QUEEN QUIZ

On the occasion of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee, here is a quiz that you might enjoy:

 

1. The Queen's full name is Elizabeth - - - - - - - - - Mary - - - - - - - .

2. She now resides mainly at - - - - - - - Castle.

3. She had a sister called - - - - - - - - .

4. Her husband was Prince Philip, Duke of - - - - - - - - - .

5. Her eldest son and heir apparent to the throne is Charles, Prince of - - - - - and Duke of
- - - - - - - - .

6. The Queen is a - - - - - - - - - - - - - - monarch.

7. She is Queen of the United - - - - - - - and the Commonwealth - - - - - - .

8. She has reigned for - - years and is now celebrating her - - - - - - - - Jubilee.

9. She became Queen in 1952 but was crowned in - - - - (year).

10. She was crowned in - - - - - - - - - - - Abbey.

11. Her first Prime Minister was Sir Winston - - - - - - - - - .

12. - - (number) Prime Ministers have served during her reign.

13. During the Second World War she served in the British military and qualified as a - - - - - - - - .

14. Her favourite dogs are - - - - - - and - - - - - - .

15. At Christmas she speaks to the people on radio and television and this broadcast is called “The Queen's Christmas - - - - - - -” .

16. At the annual State Opening of Parliament she reads a speech called “The Queen's Speech” but it is written by the - - - - - / - - - - - - - - .

17. The Royal - - - - - - - - is a flag (different from the Union Jack, which is the flag of the UK) depicting symbols of the United Kingdom and is flown on buildings such as Buckingham Palace when the Queen is there, on buildings while she is visiting them and on her car or plane. This flag is never flown at half-mast because it represents the continuity of the monarchy.

18. The annual military parade held in London to celebrate the monarch's official birthday is called “The - - - - - - - - of the Colour”.

19. If you meet the Queen and she speaks to you, you address her as “- - - - / - - - - - - -” in your first reply and after that as “- - ' - -”.

20. She was escorted to the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony by “- - - - - / - - - -” in a helicopter. Then she parachuted into the arena (but not really!)

Highlight the space below for answers:

1. Alexandra, Windsor  2. Windsor  3. Margaret  4. Edinburgh  5. Wales, Cornwall  6. constitutional  7. Kingdom, realms  8. 70 Platinum  9. 1953  10. Westminster  11. Churchill  12. fourteen  13. mechanic  14. corgis, dorgis  15. Message  16. Prime Minister  17. Standard  18. Trooping  19. Your Majesty, ma'am 20. James Bond

Happy Platinum Jubilee, Your Majesty! 

MORE PORTMANTEAU WORDS

 In 2016 I wrote about portmanteau words but last week, everybody in Sicily was using one that most of us hadn't heard before. It was Medicane, a blend of the English words Mediterranean and hurricane. In parts of Sicily, its effects were devastating but today we are thinking about the word.

A portmanteau word is a blend of two words, with at least one of them being shortened.

Can you work out which words form the following portmanteau words?

1. podcast

2. smog

3. frenemy

4. emoticon

5. internet

Highlight the space after the numbers for the answers:

1. ipod and broadcast

2. smoke and fog

3. friend and enemy ( A frenemy is a friend who behaves more like an enemy.)

4. emotion and icon

5. international and network

I'm sure you can think of lots more portmanteau words!

HAPPY BURNS NIGHT 2018

Tonight is BURNS NIGHT so at London Town - Centro Linguistico Internazionale we've got Burns quotations, Scottish SHORTBREAD biscuits and books with a Scottish theme. 

HAPPY BURNS NIGHT!

LANGUAGE CENTRE OPEN ALL SUMMER!

A reminder that London Town Modica - Centro Linguistico Internazionale is open all summer!  

Tel: 0932 905642 / 3661196467

Email:  londontownmodica@gmail.com

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

At  London Town, Modica  - Centro Linguistico Internazionale we've been welcoming the autumn by making scary scarecrows! We had to follow English instructions:

Then we followed some more English instructions to make these Halloween cats:

Many thanks to Activity Village for the great ideas.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYBODY!

PORTMANTEAU WORDS

Everybody is talking about Brexit, but do you know what kind of word it is?

It's a portmanteau word - that is, it is made up of elements of two or more words. [Brexit is made up of British and exit, for instance, and refers to Britain's planned exit from the European Union.]  These are different from compound nouns, which are made up of two or more complete words, for example, sitting room.

Can you say which words have been used to form the following portmanteau words? You'll find the answers at the end of the post:

1. brunch
2. email
3. malware
4. Paralympics
5. biopic
6. pob
7. telemarketing
8. vitamin
9. Brangelina
10. Eurasia

Highlight the space below to see the answers:

1. breakfast, lunch
2. electronic, mail
3. malicious, software
4. Parallel, Olympics [they are held at around the same time as, and are connected with, the Olympic Games]
5. biography, picture [a film biography]
6. political, bob [a hairstyle favoured by female politicians]
7. telephone, marketing
8. vital, mineral
9. Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie
10. Europe, Asia

A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY PARTY

At London Town, Modica - Centro Linguistico Internazionale, we had a party yesterday to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 90th birthday. Many thanks to Cicara Caffeteria and Delizie D'Autore.

When the "birthday girl" arrived, our students had some questions for her:

[Cardboard cutout of the Queen]

These included the most important question of all which is, of course, about food!

We hope you had a very happy birthday, Ma'am!

QUEEN QUIZ

To mark the British monarch's 90th birthday this Thursday, here is a quiz about Queen Elizabeth II. You will find the answers at the end of the post.

1.  Queen Elizabeth's given names are

• Mary Elizabeth Charlotte
• Elizabeth Alexandra Mary
• Elizabeth Katherine Maria 

2.  The surname most commonly used by her family is

• Windsor
• Buckingham
• Battenburg

3.  Her sister's name was:

• Margaret Alexandra
• Margaret Rose
• Mary Margaret

4.  The Queen was educated

• at home
• at private school, then university
• at a British state school

5.  During World War II she trained as

• an air traffic controller
• a nurse
• a driver and mechanic

6.  She was preceded as monarch by

• King George VI
• King Edward VIII 
• King George V

7.  The heir to the throne is

• Prince William
• Prince George
• Prince Charles

8.  How many children does the Queen have?

• Two
• Four
• One

9.  Her main official residence is

• Windsor Castle
• Sandringham
• Buckingham Palace

10.  In her position as Queen, she has only three rights.  What are they?

• To be consulted by the Prime Minister, to encourage certain actions and to warn against others. 
• To order the Prime Minister to take certain actions, to refuse to sign certain Acts of Parliament and to declare war.
• To express her opinion directly to the people and to Parliament and to draft Acts of Parliament.

11.

The Queen's Coronation took place in which year?

• 1952
• 1960
• 1953

12.  She was crowned in

• St Paul's Cathedral
• Westminster Abbey
• Westminster Cathedral

13.  In 2012 she celebrated her

• Diamond Jubilee
• Silver Jubilee
• Golden Jubilee

14.  During the 2012 Olympics Ceremony she became

• a great-grandmother
• an empress
• a Bond girl

15.  Why does the Queen have a "real" birthday [21st April] and an official birthday [in June]?

• so that she can have more presents
• because the British weather should be better in June
• because there are more tourists in London in June

16.  If you meet the Queen you should call her

• "Your Royal Highness"
• "Your Majesty" at first, then "Ma'am"
• "Queen Elizabeth"

17.  The Queen wears the Imperial State Crown

• every day
• for all State occasions
• for the State Opening of Parliament

18.  The dogs the Queen likes best are

• corgis
• Yorkshire terriers
• dachshunds

19.  How many State visits abroad has the Queen undertaken in her reign?

• 50
• 224
• 117

20.  Which of the following can the Queen NOT do?

• express a political opinion in public
• vote
• drive a car with no vehicle registration plate [number plate]

Highlight the space below to see the answers:

1.  Elizabeth Alexandra Mary
2.  Senior members of the British Royal Family do not have to use a surname but "Mountbatten-Windsor" or "Windsor" are often used to refer to the family as a whole.  Prince William and Prince Harry often use the surname "Wales" as their father, Prince Charles, is the Prince of Wales.
3.  Margaret Rose
4.  At home.
5.  The Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, trained as a driver and mechanic in the ATS [Auxiliary Territorial Service].
6.  The Queen was preceded by her father, King George VI.
7.  Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
8.  The Queen has four children:  Prince Charles, Prince of Wales;  Princess Anne, Princess Royal;  Prince Andrew, Duke of York;  Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
9.  Buckingham Palace
10.  The Queen's rights are to be consulted by the Prime Minister, to encourage certain actions and to warn against others.
11.  1953
12.  Westminster Abbey
13.  Diamond Jubilee [60 years as Queen].
14.  The Queen famously, and briefly, played the role of a Bond girl with the actor Daniel Craig at Buckingham Palace. She did not jump out of the plane, though!
15.  This is becaue the British weather shoulod be better for parades and ceremonies in June.
16.  You should call the Queen "Your Majesty" at first and then "Ma'am".
17.  British monarchs wear the Imperial State Crown when leaving Wetminster Abbey after their Coronation and for the annual State Opening of Parliament.  It's a very heavy crown!  The monarch is crowned with St Edward's Crown at the Coronation.
18.  Corgis
19.  The Queenn has undertaken117 State visits abroad to date [two of these in her role as Queen of Canada].
20.  The Queen cannot express a political opinion in public or vote.

ST DAVID'S DAY 2016

It's St. David's Day again and here is Miss Katherine Jenkins to sing the Welsh national anthem:

Over at London Town, Modica - Centro Linguistico Internazionale, we've been making some really scary dragons and of course we've got daffodils and Welshcakes!

You can do a quiz to see how much you know about Wales here.

HAPPY ST DAVID'S DAY, EVERYBODY!

CHRISTMAS QUOTES QUIZ

I hope you're all having a wonderful festive season!

Can you match these Christmas quotes [1 - 6] with their sources [a - f]?  The answers are at the end of the quiz.

1. "Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings."

2.  "There are always Uncles at Christmas."

3.  "I heard the bells on Christmas Day,
       Their old, familiar carols play."

4.  "Where the treetops glisten
        and children listen
        to hear sleigh bells in the snow."

5.  " 'One can never have enough socks,' said Dumbledore. 'Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair.  People will insist on giving me books.' "

6.  " 'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents,' grumbled Jo, lying on the rug."

Little Women - 1933 film version

a.  Irving Berlin: White Christmas [song]

b.  Louisa May Alcott: Little Women [novel]

c.  Dylan Thomas:  A Child's Christmas in Wales [fictionalised autobiography]

d.  J:K: Rowling:  Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone [novel]

e.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:  Christmas Bells [poem]

f.  Wonderful Life [film]

Highlight the space below to see the answers:

1f, 2c, 3e, 4a, 5d, 6b.

IS IT YOUR CUP OF TEA?

Is it your cup of tea?

2015 saw the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice in Wonderland.

Can you match these “tea” expressions with their meanings? – Sai abbinare queste espressioni idiomatiche con i loro significati? Riguardano tutti il té!

1.    It’s not my cup of tea

2.    Not for all the tea in China

3.    A storm in a teacup

4.    As good as a chocolate teapot

5.    Put the kettle on

     a. To put water on the hob to boil – fare bollire l’acqua [per il té] nel bollitore

b.    A dramatic reaction to something unimportant – una tempesta in un bicchier d’acqua

c.    I don’t like this type of thing – non è di mio gusto / questa cosa non è per me

d.    Not for any price or reward – a nessun prezzo / per niente al mondo

e.    Useless – inutile / utile come il fumo negli occhi

Have you put the kettle on?

Highlight the space below to see the answers: 

1c, 2d, 3b, 4e, 5a.

CONGRATULATIONS, YOUR MAJESTY

Today Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II becomes the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Previously, the record was held by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria [1819 - 1901].

At London Town, Modica - Centro Linguistico Internazionale we've got cake to celebrate!

Here are some similarities and differences between Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria:

1.  They were both very young when they came to the throne.  Queen Victoria was 18 and Queen Elizabeth II was 25.

2.  Queen Victoria was very much in love with her husband, Prince Albert and Queen Elizabeth II remains very much in love with her husband, Prince Philip.

3.  Queen Victoria had a lonely childhood and her mother was strict. Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, Princess Margaret, had a very happy childhood.

4.  Queen Victoria's only job was being Queen! Queen Elizabeth II, as Princess Elizabeth, served in the ATS [the then women's branch of the British Army] during World War II.

5.  Queen Victoria had nine children and Queen Elizabeth II has four.

6.  Both queens were educated at home.

7.  Both queens survived assassination attempts.

Queen Victoria

8.  Queen Victoria's reign saw the Industrial Revolution in Britain;  Queen Elizabeth's reign has seen the Technological and Digital Revolutions.

9.  During Queen Victoria's reign, the British Empire expanded. The reign of Queen Elizabeth II has seen its end but many of Britain's former colonies are now members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

10.  Queen Victoria only travelled in Europe and often these were private visits. Queen Elizabath II, however, has visited 126 countries, 116 of these on official trips.

11. Queen Victoria loved, and Queen Elizabeth II continues to love, Scotland.

12. Both queens celebrated diamond jubilees, Queen Victoria in 1897 and Queen Elizabeth II in 2012.

SUMMER OFFERS 2015

Se sei a Modica, chiama il Centro ora!  Call the Centre now!

A DOGGY STORY

Some of you may be surprised to know that the talent show Britain's Got Talent was won, this year, not by a singer or rock group but by a dog and his trainer. If you watch the video of the winning performance, however, I think you'll see why!

Here is an exercise based on the story told in that performance.  Complete the text with the words listed underneath it. You will find the answers at the bottom of the page:

A DOGGY STORY

One day, a dog ______ some ______ from a ______ shop.  A policewoman ______ him.  She ______  him and ______ him to the police station but the dog ______ .  Then the dog ______  with a traffic cone and hid* in a ______ .  The dog _____ the _______  to the policewoman and called his ______ , a dog with three ______ .  The sausages were a ______ for his friend!  Now the policewoman ______ the dog.

searched

loves 

sausages [x2] 

legs 

gave

friend 

butcher’s  

saw

bin** 

escaped 

gift

took

stole

played

* hid - past simple of hide = nascondersi

** bin = contenitore per rifiuti

Click the space below to see the answers:

stole, sausages, butcher's, saw, searched, escaped, played, bin, gave, sausages, friend, legs, gift, loves.

Welcome to the world, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge!  The baby princess is a sister for Prince George and fourth in the line of succession to the British throne.

Here is a royal baby wordsearch for you:

ROYAL BABY WORDSEARCH

Z S R E X M E E M R P N E R J 
D N T A L T A B O R N V T E G 
I O G H A I C I I G H V U O S 
T I B K R A Z N L Z H N L U D 
Z T Q A Z O C A F L O U A A S 
C A F U I E N J B I I F S T C 
G L V W S R M E S E N W R C A 
E U Y S Y K H S P X T K A P M 
O T B N S S E N H G I H H A B 
R A A A D C H A R L O T T E R 
G R B I C S I S T E R H I H I 
E G A U Y B A B M U Y I E U D 
P N S L A Y O R O O Z J E R G 
A O D N S Q F F S Y S Y Y H E 
C C Z I J N U V M O W K N G M 

BABY
BORN
CAMBRIDGE
CHARLOTTE
CONGRATULATIONS
DIANA
ELIZABETH
FOURTH
GEORGE
HEIR*
HER
HIGHNESS
KATE
PRINCESS
ROYAL
SALUTE**
SISTER
SUCCESSION
THRONE
WILLIAM

*heir = erede

** Gun salutes are normally fired in London to mark the birth of a royal baby.

A KING'S REBURIAL

This is a simplified version of the story of King Richard III of England. Can you put the verbs [in brackets] into the past simple tense? Answers are at the end of the post.

King Richard III

King Richard III [be] an English king who [live] from 1452 – 1485. He [become] King on 26^th June 1483.

The white rose of York

Richard [be] a brave soldier and he [take] part in the Wars of the Roses.  These [be] battles for the throne of England between the House of York, which [use] the white rose as its symbol and the House of Lancaster, which [have] the red rose as its symbol.  Richard [belong] to the House of York.

The red rose of Lancaster

Henry Tudor [defeat] Richard at the Battle of Bosworth and Richard [die]. He [be] the last king of England to die in battle.  Henry Tudor then [take] the throne as King Henry VII.

King Henry VII

William Shakespeare [write] a play about Richard III and [portray] him as an ugly, deformed and evil man who [kill] his own nephews to obtain the throne. But Shakespeare [write] for the court of Queen Elizabeth I, a Tudor, so this representation of Richard may not be true.

Willian Shakespeare 

In 2012 archaeologists [find] Richard's skeleton under a car park in Leicester. Scientists at the University of Leicester [test] the DNA and [match] it to the DNA of two of Richard’s descendants.They [confirm] that the body was Richard’s.

On Sunday 22^nd March 2015 a procession [carry] Richard’s remains from the University of Leicester past Bosworth Field to Leicester Cathedral.  People [throw] white roses on the coffin.  Richard [receive] the burial of an English king in Leicester Cathedral on 26th March 2015,  530 years after his death.

The Queen [not attend] the funeral service.   She [send] Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

Highlight the space below to see the correct past simple tense forms:

was, lived, became, was, took, were, used, had, belonged, defeated, died, was, took, wrote, portrayed, killed, wrote, found, tested, matched, confirmed, carried, threw, received, did not / didn't attend, sent.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY WORDSEARCH

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CELEBRATE	DAY	EMPOWERMENT
EQUALITY	HAPPEN	HASHTAG
INTERNATIONAL	MAKE	MARCH
MATTEI	NATIONS	OPPORTUNITY
PURPLE	RIGHTS	SOLIDARITY
TERESA	UNITED	VOTE
WOMEN

Notes:

The UN theme for International Women's Day 2015 is empowerment.

The social media hashtag for the day is #makeithappen .

It was the Italian activist Teresa Mattei who suggested the mimosa flower as a symbol for International Women's day, as it blooms at this time of year and is easy to find.

Purple was one of the colours used by the suffragettes [campaigners for votes for women] in Britain. It was adopted as a symbol of dignity. Some people in Britain wear purple ribbons on International Women's Day.