 Hey
Everyone,
Today's lesson is cancelled because of the incredible news announced
today. The story continues.... |
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Today the United Nations declared English as the world language.
Member countries unanimously voted for this decision claiming
English is extremely important and should be used for all
international communications effective immediately. The vote met
with opposition from many countries but towards the end of the
session all agreed this change was necessary. The story continues
below.... |
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Yup, this was a Fun Easy English April Fool's joke. Hopefully you
enjoyed it. For those of you who want a real lesson, you can read
more about this holiday and then take the test on this page. |
 In sixteenth-century France, the start of the new year was observed
on April first. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is
today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night.
Then in 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the
Christian world, and the new year fell on January first. There were
some people, however, who hadn't heard or didn't believe the change
in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April
first. Others played tricks on them and called them "April fools."
They sent them on a "fool's errand" or tried to make them believe
that something false was true. In France today, April first is
called "Poisson d'Avril." French children fool their friends by
taping a paper fish to their friends' backs. When the "young fool"
discovers this trick, the prankster yells "Poisson d’Avril!" (April
Fish!)
Today Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike on
the first of April. One common trick on April Fool's Day, or All
Fool's Day, is pointing down to a friend's shoe and saying, "Your
shoelace is untied." Teachers in the nineteenth century used to say
to pupils, "Look! A flock of geese!" and point up. School children
might tell a classmate that school has been canceled. Whatever the
trick, if the innocent victim falls for the joke the prankster
yells, "April Fool! "
The "fools' errands" we play on people are practical jokes. Putting
salt in the sugar bowl for the next person is not a nice trick to
play on a stranger. College students set their clocks an hour
behind, so their roommates show up to the wrong class - or not at
all. Some practical jokes are kept up the whole day before the
victim realizes what day it is. Most April Fool jokes are in good
fun and not meant to harm anyone. The most clever April Fool's joke is
the one where everyone laughs, especially the person upon whom the
joke is played.
"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364
days of the year. "
- American humorist Mark Twain |
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Test |
 Read
the holiday information on this page. Choose the correct
answer for each of the following test questions. |
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What do you know about this holiday? |
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1. In sixteenth-century France, the New Year was
observed on which date?
2. Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar in what year?
3. What does "Poisson d'Avril" mean?
4. Based on the reading, what is common trick on April
Fool's Day?
5. Based on the reading, what is the most clever April
Fool's
joke?
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