Moodle in Advanced 2
Happy Halloween!
The Story of Halloween: Ancient Fires, Sacred Rites, and Modern Festivities
Halloween is celebrated (0) annually (ANNUAL) on the 31st of October. While modern perception often frames the occasion as little more than a commercial spectacle—characterised by elaborate costumes, trick-or-treating, and (1)_________ (GLOW) pumpkin lanterns—behind these contemporary festivities lies a complex tapestry spanning over two millennia. Had ancient pagan rituals not intertwined with Christian doctrine, the holiday as we know it today would simply not exist.
1. The Celtic Bedrock: Samhain and the Changing Seasons
The earliest antecedents of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celts, who inhabited parts of what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. Marking the end of the harvest and the onset of a harsh, (2)____________ (FORGIVE) winter, the 1st of November was observed as their New Year. Winter, associated intimately with human mortality, brought with it a profound sense of (3)____________ (BODE).
On the eve of the New Year—the 31st of October—the Celts celebrated Samhain /ˈsɑːwɪn/. It was believed that on this specific night, the boundary separating the physical realm from the spirit world became remarkably (4)_____________ (PERMEATE). Not only were the spirits of the deceased thought to revisit Earth, but their presence was also believed to enable Celtic priests, known as Druids, to make prophecies regarding the coming year.
To appease these wandering entities, massive bonfires were lit by Druids, around which communities gathered to make sacrifices of crops and livestock. (5)____________ (CRUCIAL), participants took to disguising themselves in animal skins and heads—a practice intended to confuse (6)___________ (HARM) spirits and prevent human possession. This ritualistic (7)____________ (CONCEAL) is universally (8)_____________ (KNOWLEDGE) by historians as having been the direct precursor to modern fancy dress.
2. Christianity and Adaptation: The (9)__________ (EMERGE) of Hallowtide
Hardly had the Roman Empire expanded into Celtic territories when traditional customs began undergoing a process of religious (10)______________ (ASSIMILATE). As Christianity gradually swept across Western Europe, church leaders sought to supplant indigenous beliefs without alienating local populations.
In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III officially designated the 1st of November as All Saints' Day (alternatively referred to as All Hallows' Day), a solemn feast intended to honour martyrs and saints. Not long after, the 2nd of November was instituted as All Souls' Day, a time set aside (11)_____________ (SPECIFIC) for praying for the souls of the departed.
By juxtaposing these holy days against Samhain, the Church (12)______________ (SUCCESS) transformed pagan rites into Christian observances. Nevertheless, despite the imposition of a Christian framework, the local population persisted in lighting bonfires and dressing up—proof of how deeply rooted these ancient traditions truly were.
3. Etymological Evolution: How the Word Came to Be
The etymology of the word Halloween is (13)____________ (INTRINSIC) tied to these ecclesiastical developments:
Hallow derives from an Old English adjective meaning "holy" or "sacred," which eventually came to function as a noun denoting a saint.
All Hallows' Day (14)____________ (CONSEQUENCE) signified the feast of all holy individuals.
All Hallows' Even (even being an archaic contraction of evening) was the vigil observed on the eve prior—31st October.
Through centuries of natural sound change, All Hallows' Even was progressively (15)______________ (SHORT) to Hallowe'en, until eventually the internal apostrophe was discarded altogether, yielding the standard modern form: Halloween.
4. Transatlantic Adaptation: The American Melting Pot
It was not until the mid-19th century, driven by widespread famine in Ireland and Scotland, that massive waves of transatlantic migration brought these customs to North America. Upon (16)____________ (ARRIVE), European traditions adapted quickly to local plants and farming conditions.
In their native lands, people had long been accustomed to carving menacing faces into hollowed-out turnips to ward off stray spirits. Finding American pumpkins far more (17)_____________ (ABUNDANCE), softer to carve, and visually striking, the immigrants readily adopted the native squash—thereby giving rise to the modern Jack-o'-lantern.
Ultimately, despite having evolved into a multi-billion-pound global industry centered around (18)______________ (CONSUME), Halloween remains a fascinating study in cultural longevity. Every flicker of a candle within a carved pumpkin is a subtle, (19)______________ (ENDURANCE) echo of the ancient bonfires of Samhain.
Advanced Structures
Inversion (Negative & Restrictive):
"Not only were the spirits of the deceased thought to revisit Earth, but their presence was also believed..."
"Hardly had the Roman Empire expanded into Celtic territories when traditional customs began..."
Advanced Conditionals & Unreal Past:
"Had ancient pagan rituals not intertwined with Christian doctrine, the holiday... would simply not exist." (Third / Mixed Conditional)
Passive Voice & Complex Passive Structures:
"This ritualistic concealment is universally acknowledged by historians as having been the direct precursor..."
"...was instituted as All Souls' Day, a time set aside specifically..."
Gerunds & Infinitives (Complex Forms):
"...acknowledged... as having been the direct precursor..." (Perfect Gerund)
"This practice [was] intended to confuse... and prevent..." (Passive intent + Infinitive)
"Celebrants had long been accustomed to carving..." (Preposition + Gerund)
Discourse Markers & Linking Devices:
Notwithstanding / Consequently / Crucially / Nevertheless / Etymologically speaking / Ultimately / Thereby / Upon arrival.
Advanced Discussion & Analysis Questions
To what extent can modern Halloween be considered a genuine continuation of Samhain, rather than a purely commercial creation?
Analyze how the Christian Church employed syncretism (blending different beliefs) to reshape pagan practices. Was this strategy effective?
What etymological and cultural transformations occurred when European folk traditions crossed the Atlantic in the 19th century?
Ready for CAE p 18. Times Change. Speaking
Useful language
Pictures
Dustcart (Br E) garbage truck (Am E): a vehicle for collecting rubbish / garbage from outside houses, etc
Can: a metal container for food and drink.
Dustman: (also informal: binman; formal: refuse collector; NAmE: garbage man): a person whose job is to remove waste from outside houses, etc
In the old days the radio was called the wireless. You can say for example: I heard it on the wireless.
The whole family gathered round the Radio
In the past people used to listen to the radio. Nowadays we usually watch TV.
They had to tune the radio dial whereas we switch TV channels.
Questions
Our generation has witnessed a significant change.
We are faced with the need to adjust to change.
Younger generations in particular adjust effortlessly. They are used to life at a high-speed.
Some people adapt easily in a shorter period of time.
Sometimes older generations struggle to cope with change.
Since the invention of the internet our lifestyles have changed significantly
The invention of the atomic bomb brought about a dramatic change and not precisely for the better.
Mobile phones have completely transformed our social habits.
Electricity brought far-reaching prosperity. However, the old paradigm can't be sustained.
The invention of the wheel really transformed the world. It immediately led to a sweeping change (having an important effect on a large part of sth)
When people learned to control fire, certain routines changed drastically. For instance they varied their diets.
Ready for CAE p 18. Times Change Photos. Vocabulary
More Vocabulary:
The Grid: a system of electric wires or pipes carrying gas, for sending power over a large area:
the national grid (= the electricity supply in a country)
Daily: (also daily help) (old-fashioned, BrE) a person employed to come to sb’s house each day to clean it and do other jobs
Beat beat, beaten: defeat
Dustpan: a small flat container with a handle into which dust is brushed from the floor.
Win (sth) hands down(informal): to win sth very easily.
Drudgery: hard boring work (trabajo pesado). Find examples here
Pursue: try to achieve sth
Core: most important; main or essential
Wary: cautious. Careful when dealing with sb/sth because you think that there may be a danger or problem. (cauteloso)
Appeal: a quality that makes sb/sth attractive or interesting (atractivo, encanto)
Scarcity: if there is a scarcity of sth, there is not enough of it and it is difficult to obtain it. Shortage (escasez)
Tradesman: shopkeeper (comerciante). A skilled person (artesano).
Kick-start: to do sth to help a process or project start more quickly. E.g. The government’s attempt to kick-start the economy has failed (Activar)
About: (place) is anyone about? ¿hay alguien?
is Mr Brown about? ¿está por aquí el Sr. Brown?
Mayhem: confusion and fear (caos)
Ready for CAE p 18. Listening Vocabulary
- buried underground
- nineteen hundreds
- keep proper records
- props
- on earth
- lack of
- basement
- crypt
- real items of jewellery
- beer
Vocabulary
For safekeeping: protection from harm, damage or loss.
To keep proper records:
•proper: suitable for this purpose or situation.
•records: information kept about something that has happened.
Props: a piece of furniture or small object used in a play or film. Atrezzo.
Basement: the part of a building that is partly or completely below the level of the ground.
Newsreels: a news report on film that was shown in cinemas in the past.
Papier-mâché /ˌpæpieɪ ˈmæʃeɪ/(French for 'chewed-up paper' due to its appearance), sometimes called paper-mâché, is a construction material that consists of pieces of paper, sometimes reinforced with textiles, stuck together using a wet paste (e.g., glue). The crafted object becomes solid when the paste dries
Ready for CAE WB p 5. Is This Your Idea of Fun? Vocabulary
CAE PART 4/ READING / MULTIPLE MATCHING.
A
L2 Remarkable /rɪˈmɑː(r)kəb(ə)l/
unusual in a way that surprises or impresses you
The play has been a remarkable success.
Her mother made a remarkable recovery.
a remarkable achievement/feat/performance
remarkable that:
It’s remarkable that no one has complained about this system before.
remarkable about:
There’s nothing particularly remarkable about the film.
remarkable for:
The standard of craftsmanship is remarkable for bronze work of this date.
L5 amateur /ˈæmətə(r)/
L9 tour /tʊə(r)/
L 11 peer /pɪə(r)/ someone who belongs to the same social or professional group as another person
Journeys
Circuit /’sɜ:r)kɪt/ a journey all the way around the edge of something
commute /kə’mju:t/ the journey to and from work every day
crossing /’krɒsɪŋ/ a journey by boat across a river or sea
cruise /kru:z/a journey on a ship for pleasure, especially one that involves visiting a series of places
day trip
a journey that you make for pleasure in which you go to a place and come back on the same day
drive /draɪv/ a journey in a car
excursion /ɪk’skɜ:(r)ʃ(ə)n/ a short journey that you take for pleasure
expedition /,ekspə’dɪʃ(ə)n/ a long journey organized for a particular purpose, especially to a dangerous or distant place
expedition /,ekspə’dɪʃ(ə)n/a short journey somewhere, especially for pleasure
exploration /,eksplə’reɪʃ(ə)n/a journey to a place to learn about it or to search for something valuable such as oil
flight /flaɪt/ a journey through air or space in a vehicle such as a plane
foray /’fɒreɪ/ a short journey
the grand tour /tʊə(r)/ a journey to the most important cities in Europe that young men from rich families made in the past
guided tour /tʊə(r)/ a short journey around a building or place with a person who tells you about what you are seeing or with a pair of headphones on which you can listen to a recorded description of what you are seeing
hajj /hædʒ/ a journey to the holy city of Mecca that Muslims make as a religious duty
hop /hɒp/a short journey
jaunt /dʒɔ:nt/ a short journey that you take for fun
journey /’dʒɜ:(r)ni/ an occasion when you travel from one place to another, especially when there is a long distance between the places
junket /’dʒʌŋkɪt/ a journey or meeting that people say is for business but is really for pleasure
mercy mission a journey that is made to help someone who is in danger or is having serious problems
milk round a regular journey that someone makes in order to deliver milk to people’s homes
milk run a regular journey during which nothing unusual happens, especially by plane
milk run a plane or train journey with stops at many places
mystery tour a short journey, usually in a bus, that people make for pleasure without knowing where they are going
odyssey /’ɒdəsi/ a long journey during which many things happen
outing /’aʊtɪŋ/ a short journey that you take for enjoyment
overnighter /,əʊvə(r)’naɪtə(r)/ a journey lasting one night
passage /’pæsɪdʒ/ a journey or a ticket for a journey by ship to a place
peregrination /,perəɡrɪ’neɪʃ(ə)n/ a long journey
pilgrimage /’pɪlɡrɪmɪdʒ/ a journey that a religious person makes to a holy place
red-eye a journey in a plane that flies late at night
ride /raɪd/ a journey on a horse or other animal, on a bicycle or motorcycle, or in a vehicle
ride /raɪd/ a free journey that you are given in someone’s vehicle. The usual British word is lift
road trip a long journey in a car
round trip a journey to a place and back again
row /rəʊ/ a short journey in a rowing boat
run /rʌn/ a journey that a train, ship etc does regularly
run /rʌn/ a short journey that you do in a car for pleasure
sally /’sæli/a journey, especially one with a definite purpose
schlep /ʃlep/ a long and difficult journey
the school run the journey by car to school each morning and back home each afternoon
sortie /’sɔ:(r)ti/ a short journey away from a place
space flight a journey into space
spin /spɪn/ a short journey for pleasure in a car
swing /swɪŋ/ a quick journey through an area in which you make short visits to several places
test drive a short journey in which you drive a car to decide whether you want to buy it
tour /tʊə(r)/ a journey in which you visit several places for pleasure
tour /tʊə(r)/ a journey in which a person or group visits several different places in order to play or perform
tour /tʊə(r)/ a short journey around a building or place in order to see what is there
tour /tʊə(r)/ a journey in which a politician or leader visits several places as a representative of their country or in order to get support
trip /trɪp/ an occasion when you go somewhere and come back again
voyage /’vɔɪɪdʒ/ a long journey, especially by boat or into space
walkabout /’wɔ:kə,baʊt/ a long journey made through the Australian outback (=areas that are far from cities or towns and are not used for growing crops) by aborigines for religious and cultural reasons
wanderings /’wɒnd(ə)rɪŋz/ journeys in which you go from place to place without staying anywhere very long
whistle-stop tour an occasion when you visit a lot of places in a short period of time
circumnavigation /,sɜ:(r)kəm’nævɪ,ɡeɪt/ to sail or fly completely around something, especially the world or an island
island-hopping to travel from island to island within the same group of islands, especially as part of a holiday
someone’s travels /’træv(ə)l/ a series of journeys that someone makes to different places
B
L 2 summit /’sʌmɪt/ the top of a mountain
L 13 far-flung far away from where you are or from towns and cities
C
L 9 crevasse /krə’væs/ a very deep crack in rock or ice
D
L 5 thoroughly /’θʌrəli/ very much
E
L 3 acknowledge /ək’nɒlɪdʒ/ to accept or admit that something exists, is true, or is real
L 9 haughty /’hɔ:ti/ proud and unfriendly
F
L 9 gimmick /’ɡɪmɪk/something that is intended to impress and interest you but is really not at all useful
G
L 4 albeit /ɔ:l’bi:ɪt/used for introducing a comment that slightly changes or reduces the effect of what you said before it
The United States finally agreed, albeit unwillingly, to support the UN action.
Ready for CAE p 17. The Surprising Truth about what Motivates Us. Extra Listening
In this lecture Dan Pink illustrates the hidden truths behind what really motivates us at home and in the workplace. Pink drives home the point (makes clear by special emphasis and tries to convince us) that traditional motivation schemes – namely, bonuses – rarely achieve their intended results. In fact, the bigger the bonus, the bigger the decline in performance. Or so studies show again and again. So what does motivate us? The desire to be self-directed. The will to master something. The hope to make a contribution. It’s all what Pink calls “the purpose motive,” and it’s the stuff that keeps this site moving along.
Ready for C1 p 13. Rewarding Children. Speaking
A. Interaction
1. Is it necessary for parents to set strict boundaries?
2. How demanding should teachers be?
3. When would you generously reward your son or your daughter?
4. Do we sometimes confuse reward with bribe? Can you think of any examples of students who are "bribed" to do well at school?
5. Imagine a child who is slow to get ready for school, or a child who is always rude, or who is constantly fighting. Do you think rewards can help parents with these behaviour problems? If so, what kind of rewards would you give them? Can you think of other occasions when rewarding a child can improve a situation?
6. Do you think that
children also have to do their duty without expecting to be rewarded? What is a
child’s duty?
7. Do students work harder when they know they will be rewarded for their effort? Can the lack of rewards for hard work compound a problem?
8. Apart from promoting hard work through tangible rewards, how can teachers also foster internal motivation that will encourage a student to want to do their best?
B. Monologue
Partner A
1. Do you think too many
rewards can spoil a child? Where is the limit?
2. Must all rewards be
material rewards? Is there any other kind of rewards?
3. Must we reward
children every time they behave well? When are rewards the most effective?
Partner B
1. Were you ever offered rewards as a child or as a teenager? If so, do you remember what rewards you earned? Did you deserve them? What were you rewarded for? Did they help you to improve?
2. Were you ever given a
reward at school? If so, what did it consist of? Did it encourage you to work harder?
3. Should rewards be based on exam performance or should they be offered in recognition of a child's effort, regardless of results?
Ready for CAE p 14. Jane Austen Had a Very Good Editor. Extra Listening
Jane Austen Had a Very Good Editor
Ready for CAE p 12. Awards. What is written under the flag?

U.S. President Barack Obama passes by a torn United Nations flag that flew over the bombed Canal Hotel in Iraq in the 2003 attack. The flag was retrieved from the rubble and brought to the UN in New York after a few months. The condition of the blue UN flag wih the hallmark design of laurels around a globe shows the devastation of the blast since the flag had to have been 10 or 20 Ft above the ground at the time.
The flag is now displayed under a plexiglass screen, above an inscription reading: "Fallen in the cause of peace."
You can actually see the full inscription here:


