The Lemon Festival in the town of Menton, on the French Riviera, is celebrating the year of the Paris Olympics by making huge sculptures of athletes out of lemons and oranges. This year’s festival is extra special because they’re using about 140 tonnes of citrus fruit, which is almost 500,000 fruits, to make the floats and historical scenes. They’re expecting around 200,000 people to come to the two-week event, which is like a big carnival.

The Lemon Festival is a really cool celebration that shows off how creative and artistic the local community is. The sculptures made from lemons and oranges are amazing and really capture the spirit and energy of the Olympic Games. When you go to the festival, you can see these incredible creations and be amazed by the hard work and talent that goes into making them.

The festival isn’t just about looking at sculptures, though. There are lots of things to do for people of all ages. They have parades, concerts, and street performances that make the whole town feel alive and festive. You can also buy local fruits, like lemons and oranges, as well as traditional food and drinks from the stalls.

The Lemon Festival is a great way for both locals and tourists to come together and celebrate the special culture of Menton. It shows how much the town cares about its traditions and wants to share its unique identity with others. The festival also reminds us of how important the Olympic Games are and the values they stand for, like working together, being fair, and doing your best. If you’re ever in the French Riviera, you definitely don’t want to miss the Lemon Festival. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that combines art, culture, and having a good time.

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:

– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article individually or in pairs. Then, ask them to write a summary of the article, focusing on the main points and key details. Afterward, have students share their summaries with the class and discuss any differences or similarities.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into groups. In each group, assign one student to be the moderator. The moderator will ask the other group members questions about the Lemon Festival, such as “Do you think the Lemon Festival is a unique event?” or “Would you like to attend the Lemon Festival? Why or why not?” Each group member should express their opinions and the moderator should record their responses. Afterward, the groups can share their findings and discuss any interesting or contrasting opinions.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Prepare a list of vocabulary words from the article, such as “sculptures,” “citrus fruit,” “parades,” and “traditions.” Divide the class into pairs or small groups and give each group a set of vocabulary words. In turns, one student from each group should choose a word and draw a picture to represent it while their group members try to guess the word. The group that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group to list the pros of attending the Lemon Festival and the other group to list the cons. After a few minutes, have each group present their lists to the class. Encourage a discussion and debate, allowing students to express their opinions and counterarguments.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask students to imagine they are attending the Lemon Festival in the future, perhaps 10 years from now. Have them write a short paragraph describing what they think the festival will be like in the future. They can include details about the sculptures, activities, and atmosphere. Afterward, have students share their predictions with a partner or in small groups and discuss the similarities and differences in their ideas.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the Lemon Festival in Menton celebrating this year?
2. How many citrus fruits are being used to make the sculptures and floats?
3. How many people are expected to attend the festival?
4. What does the Lemon Festival show about the local community?
5. What can you see at the festival besides sculptures?
6. What can you buy at the stalls at the Lemon Festival?
7. What does the festival show about the town of Menton?
8. What values do the Olympic Games represent?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The Lemon Festival in the town of Menton, on the French Riviera, is celebrating the year of the (1)______ Olympics by making huge sculptures of athletes out of lemons and oranges. This year’s festival is extra (2)______ because they’re (3)______ about 140 tonnes of citrus (4)______, which is almost 500,000 fruits, to make the floats and historical scenes. They’re expecting around 200,000 people to come to the two-week event, which is like a big carnival.

The Lemon Festival is a really cool celebration that shows off how creative and artistic the local community is. The sculptures made from (5)______ and oranges are amazing and really capture the spirit and energy of the (6)______ Games. When you go to the (7)______, you can see these (8)______ creations and be amazed by the hard work and talent that goes into making them.

The festival isn’t just about looking at sculptures, though. There are lots of things to do for (9)______ of all ages. They have parades, concerts, and street performances that make the whole town feel (10)______ and (11)______. You can also buy (12)______ fruits, like lemons and oranges, as well as traditional food and drinks from the stalls.

The Lemon Festival is a great way for both locals and tourists to come together and celebrate the special culture of Menton. It shows how much the town cares about its traditions and wants to share its (13)______ identity with others. The festival also (14)______ us of how important the Olympic Games are and the values they stand for, like working together, being fair, and (15)______ your best. If you’re ever in the French Riviera, you definitely don’t want to miss the Lemon Festival. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that combines art, culture, and (16)______ a good time.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is the Lemon Festival and why is it special this year?
2. How would you feel if you saw sculptures made out of lemons and oranges?
3. Do you like the idea of using fruits to create art? Why or why not?
4. What do you think makes the Lemon Festival a cool celebration?
5. Have you ever been to a festival that showcases art? How was your experience?
6. How do you think the Lemon Festival brings the community together?
7. Do you enjoy parades, concerts, and street performances? Why or why not?
8. Have you ever tried traditional food and drinks at a festival? What did you think?
9. Why do you think it’s important for towns to celebrate their traditions?
10. Do you think it’s important to share your culture with others? Why or why not?
11. What values do you think the Olympic Games represent?
12. Have you ever attended a unique event or festival? What was it like?
13. How do you think art and culture can bring people together?
14. Would you like to visit the Lemon Festival? Why or why not?
15. What other festivals or events would you like to attend in the future? Why?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. sculptures
2. carnival
3. citrus
4. parades
5. performances
6. festive
7. stalls
8. tourists
9. traditions
10. identity
11. values
12. fair
13. Riviera
14. unique
15. combines

Meanings:
(A) A coastal area known for its beauty and mild climate
(B) Shows where actors, musicians, or dancers perform for an audience
(C) Important beliefs or ideas that guide behavior
(D) Fruits like lemons and oranges that have a sour taste
(E) A big public party with music, dancing, and often costumes
(F) Bringing different things or activities together into one experience
(G) Art pieces made by shaping or combining materials
(H) Small booths or stands where goods are sold
(I) Full of celebration and joy
(J) People who travel to places for pleasure
(K) Who you are, especially in relation to your culture or community
(L) The beliefs and ways of doing things that have been passed down through generations
(M) Treating everyone equally and without bias
(N) Being the only one of its kind; not like anything else
(O) Large public processions, often with music and colorful decorations
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

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

2. How many tonnes of citrus fruit are being used to make the sculptures and floats?
(a) About 140 tonnes
(b) About 500,000 tonnes
(c) About 200,000 tonnes
(d) About 1 million tonnes

3. Approximately how many people are expected to attend the Lemon Festival?
(a) Around 500,000 people
(b) Around 140,000 people
(c) Around 1 million people
(d) Around 200,000 people

4. What is one of the main attractions of the Lemon Festival?
(a) The sculptures made from lemons and oranges
(b) The parades and street performances
(c) The traditional food and drinks
(d) The opportunity to buy local fruits

5. What does the Lemon Festival celebrate about the town of Menton?
(a) Its historical landmarks
(b) Its creative and artistic community
(c) Its famous beaches
(d) Its local cuisine

6. What values do the Olympic Games stand for?
(a) Winning at all costs
(b) Individual achievement above all else
(c) Working together, being fair, and doing your best
(d) Cheating and dishonesty

7. What can visitors to the Lemon Festival buy from the stalls?
(a) Handmade crafts and souvenirs
(b) Clothing and accessories
(c) Electronics and gadgets
(d) Local fruits, like lemons and oranges, as well as traditional food and drinks

8. How would you describe the Lemon Festival?
(a) A small local event with limited attractions
(b) A one-of-a-kind experience that combines art, culture, and having a good time
(c) A religious festival with traditional ceremonies
(d) A sports competition for athletes from around the world

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The festival reminds us of the importance of the Olympic Games and their values.
2. The festival uses about 140 kilograms of citrus fruit, which is almost 500 fruits.
3. The Lemon Festival gathers locals and tourists to criticize the culture of Menton.
4. The Lemon Festival in Menton, France, is celebrating the year of the Paris Olympics.
5. The Lemon Festival is an ordinary experience that combines art, culture, and fun.
6. Visitors can buy local fruits and traditional food and drinks at the festival.
7. The festival offers more than just sculptures, with parades, concerts, and street performances.
8. The sculptures made from lemons and oranges depict the spirit and energy of the Olympic Games.
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 is the Lemon Festival in Menton?
2. How are the sculptures at the Lemon Festival made?
3. What can people do at the Lemon Festival besides looking at sculptures?
4. Why is the Lemon Festival important for the town of Menton?
5. What values do the Olympic Games represent?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the Lemon Festival in Menton celebrating this year?
The Lemon Festival in Menton is celebrating the year of the Paris Olympics.

2. How many citrus fruits are being used to make the sculptures and floats?
About 140 tonnes of citrus fruit, which is almost 500,000 fruits, are being used to make the sculptures and floats.

3. How many people are expected to attend the festival?
Around 200,000 people are expected to attend the festival.

4. What does the Lemon Festival show about the local community?
The Lemon Festival shows how creative and artistic the local community is.

5. What can you see at the festival besides sculptures?
Besides sculptures, you can see parades, concerts, and street performances at the festival.

6. What can you buy at the stalls at the Lemon Festival?
At the stalls at the Lemon Festival, you can buy local fruits like lemons and oranges, as well as traditional food and drinks.

7. What does the festival show about the town of Menton?
The festival shows that the town of Menton cares about its traditions and wants to share its unique identity with others.

8. What values do the Olympic Games represent?
The Olympic Games represent values like working together, being fair, and doing your best.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Paris
(2) special
(3) using
(4) fruit
(5) lemons
(6) Olympic
(7) festival
(8) incredible
(9) people
(10) alive
(11) festive
(12) local
(13) unique
(14) reminds
(15) doing
(16) having
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. sculptures
Answer: (G) Art pieces made by shaping or combining materials

2. carnival
Answer: (E) A big public party with music, dancing, and often costumes

3. citrus
Answer: (D) Fruits like lemons and oranges that have a sour taste

4. parades
Answer: (O) Large public processions, often with music and colorful decorations

5. performances
Answer: (B) Shows where actors, musicians, or dancers perform for an audience

6. festive
Answer: (I) Full of celebration and joy

7. stalls
Answer: (H) Small booths or stands where goods are sold

8. tourists
Answer: (J) People who travel to places for pleasure

9. traditions
Answer: (L) The beliefs and ways of doing things that have been passed down through generations

10. identity
Answer: (K) Who you are, especially in relation to your culture or community

11. values
Answer: (C) Important beliefs or ideas that guide behavior

12. fair
Answer: (M) Treating everyone equally and without bias

13. Riviera
Answer: (A) A coastal area known for its beauty and mild climate

14. unique
Answer: (N) Being the only one of its kind; not like anything else

15. combines
Answer: (F) Bringing different things or activities together into one experience
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

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

2. How many tonnes of citrus fruit are being used to make the sculptures and floats?
Answer: (a) About 140 tonnes

3. Approximately how many people are expected to attend the Lemon Festival?
Answer: (d) Around 200,000 people

4. What is one of the main attractions of the Lemon Festival?
Answer: (a) The sculptures made from lemons and oranges

5. What does the Lemon Festival celebrate about the town of Menton?
Answer: (b) Its creative and artistic community

6. What values do the Olympic Games stand for?
Answer: (c) Working together, being fair, and doing your best

7. What can visitors to the Lemon Festival buy from the stalls?
Answer: (d) Local fruits, like lemons and oranges, as well as traditional food and drinks

8. How would you describe the Lemon Festival?
Answer: (b) A one-of-a-kind experience that combines art, culture, and having a good time
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The festival reminds us of the importance of the Olympic Games and their values. (Answer: True)
2. The festival uses about 140 kilograms of citrus fruit, which is almost 500 fruits. (Answer: False)
3. The Lemon Festival gathers locals and tourists to criticize the culture of Menton. (Answer: False)
4. The Lemon Festival in Menton, France, is celebrating the year of the Paris Olympics. (Answer: True)
5. The Lemon Festival is an ordinary experience that combines art, culture, and fun. (Answer: False)
6. Visitors can buy local fruits and traditional food and drinks at the festival. (Answer: True)
7. The festival offers more than just sculptures, with parades, concerts, and street performances. (Answer: True)
8. The sculptures made from lemons and oranges depict the spirit and energy of the Olympic Games. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧