📖 Reading
Last summer, Marta and her brother Tom went on holiday to a small village near the sea in Portugal. They stayed in a little white house with a garden full of flowers. Every morning, they walked to the beach and swam in the warm water before breakfast.
One day, the weather was bad, so they couldn't go to the beach. Instead, they decided to visit the old town nearby. They walked through narrow streets and looked at colourful houses. Tom took a lot of photos with his new camera because he wanted to remember every moment.
In the afternoon, they were sitting in a small café when they met a friendly local woman named Sofia. She told them about a beautiful waterfall in the mountains, about an hour from the village. Marta and Tom had never been to a waterfall before, so they decided to go there the next day.
The trip to the waterfall was amazing. They had to walk for forty-five minutes through a forest, but it was worth it. When they arrived, they saw the biggest waterfall they had ever seen. Marta said it was the best day of the whole holiday. Before they left Portugal, they promised each other that they would come back again next year.
🗣️ Speaking — discussion
Context
- Many people travel with a suitcase full of clothes and things.
- Some people pack too much. Some people forget important things.
- Different trips need different things: a beach holiday, a city trip, or a camping trip.
- Airlines often have rules about bag size and weight.
- Packing lists can help people not forget important items.
Themes
- Planning Ahead — Thinking about what you need before a trip helps you travel more easily.
- Different Trips, Different Needs — A beach holiday and a ski trip need very different clothes and items.
- Simple Living While Travelling — Some travellers like to pack light and only bring a few things.
Personal Response
- Do you like packing for a trip? Why or why not?
- What is one thing you always bring on holiday?
- Have you ever forgotten something important? What happened?
Themes & Ideas
- What things do you need for a beach holiday?
- What things do you need for a city trip in winter?
- Is it better to pack light or bring many things? Why?
Cultural & Social Topics
- Do people in your country usually pack a lot or a little?
- What do tourists often bring when they visit your country?
🎭 Classroom activity
In pairs, students make a packing list for a 3-day trip to a place of their choice (beach, mountains, or city). They present their list and explain why they chose each item.
✏️ Questions
- Last summer, my family ___ (travel) to Spain for two weeks.
- While we ___ (wait) at the airport, we saw an old friend from school.
- If it ___ (rain) tomorrow, we will visit the museum instead of the beach.
- The hotel staff ___ (be) very helpful when we lost our luggage.
- This is the most beautiful beach I ___ (ever / see) in my life.
- You ___ (must) show your passport before you get on the plane.
- Where did Marta and Tom stay during their holiday?
- a) In a hotel in the city
- b) In a little white house near the sea
- c) In a tent in the mountains
- d) In an apartment in the old town
- Why did they visit the old town instead of the beach?
- a) Because the beach was closed
- b) Because the weather was bad
- c) Because Sofia told them to go there
- d) Because they wanted to buy a camera
- How did Marta and Tom find out about the waterfall?
- a) They read about it in a guidebook
- b) They saw a photo on the internet
- c) A local woman told them about it
- d) Their hotel gave them a map
- What can we infer about Marta and Tom's experience at the waterfall?
- a) They were disappointed by the long walk
- b) They regretted not visiting the beach instead
- c) They found the walk difficult but enjoyed the result
- d) They decided never to visit waterfalls again
- What is the meaning of "worth it" in the fourth paragraph?
- a) Not important at all
- b) Good enough to justify the effort
- c) Very expensive
- d) Extremely dangerous
- What is this passage mainly about?
- a) A woman who works in a café in Portugal
- b) Two siblings enjoying a memorable holiday in Portugal
- c) A guide explaining how to visit waterfalls safely
- d) A comparison between beaches and mountains