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GENERAL ENGLISH · GENERAL ISSUES · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

THE DARK
SIDE OF
HALLOWEEN
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1 Warm up
In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. Do you like Halloween? Why/why not?

2. How do you celebrate Halloween?
3. Do you have any Halloween traditions in your country?
4. Is Halloween getting more or less popular where you live? Why?
5. Have you ever been to a Halloween party or other costume party? What did you dress as?

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THE DARK SIDE OF HALLOWEEN

2 Key words

Match the words on the left to their definitions on the right.

1. devour (v) a. artificial (relating to body parts)

2. a ton (n) b. eat all of something quickly

3. a prank (n) c. good enough for a particular purpose

4. horrendous (adj.) d. a very large amount

5. prosthetic (adj.) e. extremely unpleasant

6. a patch (n) f. a trick that is supposed to be funny but doesn’t cause harm

7. adequate (adj.) g. not completely certain about something or someone

8. wary (adj.) h. a small area that is different from what is around it

3 Reading

You are going to read an article about the dangers of Halloween. Match the headings to the paragraphs
in the article on the next page. You can check your answers by listening to the audio.

Hidden dangers Cosmetic catastrophes

Terrifying TV Risks to our four-legged friends

Vandalism Scary experiences

Fancy dress fears Cleaning up

Overdosing on sugar Commercialization

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UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

THE DARK SIDE OF HALLOWEEN

The dark side of Halloween

Parts of Halloween that we don’t talk about

A. It’s Halloween again. Are you looking forward to so property gets easily damaged. Cars, homes and
dressing-up and eating your body weight in candy mailboxes are often targeted on Halloween, but
or are you shaking behind the sofa? If it’s the people have also stolen things like kitchen utensils.
latter, prepare to be even more scared when you’ve In some states in the US, ringing the doorbell and
finished reading about the dangers and downsides of running away is a criminal offense.
Halloween. 6

1
G. On Halloween in the US, people throw eggs at
B. Everything about Halloween can be truly terrifying houses, which splatter on impact. The mess this
for young children, and even the most fearless adults creates is horrendous to get rid of. Toilet paper in
can be scared by realistic decorations. Psychologists trees and silly string are also common Halloween
advise parents to watch their children closely during pranks which take a lot of time to take down. In
Halloween, and to remind them of what is real and California, you can be fined $1000 dollars for using
what isn’t. silly string.
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C. The average young trick-or-treater will consume

H. Zombie face paint, fake blood and prosthetic skin
about 3 cups of sugar on Halloween, and devour
can all cause skin irritation, inflammation and allergic
around 7,000 calories, which is the equivalent to 13
reactions. Test any make-up you plan to wear on a
Big Macs. As a grown-up, you’re also just as likely
small patch of your skin first. Colored contact lenses
to consume too much sugar, as it’s very tempting
have also become popular but experts say that it’s
to steal candy from kids and snack on treats people
wise to wear only prescription lenses.
bring to the office.
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3

I. It seems it’s not acceptable to leave the house on

D. In the past few decades, the Halloween industry
Halloween dressed as yourself. Some people start
has grown dramatically. Temporary Halloween stores
thinking about their costume months in advance, to
have opened up. Bars, nightclubs and restaurants
avoid the stress of trying to put together an adequate
have theme nights, and people even send Halloween
outfit at the last minute. Then there’s the pressure of
cards. Then there is the pressure to buy costumes,
trying to top the costume you wore last year.
decorate your house and buy a ton of candy for trick-
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or-treaters.
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J. If you hate horror films, then Halloween isn’t a good
E. Children can trip over their Halloween costumes and time for you. Scary movies take over our screens
some are flammable. Masks can obstruct people’s and there are countless previews for these in movie
vision. Children should also be careful about what theaters. A lot of these films are also deliberately
they accept from strangers. In 1964, a woman terrible. Many horror fans truly want to see a movie
gave dog biscuits and ant poison to a group of ‘so bad, it’s good.’
teenagers she thought were too old for trick-or- 10

treating. However, the biggest Halloween danger is

K. Halloween can also be frightening for pets. Owners
car accidents. At night, it’s difficult for drivers to see
should be wary that they’re not eating any sweets
people wearing dark clothes.
or chocolate that are lying around the house. Many
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Halloween costumes also have plastic accessories
F. Halloween can unleash violent behavior in people. which a dog might want to chew on and possibly
Children get hyped up on sugar and adults get drunk, swallow, so these should be kept away from animals.

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THE DARK SIDE OF HALLOWEEN

4 Find the words

Find the words and phrases in the text which mean...

1. the second of a group of two things mentioned before (n, para. A)

2. something that has the same value as something else (n, para. C)

3. likely to burn easily (adj, para. E)

4. block someone’s ability to see (phr. v, para. E)

5. cause something that has a harmful effect (v, para. F)

6. break apart and cover a surface with a liquid (v, para. G)

7. very many, especially more than you think is acceptable (adj., para. J)

5 Verb + preposition

Choose the correct word to complete the phrases below.

around away down on over together up

1. The children were so hyped about going to the zoo they didn’t eat their breakfast.

2. Be careful! You’re going to trip your shoelaces.

3. Don’t leave your glasses lying . Put them somewhere safe.

4. I don’t have much food in the fridge, but I’m sure I can put a meal .

5. I think we need to take that poster . It’s really offensive.

6. You can snack some nuts before dinner. They are better for you than chips.

7. Keep anything that is flammable from the fire.

6 Talking point

Discuss any of the questions below in pairs or small groups.

1. Have you experienced any of the things mentioned in the article? Which one(s)?
2. Do you feel any pressure to celebrate Halloween? Why/why not?
3. Do you think that Halloween has become too commercial? Why/why not?

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UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

THE DARK SIDE OF HALLOWEEN

7 Extended activity/Homework

Write a short piece and give your opinion about Halloween.

You should:

• Write at least 100 words

• Check your spelling, grammar and punctuation.

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