Micro-challenge: the word 'Christmas'

1. What is the origin of the word 'Christmas'?

2. Find information about the following festivities:

a. Christmas Day

b. Boxing Day

c. New Year's Eve

d. New Year's Day

File 3A. Micro-challenge: The Big Apple

Why do people call New York 'The Big Apple'?

Read more about the origin of the expression 'The Big Apple' here. :)

Micro-challenge: The word 'soap opera'

soap + opera = soap opera

What is the origin of the word 'soap opera' in English?

Micro-challenge: The word 'Bobby'

There are two main police forces that patrol London streets. The forces are separate, but they wear similar dark navy blue uniforms.

But... why are British policemen called Bobbies?

As usual, write your answers in the Comments section.

Micro-challenge: The word O.K.

The word 'OK' is one of the most common expressions in English. We use it to express agreement, or when you find something satisfactory or acceptable.

But do you know the origin of the expression O.K.?

Do some online research and post the results of your search in the Comments section.

File 1B. Micro-challenge: Tennis score

Do you remember Activity 1.17 from the Student's Book?

When the point finishes, the referee says:




15-0 ("fifteen - love")

Why does he use the word 'love' instead of the number 'zero'?

File 1A. Micro-challenge: The personal pronoun "I"

Remember: Use CAPITAL "I"


You are a student and I am a teacher = CORRECT

You are a student and i am a teacher = INCORRECT


Why do we use capital "I" instead of low-case "i" for the first person singular personal pronoun?


Use the Comments section to write your answers.