Listen&Learn: A Christmas Carol

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock
A Christmas story about the dangers of greed.

Pre-listening vocabulary

  • protagonist: a story’s main character
  • greedy: selfish, wanting more than you need
  • charity: an organization that gives money to people who need it
  • ominous: suggesting that something bad will happen
  • vision: a type of dream caused by something supernatural
  • Christmas spirit: feelings of happiness and generosity caused by the Christmas season

Listening activity

Gapfill exercise

A Christmas Carol is a classic Christmas story written by English author Charles Dickens. The book’s protagonist is a man named Scrooge, who is bitter and greedy, and cares only about . At the start of the story, Scrooge’s personality is evident in his . He insults the people around him, forces his assistant to work during the , and refuses to give to charity. It is also clear that Scrooge dislikes Christmas, because he rudely declines his nephew’s to a Christmas dinner. That night, when Scrooge is in bed, he is visited by three ghosts: the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The ghosts show him ominous visions that make him the way he treats others. By the end of the story, he finds his Christmas spirit and lets go of his greed.

Comprehension questions

1. At the start of the book, Scrooge is someone who cares only for

Correct! Wrong!

At the start of the book, Scrooge is someone who cares only for money.

2. While he is in bed, Scrooge is visited by three

Correct! Wrong!

While he is in bed, Scrooge is visited by three ghosts.

3. Scrooge lets go of his greed after

Correct! Wrong!

Scrooge lets go of his greed after the ghosts show him ominous visions.

Discussion/essay questions

  1. The main lesson to take from this story is to be generous rather than greedy. Why do you think the author wanted to express this theme in a Christmas story?

Transcript

A Christmas Carol is a classic Christmas story written by English author Charles Dickens. The book’s protagonist is a man named Scrooge, who is bitter and greedy, and cares only about money. At the start of the story, Scrooge’s personality is evident in his actions. He insults the people around him, forces his assistant to work during the holidays, and refuses to give to charity. It is also clear that Scrooge dislikes Christmas, because he rudely declines his nephew’s invitation to a Christmas dinner. That night, when Scrooge is in bed, he is visited by three ghosts: the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.  The ghosts show him ominous visions that make him rethink the way he treats others. By the end of the story, he finds his Christmas spirit and lets go of his greed.

Image: Thanks to Andy Mabbett (adapted)

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub
© EnglishClub.com

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