The Scottish Thistle

1. The Scottish Thistle

2. The thistle is the national emblem of Scotland. This is how, according to a curious legend, that homely plant came to be chosen as a badge, in preference to any other.

3. 1.Match the words in English with their Ukrainian equivalents. • thistle рослина • curious значок • plant чортополох • badge перевага • preference допитливий

4. 2.Fill in this fact file about Scotland. Use the encyclopedia if necessary. • Area : ------------- • Population: ------------------- • Capital : ---------------- • The highest mountain peak : ------ • The most well-known lake : -------- • The main cities : ----------------------

5. In very ancient times the Norsemen once landed somewhere on the east coast of Scotland, with the intention of plundering and settling in the country.

6. The Scots assembled with their arms and took their station behind the river Tay, the largest in Scotland, as they only practicable fort.

7. As they arrived late in the day, weary and tired after a long march, they pitched their camp and rested, not expecting the enemy before the next day.

8. 3. Choose the correct variant. • 1. Ancient is … . very old; . very funny; . very popular; . 2. The intention is … . pleasure; .a strong desire to do sm; .enjoyment; .3. Be tired is … . be strong; .be happy; .be exhausted; .4. A fort is … a bay; . a fortification to be protected from enemies; .a settlement; .5. To pitch the camp is … .to set up the camp; .to clean the camp; .to build the camp

9. The Norsemen however were near; noticing that no guards or sentinels protected the camp, they crossed the Tay, intending to take the Scots by surprise and slaughter them in their sleep.

10. To this end, they took off their shoes so as to make the least noise possible. But one of the Norsemen stepped on a thistle.

11. The sudden and sharp pain he felt caused him to shriek. The alarm was given in the Scot’s camp.

12. The Norsemen were put to fight, and as an acknowledgement for the timely and unexpected help from the thistle, the Scots made it their national emblem.

13. 4. Translate: • A guard – • A sentinel – • Slaughter - • To take off shoes – • A sharp pain – • To cause them to shriek - • The alarm - • An acknowledgement - • The unexpected help -

14. 5.Unscramble these words: • Mapc – • Espusrri – • ienos - • Dnusde - • Tfihg – • Aniltaon - • Iehtlst -

15. 6. Answer the questions. • 1. What colour is the national emblem of Scotland? • 2.Who were the Norsemen? • 3. Why did they land on the coast of Scotland? • 4. How did the Norsemen , according to the legend, want to outwit the Scots? • 5.What alarmed the Scots? • 6. Why did the Scots take the thistle as their national emblem?

16. 7.Write a short composition about the national symbolof your country. • -------------------------------------------- • -------------------------------------------- • -------------------------------------------- • -------------------------------------------- • -------------------------------------------- • -------------------------------------------- • --------------------------------------------