The Delights of Winter in Lebanon
In my home town, winter can be a pretty dull and depressing season outside the
traditional winter resorts. Lebanon, on the other hand, makes the most of the
Mediterranean climate and high mountains to provide a truly unique display of
entertainment for the winter months _ often set against a blue, sunny sky. Here we examine
some of the joys that make up a Lebanese winter.
Although it snows in high mountains and sometimes the white stuff creeps towards
the coastal line, in most locations it is not really winter. January and February, with their
dramatic storms, do take the winter season seriously, but even then, you will see plenty of
blue sky. As for the rain itself, most Lebanese people actually look forward to it. I certainly
do. Rain means good harvest, a sign of changing seasons, and something that injects the
subtropical climate with a little excitement. So when a storm comes up, I often head to the
nearest fireplace or warm stove, relax and enjoy it. Sometimes, I watch from a high balcony
as the pale-colored Mediterranean goes suddenly deep blue-green and waves rise up over
the sea walls.
After a storm, expect sunny weather. The Lebanese do; they fish, go boating, swim in
the sea, or go on picnics to nearby picturesque places, enjoying the balmy warm sun of
winter. When the rain stops, I like to round up friends for a walk along the sea side while
the clouds are still rushing through the sky. Other people are out there too, dodging sea
spray and wondering at the clarity of the mountains. Often on these walks, we run across
an enterprising vendor selling roasted chestnuts from a pushcart, or sometimes it is a cart
seller offering kidney beans spiced with cumin.
To get real taste of winter in Lebanon, I enjoy exploring the mountains. The most
beautiful time to go is just after a storm has cleared and fresh snow covers the peaks.
Rooms are dominated by a huge stove. All the activities in the house are now centered in
this room.
Try someone downhill skiing at one of Lebanon's six winter resorts. The high
mountains are covered with meters of snow every year between December and April, and
they are well equipped with ski lifts, hotels and restaurants. Weekends can be a little hectic,
both on the slopes and at the other facilities, so if you prefer a slower pace, try these
resorts during this week.
And simplest of all, don't let winter stop you from exploring Lebanon. A winter
weekday is a good time to visit the great coastal cities of history_ Tripoli, Byblos, Sidon and
Tyre,_ or even the snow-bound Roman temples of the mountains. Not only does the winter
sky add drama to old stones, but these sites can be pretty hot on the summer day, and the
mild winter temperatures can make a sightseeing tour through ruins more enjoyable.
I- Comprehension Questions
A- Answer the following questions using your own language.
1- Skim paragraph 1 then pick two different opinions towards winter in Lebanon.
(2pts)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2- What are the positive effects of rain? (1pt)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
3- What activities do Lebanese people do after a storm ends? (1pt)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
B- These sentences are wrong. Correct them. (2pts)
1- The historical sites are mild in summer. _______________________________
2- The writer likes to stay at home when the rain stops. __________________________________
3- The sky is always black in winter. _______________________________________________________
4- When the storm comes the writer goes for a walk on the shore. ________________________
C- Complete the table with what the write likes to do during a storm and after it.
(1.5)
D- During a storm After a storm
1- 1-
2-
Find the words to which the bold typed pronouns refer to. (0,5)
a- It (paragraph 2) ______________ b- we (paragraph 3) ______________
E- Pick from the text words that mean the following: (2pts)
a- A place where people go for relaxation (par 1) ____________________
b- Scenic (par 3) _______________
c- Merchant (par 3) _________________
d- Busy (par 5) ____________________
II- Grammar
1- Write in the correct form of the verb in parentheses. (3pts)
a) I wanted to be the first to tell her the news but I was too late. Someone (already, tell)
___________________ her.
b) Hi, how are you? I (see)________________ you for ages.
c) I (get) _________________ soaked before I (reach)____________________ home.
d) While John (clean)___________________the flat, Jane (make) _________________ the dinner.
2-Tell the function of the underlined parts in the sentence. (2pts)
a) I can take care of the kids. ________________________________
b) I must not eat the junk food. _________________________________
c) He kept thinking about them. _________________________________
d) He spoke about bothering issues. _______________________________
3-Change from quoted to reported speech. (5pts)
a) Dana told Fadia, "You can read all the required materials with me tomorrow."
________________________________________________________________________________
b) My mother asked me, "Did you get your evaluation report this morning?"
________________________________________________________________________________
c) I told him, "Tell the supervisor where you are going."
________________________________________________________________________________
d) I asked, "How does the photocopier work?"
_________________________________________________________________________________
e) The teacher said, "I will come to the meeting but I can't attend because my
membership is invalid now."
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
4- Form questions so that the answer is the underlined part. Then tell the type of
the adverb. (5pts)
a. I met the assistant in the park. _____________________________________________________
b. The game starts at 9:00 a.m. _______________________________________________________
c. I can drive quickly. __________________________________________________________________
d. I love my brother very much. ________________________________________________________
Type of Adverbs: a- _______________ b- ________________
c- _______________ d- ________________
5- Form Question tags. (1pt)
a. She is not coming, ________________________________?
b. You won't be late, _________________________________?
c. They haven’t replied yet, ____________________________?
d. She eats meat, _________________________________?
6- Complete the table. (3pts)
Noun Verb Adjective Adverb
Negate
Powerful
7- Complete with the correct form of the comparative or superlative adjective. (1pt)
a. He is (bad) ______________football player.
b. Lebanon is (good) __________________country.
c. His standard of living is (high) ___________________mine.
d. This scene is (beautiful) ____________________scene I have ever seen.
III-Writing
A- Tell the figure of speech in each sentence. (2pts)
a- Can I see you for a second? ______________________
b- The sun is smiling. ________________________
B- Write a classification paragraph in which you classify the activities that you can
do in summer. Provide an outline. (8pts)
Good Work
