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Navigate Upper-Intermediate slide 59, ex 2 Complete the texts about two trends.

Can you describe an important or traditional ceremony or cultural event in your country.

One of my favourite cultural ceremonies in Armenia is Vardavar. During Vardavar people pour water on each other and participate in fun activities as a symbol of purity, healthiness, and energy. It was originally a helenistic tradition, but it became Christian.

Have you ever taken part in a ceremony or event? If yes, how did you feel? If no, would you like to?

I’ve not taken part in many events. But of course I’ve taken part in Vardavar as a kid and I’ve always felt incredible, it was the most fun thing ever — it’s summer and hot, school holidays and you can just carelessly play, while also cooling down from the heat.

2. Complete the texts about two different trends, using the words in the boxes.

According to recent research, the number of people living alone is shooting up dramatically. Globally, there’s been a rise from 153 million people in 1996 to nearly 300 million this year. It’s more popular to liveindependently in some countries that in others. Sweden has the highest percentage, with 47% of homes having just one resident, and the UK and Germany also have quite high percentages. But this is definetely a global trend, and for many contries it represents a dramatic cultural shift. In fact, the nations with the fastest growth in one-person households are China, India and Brazil.

In many countries, particularly in Northern Europe, but increasingly elsewhere, there is a big move towards something called co-housing. This is where people live separately in private houses, but the properties are grouped into a small community with some shared resourses, such as heating, gardens, a laundry and entertainment space. In other words, it’s not that different from an old-fashioned village, where everyone supported each other, spent time together socially and shared certain facilities, like the village hall.