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Nov 2020
17m 31s

17. Bonfire Night: A Unique British Fest...

Thomas Wilkinson
About this episode

On today’s episode, I want to introduce you to a traditional British festival and celebration that you probably haven't heard of before! Bonfire Night, held on November 5th every year, is a day when we set off fireworks, light fires, and so on! However, it is the history connected to religious disagreements and failed terrorist plots that is the most interesting part!

Transcript here!!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/06/bonfire-night-a-unique-british-festival-with-an-explosive-history/

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Twitter - @thinkenglishpod

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Gmail: thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com

VOCABULARY LIST

ubiquitous (adj) - seeming to be everywhere

Many languages are under threat from the ubiquitous spread of English

To repress (v) - to control what people do, and prevent feelings, desires, or ideas from being expressed

The government repressed all reports from the region

unified (adj) - brought together, combined, or united

The politicians find themselves unusually unified on this policy

To persecute (v) - to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or political beliefs

Religious minorities were persecuted during his regime

The establishment (n) - the important and powerful people who control a country or an organization, especially those who support the existing situation

Critics said judges were on the side of the establishment

uprising (n) - an act of opposition, sometimes using violence, by many people in one area of a country against those who are in power

There was a popular uprising in the capital

Conspirator (n) - a person who plans secretly with other people to do something bad, illegal, or against someone's wishes

He was a conspirator in the revolution

To smuggle (v) - to take things or people to or from a place secretly and often illegally

She was caught trying to smuggle 26 kilos of heroin out of the country

elaborate (adj) - containing a lot of careful detail or many detailed parts

They are making elaborate preparations for the wedding

Tyranny (n) - government by a ruler or small group of people who have unlimited power over the people in their country or state and use it unfairly or cruelly

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

Q.When is Bonfire Night?

A.5th November

Q. How is bonfire night celebrated in the UK?

A.Fireworks, Bonfires, burning models, eating toffee apples!

Q.Where did the gunpowder plot conspirators plan to blow up?

A.House of Lords (Parliament)

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