ENGLISH DAY 2018: JAMAICA

This year our English Day is dedicated to Jamaica. 

JAMAICAN FOOD

QUESTION 20: REVISION

1. What are the names of the things on the right?
2. Write them down and find the hidden word.

QUESTION 20: What is the hidden word?

QUESTION 19: ATTRACTIONS IN JAMAICA (PART 2)

Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park
The Blue Mountains and John Crow Mountains National Park is a place with a spectacular natural scenery. There are mountains, waterfalls and rainforests with exotic plants and animals. The place consists of 200,000 acres of tropical rainforest. It is also a natural habitat to around 800 native plants of the region and
more than 200 species of birds, including the world’s largest butterfly. The Blue Mountain Peak is the highest point of the park and Jamaica. Hikers who go to the top of the mountain are able to see all the way to Cuba on a clear day.

Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park

Mystic Mountain Rainforest
The Mystic Mountain Rainforest is located near the Dunn’s River Falls. The area is home to many species of birds and also has butterfly gardens. Apart from its wildlife, tourist can enjoy a tram ride along a scenic route which floats 700 feet above the rainforest canopy and a bobsled ride (!) that swoops down the mountains through the dense jungle to the top of the falls. 

Mystic Mountain Rainforest

Rio Grande River
The Rio Grande River runs through a tropical rainforest. Many tourists enjoy pole bamboo rafts on the river because of its gentle rapids and beautiful scenery. People have already rafted the river since 1911 when bananas were transported along the river. 

Rio Grande River

QUESTION 19: Rafting on the Rio Grande is popular because of its ...................................

Optional videos:

QUESTION 18: ATTRACTIONS IN JAMAICA (PART 1)

Dunn’s River Falls

The Dunn’s River Falls are Jamaica most popular tourist attraction. The waterfall is 600 feet long and 180 feet high. It consists of several terraces and wading pools. The ledges of the waterfall make perfect steps for visitors to climb are surrounded by a dense forest that provides shade to the area keeping the visitors cool.

Dunn’s River Falls

Seven Miles Beach
Seven Mile Beach is one of Jamaica’s most beautiful white sand beaches. It is also known as Negril Beach. It is a popular destination for tourists because of its calm waves and watersport activities, such as diving, swimming and parasailing.

Seven Miles Beach

Kingston

Kingston is located at the foot of the Blue Mountains in the south of Jamaica. It is a bustling city with lots of attractions. The Bob Marley museum, at the reggae star’s former home, is one of the most popular attractions of the city. The Devon House is another landmark of the city. It is a 19th-century mansion and home of the world’s first black millionaire, George Stiebel.

The Blue Mountains

Fort Royal is located at the tip of the peninsula that surrounds Kingston Harbor. It is a fortress that was built by the Spanish and British colonizers in the 17th century.

QUESTION 18:
Seven Miles beach is also known as...

QUESTION 17: PORT ROYAL, A CITY OF PIRATES

Port Royal is a coastal town in Southern Jamaica. The city was founded by Spanish colonizers in 1518. The coastal city was conquered by the British in 1655. In order to protect the city from the Spanish, the British began sending the word that pirates would be welcome in Port Royal to help protect the city.

Soon after, pirates began flooding in and the town was full of large ships with guns. The city used to be a peaceful place but transformed into a criminal nest. There were hundreds of taverns and brothels. At that time, the people called Port Royal "the richest and wickedest city in the world".

Many pirates found a safe haven and the local shopkeepers were becoming very wealthy because of the pirated loot that was brought home. Nearly all modern myths about pirates come from this period and place.

In the late 17th century, the pirates were no longer needed for protection as Anti-piracy laws were passed. The men who once kept the town safe fled to other areas or were arrested and hung.

In 1692, an earthquake struck Port Royal. Nearly the entire city disappeared beneath the sea level in a matter of minutes. More than 3000 people died. The people called it God's punishment in this wicked city. After the earthquake, Kingston became the new trading centre and the capital city of Jamaica. 

QUESTION 17: 
Which of the following statements is not true?
a. Spanish colonizers were the first inhabitants of Port Royal.
b. Local businessmen were happy with the pirates in their city.
c. Pirates took control of the city after they defeated the Spanish.
d. Before the pirates arrived, Port Royal was a peaceful city.

QUESTION 16: FAMOUS PEOPLE (6)

Marcus Garvey

(1887 - 1940)

Marcus Garvey was a civil rights activist and one of the most influential black leaders of the early 20th century. In 1914, Garvey established the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). The UNIA became an international organization that supported black people with economic projects and protested against racial discrimination. Garvey moved to the USA in 1916 where he preached his message of freedom throughout the country. Garvey's movement was the largest international movement of African people in modern history. At its peak, the movement had 8 million followers. 

QUESTION 16: What is the Universal Negro Improvement Association?

QUESTION 15: FAMOUS PEOPLE (5)

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
(1986 - present)

Shelly-Ann Fraser- Pryce is a Jamaican sprinter who was born in Kingston. She is the first Jamaican sprinter who won a gold medal in the 100-meter sprint at the Olympic Games. 

QUESTION 15: Who is Shelly-Ann Fraser- Pryce?

QUESTION 14: FAMOUS PEOPLE (4)

Grace Jones
(1952 - present)

Grace Jones is an actress, model and singer. She is best known for her appearances in 'Conan the Destroyer' and James Bond's 'A View to Kill'. Jones was born in Jamaica in 1952 and was raised in New York.

QUESTION 14: In which famous movies did Grace Jones star?

QUESTION 13: FAMOUS PEOPLE 3

Usain Bolt

(1986 – present)

Usain Bolt was born in 1986 and is the world’s fastest runner. He won six Olympic gold medals. During the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Bolt set three new world records. He ran the 100-meter race in 9.63 seconds and also holds the world record for the 200- meter sprint.

While growing up in Jamaica, Bolt’s favourite sports were cricket and football. Running was just a secondary sport for him. He started taking it more seriously after his cricket coach advised him to do so.

QUESTION 13: How many gold medals did Usain Bolt win?

QUESTION 12: FAMOUS PEOPLE (2)

Patrick Ewing
(1962 - present)

Patrick Ewing is a Jamaican- American basketball player who played for the New York Knicks. He was born in 1952 in Kingston, Jamaica. Ewing had a very successful career and he had been selected for the All-Star team 11 times winning two Olympic gold medals and an induction into the Hall of Fame. Currently, he is the associate head coach of the Charlotte Hornets.

QUESTION 12: Which basketball team did Patrick Ewing play for?

QUESTION 11: FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM JAMAICA (1)

Bob Marley (1945 – 1981)

Bob Marley was and still is a very popular reggae artist. He was born in 1945 in a town called Nine Miles. He started his reggae career with a band called the Wailers. His songs are mostly about Rastafari and social issues. Bob Marley died in 1981 in Miami. He is a symbol of Jamaican culture and is considered as the worldwide icon of reggae.

Bob Marley

QUESTION 11: What was the name of Bob Marley's band?

QUESTION 10: RASTAFARIANISM

Rastafarianism is a very young religion or movement that was found in Jamaica in the 1920s and 1930s. There are around one million followers of the religion in the world. Most Rastafarians live in Jamaica, but it has also spread to communities in Europe and the United States. It is most appealing to young African Americans. They are also known as Rastafarians, Rastas or Dreads. The Rastafarian beliefs are a mix of the ideas of Christianity and some African beliefs and traditions.

Haile Selassie I

The ideas of Rastafarianism were developed by Marcus Garvey. He was a political activist who wanted to improve the lives of black people around the world. He predicted that there would be a black messiah in Africa. A messiah is a leader or saviour of a group or cause. This person turned out to be Ras Tafari, a prince in Ethiopia. 

Marcus Garvey

Ethiopia is a country in East Africa. In 1930, Ras Tafari became the emperor of Ethiopia. As an emperor, he was called Haile Selassie I. Followers of Rastafarianism believe that Haile Selassie is the messiah of their religion. Rastafari holds many beliefs that are related to Christianity and Judaism. Their god is known as Jah. They believe that Jah took a human form first as Jesus Christ and then as Ras Tafari, the black messiah.

Jah Ras Tafari

Rastafarians are vegetarians. They do not consume alcohol, smoke cigarettes or drink coffee. They prefer to eat natural products such as fruit and vegetables. The Rastafari diet is known as Ital. Additives in food, such as artificial flavours and colour are generally avoided.

They do not believe in cutting their hair, as they believe this comes from a passage in the Bible. Instead, they grow it and twist it into dreadlocks.

Men wearing dreadlocks

Occasionally, worshipers wear a green, red and yellow coloured hat over their dreadlocks. These colours represent the flag of Ethiopia. 

Flag of Ethiopia

MORE FACTS ABOUT RASTAFARIANISM

1. Rastafarian believe that reincarnation follows death and that life is eternal.
2.  Rastafarians believe that black people were the chosen people of God and that they have been suppressed through colonization and slavery.
3.  A number of Old Testament Laws are followed by Rastafarians.
4. Rastafarians are opposed to abortion.
5. Women have a separate code for religious and social practices.(They mustn't wear trousers. They mustn't wear pink or purple items of clothes. They mustn't speak about their sexual life. They must be quiet and obedient to men. They cannot be leaders. They must take care of their husband and children...)
6. The lion is the symbol of Rastafari.

                                    

QUESTION 10: Which of the following statements is not true?

a. Rastafarians believe the soul is reborn after death.
b. There are no Rastafarians living outside Jamaica.
c. The former emperor of Ethiopia was the messiah of Rastafarianism.
d. There are different rules for women in Rastafarianism. 

QUESTION 9: JAMAICAN MUSIC

Reggae is a kind music that originated in Jamaica in the 1960s. The music style is a mix of Jamaican folk style, R&B and jazz music. It became an important part of Jamaican culture and a way for Jamaicans to define themselves. It has had a large impact on the country’s society as it is a form of music for poor people in which their word can be heard and spoken. Reggae reflects Jamaica’s colonial history and suffering of the people during the time of slavery.

The music style is often performed by Rastafarian groups. Rastafarianism is a religion that originated in Jamaica. Most reggae songs are about religion, love and social issues. By the 1970s, Reggae became a popular music style around the world. Bob  Marley was undoubtedly the most famous reggae artist. He is still a popular artist today with many of his songs, such as No Woman No Cry, One Love, Redemption Song and I Shot the Sheriff.

The music style is very important for Jamaica. Reggae attracts lots of tourists to the country. It is considered as a part of Jamaican culture. 

QUESTION 9: When did reggae become a popular music style around the world?

QUESTION 8: HISTORY OF JAMAICA (PART 4)

In the late 1700s, Jamaica had become the largest slave markets in the world. Since the slaves were very upset with their situation, this led to many uprisings. These became known as the Maroon Wars. 

There were violent battles between the British colonizers and the Maroons. 

In 1740, the Maroons succeeded to retain their rights to freedom and ownership of property. Slavery was finally abolished in 1838. In 1962, Jamaica became an independent country. 

QUESTION 8: What is the name of the communities of slaves who fled into the forests of Jamaica and fought the British colonizers?

QUESTION 7: HISTORY OF JAMAICA (PART 3)

Jamaica was ruled by the Spanish until 1655 when the British gained control over the island. During the battles between the British and the Spanish, many slaves found an opportunity to flee from the farms into the forests of the island. They formed independent communities, known as the Maroons. Nonetheless, the British rulers continued the sugarcane industry and brought more slaves from Africa to work on the farms.

Tacky's War 

QUESTION 7: Why did the European colonizers bring people from Africa to Jamaica?

QUESTION 6: HISTORY OF JAMAICA (PART 2)

Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus was the first European to arrive in Jamaica in 1494. The Spanish colonized the island and named it St. Iago. Soon after Jamaica was colonized, the Arawak people were enslaved. Nearly 100 years later, all the natives died because of the way they were treated and because of the diseases which the Spanish brought along with them. In order to get people to work on the sugar plantations, the Spanish settlers brought in new slaves from Africa.

QUESTION 6: 
What was the first European country to colonize Jamaica?

QUESTION 5: HISTORY OF JAMAICA

The first people to reach Jamaica were the Arawak people. The Arawaks are also known as the Taino people. They were South American tribes who reached the island in the 7th century. They called it Xaymaca, which means “the land of wood and water”. The Arawaks settled throughout the island. Their economy was based on fishing and farming. It is believed that there were 60,000 Arawaks living in Jamaica. They were led by a chief.

An Arawak Family

QUESTIONS 5:  Who are the Arawak people?

QUESTION 4: GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

Jamaica used to be a colony of the British Empire. Even though the country is independent, Queen Elizabeth II (of Britain) is still the head of state of the country. Nonetheless, her role is just ceremonial. Jamaica is led by a Prime Minister who is the head of the government and appoints ministers to run different departments.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

Tourism and farming are the two main drivers for Jamaica’s economy. Coffee beans, bananas and sugarcane are the most
important export products. 

QUESTION 4:  Is Queen Elizabeth II the monarch of Jamaica?

QUESTION 3: PEOPLE & CULTURE

Jamaica has an urban society and the majority of the population live in cities. Kingston, the capital of Jamaica makes up for more than 60 percent of the country’s population. About 90% of the population is of African descent. Most of the other people are immigrants from China, India and Germany.

Kingston

Many religions are practised in Jamaica, including Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam. Rastafari is another religion that is popular on the island. It is a religion based on Christianity and was formed during the civil rights movement in the 1930s. Rastafarians wear their hair in dreadlocks and wear colourful clothes (red, gold and green). 

Rastafarians

QUESTION 3: (Complete)

The majority of Jamaica's population is of ............. descent.

QUESTION 2: GEOGRAPHY & NATURE

Geography
Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean Sea, about 600 miles south of Florida. The island is very mountainous. In fact, Jamaica is just the tip of a mountain that rises from the surface of the sea.

Jamaica

Nature

There are 26 bird species in Jamaica that are not found anywhere else in the world. The vervain is one of these birds and is the second smallest of all bird species. It is just 2.5 inches long.

Vervain bird

The island is also home to the largest butterfly in the Western 

Hemisphere, the Homerus swallowtail. Its wings span 6 inches!

a Homerus swallowtail

 Unfortunately, Jamaica’s wildlife is decreasing. Animals such as the crocodile, manatee and iguana are now endangered.

QUESTION 2: How many bird species are there in Jamaica? 

QUESTION 1: JAMAICA INTRODUCTION

QUESTION 1: What is the official language of Jamaica?