READING COMPREHENSION: SAINT PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

Hello everybody,
Here you have a test to read and answer the questions.
The key is below the test.
Have a nice day! :)

Saint Patrick’s Day Festival programme 

Before you read 

What do you know about the Republic of Ireland? 

Choose the correct alternatives. 

1 It is / isn’t part of the United Kingdom. 

2 It is / isn’t a member of the European Union. 

3 The capital is Belfast / Dublin. 

4 The patron saint is St George / St Patrick. 

5 The official state language is Irish Gaelic / English, though most people speak Irish Gaelic / English. 

Read the Saint Patrick’s Day Festival Programme. 

March 17, Saint Patrick’s Day, will soon be here. We have planned a great day for all the family. So come out and have a good time – and don’t forget to wear something green! 

10.00 

Face painting for children – Grafton Street. For just 5 euros, you can have your face painted by a professional! (2 hours) 

12.00 

The parade begins! Join 750,000 Dubliners and people from all over the world to see the great Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. It starts at Saint Stephen’s Green, goes down to Saint Patrick’s Church and then along Dame Street. (2 hours 30 minutes) 

15.00 

Irish dancing in the Park. Saint Stephen’s Green is the place to come. You can learn how to dance the Irish way – and it’s free! A lot of fun for people from all over the world. Bring your dancing shoes! (90 minutes) 

18.00 

Traditional Irish music. Many pubs in Dublin will have local and international musicians playing traditional Irish music on Saint Patrick’s Day. There is always a good atmosphere in the pubs around Temple Bar. But get there early as they are sure to be popular! (4–6 hours) 

19.00 

Irish writers. Come to the Irish Writers’ Centre and hear about some of the great Irish writers: Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, Flann O’Brien, and many more. (90 minutes) 

All day. The pubs will be open all day so you can enjoy a pint of your favourite Irish beer. Don’t forget to leave your car at home! (11.30 a.m. to 01.30 a.m.) 

Comprehension check. 

1 What time does the Irish dancing start? 

2 Where does the parade start? 

3 What time does the traditional Irish music stop? 

4 What time do the pubs close? 

Choose the correct answer. 

1 The face painting … 

a is free for children. 

b costs 5 euros. 

2 The parade finishes at … 

a about 12.00 p.m. 

b about 2.30 p.m. 

3 The Irish dancing … 

a is free. 

b is expensive. 

4 You can hear traditional Irish music … 

a in many pubs. 

b in St Patrick’s Church. 

5 Oscar Wilde was … 

a an English writer. 

b an Irish writer. 

KEY 

Before you read: 

1 isn’t; 2 is; 3 Dublin; 4 St Patrick; 5 Irish Gaelic, 

English Comprehension check: 

1 15.00; 2 Saint Stephen’s Green; 3 About midnight; 4 01.30 a.m. 

Choose the correct answer: 

1 b; 2 b; 3 a; 4a; 5b