did the store sell the cakes for?
7. What is the store going to do to make sure the bad cakes don’t happen again?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A store in Japan (1)______ Takashimaya (2)______ sorry because they sent out 807 bad (3)______ cakes. These cakes had strawberries on them and were supposed to be special for Christmas. People who got the bad cakes put pictures on the internet to show how the cakes were smashed. The store felt bad and said it was their fault, but they don’t know why the (4)______ were (5)______.

Even though not many people in Japan are Christians, they still like to celebrate Christmas. They give each other presents and have special (6)______. One of the favorite foods is a cake with strawberries that are red and white, the (7)______ of a party. The store sold these cakes for about $38, but some people got cakes that didn’t look good. The strawberries and cream were all (8)______ up.

The store is very (9)______ about the bad cakes and wants to (10)______ sure it doesn’t happen again. They sent out almost 3,000 cakes, but a lot of them were not (11)______. The store is going to work better with the people who make and send the cakes. They want everyone to be (12)______ with their Christmas cakes next time.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a Christmas cake?
2. How would you feel if you received a bad cake for a special occasion?
3. Do you like celebrating Christmas? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever had a cake that didn’t look good? How did you feel?
5. What is your favorite food to eat during a special celebration?
6. Do you think it’s important for stores to apologize when they make a mistake? Why or why not?
7. How do you think the people who received the bad cakes felt?
8. Have you ever had a bad experience with a store? What happened?
9. What do you think the store should do to make sure this doesn’t happen again?
10. How do you think the store can work better with the people who make and send the cakes?
11. What would you do if you received a bad cake as a gift?
12. Why do you think the store wants everyone to be happy with their Christmas cakes next time?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Takashimaya
2. apologized
3. contaminated
4. internet
5. fault
6. Christians
7. celebrate
8. presents
9. approximately
10. ruined
11. ensure
12. cooperate

Meanings:
(A) Dirty or having something bad in it that can make you sick
(B) To make sure something is done right
(C) Said they were sorry
(D) About or close to a certain number or amount
(E) When something is someone’s mistake
(F) Gifts that you give to someone
(G) A big store in Japan
(H) Destroyed or made to look very bad
(I) A place online where you can see pictures and talk to friends
(J) To work together with others
(K) To have a good time because it’s a special day
(L) People who believe in Jesus and the religion based on his teachings
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did Takashimaya apologize?
(a) They ran out of Christmas cakes
(b) They sold the Christmas cakes for too much money
(c) They sent out bad Christmas cakes
(d) They didn’t celebrate Christmas

2. What was special about the Christmas cakes?
(a) They were made of chocolate
(b) They were shaped like Christmas trees
(c) They were free
(d) They had strawberries on them

3. How did people show that the cakes were bad?
(a) They returned the cakes to the store
(b) They ate the cakes and got sick
(c) They posted pictures on the internet
(d) They threw the cakes in the trash

4. Why did the store feel bad?
(a) They made a mistake with the cakes
(b) They didn’t like Christmas
(c) They didn’t sell enough cakes
(d) They didn’t have any cakes left

5. Why do people in Japan celebrate Christmas?
(a) They enjoy giving presents and eating special food
(b) They are all Christians
(c) They like the colors red and white
(d) They want to make the store happy

6. How much did the cakes cost?
(a) About $10
(b) About $100
(c) About $5
(d) About $38

7. What was wrong with the bad cakes?
(a) They were too small
(b) The strawberries and cream were messed up
(c) They were too big
(d) They were too expensive

8. What will the store do to prevent this from happening again?
(a) Stop selling Christmas cakes
(b) Work better with the people who make and send the cakes
(c) Raise the price of the cakes
(d) Celebrate Christmas differently

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. People who received the good cakes posted pictures on the internet to show how they were smashed.
2. Takashimaya is determined to prevent this from happening again and will improve their collaboration with the cake makers and delivery process to ensure everyone is happy with their Christmas cakes next time.
3. The bad cakes had strawberries on them and were supposed to be special for Christmas.
4. The store sold these cakes for about $38, but some people received cakes that looked good, with messed up strawberries and cream.
5. In Japan, even though not many people are Christians, they still like to celebrate Christmas by giving presents and enjoying special food.
6. Takashimaya felt good and took responsibility for the ruined cakes, even though they know why it happened.
7. A store in Japan called Takashimaya sent out 807 bad Christmas cakes and apologized for it.
8. One of the least favorite Christmas foods in Japan is a cake with red and white strawberries, which represent the colors of a party.
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. What happened to the Christmas cakes that were sent out by the store in Japan?
2. How did people show that the cakes were ruined?
3. Do many people in Japan celebrate Christmas?
4. What is one of the favorite foods that people like to eat during Christmas in Japan?
5. What is the store going to do to make sure that the bad cakes don’t happen again?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What did the store in Japan called Takashimaya do wrong?
The store sent out 807 bad Christmas cakes.

2. What did people do when they got the bad cakes?
They put pictures on the internet to show how the cakes were smashed.

3. Why did the store feel bad?
The store felt bad because it was their fault that the cakes were ruined.

4. How do people in Japan celebrate Christmas, even if they are not Christians?
They give each other presents and have special food.

5. What is one of the favorite foods during Christmas in Japan?
One of the favorite foods is a cake with strawberries that are red and white.

6. How much did the store sell the cakes for?
The store sold the cakes for about $38.

7. What is the store going to do to make sure the bad cakes don’t happen again?
The store is going to work better with the people who make and send the cakes to ensure that everyone is happy with their Christmas cakes next time.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) called
(2) said
(3) Christmas
(4) cakes
(5) ruined
(6) food
(7) colors
(8) messed
(9) sorry
(10) make
(11) okay
(12) happy
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Takashimaya
Answer: (G) A big store in Japan

2. apologized
Answer: (C) Said they were sorry

3. contaminated
Answer: (A) Dirty or having something bad in it that can make you sick

4. internet
Answer: (I) A place online where you can see pictures and talk to friends

5. fault
Answer: (E) When something is someone’s mistake

6. Christians
Answer: (L) People who believe in Jesus and the religion based on his teachings

7. celebrate
Answer: (K) To have a good time because it’s a special day

8. presents
Answer: (F) Gifts that you give to someone

9. approximately
Answer: (D) About or close to a certain number or amount

10. ruined
Answer: (H) Destroyed or made to look very bad

11. ensure
Answer: (B) To make sure something is done right

12. cooperate
Answer: (J) To work together with others
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did Takashimaya apologize?
Answer: (c) They sent out bad Christmas cakes

2. What was special about the Christmas cakes?
Answer: (d) They had strawberries on them

3. How did people show that the cakes were bad?
Answer: (c) They posted pictures on the internet

4. Why did the store feel bad?
Answer: (a) They made a mistake with the cakes

5. Why do people in Japan celebrate Christmas?
Answer: (a) They enjoy giving presents and eating special food

6. How much did the cakes cost?
Answer: (d) About $38

7. What was wrong with the bad cakes?
Answer: (b) The strawberries and cream were messed up

8. What will the store do to prevent this from happening again?
Answer: (b) Work better with the people who make and send the cakes
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. People who received the good cakes posted pictures on the internet to show how they were smashed. (Answer: False)
2. Takashimaya is determined to prevent this from happening again and will improve their collaboration with the cake makers and delivery process to ensure everyone is happy with their Christmas cakes next time. (Answer: True)
3. The bad cakes had strawberries on them and were supposed to be special for Christmas. (Answer: True)
4. The store sold these cakes for about $38, but some people received cakes that looked good, with messed up strawberries and cream. (Answer: False)
5. In Japan, even though not many people are Christians, they still like to celebrate Christmas by giving presents and enjoying special food. (Answer: True)
6. Takashimaya felt good and took responsibility for the ruined cakes, even though they know why it happened. (Answer: False)
7. A store in Japan called Takashimaya sent out 807 bad Christmas cakes and apologized for it. (Answer: True)
8. One of the least favorite Christmas foods in Japan is a cake with red and white strawberries, which represent the colors of a party. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧