The Emperor's Birthday · Worksheet C1
Read the passage and answer the questions. (CEFR B1–B2)
1Monarchies around the world have found very different ways to turn a royal birthday into a public holiday. In the United Kingdom, the sovereign's official birthday has been marked since 1748, usually in late spring or early summer, simply because outdoor ceremonies are more likely to enjoy good weather. The Netherlands takes the opposite approach, turning the king's real birthday into a nationwide street festival in orange.
2Japan's system is unusual because the holiday itself moves with each reign. Yet the old dates rarely vanish completely. November 3 survives as Culture Day, and April 29 survives as Showa Day, so the calendar quietly records more than a century of imperial history. Even December 23, now an ordinary working day, still reminds many people of the long weekends they enjoyed before Christmas in the Heisei era.
3Japan once faced the same problem as Britain. During the Taisho era, the emperor's birthday fell in the heat of late August, so the main ceremony was held on October 31 instead. Comparing these customs shows that national holidays are shaped not only by tradition and politics, but also by something as ordinary as the weather.
What is the main idea of the passage?
Why is the British sovereign's official birthday usually in late spring or early summer?
According to the passage, what is November 3 now?
What can we infer from the sentence about December 23?
In paragraph 2, the word "vanish" in "the old dates rarely vanish completely" is closest in meaning to
Why does the writer mention the Taisho era in the last paragraph?
The Emperor's Birthday · Worksheet C2
Match the words with the definitions. Then rewrite and summarize.
1. “Japan's system is unusual because the holiday itself moves with each reign.”
Hint: Start with "In Japan," and use "changes every time a new emperor".2. “Yet the old dates rarely vanish completely.”
Hint: Use "But" and "almost never disappear" or "often stay".3. “Comparing these customs shows that national holidays are shaped not only by tradition and politics, but also by something as ordinary as the weather.”
Hint: Start with "When we compare these customs, we can see that" and use "influence" instead of "shape".Summarize the passage in about 50 words.
The Emperor's Birthday · Worksheet C3
Prepare for a debate. Then write your opinion (100–150 words).
Add your own reason:
Add your own reason:
| Opinion | I believe / I think that … |
|---|---|
| Reason 1 | First, … For example, … |
| Reason 2 | Second, … In fact, … |
| Counter | Some people say … However, … |
| Conclusion | In conclusion, … |