Introduction
1. Valentine’s Day is a holiday from Europe, also celebrated in the United States and many other countries. What does Valentine’s Day celebrate?
2. Have you seen Valentine’s Day things being sold in your local stores? (Wal-Mart, Kroger, etc.) What kinds of things have you seen?
3. What are the popular colors for this holiday?
You can read about the history of Valentine’s Day here.
Reading
Now look at this graphic and answer the questions: Valentine’s Day by the Numbers
4. When did Saint Valentine’s Day become associated with love and romance?
5. List three things that are popular gifts on Valentine’s Day:
6. How many Sweethearts candies are produced every year?
7. What is the most popular gift from flower shops around Valentine’s Day?
8. Which roses are the most popular?
9. Which town in Arkansas has a “love-ly” name?
10. What drink is popular on Valentine’s Day?
Listening
Now listen to the following radio story and answer the questions. You can read the story, but for listening practice, you should listen the first time without reading.
A-Twitter Over Updated Sweethearts Candy by Patty Wight (NPR, February 14 2010)
11. How do people describe the taste of Sweethearts candy? (check all that apply)
_____ Yummy
_____ The messages are like talk
_____ Delicious chalk
_____ Apple pie
_____ Weird tasting
_____ Like medicine
12. How long has the Necco Company been making Sweethearts?
13. Now they have “revamped” the recipe. From context, what do you think this word means?
14. What three things have been revamped?
15. Are Sweethearts a popular Valentine’s Day candy? How popular?
16. Name two original flavors of Sweethearts:
17. Name two new flavors:
18. Name two new messages printed on the candies:
19. Near the end, the story mentions people’s “palates.” From the context, what do you think this word means?
