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MELBOURNE CUP HISTORY (11:00 - 14:40)

The Melbourne Cup, often called the race that stops the nation, is Australia’s biggest horse race and takes place on the first Tuesday in November.

Focus Questions

 What do you know about the Melbourne Cup? Why is it often called the race that stops the nation? Where is the race held? What are some traditions for people who attend the Melbourne Cup on the day?  What do you think of horseracing?  Have you heard of Phar Lap?  What role did horses play in Australian life in earlier generations? Why were they important?

The following figures are in the report – what do you think they refer to?

 1861 –

 3.5 million dollars –

 More than 100,000 –

 Around 650 million –

Watch the report and answer the questions

1. The winner of the first Melbourne Cup didn’t receive a prize. T / F

2. How many of its 51 races did Phar Lap win? ………………………………...... 3. Besides the horses, what is a big element of Melbourne Cup day for people who go to the racetrack

to watch it? ………………………………...... 4. The Melbourne Cup is a public holiday in Victoria. T / F

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Vocabulary A

Match the words in Table 2 with the closest definition or synonym from Table 1

Table 1 Table 2 a course laid out for racing A significant event (adj) appear, emerge B get around (v) attract and hold the attention of C captivate (v) someone D play a role (n) considered, regard, act toward E demonstrate (v) gather in large numbers F spring up (v) go from place to place, travel G legendary (adj) part in a particular activity or H treat as important (v) situation I a big element (n) particular part of something J flock (v) show, prove by example K track (n)

very famous or well-known very important

Vocabulary B

Use words from the table to complete the sentences – you may have to change the form of the word significant role legendary flock get around demonstrate treat track captivate spring up element

1. At the beginning of the gold rush, hundreds of tents ………………………………...... along the river and the town’s population quadrupled in less than a month. 2. Because it is such a ………………………………...... sporting occasion and is watched by more than a billion people worldwide, the opening ceremony of the Olympics generates millions of dollars in advertising revenue for TV broadcasters. 3. Bjorn Borg is a ………………………………...... tennis player. He is regarded as one of the best players of all time. 4. Even though more and more people own a car, most people still use a bike to ………………………………...... in many parts of China. 5. Marketing is an important ………………………………...... of any business success. 6. The 3 goals scored by the footballer in the match ………………………………...... his brilliance and how important he was going to be to his team’s chances of winning the World Cup. 7. The noise was incredible as 20 powerful cars ………………………………...... around the track. 8. The political and economic ………………………………...... of the United Nations in promoting peace and improving the lives of disadvantaged people around the world is very important. 9. The town’s residents, most of whom had gathered on the football oval, were ………………...... by the sight of a plane flying overhead. Many had never seen one before. 10. The workers complained that their boss ………………………………...... them like slaves. 11. With beautiful sunny weather and free entertainment and food available, thousands of people ………………………………...... to the park for the festival. BTN FEATURE STORY ACTIVITIES Published by Grabaword.com on 03/11/2015 Page 3 / 3

Answers

 1861 – Year of the first Melbourne Cup 1. F  3.5 million dollars – Prize money for the winner of the Melbourne 2. 37 Cup 3. fashion  More than 100,000 – Number of people who go to Flemington T Racecourse to watch the Melbourne Cup  Around 650 million – Number of people worldwide who watch the Melbourne Cup on TV

Table 1 a course laid out for racing track appear, emerge spring up attract and hold the attention of someone captivate considered, regard, act toward treat gather in large numbers flock go from place to place, travel get around part in a particular activity or situation role particular part of something element show, prove by example demonstrate very famous or well-known legendary very important significant

1. At the beginning of the gold rush, hundreds of tents sprung up along the river and the town’s population quadrupled in less than a month. 2. Because it is such a significant sporting occasion and is watched by more than a billion people worldwide, the opening ceremony of the Olympics generates millions of dollars in advertising revenue for TV broadcasters. 3. Bjorn Borg is a legendary tennis player. He is regarded as one of the best players of all time. 4. Even though more and more people own a car, most people still use a bike to get around in many parts of China. 5. Marketing is an important element of any business success. 6. The 3 goals scored by the footballer in the match demonstrated his brilliance and how important he was going to be to his team’s chances of winning the World Cup. 7. The noise was incredible as 20 powerful cars raced around the track. 8. The political and economic role of the United Nations in promoting peace and improving the lives of disadvantaged people around the world is very important. 9. The town’s residents, most of whom had gathered on the football oval, were captivated by the sight of a plane flying overhead. Many had never seen one before. 10. The workers complained that their boss treated them like slaves. 11. With beautiful sunny weather and free entertainment and food available, thousands of people flocked to the park for the festival.