Not many people know about International Women’s Day in America. It exists, and the local radio announcer will probably mention it. But it’s not a day off work. There’re no flowers or chocolates or cakes.

Those people who know about International Women’s Day consider it a tribute to the struggles of working women towards achieving equal rights. Some Americans would think that giving flowers and chocolates to a woman is contrary to the spirit of recognizing women as equals to men.

In Russia that idea is generally thought of as a bunch of baloney.

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“Cleaning Words” (for husbands and boyfriends)
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This issue of “ETsinRussia” is dedicated to women, yes, and I am including words about cleaning the apartment, true. But I’m suggesting that you practice these English phrases on your man. Ask him to do the work. How can he refuse on International Women’s Day?

Below you’ll find some useful commands.

The verb “clean” can be used in most of the blanks. “Wash” sometimes too. But you are not going to use them. There are other verbs which collocate strongly
with the nouns. In other words, they form word partnerships which you will hear more often than not.

See how many verbs you can find which are STRONG word partners.

1. ________________ the floor! (several possibilities)

2. ________________ the counter!

3. ________________ that spill!

4. ________________ the dishes! (several possibilities)

5. ________________ the bed!

6. ________________ the laundry!

7. ________________ the shelves!

ANSWERS
1. sweep, scrub, mop
2. wipe
3. wipe up
4. do, wash, rinse, dry
5. make
6. do, hang up
7. dust, wipe

Notes: Of course there are other possibilities. But getting students to explore the collocations is a great learning process.

*”clean the dishes” is not usually said.
*”clean the bed” is not said.
*”clean the laundry” is not said.
*”wash the laundry” is not said.

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“A Few Facts About Chocolate”: text and activity by I.M. Poosheesty
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Vocabulary
WIPE OUT = to destroy totally
CANDY BAR = a wrapped piece (bar) of chocolate,
like Snickers, Dove, or Twix
BEVERAGE = drink

Chocolate is made from cocoa beans. Cocoa beans probably came from South America. But it is in Mexico that chocolate encountered its first big fans. They were the Mayans and the Aztecs. They made a drink from crushed cocoa beans and served it cold and unsweetened; they didn’t have sugar. In fact, in the 1520s, the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes himself relaxed with a cup or
two of this cold beverage, before wiping out the Aztec civilization.

Not until the end of the 19th-century, however, was “eating chocolate” widely produced. For this, sugar and cocoa butter were added.

Today Americans spend over six billion dollars a year on candy bars. Each American eats 5 kilos of chocolate every year. But the Swiss are the biggest chocolate lovers. They eat 10 kilos per year.

The Hershey company is America’s largest producer of chocolate (and, curiously, of pasta). But the M&M/Mars company has the best-selling candy bar-Snickers. Mars sells over one billion Snicker bars a year. They also make
M&Ms, Starburst, and Twix. Their treats aren’t limited to humans either. They make dog food and cat food too.

<>ACTIVITY: QUESTION FORMATION<>
Let’s practice forming questions. Below, you will find the answers to 5 questions pertaining to the chocolate text. Write these on the board. Students will write possible questions for them.

Answers:
1. Cocoa Beans
2. They drank it cold and unsweetened.
3. Hernando Cortez did.
4. Over six billion dollars.
5. The Swiss.

ANSWER KEY
(In this case, the “answers” are questions). Below are some–but not all–of the questions that are possible.

1. What is chocolate made of?
2. How did the Aztecs like/drink/serve their chocolate?
3. Who wiped out the Aztecs?
What European explorer drank chocolate in Mexico?
4. How much do Americans spend on candy bars every year?
5. Who eats/consumes over 10 kilos of chocolate every year?

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Your Comments?
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“ETsinRussia” welcomes comments, criticisms, suggestions, recommendations, requests for materials, photos of you and your family, and absurd remarks that have absolutely nothing to do with anything. Send them to
poosheesty@yahoo.com

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in the Next Issue: (March 9th, 2002)
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Cool business words (for my friends at IMI). An astonishing “air” text (for my friends at the Aerospace U.) And other priceless material–all for free. As always.

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Copyright 2002 Kevin McCaughey & I.M. Poosheesty
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