Exercise 1: Match the words with the pictures and find them in the word search.

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3 4

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6 7

8 9

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13 14

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( ) The Olympics Games

( ) Parrot

( ) Samba

( ) Amazon

( ) Ayrton Senna

( ) Toucan

( ) Christ the Redeemer

( ) Jaguar

( ) Iguassu Falls

( ) Pele

( ) Maracanã Stadium

( ) Favela

( ) Carnival

( ) Copacabana Beach

( ) Tribe

( ) Neymar

( ) Rio de Janeiro

( ) Capoeira

( ) Real

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19

P B L Q V H F C K O O X U W H W Y

T H E O L Y M P I C S G A M E S L

C A P O E I R A L E V A F O U X A

J C E E E B I R T O Q J B O X A V

C M U I D A T S Ã N A C A R A M I

C O P A C A B A N A B E A C H A N

L Y H X N J C M O T M P L N X Z R

A B T M B S Q B O D X W A E N O A

E P Z W F P T A H R Z L B R P N C

R E M E E D E R E H T T S I R H C

K D R I O D E J A N E I R O I O I

S L L A F U S S A U G I W I I Y T

A N N E S N O T R Y A J A G U A R

L E B F N A C U O T N E Y M A R O

Fast Facts

Population:

Capital:

Currency:

Language:

President:

Government:

201 million

Brasilia

Real

Portuguese

Dilma Roussef

Federal Republic

Geography

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and the largest country in South

America. It shares a border with every South American country except Ecuador and

Chile. The country has a very diverse landscape, but is most known for its massive

rainforest, the Amazon. The southeast coast of the country was once covered by

dense rainforests as well. Today, this area is home to Brazil’s biggest cities, such as

Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. 43% of the population lives in this area, but it only

covers 11% of the country’s territory.

History

The first settlers in Brazil came from Asia around 11,000 years ago. Other evidence,

however, indicates that the first people arrived in Brazil at least 32,000 years ago.

In the 15th century, Portuguese and Spanish explorers reached the coast of Brazil.

By that time, around 30 million indigenous people lived in Brazil. Today, only

300,000 native Brazilians live in the remote areas of the country.

In 1530, Portugal establish a colony in Brazil. They built sugarcane plantations and

sent gold and diamonds back to Europe. Soon after their colony was established,

the Portuguese sent people from West Africa to Brazil to work as slaves. In 1822,

Brazil became an independent country.

People and Culture

Most of Brazil’s population descends from three different ethnic groups: Europeans,

Amerindians and Africans. Because of the large variety in the backgrounds of the

people, the country has created a rich musical, religious and culinary culture.

Brazilian people are crazy about soccer and they have had a strong national soccer

team for a long time. The most famous Brazilian soccer player is Pele. Brazil has won

the World Cup five times, more than any other country!

Exercise 2: Read the passage and choose the best answers for the questions below.

1) What is the capital city of Brazil? a. Rio de Janeiro b. Sao Paulo c. Brasilia d. Amazon

2) Where in Brazil is the Amazon located? a. the north b. the southeast c. the east d. the south

3) In which part of Brazil do most people live? a. the north b. the southeast c. the east d. the west

4) Which country colonized Brazil in the past? a. Portugal b. Spain c. Britain d. USA

5) Where do most indigenous people live? a. Rio de Janeiro b. Sao Paulo c. Near the coast d. the Amazon

6) When did Brazil become an independent country? a. 15th century b. 1530 c. 1822 d. Brazil is a colony

7) Which ethnicities make up Brazil’s population? a. African b. European c. Amerindian d. all of above

8) How many people lived in Brazil around the year 1500? a. 300,000 b. 30 million c. 201 million d. none of above

Rio de Janeiro is the most famous city in Brazil. Around 6 million people live in the city and is also considered to be the most beautiful

city of the country by many people. The city looks spectacular because its urban areas are located between a bay with beautiful beaches

on one side and a mountain range with tropical forests on the other side.

Rio was discovered by Portuguese explorers in January 1502, they thought that the entrance of the

Guanabara Bay was the mouth a river. In the Portuguese language, Rio de Janeiro means “River of January”.

In 1822, Brazil became independent from the Portuguese and Rio de Janeiro became the capital city. In

1960 however, Brasilia was assigned as the new capital city of Brazil.

The city is home to several beaches. Copacabana and Leblon are one of the most famous ones. The beaches

are visited by local people and millions of tourists every year because of the wonderful weather throughout

the year.

Carnival is another major feature of the city. The festival is celebrated throughout the country, but the

celebration of Rio is known as “the world’s largest party”. Thousands of people go to the “Sambódromo”,

which is an avenue that was built to host the carnival parade. The Sambódromo, however, is just a small

part of the celebration, the festival takes place all over the city. During the four days of Carnival, the entire

city is filled with people who dance and enjoy the street parades with costumed samba dancers.

Apart from the beaches and Carnival, Rio de Janeiro has a lot more to offer to the millions of tourists who visit the city each year. There

is the Sugarloaf (a mountain peak), the Corcovado Mountain with the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, the Tijuca Forest and the firework

shows of the New Year’s Celebration.

Exercise 3: Are the following statements true or false? 1) Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s capital city.

2) Rio is surrounded by beaches and mountains.

3) Rio de Janeiro means ‘river of January’ in Portuguese.

4) It is good weather in Rio most of the time.

5) The Sambódromo was built to host carnival parades.

6) Carnival is celebrated throughout the year.

7) Christ the Redeemer is located on the Sugarloaf Mountain.

8) Rio is a touristic city.

Exercise 4: Complete the sentences with the words below.

(a) Leblon (c) independent (e) parade

(b) statue (d) Portuguese (f) beaches

1) Rio de Janeiro was discovered by _____ explorers.

2) Christ the Redeemer is a giant_____ .

3) The carnival _____ is held at the Sambódromo.

4) Rio de Janeiro is surrounded by mountains and _____ .

5) _____ is a famous beach in Rio.

6) Brazil became an _____ country in 1822.

Christ the Redeemer is a famous statue that overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro. The landmark is

125 feet tall and is located on top of the Corcovado Mountain, it probably has one of the best views

that can be found in Rio de Janeiro. The construction of the statue was completed in 1931 and was

funded by the Catholic Church. It is a symbol of Christianity in Brazil. A Catholic Priest was the first who

suggested that a religious monument

had to be built in Rio in 1850. 70 years

later, a group of people petitioned to build

the landmark statue and it finally became

reality. It took 9 years to finish the statue. The

statue of Christ the Redeemer was designed by Heitor da Silva

and sculpted by Paul Landowski. The designer gave the statue

open arms, which makes the statue look like a giant white cross,

but also seems to welcome visitors. More than 5,000 people visit

the statue every day. In the evening, the statue of Christ is

illuminated by powerful spotlights.

Fun Facts

The stones used to build of the statue come from Sweden.

The statue was constructed in pieces which had to be

carried to the top of the mountain.

In 2008, the statue was struck by lightning, which damaged

the head, eyebrows and fingers.

Christ the Redeemer became one of the New Seven Wonders

of the World in 2007.

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

1) Where in Rio is the Christ the Redeemer located? ____________________________________________________

2) When was the statue built? ____________________________________________________

3) Why does the statue have open arms? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

4) How many people visit the statue each week? ____________________________________________________

5) The statue was built in Sweden.

a. True b. false

6) The statue is a religious symbol.

a. True b. false

7) It took 70 years to construct the statue.

a. True b. false

Exercise 5: Read the passage and answer the questions below.

Exercise 6: The table below contains words that have been chopped in half. Find the pieces that fit together and write them in the answer area on the right.

STA GIOUS VADO

JESUS MARK LAND

CATH TUE OLIC

CORCO CHRIST RELI

6) When does carnival take place? a. throughout the year b. in the summer c. during new year’s eve d. none of above

7) The Brazilian people welcome tourists during the festivities. a. true b. false

8) All people in Brazil wear extravagant costumes during carnival. a. true b. false

9) How long does carnival last? a. 4 days b. a week c. one day d. a month

Carnival is the most popular _________________ in Brazil. In Rio de Janeiro alone, around 5

million people join the celebrations. It is celebrated each _________________ , on the

Saturday before Ash Wednesday (the first day of fasting in Christianity). The party takes place

in pretty much every corner of Brazilian cities. The local people welcome _________________

to take part in the celebrations. Carnival in Brazil has a _________________ style, the African

immigrant slaves heavily influenced the festival with their spectacular _________________

abilities. The African slaves were brought to Brazil by the Portuguese _________________, they

gave life to the first samba rhythms. During the festival, there are many parties, festivals and

_________________ in the streets of many Brazilian cities. The Samba School Parade is the

main attraction of the four-day event. Around 3,000 performers wear _________________ full

of glitter, colors and feathers. They dance down the parade alongside spectacular floats into

the “Sambódromo” (an avenue that was built to host the carnival parade). Different Samba

schools _________________ with each other for the title of Carnival Champion. The

performance of each school has its own routine and parade float with a certain

_________________ , such as politics, art, music or sport. They already start practicing

their performance several months before Carnival takes place. Judges decide which group of dancers will be awarded with a prize.

spring compete costumes musical theme

unique festival tourists parades colonizers

Exercise 7: Complete the text with the words below.

1) During carnival, the people ….. . a. fast b. drink c. dance d. B and C are correct

2) The African slaves introduced Carnival in Brazil. a. true b. false

3) What is the Sambódromo? a. a party district in Rio b. a samba school c. a boulevard for parades d. the carnival champion

4) What is the main event of Carnival? a. the parade b. Ash Wednesday c. the judges d. none of above

5) Carnival in Brazil has a unique style, because .. a. it was influenced by the musical abilities of African slaves b. tourists are welcome to join the celebrations c. there are many parties and festivals d. none of above

Exercise 8: Read the passage and choose the best answers for the questions below.

The slums in the cities of Brazil are called favelas. In Rio de Janeiro alone, there

are more than 300 favelas! The first favelas were built in the late 19th century,

mostly by soldiers who had no other place to live. Over the years, many former

slaves, who didn’t own a house and had no job, moved to the favelas as well.

Before the first favelas were built, the poor citizens were pushed away by the

authorities to suburbs outside the city. In the 1970s, however, many people moved from the countryside to the cities. They couldn’t

find houses to live, so they moved to the favelas. By 2010, 6% of the Brazilian population lived in slums.

Most favelas are located in the undesirable parts of cities, often against the slopes of hills. They are often build on privately owned land

and are illegal. The houses in the slums are constructed from whatever material the people can find, such as plastic and metal sheets.

Some houses, however, are built with bricks and sometimes even have several floors. The poorly constructed houses are prone to

extreme weather, such as heavy rain and landslides. Some houses in the favelas don’t even have electricity or runn ing water. The

favelas are often plagued by sewage and poor sanitation, this often leads to spreading diseases and harmful medical conditions of the

people residing in these areas. Crime is a major problem in these neighborhoods, there is almost no police in the favelas. Most favelas

are ruled by drug gangs, who are heavily armed.

Exercise 10: Complete the sentences with the words below.

(a) undesirable (b) slaves (c) police (d) favelas

(d) natural disasters (f) sanitation (g) population

1) At first, most favelas were inhabited by soldiers and _____.

2) The houses are sometimes destroyed by _____.

3) The _____ were built by people who couldn’t find a house to live.

4) Most favelas are located in the _____ parts of cities.

5) There are often diseases because of poor _____.

6) There is hardly any _____ in the favelas.

7) Around 6% of Brazil’s _____ lives in favelas.

Exercise 9: Are the statements true or false? 1) Favelas are slums.

2) Some houses of the favelas have several floors.

3) Living conditions in the favelas are not good.

4) The first favelas were built by soldiers.

5) Most favelas were built on flat grounds.

6) The houses are built from many different kinds of materials.

7) Drug gangs in the favelas are very powerful.

8) The houses in the favelas don’t have electricity and running water.

9) The favelas are located in the countryside.

The Amazon is the second longest river in the world, it is 3,980 miles long. It is also

one of the widest rivers, at some points, the Amazon is 6 miles wide! There is a lot

of water flowing in the river, around 20% of the water that pours out of the world’s

rivers into the oceans comes from the Amazon. The river collects roughly 40% of the

water of the continent of South America. There are many tributaries, some of them

are longer than 1,000 miles!

The Amazon River is part of a much larger area which is called the Amazon Rainforest.

60% of Brazil’s territory consists of tropical rainforest. It covers over a billion acres and

spreads over nine countries. The immense area is home to a large variety of plants and

animals. In some parts of the forest, the vegetation is so dense that the sunlight can’t

even reach the surface. Around 20% of the world’s oxygen is produced by the Amazon

Rainforest, that’s why it is often called the “lungs of the planet”.

There are four different ecosystems in the Amazon Rainforest.

The surface of the jungle receives very little sunlight, so there is

not much life, it mostly consists of decaying plants and animals. The under-story is the second ecosystem and

also does not have much sunlight. It mainly consists of broadleaf plants with large leafs. The canopy is located

above the under-story and contains plants with very dense foliage. Most of these plants grow fruit and bear

flowers. Some plants in this ecosystem retain water and provide a habitat for small organisms. The layer above

the canopy is called the emergent layer. There is plenty of sunshine and consists of massive trees that are

home to many animal species.

The rainforest has a lot of resources and a warm and humid climate, these factors make it an ideal place

for many different animals to live. There are still new animal species being discovered today. The Amazon

River is the habitat of more than 3,000 different species of fish. The piranha is probably the most famous

and feared animal that swims in the rivers of the Amazon. There are also many different kinds of

amphibians, such as toads and frogs.

The rainforest of Brazil is also home to

1,700 different bird species. Many of

these birds are very colorful, such as

hummingbirds, macaws, toucans and

parrots. There are 650 kinds of

reptiles and nearly 600 mammal species. As the ecosystems of the

area vary, different kinds of animals live in different places.

Many animals who live in the Amazon are threatened by

deforestation. Increasing agriculture, logging and urbanization are

the major problems that these animals are facing. A decrease in

resources, such as food and shelter have increased the list of

endangered animals, such as manatees, harpy eagles and jaguars.

More than 20% of the rainforest has been destroyed.

Fast Facts

Around 2,700 million acres of rainforest is burned

each year.

There are around 50 tribes in the Amazon that have

never had contact with the outside world.

In the year 1500, around 7 million indigenous people

were believed to live in the Amazon area. Today, there

are only 250,000 Amazon natives left.

During the wet season, the Amazon River can become

wider than 100 miles.

The Amazon Rainforest is

the largest tropical

rainforest in the world.

1) What is the Amazon? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

2) In which countries is the Amazon located? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

3) Why is the Amazon called “the lungs of the planet”? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

4) What are the 4 ecosystems of the Amazon? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

5) In which ecosystem do most animals live? Why is this so? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Exercise 11: Read the passage and answer the questions below.

6) Why is there only limited life on the floor of the rainforest? Explain. ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

7) Name 10 animals that live in the Amazon Rainforest. ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

8) What are the problems that the Amazon is facing? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Exercise 12: Complete the crossword puzzle.

Across

2. A famous fish that swims in the Amazon River.

6. The ..... layer consists of giant trees.

7. The Amazon is home to 1,700 species of ..... .

8. Around 20% of the world's ..... is produced by the Amazon Rainforest.

9. The Amazon Rainforest is the ..... rainforest in the world.

Down

1. Streams that flow to another body of water.

3. The Amazon is threatened by .....

4. In some parts of the rainforest, ..... doesn't reach the floor.

5. A long time ago, the Amazon was home to 7 million ..... people.

6. The Amazon has 4 different ..... .

The Amazon Rainforest in Brazil is home to many different tribes. The tribal people rely on

the resources of the jungle, such as food, shelter and medicines, for their survival. Today,

there are only very few tribes who still live their traditional way of life. Most of them have

been displaces by outside settlers or have been forced to give up their lifestyles by the

government.

There are around 240 tribes who reside in the Amazon of Brazil today, there are roughly 900,000 indigenous Brazilian people. The

government of Brazil has designated 690 different areas for these people to live. It consists of 13% of Brazil’s territory and nearly 99%

of these lands are located in the Amazon Rainforest. Each tribe has its own language,

culture and territory. Most of them had contact with the outside world, but there are

still tribes that have never had contact at all!

Most tribes are located near rivers. The indigenous

people grow vegetables, hunt animals and fish. Some

tribes use guns for hunting, but there are still tribes

that use bows and arrows, spears and blowguns.

Other tribes are nomadic, they have no settlements

and live deep inside the jungle. These nomads are

able to build a home within hours and abandon it

several days later. They sometimes grows crops, but rely more on hunting and gathering food.

The problems that the indigenous people face are mostly about their land. People from the outside

want to use their land for farming or want the resources underneath it. The major threats are oil and

gas exploration, illegal logging and the spread of farming. The tribes whose lands are respected

generally do well. However, the tribal people don’t have land ownership rights, so governments and

companies can easily occupy their land.

1) Many different tribes live in the Amazon.

2) Most tribes in the Amazon are nomadic.

3) The tribal lands cover the majority of Brazil’s territory.

4) Most tribes of the Amazon have never had contact with the outside world.

5) The tribes who live in the Amazon are very different from each other.

6) Most tribes have changed their traditional way of life.

7) Nomadic tribes are located near the rivers.

8) Tribes live in designated areas.

9) Many tribes are threatened by the outside world.

10) There are around 900,000 tribes in the Amazon.

11) Nomadic tribes don’t build permanent settlements.

Exercise 13: Are the following statements true or false?

1) scsrueeoR _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The indigenous people rely on the ….. of the jungle.

2) diegnunIso _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

In Brazil, there are 900,000 ….. people.

3) luuCtre _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Each tribe has its own ….. .

4) oNidacm _ _ _ _ _ _ _

….. tribes build no permanent settlements.

5) Lionggg _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Illegal …. is a major threat to the Amazon.

Exercise 14: Unscramble the words. Hints are given below.

Copacabana Beach is one of the most famous and beautiful beaches in the world. It runs for 3 miles along the densely populated residential areas of Rio de Janeiro. Many hotels, restaurants and bars are located in this touristic area. The lights go on as the night descends and football and volleyball are played on the beach until the late hours.

The Maracanã Stadium is a massive stadium in Rio de Janeiro that was built for the 1950 World Cup. It holds the record for accommodating the largest number of spectators during the World Cup final with 199,854 people. In the 1990s, the stadium was modified and now holds around 100,000 spectators. Currently, four football teams of the city play in the

stadium and it also hosted the opening of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies.

Fernando de Noronha is an island off the northeast coast of Brazil. It became a marine national park in 1988 and not more than 420 tourists are allowed on the island at any time. The island has a rugged landscape with towering rock sculptures, waterfalls, beaches and natural swimming pools. Portuguese explorers discovered the island in 1503 and used it as a prison.

The historic center of the city of Salvador was the first capital of Brazil between 1549 and 1763. The architecture of the buildings in the city are a mix of European, African and Amerindian styles. It is also the place where the world’s first slave market was established. The city has managed to preserve many outstanding renaissance buildings. The historic center is very recognizable by its brightly colored houses.

The Iguassu Falls consist of 275 different waterfalls and spread over nearly 2 miles of the Iguassu River. There are many islands along the edge that separate the waterfalls, some falls are 269 feet high. The waterfalls were formed by a volcanic eruption which left a massive crack in the surface of the Earth. During the rainy season, 450,000 cubic feet of water flows over the falls every second! The Iguassu Falls are located on the border of Brazil and Argentina and are part of the Iguassu National Park.

Sugarloaf Mountain is a landmark peak

that overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is named for its shape,

a concentrated sugarloaf. The top of the mountain is 1300

feet high, it can be reached by cable cars, from where people can enjoy a spectacular view over the city, the Guanabara Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

1) Salvador … a. is Brazil’s capital city b. was built in many different styles c. has a slave market d. all of above

2) The Maracanã Stadium was built for the … a. 2014 World Cup b. 2016 Olympics c. 1950 Olympics d. none of above

3) The Sugarloaf Mountain is located … a. in the Amazon b. in the capital city c. in Rio de Janeiro d. in Sao Paulo

4) Copacabana Beach is located … a. on Fernando de Noronha b. in Rio de Janeiro c. in a national park c. none of above

5) The Iguassu Falls … a. were formed by a volcano b. consist of many falls c. is located on a border d. all of above

6) Fernando de Noronha … a. is a very touristic place b. was built in 1503 c. is a prison d. none of above

7) Sugarloaf Mountain … a. is located near the sea b. is made of sugarloaf c. was discovered in 1300 d. none of above

8) Which attraction is not located in Rio de Janeiro? a. Salvador b. Sugarloaf Mountain c. Christ the Redeemer d. Maracanã Stadium

Exercise 15: Read the passage and choose the best answers for the questions below.

Exercise 16: Find the hidden words in the word search, hints are given on the left.

The historic center of ….. has many colored

houses

The Iguassu Falls are located on the border

with ….. .

The Maracanã Stadium will host the opening

ceremonies of the ….. in 2016.

Fernando de Noronha is an ….. .

Copacabana Beach is located along a ….. area.

The Iguassu Falls were created by a ….. .

The Sugarloaf Mountain has the shape of a ….. .

Only 420 tourists are ….. on Fernando de

Noronha at any time.

The top of Sugarloaf Mountain can be reached

with ….. .

The first ….. was established in Salvador.

The Portuguese discovered ….. in 1503.

R G K A R O R H K H K V

S U A H E D Q F W Q O I

T N C N S W N K C L E O

Z N I O I A W A C Z E W

O Z N R D T L A L Z G S

L E A O E R N V K S M F

Y A A N N O M E A D I A

M O Z E T W F C G D O O

P V N D I N L E R R O L

I R E O A L W Q D M A R

C F N D L D E W O L L A

S Z K N F I H O R I L G

Y N C A B L E C A R S U

F S P N F E U S F M G S

T E K R A M E V A L S L

S B Q E L S M K H F G K

I V E F Q Z L C W R I T

1) _ _ _ _ _ _

2) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3) _ _ _ _ _ _ _

4) _ _ _ _ _ 5) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

6) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 7) _ _ _ _ _ _

Answer: _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Exercise 17: Write the names of the things related to Brazil and find the hidden word.

5 4

3

7

1 6

2

1) mSaab _ _ _ _ _

An old Brazilian style of dance.

2) omnAza _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A large rainforest.

3) vFeala _ _ _ _ _ _

The slums of Brazil.

4) vrlnaaiC _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A famous festival from Brazil.

5) bcapoaCnaa _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Brazil’s most famous beach.

6) aasilrBi _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The capital city of Brazil.

7) aPtouglr _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Brazil was once a colony of this country.

Exercise 18: Unscramble the words. Hints are given below.