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The Christmas gift experiment

Is it better to receive a gift or to give one? Watch this video as Father Christmas challenges people to do something unusual and wonderful!

Instructions

Do the preparation task first. Then watch the video and do the exercises. Remember you can read the transcript at any time.

Preparation

Transcript

Woman: Yes, yes, yes … I’m here to make your day!

5 minutes earlier ...
Woman: Hello?
Woman: Hello?
Woman: Hello?
Santa: Merry Christmas!
Woman: Merry Christmas!
Man: It’s Santa on the phone. Oh, brilliant!
Santa: How are you, my dear?
Woman: I’m good, Santa.
Santa: Marvellous. Would you like a little pressie for your Christmas?
Woman: Yeah, I’d like a present.
Women: Yes!
Santa: One thing, it’s not for you.
Man: It’s not actually for me?
Woman: That’s not fair.
Woman: Why?
Santa: Because presents are for giving, not for receiving, wouldn’t you agree?
Woman: Hee hee!
Santa: You could give it to them. It’s going to be wonderful! Now, you see that gentleman with the buggy? … There’s a lady with a blue coat … Look upstairs, you see that gentleman? Chase after him, now … with a big black bag. Run, now. Go, go, go!
Woman: ’Scuse me …
Women: Over there!

Woman: Hi, I’d like to give you a present for Christmas.
Woman: This is for you. Merry Christmas!
Man: I don’t know what it is.
Woman: So what’s inside it?
Man: I don’t know.
Boy: Here you go.
Woman: Do I have to?
Man: Ah, that’s lovely! Thank you very much.
Woman: Oh look! Thank you very much.
Woman: Merry Christmas!
Woman: Thank you.
Woman: Merry Christmas!
#ChristmasAsItShouldBe

© NBC Universal

Worksheets and downloads

The Christmas gift experiment - exercises240.98 KB
The Christmas gift experiment - answers188.25 KB
Discussion

What gift would you like to receive? What gift would you like to give to somebody else?

Language level
B1 Intermediate
B2 Upper intermediate
Topics
Christmas
festivals and celebrations
Average: 4.6 (7 votes)
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Comments

Submitted by sharik losharik on Fri, 12/23/2022 - 17:04

Hi guys!I want to told you about how we celebrate Christmas in my country.We celebrate the Chrismas in my country on the 7th of January.On Chistmas day our family is together, we congratulate each other.I like to recieve gifts and presents.This year I'm going to present to my brothers many presents.I love Christmas because we can spent a lot of time together with my family and there are holidays in school!

Profile picture for user FlowerQueen

Submitted by FlowerQueen on Fri, 12/16/2022 - 21:28

Hi!
I'd like to get a card- and board game, a squishmallow and some books.
And I'd like to give someone else sweets like chocolate and jewelry.
Flowerqueen~♡

Profile picture for user LamaFromMinecraft

Submitted by LamaFromMinecraft on Sun, 12/11/2022 - 11:05

I would lke to receive a surprise gift and I would love to give a harry potter doll to my friend (she's a fan)

Profile picture for user Andrii

Submitted by Andrii on Wed, 05/06/2020 - 19:46

I like receiving presents that I am waiting for. And I like to give special presents, not banal. It's very pleasant, when you surprise somebody with an interesting gift.

Submitted by stranick2018 on Sat, 01/25/2020 - 09:38

Christmas is a fairy and international day. We celebrate this day on the 24th of December. In our country, we hold it on the 7th of January. On this day some people usually go to the church. After that they see their family and cook some national meal. They invite relatives and close friends. One of the traditions of the feast giving marvelous pressies. I would like to receive a new Rubik’s cube and headphones. They are useful and convenient presents. I want to give cooked or manually made presents. Maybe they will be in the form of men or figures of wood. To give present is fine and interesting. When I see a person's smile, I do smile back. It’s a nice holiday!

Submitted by Rockie on Thu, 01/09/2020 - 08:42

People have nice tradition to give presents to their friends or family members on New Year 's Eve or Christmas. I absolutely support it because giving presents always causes happiness and even can change someone's life to the better. We all have our own moons as our tastes differ. As for me, I'd like to receive new computer components or a sports bicycle. Before giving presents, it's very important to know or predict what receiver сonsiders necessary and important for himself. My friends like sport so I would surely give them items of sports inventory. There is another example. For my mother I would buy cooking equipment because she likes to cook. Stick to this way of thinking and your presents will always be favourite.
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