English For Starter 11 girls SB

Students’ Book

‫ﻡ‬٢٠١٥-٢٠١٤



Vocational Stream
Girls’ Grade 11

Students’ Book

‫م‬2015 - 2014
‫المؤسسة العامة للطباعة‬


322 Old Brompton Road,
London SW5 9JH,
England
Maktabat El Nashr El Tarbawi El Souri
(Syrian Educational Publishers)
Omar El Mukhtar 2nd Str., Bldg. 6
El Mazraa, Damascus-Syria
Phone: (011) 44676789
Fax: (011) 44676788
e-mail:
www.syrianep.com

Reprinted 2014
© York Press 2010
All rights reserved; no part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,

or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of the Publishers.


Contents
Unit

Title

Page

1

Sewing Machines

6

2

Threads

10

3

Fabrics

14

4

Textiles

18

Culture and Values 1

Celebrations

22

5

Tailor’s Tools

23

6

Upper and Lower Part Sketches

27

7

Making Clothes (1)

31

8

Making Clothes (2)

35

Culture and Values 2

Humans and the Universe

39

9

Textile Manufacturing

40

10

Fibres

44

11

Knitting and Weaving

48

12

Embroidery and Tricot

52

Culture and Values 3

Geniuses and Scientists

56

Review

57

3


Scope and Sequence

4

UNIT

LANGUAGE

NEW SKILLS
sewing skills

1 Sewing Machines
(pp. 6-9)

Language Functions: listing characteristics
Vocabulary: sewing tools
Grammar: questions with or without do

2 Threads
(pp. 10-13)

Language Functions: listing qualities
Vocabulary: terms related to qualities of threads
Grammar: order of adjectives

matching thread and fabric
types

3 Fabrics
(pp. 14-17)

Language Functions: giving advice; giving an
opinion; listing; giving examples
Vocabulary: types of fabrics; word formation
Grammar: simple past tense

how to dye fabric;
distinguishing between
natural and artificial dyes

UNIT

4 Textiles
(pp. 18-21)

LANGUAGE
Language Functions: giving opinion; reporting
Vocabulary: terms related to characteristics of
textiles; types of textiles
Grammar: reported speech

NEW SKILLS
distinguishing between
public and private sectors
in the textile industry;
identifying types of textiles

5 Tailor’s Tools
(pp. 23-26)

Language Functions: describing objects; giving
examples
Vocabulary: tailor’s tools
Grammar: conditional clauses type 1

identifying the usage of
different types of scissors;
developing dictionary skills

6 Upper and Lower
Part Sketches
(pp. 27-30)

Language Functions: describing a process; asking
and answering questions
Vocabulary: terms related to different outfits
Grammar: forming comparative and superlative
adjectives

classifying items under the
correct heading


UNIT

LANGUAGE

NEW SKILLS

7 Making Clothes (1)
(pp. 31-34)

Language Functions: giving opinion; listing
clothing items
Vocabulary: terms related to clothes
Grammar: present perfect tense

distinguishing between
baby clothes and teenager
clothes

8 Making Clothes (2)

(pp. 35-38)

Language Functions: giving opinion; talking
about preferences; giving explanations; talking
about responsibilities
Vocabulary: tools for measuring cloth
Grammar: present perfect vs simple past

identifying tools for
measuring cloth;
conducting online research

9 Textile
Manufacturing
(pp. 40-43)

drawing a flow chart;
Language Functions: describing a process;
drawing a map
giving opinion; giving explanations
Vocabulary: terms related to textile manufacturing
Grammar: past perfect vs simple past

UNIT

LANGUAGE

NEW SKILLS

10 Fibres

(pp. 44-47)

Language Functions: giving opinion; describing
abilities
Vocabulary: fabric properties
Grammar: past tenses in reported speech

rewriting sentences; putting
sentences in the correct
order; completing a chart

11 Knitting and
Weaving
(pp. 48-51)

Language Functions: giving opinion; defining key reading tables; writing a
summary; conducting online
words
Vocabulary: terms related to knitting and weaving research
Grammar: gerunds and infinitives
drawing a timeline
Language Functions: giving opinion; asking for
additional information
Vocabulary: terms related to embroidery and
tricot
Grammar: the passive

12 Embroidery and
Tricot
(pp. 52-55)

5


1 Sewing Machines
A Dialogue
1

Read the dialogue and answer the questions.
Instructor: Samira, please check that you have the correct tools with you when you want to
sew a dress or a skirt.
Samira:
OK. Could you list them for me, please?
Instructor: You’ll need a needle, a thimble, a tack thread and some solid thin pins.
Samira:
Should I use any special kind of thread?
Instructor: Sure. The tack thread ought to be made of smooth light-coloured cotton.
Samira:
How can I prevent silk and light-coloured clothes from slipping?
Instructor: You can use solid thin pins to fasten them.
Samira:
OK, thank you, sir. I’ll note down everything you have just told me.
Instructor: That’s a good idea.

Questions
1 What do the words in bold refer to?
2 What do we use to fasten silk clothes?
3 Do we use dark-coloured tack threads or light-coloured ones?
4 Correct the following statements so that they are true.
a The tack thread must be made of wool.

b We use pins to fasten woollen clothes.

6


Sewing Machines
B List
Listening
2

Listen and complete the text.
A sewing machine is an obvious requirement for a (1) _________ (2) _________.
Sewing machines are of different kinds. The most important kinds are:
• Machines which sew (3) _________ with a straight stitch although this may be forward
or (4) _________.
• Machines with a sewing needle which makes a (5) _________ stitch.
• Machines with a sewing needle which can also sew (6) _________ patterns.
The (7) _________ (8) _________ machine has a special zipper (9) _________ which
enables the operator to get up close to the zipper (10) _________. The zigzag stitch machine
saves a great deal of time in making edges and may also be used for attaching
(11) _________ and making (12) _________.

C Vocabulary
3

Match the following words with a suitable picture.
button box
dress form

clothes rack cutting table hand-iron press

sewing machine steam iron tape measure

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

7


4

Use the terms in exercise 3 to complete the following sentences.
1 The ideal ________________ should be flat and wide enough to lay out a 45−inch wide
piece of fabric.
2 You could iron your clothes either with a ________________ or a ________________.
3 Could you please hang your coat on the ________________?
4 The first ________________ dates back to the 1700s.
5 The ________________ is one of the most common tools that is used to ascertain the

size and proportion of clothes.
6 Put the ________________ away after you close the ________________ and put it there.

D Grammar
5

Study the table and then choose (a) or (b) for the grammar rule below.
Questions
Wh- WORD do / does

SUBJECT

VERB (+ COMPLEMENT)

What

does

Who

does

Huda
She
Who
Mounira
Huda
She
Who
TST

do?
works as a secretary.
works for an insurance company?
does.
work for?
works for TST.
sells the best stationery?
does.

A rule about the present simple tense
We
6

(a) need
(b) don’t need

do / does when the wh- word is the subject.

Complete these questions using the given verb as below.
Examples
1 Who - in a bank? (work)
2 Where - Shereen? (work)

Who works in a bank?
Where does Shereen work?

3 What - the level of poverty - in India? (reduce)
4 Who - the tax laws - for the government? (administer)
5 Which employer - Khalid? (work for)

6 Who - Ahmed? (like)
7 How - balance of payments - Syrians? (affect)
8 What - Mounira’s employer? (sell)

8


E Reading
7

Sewing Machines

Read the following information from a brochure about a new sewing machine called
Quickstitch. Answer the following questions.
A ________________
Quickstitch is user-friendly. All dressmakers can use it with ease.
B ________________
Quickstitch is a multi-purpose sewing machine. It can be used for dressmaking, home
furnishings, repairs and alterations, upholstery, crafts and quilting.
C ________________
Another advantage of Quickstitch is its light weight. This makes it very easy to carry
around.
D ________________
Quickstitch comes with a storage area which will come in handy when space is an issue.

Questions
1 Match each description with one of the following headings.
_____ Projects
_____ Storage
_____ The user

_____ Weight
2 Is Quickstitch for beginners or more experienced dressmakers?
3 What type of sewing can Quickstitch be used for?
4 Do you need extra storage space?

9


2 Threads
A Dialogue
1

Read the dialogue and answer the questions.

Saleswoman:
Woman:
Saleswoman:
Woman:
Saleswoman:

Good morning ma’am, can I help you?
Yes, I’m looking for sewing threads.
What type of fabric will you be using?
I haven’t decided yet. Does it matter?
Of course. The thread you choose should be the same kind as your fabric.
For example, you should use cotton thread for light to medium-weight fabrics that
have little or no stretch. However, polyester thread is more suitable for synthetic
fabrics or fabrics with a lot of stretch.
Woman:
I see. Tell me, do you sell fabric?

Saleswoman: Sorry, we don’t. But you can find a wide variety in the shop across the street.
Woman:
Thank you. That’s very helpful.
Saleswoman: You’re welcome.

Questions
1 What do the words in bold refer to?
2 Why is it important to buy fabric before the sewing thread?
3 Which type of thread is more suitable for fabrics with a lot of stretch?
4 What type of fabric is used with a cotton thread?
5 Does the shop sell fabric? If not, who does?

10


Threads

B List
Listening
2

Listen and complete the sentences.
a The most widely used threads are (1) __________, (2) __________ and a mixture of both,
known as (3) __________.
b Fine cotton or silk thread is used on (4) _________________________________________ .
c ‘Heavy-duty’ thread is used for (5) ______________________________________________ .
d Metallic thread is used for (6) _________________________________________________ .
e Quilting thread is used for (7) _________________________________________________ .

C Vocabulary

3

Match the following words with their definitions.
a break
b colourfast
c denier
d durable
e elastic
f fray
g give
h hold up
i tension
j tex

1 the state of being stretched tight
2 become worn at the edge
3 a unit of weight used to measure the fineness of silk, rayon or
nylon yarn
4 weight in grammes of 1,000 metres of thread
5 dyed in colours that will not fade or be washed out
6 able to withstand pressure or damage
7 separate or cause to separate into pieces as a result of a blow or
strain
8 elasticity, or the capacity to bend or alter in shape under pressure
9 able to resume its normal shape spontaneously after contraction,
dilation or distortion
10 remain strong

11

4

Use the terms in exercise 3 to complete the following sentences.
1 Cotton thread can’t be used to sew stretchy knit fabric because it won’t ___________ and
the stitches may ___________.
2 Rayon thread ___________ well with high speed stitching without ___________.
3 The type and weight of the thread relates to several aspects of your project, including needle
type and size, ___________ settings and final result.
4 Three primary methods of thread measurement are weight, ___________ and ___________.
5 Silk thread is more ______________ than cotton which is why it is more suitable for fabrics
with a lot of stretch.
6 The disadvantages of rayon is that it is not ___________ and less ___________ than
polyester.

D Grammar
Order of Adjectives
In English, adjectives come before nouns. When we want to use more than one adjective, usually two or three,
to describe an object, these adjectives come in a specific order. Note that there are different ways to order the
adjectives; however, it’s important to be consistent.
Examine the following examples:

1
2
3
4

The lady bought two long black skirts.
This is a beautiful young Syrian girl.
I like this round white cotton tablecloth.

It’s a warm dry day; let’s go out!

We notice that in the first sentence number comes before size and colour. In the second sentence, opinion comes
first, followed by age then nationality. In the third sentence, shape is followed by colour and material. The fourth
sentence presents adjectives related to temperature and humidity, in that order. Note that if there is a noun acting
as a defining adjective, it comes immediately before the noun, e.g. cat food, car park.
This is one suggested way of sequencing adjectives:

number, opinion, appearance (size, weight, shape), age, temperature, humidity, colour, origin, material
5

12

Choose the correct answer.
1 I bought a pair of (black leather / leather black) shoes.
2 It was a (red fast / fast red) sewing machine.
3 It’s a (big round yellow / round big yellow) box of threads.
4 It’s (a beautiful old / an old beautiful) sweater.
5 It’s (a mobile expensive / an expensive mobile) phone.
6 The (two last / last two) threads were cotton.
7 It’s (a popular American / an American popular) brand of thread.
8 It’s a (new good / good new) piece of fabric.


E Reading
6

Read the text and answer the following questions.

Threads

Problems with speciality threads can usually be traced to five main causes, the most
important of which is the quality of thread that’s used. The higher the quality of the thread,
the less special handling will be required. Poor quality thread breaks easily and can make any
sewing project laborious rather than fun. Hence, it is important that you are aware of the
different types of thread and when to use each one.
Threads are either made of a natural fibre such as cotton and silk or synthetic fibres such
as rayon and polyester. Some people often wonder about what the best thread to use would be.
Each type of thread has special characteristics, therefore the thread you choose should
match the quality and characteristics of the fabric that you are using. For example, use
polyester or rayon thread for most hand and machine stitching. On the other hand, you should
use cotton or silk thread on very thin or delicately woven fabrics. However, silk thread is more
elastic than cotton, so use silk if your garment fabric has stretch to it.
In conclusion, to successfully use speciality threads, you must be aware of the qualities
and special requirements of both thread and fabric.

Questions
1 How does the quality of thread affect the sewing process?
2 List two examples of natural threads that are not mentioned in the text.
3 List two examples of synthetic threads that are not mentioned in the text.
4 Why is silk more suitable with a garment that has stretch to it?
5 What advice does the writer give to the reader in order to successfully use speciality threads?

13


3 Fabrics
A Dialogue
1

Read the dialogue and answer the questions.

TV Presenter: Good evening ladies. Welcome to a new episode of ‘On the Catwalk’.
Tonight’s quiz is about office clothes. Many agree that there is no better
combination of clothes than a separate-tailored skirt and a waist-length
blouse. This is true because they can be kept fresh either by laundering or by
pressing, depending on the fabric that is used. The question for tonight’s quiz is:
What do you think is the best fabric for separate skirts? Call us now on
00963 192189574 or send us your answers by email to
Now, let’s take the first call.
Caller 1:
I think that woollen or all-cotton fabrics are the best choice.
TV Presenter: Thank you. I have another call waiting. Yes, hello?
Caller 2:
Fabrics for separate skirts should be fairly light in weight, so I believe it’s best to
use voile because it is a very light fabric.
TV Presenter: OK. There’s just enough time to take one last call. Good evening.
Caller 3:
I think that broadcloth, panama, covert and wool are all suitable materials.
However, French serge of good quality is an even better choice because it’s
lightweight, wears well and evenly and may be cleaned by ordinary washing and
cleaning. It can also be re-dyed when its colour fades.
TV Presenter: Thank you very much ladies. Don’t forget to watch next week’s show to find out the
best answer to tonight’s quiz.

Questions
1 What do the words in bold refer to?
2 Why does the second caller think that voile is the best?
3 What are the qualities of serge?
4 List five types of fabric that are not mentioned in the dialogue.

2

14

Do you think that all the callers gave correct answers? Why?


Fabrics
B List
Listening
3

Listen and check your answers to exercise 2.

4

Listen and complete the text.
Fabr ics for separate skirts should be (1) _
_. T hey should also be (2) _
_
in order to shed dust and dirt easily, and as the material itself is usually subject to a lot of
cleaning, it should be (3) _
enough to keep its colour or (4) _.
M ost
firm, even woollen or all-cotton fabrics fulfil these conditions. Al though voile is light, it’s not
(5) _
enough for constant wear. H enrietta and cashmere are very (6) _
and wear well, but they become (7) _ _
with age. Br oadcloth, panama, covert and
wool taffeta are suitable materials for separate skirts, and good q uality Fr ench serge is a highly

satisfactory fabric. H air goods, such as alpaca, or mixed hair goods, such as brilliantine are
the best materials to shed (8) _
_
and (9) _
and are also lightweight; but
skirts made of these fabrics are not always as (10) _
as those made of the softer
weaves. Fin ally, linen skirts are cool, light and (11) _,
but they wrinkle to such an
extent that many women avoid wearing them.

C Vocabulary
5

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in brackets.
1 T his invention is intended for a method of knitting thick fabric which has less (elastic),
is less likely to deform and is firmer than a conventional fabric.
2 T his is a fabric presser foot device that is used when a fabric with a relatively large
(thick) and poor surface (smooth) is sewed.
3 T hread count is a measure of the (coarse) or (fine) of fabric.
4 Y ou ought to know the bending (long) and bending (rigid) of a piece of fabric before you
buy it.
5 T his chart determines the amount of fabric needed when the (wide) of the fabric chosen
differs from the (wide) of fabric on the pattern envelope.
6 Fabr ic (dense) is calculated by dividing the measured area (dense) by the measured
fabric (thick).

6

Cross the odd word out.

1 taffeta
2 dense
3 socks
4 loom
5 twist

chiffon
width
tights
fabric
pull

denim
coarse
shirt
cloth
turn

diagonal
rigid
stockings
material
wind

satin
elastic
trousers
textile
rotate

15


D Verbs in the past
7

Study the tables and discuss the questions.

Simple past tense
present
call
clean
answer
check
receive
travel
stop
try
carry
play

Did
Did

REGULAR VERBS
past
called
cleaned
answered
checked

received
travelled
stopped
tried
carried
played
I / you
he / she / it
we / you / they
I / you
he / she / it
we / you / they

When did Ihe/ /you
/ it
Where did we / she
you / they

8

16

go?

present
pay
find
send
buy
have

drink
sleep
think
feel
cut
Yes,
No,

IRREGULAR VERBS
past
paid
found
sent
bought
had
drank
slept
thought
felt
cut
I / you
he / she / it
we / you /they
I / you
he / she / it
we / you /they

have a good weekend? Yes,
enjoy the meal?
No,

win the game?
spend a lot of money?
I / you
go?
He / she / it
We / you / they

What would you ask? Make questions with Did ...?
1 Your friend watched a football match yesterday.
2 They went shopping yesterday.
3 My friend finished her meal five minutes ago.
4 She wanted to get a new job.
5 You are meeting someone from London at the airport.
6 They went to the cinema with a friend.
7 He had a holiday in Lattakia.
8 She went for an interview last week.

did.
didn't.
did.
didn't.
went home.
went yesterday.


Fabrics
9

Answer the questions in exercise 8.
Example 1 No, he didn’t. He studied at home.

10

Work in pairs. Act out eight conversations using questions and answers from exercises 8 and 9.

11

Make questions using the verbs in brackets in the correct forms. Then write the answers using
the phrases in italic.
1 Wh en – he – (arrive)? last week
2 H ow much – you – (pay)? 20 pounds
3 Whi ch jac ket – she – (buy)? the red one
4 H ow many letters – we – (receive)? twelve
5 Wh ere – they – (play)? in the park
6 Wh o – he – (call)? the manager

E Reading
12

Read the text and answer the questions.
Dy eing is a process of changing the colour of a fabric. T he dyes have to be colourfast; that
is, they must keep their colour after washing. Dy eing can be done at different stages. W e can
do it either before or after spinning. H owever, dyeing at the fabric stage is the most common.
Dy es have many sources. Some are natural and some are synthetic. V egetable dyes are an
example of natural dyes. These are dyes made from flowers, roots, leaves and seeds of plants;
for example, indigo is a type of dye made from plants. N atural dyes also include animal dyes.
W e get such dyes from certain kinds of fish and insects; for example, we get the sepia dye from
sq uid. I t gives a dark-brown colour.
On the other hand, synthetic dyes are made from mixtures of acids, metals and chemical
substances. Ex amples of synthetic dyes are sulphur dyes, which produce various degrees of

yellow, and vat dyes, which give a purple colour.
Bef ore the dyeing process, the following tips should be taken into consideration:
• I tems to be dyed must be clean.
• Secur e loose or unstable buttons.
• Sh oulder pads or decorations must be removed.
• I t is easier to go from light colours to dark colours.
• Dy e works best on cotton, linen, ramie, hemp, bemberg, rayon, silk and tencel.
• P olyester / cotton blends produce a heather effect.

Questions
1 What do the words in bold refer to?
2 Ar e the following statements true or false? Cor rect the false ones.
a Dy es have to be colourfast, that is the colour fades with age.
b Dy eing can only be done after spinning.
c Sq uid ink gives a dark-brown colour to fabrics.
d I t is not important to clean the items that you are going to dye.
3 What is the difference between natural and synthetic dyes?
4 G ive one example of a natural dye that is not mentioned in the text.
5 G ive one example of a synthetic dye that is not mentioned in the text.
17


4 Textiles
A Dialogue
1

Read the dialogue and answer the questions.
Cathy: Hi, Jane. I’m glad you came to my party.
Jane: Thank you for inviting me.
Cathy: I like your clothes.

Jane: Oh, thanks! I made them myself.
Cathy: Really! What kind of textiles did you use?
Jane: I used cotton to make my blouse and linen for
my trousers.
Cathy: That’s interesting!
Jane: Yes. I’m attending a sewing school. In our last class,
the teacher taught us how to sew skirts, trousers,
blouses and many other types of clothes.
In the next session, she’s going to teach us how to
sew tablecloths, towels and different types of
bed linen. Would you like to come?
Cathy: I’d love to.
Jane: We’ll have fun.

Questions
1
2
3
4
18

What do the words in bold refer to?
What did Jane learn in her last class?
What is she going to learn in the next class?
Why do you think Cathy invited Jane to accompany her to her next sewing lesson?


Textiles

B List

Listening
2

Listen and complete the table.
Name of Stakeholder

Responsibilities of Stakeholder
Approval of textile industry development
plans

Ministry of Economic and Foreign Trade
Implements policies set by the Cotton
Congress
Sets cotton seed and raw cotton prices
Sets cotton policy for each season
Cotton Bureau
Organisation for the Development of Cotton
Seeds
Machines for production of raw cotton
Cotton Ginning and Marketing Organisation

C Vocabulary
3

Complete the sentences with the correct adjective.
absorbent fabric
cool
crease-resistant
crisp
delicate

fabric shrinkage
hard-wearing hygienic stiff synthetic fabric
1 There are a few tricks that can make cutting and sewing __________ textiles much easier.
2 Towel is a type of __________ that’s mainly used for wiping or drying.
3 Cotton is a natural and __________ fabric that allows proper ‘breathing’.
4 __________ fabric means that the fabric will keep __________ and smooth even after
washing.
5 Nikwax and AquaNix are examples of __________ fabrics.
6 A __________ is a plastic fabric.
7 Checking __________ is one of the most important things while checking the quality of the
final goods.
8 This fabric is __________ and __________ to the touch.

19


4

Fill in the blanks with the proper fabric name. Then use the circled letters to complete the
statement below (the letters of the word are jumbled).
1
2
3
4

is a synthetic fibre known for its exceptional elasticity.
_____
By the end of the 19th century, Britain had begun to manufacture its own _ _
_ _.
Besides jeans, _

_
_ can also be made into overalls, shirts, dresses and even
jewellery.
___
is taken principally from sheep.

The words fabric and cloth are sometimes used as synonyms for _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

D Grammar
Reported speech
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, we usually put the other verbs in the past
tense too.
Reported speech
The speaker’s actual words
He said (that) he didn’t know.
“I don’t know.”
She said (that) she was 21.
“I’m 21.”
She said (that) she was writing a letter.
“I’m writing a letter.”
He said (that) he would go.
“I’ll go.”
5

Report these sentences using said.
Example
1 Samira said, “Laila needs some sewing lessons.”
Samira said that Laila needed some sewing lessons.
2
3

4
5

6

Anne said, “David is working in a textile factory.”
Sandra said, “Anne is not in the office.”
She said, “There is a piece of fabric on the table.”
David said, “He is visiting a customer."

What were the speakers’ actual words?
Example
1 David said he wanted new sewing tools.
“I want new sewing tools.”
2 She said Laila lived in Damascus.
3 He said they were not visiting customers.
4 Anne said she was a good tailor.
5 David said Sandra was sewing a tablecloth.

20


Textiles

E Reading
7

Read the article and answer the questions.
________________________
Textile industries play an important role in the economy of many countries, especially

Syria. The export of textile products is an important source of income. The cotton textile
industry provides, after oil, the second largest source of foreign currency to the Syrian
economy. It is the dominant branch in industry from the viewpoint of production value and
employment in Syria. The textile sector contributes about 5.4% of total export revenue
and 20% of the revenue of all Syrian exports, excluding oil. Syria’s share in the world’s total
cotton production is about 7%. In comparison, the United States produces about 18% of the
world’s cotton.
In Syria, the textile industry is divided between the public and private sectors. Textile
manufacturing was public-oriented up to 1985; however, the private sector surpassed
the public sector in production and employees in 1995. The distinctive aspects of the Syrian
textile industry include a stable supply of raw materials, a large number of labourers, the
accumulation of technical know-how, a good road transportation network and social stability.

Questions
1 Give the text a suitable title.
2 Why is the cotton textile industry an important source of income for Syria?
3 What do the following numbers refer to: 5.4%, 20%, 7% and 18%?
4 What is the difference between the public and private sectors in the textile industry?
5 What makes the Syrian textile industry successful?

21


Culture and
Values 1
Celebrations

Read the two short texts and answer the questions.
Eid Al-Fitr
Eid Al-Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadan, in

the ninth month of the Hijri calendar. It is a
religious festival of happiness and joy in Syria
and other Arab and Muslim countries. Eid
Al-Fitr isn’t always on the same date because
it follows the calendar of the Hijri year. In
the morning, Syrians go to prayers. They wear
new clothes and young people receive gifts.
It is a time when Muslims think about the
poor and help them, and a time for forgetting
old arguments. The celebrations in Syria last
for at least three days and schools, shops and
offices close.

Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year falls in late January or
early February and follows the Hijri calendar.
It celebrates spring and lasts fifteen days.
People clean their homes and decorate them
with red decorations, flowers, fruit and
sweets. People wear new clothes and visit
their relatives and friends. Red is a lucky
colour and young people receive gifts of
money in red envelopes. On the fifteenth
night there is a lantern festival with fireworks
in the streets. There is a huge lion parade
with dancers and musicians playing loud
drums.

Questions
1

Complete the following diagram to compare and contrast the two celebrations.

Eid
Al-Fitr

2
3

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Chinese
New Year

What is the importance of celebrating important dates in someone’s life?
Write a paragraph about the most important celebration that you have ever attended.


5 Tailor's Tools

A Dialogue
1

Read the dialogue and answer the questions.
Instructor: OK, class. I would like you to have the following items ready for the next
session. You’ll need big and small scissors and serrated scissors.
Student A: Why do we need all those? Isn’t one enough?
Instructor: No. Each one is used for a different purpose. Big scissors help to cut cloth in
straight lines while small ones are used for cutting threads and ripping the slits
for buttonholes.

Student B: What about the serrated scissors? Why do we need them?
Instructor: Serrated scissors are used for serrating the cloth so that it can’t unravel easily.
Student C: You mean they’re good for cutting knitted yarn or thread?
Instructor: Yes, that’s right.

Questions
1
2
3
4

What do the words in bold refer to?
How many kinds of scissors do the students need to bring with them for the next session?
Which kind of scissors will you need to use if you want to rip buttonholes?
What are the serrated scissors used for?

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