Page 18 - Hazırlık İngilizce | 11.Ünite

READING & WRITING

1 READING

a Read, scan the text, and find out how many national holidays are mentioned.

OUR NATIONAL DAYS

Nationals Festivals are the greatest days that our nation celebrates together. When we celebrate our
national days we remember our ancestors' victories and we understand the importance of their sacrifice.
The public hang Turkish flags everywhere in our National Festivals.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, dedicated The National Sovereignty
and Children’s Day to the children of our country. The Festival is about the world where children can
live with love and friendship peacefully. We celebrate it on April 23. It's the establishment date of the
Turkish Grand National Assembly. Turkish schoolchildren take seats in the Parliament on this day
and symbolically govern the country. Republic Day is the anniversary of the declaration of the Turkish
Republic on October 29, 1923. After the victory in the War of Independence, the Turkish Parliament
proclaimed the new Turkish state as a republic. Public administration buildings, schools, post offices,
and many small businesses are usually closed on this day. Schoolchildren perform theatre sketches,
poetry readings, and traditional Turkish dances.
19 May, Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day is an annual national festival because Atatürk
th
arrived in Samsun on May 19, 1919, so it’s the starting date of the Turkish War of Independence. Young
Turkish athletes carry the national flag from Samsun to Ankara in about 10 days. The Turkish president
accepts the flag at a ceremony on May 19. Several sports events take place on this day all around Turkey.
Turkish War of Independence ended with the victory of Turkish Armies in Dumlupınar Battle on
August 26-30, 1922. Victory Day is celebrated with ceremonies in every part of Turkey on August 30
every year. Air forces celebrate the day with demonstration flights and military schools hold annual
graduation ceremonies.

b Mark the statements as true (T) or false (F).

1. We celebrate the festivals with all nations. _____

2. Atatürk gave Children’s Day to the children as a gift. _____
3. The Turkish parliament declared the Turkish Republic on

August 30. _____
4. Atatürk arrived in Samsun and ended the Turkish War of

Independence. _____
5. Athletes arrive in Ankara and the Turkish president gives

them a Turkish flag. _____
c Answer the questions about the text above.
1. What is the aim of each festival mentioned in the text?
2. What do Turkish schoolchildren do on The National
Sovereignty and Children’s Day?
3. Whom do the athletes take the flag to?
4. Which battle ended the Turkish Independence War?

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