Unit 4, Grade 8: Our Customs And Traditions – A Closer Look 1

1. Vocabulary

1.1. Task 1 Unit 4 Grade 8

Match the first halves of the sentences (A) with the second halves (B).

(Match the first half of the sentence with the second half of the sentence.)

Guide to answer

1-e

2-d

3-a

4-g

5-b

6-c

7-f

first. Although they are not Christian, the family has the custom of giving presents at Christmas.

(Although they are not Catholic, the family still has the custom of giving gifts at Christmas.)

2. It’s the custom in that country for women to get married in white.

(It is custom in that country for married women to wear white.)

3. According to tradition, the first person to step into your house in the new year should be a man.

(Traditionally, the first person to enter your home on New Year’s Eve should be a man.)

4. There is a tradition in our school that girls should wear ao dai on the first day of school.

(There is a tradition at school that we girls should wear ao dai on the first day of school.)

5. They broke with tradition by making sponge cakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival instead of mooncakes.

(They broke with tradition by making sponge cakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival instead of moon cakes.)

6. Many young people do not follow the tradition of living with their parents.

(Many young people do not follow the tradition of living with their parents.)

7. In my family there is a custom of doing morning exercise at 5 am

(In my family there is a custom of doing morning exercises at 5 o’clock.)

1.2. Task 2 Unit 4 Grade 8

Read the full sentences in 1 again and complete the expressions below.

(Read the full sentences in part 1 again and complete the expressions below.)

Guide to answer

first. it’s the custom for somebody to do something

(custom is for someone to do something)

2. there’s a tradition that + clause

(have a tradition + clause)

3. according to to tradition, + clause

(traditionally + clause)

4. follow the tradition of doing something

(traditionally by doing what?))

5. break with tradition by doing something

(break tradition by doing what?))

6. have the custom of doing something

(What is the custom?))

7. there is a custom of doing something

(is there a custom of doing?))

1.3. Task 3 Unit 4 Grade 8

Read the following customs and traditions. make sentences to say if you have these in your province or area, using any of the expression in 2. Remember to change the verb tense if necessary. (Read the following customs and traditions. Make sentences to say if they are still in your province, using any of the idioms in part 2. Remember to change the tense of the verb if necessary.)

According to tradition, we have fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

My area broke with tradition by not having firecrackers on New Year’s Eve.

There’s a tradition in our province of having fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Translated:

Traditionally, we have fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

My area breaks with tradition by not setting off firecrackers on New Year’s Eve.

There is a tradition in our province to set off fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Guide to answer

first. It’s the custom to wait until the guests finish eating before leaving the dinner table.

(It is customary to wait until the guests have finished eating before leaving the table.)

3. There is a tradition for children to greet the elder.

(There is a tradition for children to pan adults.)

4. According to the tradition, people decorate their houses on Tet holiday.

(Traditionally, people decorate their homes on New Year’s Day.)

5. Women break the tradition of shaking stranger’s hands.

(Women break tradition when shaking hands with strangers.)

1.4. Task 4 Unit 4 Grade 8

Now complete the following sentences with your own ideas. (Complete the following sentences with your own ideas.)

Guide to answer

first. It’s the custom in my country that family members get together on Tet holiday.

(It is custom in my country when family members gather on Tet.)

2. We broke the tradition by not making Chung cake on Tet holiday.

(We break tradition by not making banh chung on Tet.)

3. There is a tradition in my family that we always have dinner at night together.

(There is a tradition in my family that we always have dinner together.)

4. We have a custom of having breakfast at 6.30.

(We have a custom of having breakfast at 6.30.)

5. According to tradition, adults give lucky money to children on Tet holiday.

(Traditionally, adults give money to children on New Year’s Day.)

2. Pronunciation

2.1. Task 5 Unit 4 Grade 8

Complete the words under the pictures with spr or str. Then listen and repeat. (Complete the words under the pictures with /spr/ and /str/. Then listen and repeat.)

Click to listen

Guide to answer

1. straw (straw)	2. street (road)
3. spring (spring)	4. spray (spray)
5. astronaut (astronaut)	6. frustrated (angry)
7. espresso (espresso coffee)	8. newsprint (newsprint)

2.2. Task 6 Unit 4 Grade 8

Listen and circle the words with /spr/ and underline the words with /str/. Then say the sententences.(Listen and circle the words with /spr/ and underline the words with /str/. Then read the sentences.)

Click to listen

Guide to answer

first. In my family, all the traditions of our ancestors are right followed.

(In my family all the traditions of our ancestors are strictly followed.)

2. The custom of saying hello to lol has spread through our community.

(The custom of saying hello to strangers has spread throughout our community.)

3. In our district, it’s the custom for residents to sweep the streets on Saturday mornings.

(In our district, it is customary for people to sweep the streets on Saturday mornings.)

4. That filmstrip really highlight our customs and traditions.

(The video really highlights our customs and traditions.)

5. Parents usually want their offspring to follow the family traditions.

(Parents often want their children to follow family traditions.)

3. Practice Task 1

Choose the letter A, B, C or D the word that has different stress pattern from others.

Question 1: A. clockwise B. hostess C. reflect D. table

Question 2: A. informal B. belongings C. society D. generation

4. Practice Task 2

Choose the letter A, B, C or D the word that has the underlined part different from others.

Question 1: A. social B. host C. spot D. cold

Question 2: A. uUnity B. unique C. upwards D. music

5. Conclusion

Through this lesson, you need to complete the exercises and pronounce them correctly /spr/ and /str/. You also need to remember a few words:

• custom /ˈkʌstəm/ custom, custom
• christian /ˈkrɪstʃən/ christian
• stranger /ˈstreɪndʒə(r)/ stranger
• offspring /ˈɒfsprɪŋ/ descendants
• spread /spread/ spread