COMPARING SEASONS “Despite the forecast, live life like it’s spring.” Discussion Questions Discuss the following questions with your teacher and classmates. 1. Compare the four seasons. 2. What is spring known for? 3. Do you do spring or winter cleaning? (This varies according to country) 4. How does the rain make you feel? 5. What is ideal weather for you? 6. Do you prefer to be indoors or outdoors? 7. What season is the best and why? In Your Own Words Write a sentence with each of the expressions below. 1. To spring something on someone Meaning: to suddenly tell or ask someone something when they do not expect it Example: It’s not fair to spring this on Kenny without any warning. 2. Spring fever Meaning: any change in mood or behavior which is related to spring Example: I think I have spring fever. I woke up at 5 am this morning and went for a run! © www.pocketpassport.com Page | 1-8 MATCHING Match the words on the left with the meanings on the right. 1 ideal (adj) A unpleasant and rough; severe 2 prefer (v) B small in degree 3 fade (v) C the model or standard of something perfect 4 slight (adj) D extremely hot 5 harsh (adj) E comfortable 6 searing (adj) F to lose strength, brightness, or color 7 comfy (adj) G brightness caused by light 8 shine (v) H to want or like one thing more than another © www.pocketpassport.com Page | 2-8 Watch the following YouTube Video and answer the questions below: https://youtu.be/1k9-8tFmk0E 1 How does Cindy describe the weather? 2 According to Cindy, what’s the best part about spring? 3 Once the weather starts to warm up, what don’t we need anymore? 4 What can we enjoy as the chill of winter fades? What does Bob like about fall and winter? 5 What does Cindy love about spring and summer? 6 How does Cindy describe the seasons that are on either side of spring? 7 What do spring temperatures help us enjoy? 8 Why does Bob prefer winter over summer? What does he like to do when it isn’t too hot? © www.pocketpassport.com Page | 3-8 Speaking Activity Use the illustrations to talk about and retell the conversation and Compare Seasons. Word Bank ideal | prefer | fade | slight | harsh searing | comfy | shine | fluffy | sing © www.pocketpassport.com Page | 4-8 MISSING WORDS Watch the video again and complete the sentences. Cindy: It’s a beautiful day, don’t you think? The sun is shining with a ………………………..1 I love spring. There are more sunny hours in the day, the flowers are starting to ………………………2 … but the best part is that we can actually feel the warmth on our skin. No more heavy jackets and winter hats. As the chill of winter ………………………3, we can enjoy the ……………………………4 by leaving the windows open. I love it! Bob: Well, I actually prefer fall and winter. I love all the colors of fall as the leaves change and fall from the trees, and I really don’t mind the cold when winter arrives. Cindy: I guess everyone has their favorite seasons. I just love to see all the plants flowering, butterflies, and hear the birds singing in spring and summer. It gives me a happy feeling. Spring comes in between two ……………………..5 seasons – harsh winter and ……………………………6 summer. Spring brings us ideal temperatures so that we can enjoy outdoor activities and the best part … we can still enjoy ……………………….7 evenings curled in a fluffy blanket. Bob: Not being too hot makes me happy. It is easier to keep warm in winter, than cool in summer. …………………….8 in my part of the world. Where it snows it may be different. Cindy: Don’t you enjoy the …………………….9, going to the beach, having barbecues, etc? Bob: Sometimes of course, but I prefer it when it is not too hot, so I don’t get …………………….10 You can have a barbecue anytime really. © www.pocketpassport.com Page | 5-8 Discussion Questions Discuss the following questions with your teacher and classmates. 1 How do you feel about spring? Why? 2 Do you prefer cold and snowy winter or the weather in spring? 3 In your opinion, what’s the best part about spring? 4 Do you like winter sports? 5 What’s the best part about winter? 6 What’s the best part about autumn? © www.pocketpassport.com Page | 6-8 Transcripts Cindy: It’s a beautiful day, don’t you think? The sun is shining with a slight breeze. I love spring. There are more sunny hours in the day, the flowers are starting to bloom… but the best part is that we can actually feel the warmth on our skin. No more heavy jackets and winter hats. As the chill of winter fades, we can enjoy the fresh air by leaving the windows open. I love it! Bob: Well, I actually prefer fall and winter. I love all the colors of fall as the leaves change and fall from the trees, and I really don’t mind the cold when winter arrives. Cindy: I guess everyone has their favorite seasons. I just love to see all the plants flowering, butterflies, and hear the birds singing in spring and summer. It gives me a happy feeling. Spring comes in between two extreme seasons – harsh winter and searing summer. Spring brings us ideal temperatures so that we can enjoy outdoor activities and the best part … we can still enjoy comfy evenings curled in a fluffy blanket. Bob: Not being too hot makes me happy. It is easier to keep warm in winter, than cool in summer. At least in my part of the world. Where it snows it may be different. Cindy: Don’t you enjoy the outdoors, going to the beach, having barbecues etc? Bob: Sometimes of course, but I prefer it when it is not too hot, so I don’t get burned. You can have a barbecue anytime really. © www.pocketpassport.com Page | 7-8 Answer Key Listening 1. It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining with a slight breeze. 2. We can feel the warmth on our skin. 3. We don’t need heavy jackets and winter hats. 4. We can enjoy the fresh air by leaving the windows open. He loves all of the colors of fall as the leaves change and fall from the trees and doesn’t mind the cold when winter arrives. 6. She loves to see all the plants flowering, butterflies, and hear the birds singing in spring and summer. 7. harsh winter and searing summer 8. They help us enjoy outdoor activities and still enjoy comfy evenings curled in a fluffy blanket. 9. It is easier to keep warm in winter, than cool in summer. 10. He prefers it when it is not too hot, so he doesn’t get burned. Matching 1. C 2. H 3. F 4. B 5. A 6. D 7. E 8. G Missing Words 1. sight breeze 2. bloom 3. fades 4. fresh air 5. extreme 6. searing 7. comfy 8. at least 9. outdoors 10. burned © www.pocketpassport.com Page | 8-8