April Fool’s Day

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1,2

Is there a special day for jokes and tricks in your country? Do you like playing tricks on people? If you’re ever in the UK on 1 April, you’d better watch out!

Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises to check your understanding.

The preparation task is on the next slide and the text can be found on slides 4 ,5, 6 and 7

a silly person

to do something funny

it’s not a problem for me

to enjoy yourself and have a good time

to be punished for doing something wrong

a joke or trick on the entire country

very enjoyable

a day when you don’t go to work or school

a fool

a day off

to play a trick

I don't mind

to get in trouble

a national hoax

to have a laugh

really good fun

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1. A fast-food chain advertised ................................... for left-handed people.

2. A man pretended to be an extra-large _______________ at a Japanese zoo.

3. A TV programme told children about an _______________ which can make you more intelligent.

4. Radio listeners were worried about _______________ in New Zealand.

5. An astronomer said that the position of the _______________ would change gravity.

6. A shop told customers about a special piece of furniture for _______________.

7. A London newspaper told readers that their news was printed on edible ________.

The British media said that Portugal sold a top _________ to solve the country’s financial problems.

planets

burgers 

insects 

paper

penguin 

invention

sportsperson

dogs

Can you think of a good trick or joke to play on someone next year?

Can you remember any funny jokes or tricks from the past? (Use the internet to research this question).

Do you think it’s funny or cruel to play tricks on people for April Fool’s Day?

adapted by Susan Corrigan