Lesson 2.3 The Christmas Truce
Lesson 2.3> The Christmas Truce
Glossary
- truce (n) – an agreement to stop fi ghting or arguing for a period of time
- dugout (n) – a trench that is dug and roofed over as a shelter for troops
- carols (n) – a religious folk song or popular hymn, particularly one associated with Christmas.
- trenches (n) – a long, narrow ditch
- maim (v) – injure or wound seriously and leave permanent damage to body or parts
- splatter (n) – a small quantity of something moist or liquid
- slog (v) – work hard over a period of time
- muck (n) – dirt, rubbish, or waste matter.
- stumble (v) – trip or momentarily lose one’s balance; almost fall
- bewilderment (n) – a feeling of being perplexed and confused.
A. Choose the correct answer.
1. The story is set during the _____________.
- World War I
- World War II
- Kargil War
- Indo-China War
Ans : World War I
2. The story is about the celebration of _____________ festival.
- Deepavali
- Pongal
- Ramzan
- Christmas
Ans : Christmas
3. Tom called the incidents happened there as a ____________.
- fairy tale
- poetry
- tragedy
- comedy
Ans : fairy tale
4. The Germans had placed Christmas trees in front of their__________.
- houses
- trenches
- tanks
- cars
Ans : trenches
5. One of the German soldiers worked as a _________ at Victoria Station.
- tea-seller
- ticket-checker
- porter
- shop keeper
Ans : porter
B. Identify the character, speaker or both of the following lines
1. Our first complete silence in months!
Ans : Tom
2. Come and see! See what the Germans are doing!
Ans : Tom’s friend, John
3. Hold your fire.
Ans : Captain of British troop.
4. You no shoot, we no shoot.
Ans : A German soldier
5. My God, why cannot we have peace and all go home?
Ans : An old German soldier.
C. Answer the following questions in about 100 – 120 words.
1. Narrate the Christmas celebration as happened in the war field
The Christmas Truce of 1914 is one of the most interacting events that occurred during World War I. It highlights the beauty of unlikely friendships and fellowship. Tom, a British soldier wrote this letter to his sister Janet how all enmity was forgotten as British and German soldiers celebrated Christmas together. The incidents happened in the battlefields of France were appeared like a fairy tale. The Germans had placed Christmas trees infront of their trenches and sang Christians’ carols. Soon the British troops began to join with the Germans in the area between the two lines called ‘No man’s land’. They gave each other gifts and share their feelings. They introduced themselves. They gathered around the bonfire and celebrated Christmas like friends. A German soldier said, “You no shoot, we no shoot”. They stopped firing for sometime to celebrate Christmas. Their Christmas truce revealed one thing that Christmas is meant for spreading the mission of love. If the team spirit were caught by the nations, all wars would end at once. “All nations say they want peace”.
Theme : War and peace
Paragraph for slow learners
- Christmas Truce means cease-fire of a war at Christmas.
- It occurred during World War I.
- Tom, a British soldier wrote this letter to his sister Janet.
- He narrated how the British and German soldiers celebrated Christmas together.
- They sang Christians’ carols near their trenches.
- They gave each other gifts.
- They gathered around the bonfire.
- They celebrated Christmas like friends.
- It revealed that Christmas is meant for spreading the mission of love.
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