LET'S NOT SKIP CHRISTMAS WITH THE

KRANKS - THE SCOPE OF EVERYDAY AND

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES IN THE USA THROUGH
READING

Module 1
Chapters 1-2
1. Pre-reading Activities

1.1. Thematic vocabulary quiz.

Here's A I R P O R T S a n d A I R T R A V E L Q U I Z with 10 questions for

you to try.

gate number boarding pass red-eye flight land economy class flight
attendant jet lag long-haul flight aisle seat departures board

1. A ____________ is a person who can serve food and drinks to people on an

airplane.
2. Remember to show your ____________ when you board an airplane.
3. If you don't want to spend a lot of money to buy a first-class seat, you should
buy an ____________ ticket.
4. If you have ____________ then you feel very tired.
5. I always feel great when we arrive and the plane ____________(s).
6. A window seat? No thanks. I'd like an ____________, please.
7. Our airplane leaves from ____________ 46 at 6.30.
8. A ____________ is a noticeboard in an airport that tells passengers
information about their flight.
9. A ____________ is a flight that takes a long time (over seven hours),
compared to a short-haul flight.
10. A ____________ is a flight that leaves late at night and arrives early the next
morning.

Answers:
1. flight attendant
2. boarding pass
3. economy class
4. jet lag
 5. land
6. aisle seat
7. gate number
8. departures board
9. long-haul flight
10. red-eye flight

1.2. Practice the pronunciation of the words from the chapters. When in
doubt refer to the transcription.

concourse, plumbing, anxious, pour, outrageous, feigned, pistachios, aisle,

precious, Santa Claus, dessert, irksome, cashmere, ostrich, benevolence, cognac,
mammoth, luxurious, luxury, weary, cruise, Bahamas, Jamaica, chaos, liquor,
butcher, gouging

/ˈkɒŋkɔːs/ /ˈplʌmɪŋ/ /ˈæŋkʃəs/ /pɔː/ /aʊtˈreɪdʒəs/ /feɪnd/ /pɪˈstɑːʃɪəʊz/

/aɪl/ /ˈpreʃəs/ /ˈsæntə
ˌklɔːz/ /dɪˈzɜːt/ /ˈɜːksəm/ /ˈkæʃˌmɪə/ /ˈɒstrɪtʃ/
/bəˈnevələns/ /ˈkɒnˌjæk/ /ˈmæməθ/ /lʌɡˈzjʊərɪəs/ /ˈlʌkʃ(ə)ri/ /ˈwɪəri/
/kruːz/ /bəˈhɑːməz/ /dʒəˈmeɪkə/ /ˈkeɪɒs/ /ˈlɪkə/ /ˈbʊtʃə/ /ɡaʊdʒiŋ/

2. While-reading Activities
 Listen to chapters 1-2, then refer to the text and complete the tasks.

2.1. Match the following words and word-combinations with their English
equivalents:

1. усталый a. sheltered life

2. вдохновить к-л. посвятить b. despise
3. быть обеспокоенным c. in a foul mood
4. в отвратительном настроении d. outrageous prices
5. возмутительные цены e. meticulous
6. высокомерный f. inspire smb. to dedicate
7. напрасно g. be anxious
8. жизнь без забот и тревог h. snooty
9. презирать i. weary
10. надувательство в ценах j. hit or miss
11. скрупулезный k. price gouging
12. сделанный кое-как l. in vain
 Answers:
1. i. weary
2. f. inspire smb. to dedicate
3. g. be anxious
4. c. in a foul mood
5. d. outrageous prices
6. h. snooty
7. l. in vain
8. a. sheltered life
9. b. despise
10. k. price gouging
11. e. meticulous
12. j. hit or miss

2.2. Use one of the words or word combinations from the box to fill each
gap.

hit or miss price gouging shoved away searching for evidence

in vain to dedicate despised frustrated snooty anxious outrageous

1. A friend from college was in Africa with the Peace Corps, and this had
inspired Blair ______________ the next two years to helping others.
2. She would live in a lean-to with no plumbing, no electricity, no phone, and
she was ______________ to begin her journey.
3. Luther headed for Chip's, a place he ______________ for its
______________ prices and ______________ staff.
4. He searched ______________ for ten minutes and Nora was
______________at his inability to find a suitable spot.
5. Next to Chip's was a wine shop run by a European; his English was awful
but he'd learned the language of ______________.
6. Sacking was ______________, so he ______________ the eager young
sacker.
7. An hour later he was in his basement office, an
investigator______________.

Answers:
1. to dedicate
2. anxious
3. despised outrageous snooty
4. in vain frustrated
5. price gouging
6. hit or miss shoved away
7. searching for evidence
2.3. Match the following words and word-combinations with their Russian
equivalents:

1. tally the damage a. сгорать от зависти

2. in distress b. отметать все аргументы
3. have a ball c. баловать
4. workload d. предмет всеобщих насмешек
5. indulge oneself e. сесть на диету
6. go down the drain f. вылететь в трубу
7. lose weight g. сбросить вес
8. go on a diet h. неохотно
9. reluctantly i. в бедственном положении
10. an issue of public ridicule j. веселиться/отлично проводить время
11. burn with envy k. нагрузка на работе
12. kill arguments l. подсчитывать ущерб

Answers:
1. l. подсчитывать ущерб
2. i. в бедственном положении
3. j. веселиться/отлично проводить время
4. k. нагрузка на работе
5. c. баловать
6. f. вылететь в трубу
7. g. сбросить вес
8. e. сесть на диету
9. h. неохотно
10. d. предмет всеобщих насмешек
11. a. сгорать от зависти
12. b. отметать все аргументы

2.4. Use one of the words or word combinations from the box to fill each
gap.

roared to life be scorned workload tallied the damage indulge

agreed reluctantly down the drain an issue of public ridicule in
distress

1. With great relish Luther______________, as if it had been inflicted by

someone else.
2. 6,100 $ went ______________!
3. ______________, Luther did something he rarely did, he reached for the
bottle of cognac and knocked back a few drinks.
4. He slept from three to six, and ______________ during his shower.
5. With Luther’s ______________they were lucky to get a five-day vacation.
6. Let’s go hide. Go escape. ______________ourselves.
7. Nora ______________ to buy no gifts. But wouldn't they ______________
for ignoring Christmas and become ______________?

Answers:
1. tallied the damage
2. down the drain
3. in his distress
4. roared to life
5. workload
6. indulge
7. agreed reluctantly be scorned an issue of public ridicule

2.5. Choose the best alternative to complete the sentences.

1. The aisles were narrow and the inventory was laid out in such a way that
nothing ______________ sense. (got made gave)
2. Luther was frozen, not flinching at any joint, breathing as heavily as possible
because if the dialogue began again it would ______________ for hours.
(move proceed run)
3. He pretended to snore and that settled her ______________. (down in up)
4. Luther assured Nora twice that Blair was having a ______________and
raced away to the office. (party ball joy)
5. The ambush was carefully planned. First, he worked late, which was
certainly not unusual, but at any rate helped set the ______________ for the
evening. (ground floor stage)
6. It was hard to get in the ______________ of the season when the skies were
damp and gray. (soul ghost spirit)
7. He'd simply mention some dreadful piece of news that would set her off.
Keep her ______________ off the joys of Christmas. (mind head
thought)
8. Gifts to the church, to the toy drive, to the homeless shelter and the food
bank. Luther ______________ to the awful conclusion: $6,100 for
Christmas. (arrived came reached)
9. Why don't we ______________ a break this year? (take hold let)
10. Luther flinched and ______________ his good ear in her direction. (tuned
kept cocked)
11. "And precious little to show for it. The vast majority of it ______________
down the drain. (wasted went fell)
12. "I'll have to lose some weight." "We'll both ______________ on a diet."
(stay get go)
13. Their friends and neighbors might disapprove at first, but secretly they
would ______________ with envy. (flush blush burn)
 14. She also wept at the thought of no tree, though Luther had mercilessly
______________ home the point that they yelled at each other every
Christmas when they decorated the damned thing. (got driven made)
15. “And no Frosty on the roof? When every house on the street would have
one? Which ______________ up the issue of public ridicule”. (brought
raised aroused)

Answers:
1. made
2. run
3. down
4. ball
5. stage
6. spirit
7. mind
8. came
9. take
10. cocked
11. went
12. go
13. burn
14. driven
15. brought

2.6. Replace the italicized words and word-combinations with a synonym

from the box.

detested weary sheltered fabulous comely dreadful outrageous

snooty meticulous

1. The gate was packed with way worn travelers.

2. For the first time in her young and secure life, Blair would spend Christmas
away from home.
3. So he headed for Chip's, a place he despised not only for its exorbitant prices
and arrogant staff but also for its impossible location.
4. Luther was a tax accountant by trade, so his records were accurate.
5. Her lovely smile stopped Luther cold, and her words left him flabbergasted.
6. It was much easier to dream about ten marvelous days in the sun.
7. He'd simply mention some gruesome piece of news about a new virus or
perhaps a Colombian village massacre, and that would set her off.
Answers:
1. weary
2. sheltered
3. detested outrageous snooty
4. meticulous
5. comely
6. fabulous
7. dreadful

2.7. Replace the italicized words and word-combinations with an

opposite word or word-combination from the box.

loathed a foul mood unseemly mammoth dreary luxurious crucial

harsh-looking irksome skinny

1. Nearby a beefy black Santa Claus clanged a lulling bell.

2. He was in high spirits.
3. It was snatched from his grasp by a gentle woman who never saw him.
4. It was the tipping season, yet another pleasant aspect of Christmas that
Luther loved so much.
5. They settled on the Island Princess, a tiny, unpretentious vessel.
6. He got lucky with the weather because it was still fine.
7. Timing was of little importance.

Answers:
1. skinny irksome
2. a foul mood
3. harsh-looking
4. unseemly loathed
5. mammoth luxurious
6. dreary
7. crucial

2.8. Study the Ways of Looking:

 look: give attention to what one is seeing; turn the eyes and see in a certain
direction.
Look at that cute baby!
 see: use the power of sight.
See! Here she comes!
 watch: look at some activity or event; keep one's eyes fixed on something.
The boys watched television all the afternoon.
 gaze: look at something for a long time, in surprise or admiration.
The climbers stood on top of the mountain, gazing at the splendid view.
 stare: look at something for a long time with the eyes wide open.
She was staring into space.
 gape: look at something with one's mouth open.
She gaped at him in surprise.
 glance: have a quick look at something.
She glanced at her watch.
 scan: look quickly at something without careful reading.
He scanned the newspaper over breakfast.
 glare: stare angrily or fiercely.
She didn't answer, but just glared silently at me.
 peer: look very carefully, as if not able to see well.
He peered at me over his spectacles.
 observe: watch carefully.
The police observed the man entering the bank.
 glimpse: have a passing view of something or someone. Usually used in the
expression to catch a glimpse of.
He could catch a glimpse of the president among the crowd.
 spot: recognize someone suddenly among many others.
He was spotted by the police boarding a plane for Berlin.
 view: (technical) look thoroughly; regard, consider.
That film hasn't been viewed by the censor yet.
 scrutinize: examine thoroughly and carefully.
John scrutinized the painting at the museum.
 peek: look, especially for a short time or while trying to avoid being seen.
I peeked out the window to see who was there.
The children peeked over the wall to see where the ball had gone.
The film peeks behind the scenes of a multinational corporation.

 Find examples in the text and complete the sentences with the following
words:

spotted peek scanning seeing gazed stared x 2 glancing

1. Some passengers tried to smile, some tried to read, while others just
______________ at the floor and waited.
2. The three ______________ at the crowd, and they silently asked themselves
why they had picked this day to travel.
3. Luther walked by it at least twice each day, seldom ______________ at the
window displays of beaches and mountains and sailboats and pyramids.
4. "When do we leave?" "High noon, Christmas Day." They ______________
at each other for a long time.
 5. Luther was ______________ a financial newspaper but ______________
little.
6. They ______________ her immediately in the crowd.
7. Nora, close your eyes. Don't ______________. I've got a surprise for you.

Answers:
1. stared
2. gazed
3. glancing
4. stared
5. scanning seeing
6. spotted
7. peek
 2.9. Study the following Grammar patterns.

‘The’ is used before

 nouns which are unique the Moon, the ‘Zero article’ is used before
Tower of London  proper nouns John, London
 names of cinemas (the Odeon), hotels  names of sports, games, activities,
(the Hilton), theatres days, months, holidays, colours,
(the Bolshoi Theatre), museums (the drinks, meals and languages (not
British Museum), newspapers (the followed by the word language). I love
Times),ships (the Titanic), institutions football. Can you speak Chinese? BUT
(the Royal Academy of Art), galleries The Chinese language is fascinating to
(the National Gallery) study.
 names of rivers (the Thames), seas (the  names of countries (France), BUT the
Black Sea), groups of islands/states Philippines, the Netherlands, the
(the Canaries/the USA), mountain Vatican, cities (Manchester), BUT the
ranges (the Alps), deserts (the Gobi Hague, streets (Bond Street), squares
Desert), oceans (the Pacific Ocean), (George Square), bridges (Tower
canals (the Suez Canal) and names or Bridge) BUT the Bridge of Sighs, the
nouns with ‘of’, (the Queen of Forth Bridge, the Severn Bridge, the
England) Golden Gate Bridge, parks (Central
 Note: the equator, the Arctic/Antarctic, Park), stations (King’s Cross Station),
the south of France, the individual mountains (Mount
South/West/North/ East Everest), islands (Cyprus), lakes (Lake
 musical instruments, dances, the flute, Geneva), continents (Africa)
the tango  two-word names whose first word is
 names of families (the Smiths), the name of a person or place
nationalities ending in -sh, -ch or -ese Glasgow Airport, Edinburgh Castle
(the Welsh, the Dutch, the Chinese, etc) BUT The White House (the first word
 titles (the President, the Prince of White is not the name of a person or a
Wales, the Queen). But Queen place)
Elizabeth II  pubs, restaurants, shops, banks and
 adjectives used as plural nouns (the hotels which have the name of their
blind, the elderly, the rich, the poor, founder and end in -s or -’s. Jim’s Cafe;
etc) Harrods; Baring’s Bank
 historical references/events the  college, court, hospital, prison,
French Revolution, the Second World school, university when we refer to the
War BUT World War II purpose for which they exist. He is at
school by 8.30 every morning. BUT We
have to be at the court at 2.00 for the
trial. Work (= place of work) never
takes the I have to go to work now.
 means of transport by bus/by car/by
train/by plane etc BUT in the car, on
the bus/train etc. She came by plane.
BUT She was on the bus when the
accident happened.
 Use the proper article.

the Zero article

1. It was ______________ Sunday after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest days

of the year for air travel.
2. A friend from college was in Africa with ______________ Peace Corps.
3. Her assignment was ______________eastern Peru, where she would teach
primitive little children.
4. For the first time in her young and sheltered life, Blair would spend
______________ Christmas away from home.
5. So he headed for ______________ Chip's, a place he despised.
6. A crowd had stopped to watch ______________ old Mexican decorate his
cigar store window.
7. A year earlier ______________ Luther Krank family had spent $6, 100 on
Christmas.
8. She wanted Luther to assure her Blair was safe from the horrors of
______________ Peruvian jungle.
9. Ten days of total luxury on ______________ Island Princess, the fanciest
cruise ship in the world.
10. We are going to______________ Bahamas, Jamaica, Grand Cayman!

Answers:
1. the
2. the
3. Zero article
4. Zero article
5. Zero article
6. the
7. the
8. the
9. the
10. the

2.10. Match the halves to complete the sentences. Pay special attention to
the italicized phrases.

1. There seemed to be a. as if it had been inflicted by someone else.

2. Make sure b. take a break this year and skip Christmas?
3. Regardless of c. she was staring at the walls where the years had
4. Any credit card gone.
5. No doubt d. will do.
6. Why don’t we e. what was on your list, you had to crisscross the place
 7. With great relish half a dozen times.
Luther tallied the f. it’s Logan chocolate.
damage, g. a thousand of people waiting for the flight to Miami.

Answers:
1. g. There seemed to be a thousand of people waiting for the flight to Miami.
2. f. Make sure it’s Logan chocolate.
3. e. Regardless of what was on your list, you had to crisscross the place half a
dozen times.
4. d. Any credit card will do.
5. c. No doubt she was staring at the walls where the years had gone.
6. b. Why don’t we take a break this year and skip Christmas?
7. a. With great relish Luther tallied the damage, as if it had been inflicted by
someone else.

3. Post-reading Activities
3.1. Decide if the following statements are True or False.

1. Blair decided to take a gap year after high school to volunteer.

2. Luther liked shopping at Chip’s as the prices were reasonable and the staff was
courteous.
3. Luther worked as a stockbroker.
4. Luther realized that the vast majority of money the Kranks had spent on
Christmas went down the drain.
5. Nora worried that they would be despised for skipping Christmas.

Answers:
1. False
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True

3.2. Decide who said this.

Luther Nora Blair Biff

1. "December is the best time of year for a cruise."

2. "It'll be so different this Christmas, won't it?" "For the first time in twenty-three
years, she won't be here."
3. "It's going to the Caribbean. Ten days of total luxury on the Island Princess,
 the fanciest cruise ship in the world. The Bahamas, Jamaica, Grand Cayman.
We'll snorkel on Grand Cayman, windsurf in Jamaica, lie on the beaches. Ten
fabulous days."
4. "The catch is simple. We don't do Christmas. We save the money, spend it on
ourselves. Not a dime on food we won't eat or clothes we won't wear or gifts no
one needs. Not one red cent. It's a complete boycott of Christmas."
5. "No, it's wonderful. And it's just for one year. Let's take a break. Blair's not here.
She'll be back next year and we can jump back into the Christmas chaos."

Answers:
1. Biff
2. Nora
3. Luther
4. Luther
5. Luther

3.3. Here are the statements referring to and describing the behaviour, deeds
and habits of the book characters. From the list of quotations find the right
match to prove the statements.

1. Blair was fully protected a. For the first time in her young and sheltered
against all hardships in life by life, Blair would spend Christmas away from
her parents. home.
2. The parents were both b. Luther hated the store - refused to set foot
embarrassed and disappointed at inside.
Blair's leaving home. c. They released her and watched helplessly as
3. Luther was annoyed about the she joined a long line and inched away, away
prospect of doing the shopping from them, away from home and security.
at Chip's. d. Nora had reluctantly agreed to buy no gifts.
4. Luther shows quite a negative She also wept at the thought of no tree. And no
attitude to Christmas Frosty on the roof? When every house on the
celebrations. street would have one? Which brought up the
5. Nora was doubtful about issue of public ridicule. Wouldn't they be
skipping Christmas. scorned for ignoring Christmas?
e. What a waste, Luther thought to himself.
Why do we eat so much and drink so much in
the celebration of the birth of Christ?

Answers:
1 - a; 2 - c; 3 - b; 4 - e; 5 -d.

3.4. Rearrange the sentences bearing in mind the logical cohesion of action.

1. He read the paper, laughed at the comics, assured her twice that Blair was
having a ball, then kissed her and raced away to the office, a man on a mission.
2. He gripped the wheel with both hands and silently cursed the traffic slowing in
front of him.
3. The catch is simple. We don't do Christmas. We save the money, spend it on
ourselves. It's a boycott, Nora, a complete boycott of Christmas.
4. How nice it would be to avoid Christmas, he began to think.
5. Blair was twenty-three, fresh from graduate school with a handsome resume but
not ready for a career.

Answers:
1 - 5; 2 - 2; 3 - 4; 4 - 1; 5 - 3.

4. Peer Assessment Activity

 While volunteering is an undoubtedly admirable commitment, it is
worth considering some of the potential pitfalls before you choose a
project and dive in. Make a list of the rewards of doing volunteer work
and the risks that it can involve.

Benefits Risks

5. Viewing Activity
 Watch the video episodes from the movie “Christmas with the
Kranks” and arrange them in the order they appear in the book.