( ) Paella

( ) Sagrada Familia

( ) Tapas

( ) Flamenco

( ) La Tomatina

( ) Bull fight

( ) Siesta

( ) Guggenheim Museum

( ) Picasso

( ) Football

( ) Penelope Cruz

( ) Oranges

( ) Sangria

( ) Nadal

( ) Battlo Houses

Exercise 1: Match the words with the pictures and complete the crossword puzzle.

4

14

13 12

11

10

9

8 7

6 5

4

3

2

1

Geography

Spain is located in the south of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The central part of Spain

is a dry area that is crisscrossed with mountains. The rivers that run from the mountains

to the coast create fertile farmlands near the coastline. In summer, the country gets very

hot, while in the winter the weather is cold and dry.

Nature

As Spain links Europe and Africa, it is a resting place for birds that migrate between the

two continents. It is also home to mammals, such as the lynx, fox, wildcat, wolf and deer.

Much of Spain's wildlife is suffering from pollution and their habitats are getting smaller.

Spain used to have many large forests, but due to tree cutting the only large forests can

be found northern part of the country. Several nature and wildlife parks were created in

an effort to preserve nature but they cover just 7% of the country.

History

The Phoenicians settled in Spain around 800 BC, they called the country "Span", which

means hidden land. Nearly 700 years later, in the first century BC, the Romans invaded

and conquered Spain. After the Romans had left, Spain was invaded by several tribes from

Europe. In 711 AD, Muslims from North Africa invaded the country and spread their

culture across Spain. They introduced all kinds of things that the Spanish had never seen

before, such as new crops and irrigation systems. In the 10th century AD, the golden age

of Islamic rule in Spain peaked. They developed a society with advances in medicine,

mathematics and philosophy. Islamic Spain came to an end in 1492, when Christian

kingdoms from the north of the country defeated the Muslims. After the defeat,

Catholicism was spread over the country. Soon, the country became powerful as they

explored the seas and brought a lot of gold and silver from the Americas. This powerful

period came to an end when Spain lost the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. In the 1930s, more

than half a million people died during the Spanish Civil War. After the revolution, a brutal

dictator, called Francisco Franco, ruled Spain until his death in 1975. After Franco's death,

Spain developed itself into a modern and democratic European nation.

People & Culture

Most Spanish people have similar ethnic backgrounds. It is a mix of the original people of

the Iberian Peninsula, the Celts and conquerors from Europe and Africa. The Spanish

people love eating, drinking and meeting with friends. Typical Spanish appetizers, such as

tapas are very popular. The country is also famous for its music and dances during their

festivals.

Government & Economy

Spain has a parliamentary monarchy. The king is the head of state of the country, but does not have any real power. The parliament,

which is elected by the people, makes all decisions. The government system in Spain is very decentralized, this means that all 17 regions

of the country manage their own hospitals, schools and other services. Many tourists visit Spain each year, the sunny beaches and

historic cities are particularly popular. It the second most popular tourist destination after France. Tourism is an important driver for the

Spanish economy. Other important areas are mining and textiles.

Fast Facts

Population:

Capital:

Major cities:

Language:

Currency:

King:

Prime Minister:

Government:

47 million

Madrid

Barcelona,

Sevilla

Spanish

Euro

Felipe VI

Mariano Rajoy

Constitutional

Monarchy

11) Spanish explorers brought gold and silver from other continents.

12) Napoleon defeated Spain in the early 16th century.

13) Franco was a dictator who ruled Spain after the Spanish Revolution.

14) All Spanish people have the same ethnic background.

15) Spain is a democracy.

16) The local governments in Spain make all the decisions in the country.

17) Spain is the most popular tourist destination in the world.

18) Felipe VI is the king of Spain.

Exercise 2: Are the following statements true or false?

1) Spain and Portugal form the Iberian Peninsula.

2) The central part of Spain is covered with mountains.

3) Spain has a dry climate throughout the year.

4) Many birds fly over Spain when they move to Africa or Europe.

5) Spain is home to several kinds of wild cats.

6) Spain has many large wildlife parks.

7) The word ‘Spain’ means hidden land.

8) The Romans were the first to invade Spain.

9) At a certain point in history, Spain was a Muslim country.

10) Spain prospered under Islamic rule.

( )

( )

( )

( ) ( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( ) ( ) ( )

( )

( )

( )

Exercise 3: The table below contains words that have been

chopped in half. Find the pieces that fit together and write

them in the answer area below.

MAD ROM TAP LONA

AS BARCE RID RA

ANS JOY FRAN CO

1) ____________________ 2) ____________________

3) ____________________ 4) ____________________

5) ____________________ 6) ____________________

Exercise 4: Find the words below in the word search.

Iberian Monarchy Euro

Span Tourism Felipe VI

Catholic Civil War Muslims

N O E M Z N E M P M T

A R S J A X O E K O Z

I U M P D N P E D D I

R E S C A T H O L I C

E F O R A W L I V I C

B M C I V E P I L E F

I H T O U R I S M Q O

Y S M I L S U M G H O

Barcelona

In the 15th and 16th century, Spain had one of the largest empires in history. It all began in 1492, when Christopher Columbus reached the

‘New World’ (America). They were the first to set foot in Central and South America. The Spanish became very skilled in overseas

exploration and colonization. The oceans were dominated because of their advanced navy and well-trained infantry. They developed

trading routes across the Atlantic Ocean between Spain and the Americas, but also across the Pacific Ocean. The wealth that was brought

back to Spain was used to finance the ongoing warfare in Europe at the time.

Hernan Cortes was a Spanish explorer who reached Mexico in 1519. He defeated the Aztec people, who

had built a wealthy empire by warfare with neighboring countries. Soon after, the Inca people of Peru

were defeated as well, they also had a huge empire that covered much of the coast of South America.

Both the Aztec as the Inca Empire now belonged to the Spanish empire. Before the Spanish people had

arrived in South America, the continent was home to around 50 million people. After a hundred years of

Spanish rule, there were only 8 million left. The local people were killed in battles with the Spanish, but

also because European diseases that were deadly to the local people. As much of the population had

died, the Spanish decided to bring African people to the continent who were used as slaves.

Because of the Spanish Empire, most countries

in South America speak Spanish and practice

Catholicism. During its most powerful time,

the Spanish Empire consisted of large areas

in South America, a part of Italy, Austria the Netherlands and the Philippines.

In the 17th century, Spain had a weak king, he had little interest in commerce

and industry. Other European countries started to became more successful in

overseas exploration and colonization. During that time, Spain was at war with

France and The Netherlands. Large parts of their territory was lost. The cost of

the ongoing wars and the extravagant spending of the kings drained the

country’s national treasury. A lot of money had to be borrowed and it became increasingly difficult to repay of the debts. Eventually, the

country got bankrupt, the colonies declared their independence and the empire came to an end.

1) When did Spain have a powerful empire?

___________________________________________________

2) What is the New World?

___________________________________________________

3) Who is Hernan Cortes and why was he important for the

Spanish Empire?

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

4) What reasons did Spain have to undertake overseas

explorations?

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

5) Who are the Aztec and Inca people?

___________________________________________________

6) Why did the South American population drastically decline?

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

7) In which continent did the Spanish Empire not have

colonies?

___________________________________________________

8) How did the Spanish Empire come to an end?

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Exercise 5: Answer the following questions about the Spanish Empire.

Spain is famous for its bullfighting festivals, they have been around since the Ancient Roman times.

The first bullfights were held on special occasions, such as military victories and royal weddings. In

fact, Spain is not the only country were bullfights are being held. They also happen in some parts of

France and Portugal. In South America, bullfights are also held in Cuba, Venezuela and Mexico.

In a typical bullfighting event there are six separate fights that last around 20 minutes each.

At first, the bull is let into the ring. The top bullfighter, the matador, first watches his

assistants who make the bull angry with waving capes. During this time, the matador

determines the qualities and the mood of the bull before he takes over himself. After this,

a trumpet is sounded and the Picadors (fighters) weaken the bull by placing spears into it.

After another trumpet is sounded, the Matador removes his black winged hat and dedicates

the death of the bull to the crowd before beginning his final pass that leads to the kill.

The bullfighting festivals are seen as an important tradition in Spain. They consider it an art

or cultural event, rather than a sport. However, many people argue that bullfighting is cruel

and the animals suffer a lot. It is claimed that around 30,000 bulls are killed each year in the Spanish festivals. The fights can be very

dangerous for the matadors as well, several bullfighters have been killed during the fights.

Exercise 6: Are the following statements true or false?

1) Bullfighting has a very long history in Spain.

2) At first, bullfights were only held at special occasions.

3) Spain is the only country where bullfights are held.

4) The Matador starts ‘fighting’ the bull as soon as it enters the ring.

Exercise 7: Do you think that bullfighting should be forbidden? Explain.

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

5) Waving capes are used to make the bull angry.

6) A Picador kills the bull at the end of the fight.

7) The strength of the bull is determined before the bull enters the ring.

8) Once the Matador removes his hat, the bull’s death is near.

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

The La Tomatina festival in Spain is famous for its city wide tomato fights. It is celebrated on the last Wednesday in August in a small town

in the east of Spain, called Bunol. The festival first started in 1944, but there is no religious or political reason for this event. Some people

think that it all began when children had a food fight or that some local people threw tomatoes at politicians they didn’t like.

The festival lasts a week and prior to the massive food fight there are fireworks, parades, dances

and even a paella cooking contest. On the last day of the event, shopkeepers close their store

fronts to protect their shops from the mass and the tomatoes

that are being thrown. The event starts at 11 o’clock in the

morning when participants try to retrieve a ham that is placed

on top of a pole. As soon as the ham is brought down, the

world’s largest food fight starts. 240,000 pounds of tomatoes

are thrown at everything that moves.

The city of Brunol only has a population of 9,000 people. However, during the festival around 50,000

people join the tomato throwing event. The festival has become so popular that the authorities have

decided to limit the number of people that can participate. Since recent years, only 20,000 people who

are lucky enough to get a ticket can join the event.

Exercise 8: Choose the best answers for the questions below.

1) La Tomatina started as a ….. festival.

a. religious b. political

c. cultural d. none of above

2) The festival takes place in the …..

a. spring b. summer

c. fall d. winter

3) La Tomatina festival includes ..

a. firework displays b. parades

c. dances d. all of above

4) The festival starts off with ..

a. retrieving a ham b. fireworks

c. buying tomatoes d. none of above

5) Most of the people who join the event are ..

a. residents of Bunol b. visitors

c. professional tomato throwers d. none of above

6) Why do people need to get a ticket to join the event?

a. because there are not enough tomatoes

b. because too many people want to join the event

c. so that the authorities know how many tomatoes to buy

d. none of above

Exercise 9: Find the following words in the word search below.

tomatina ham bunol fireworks

parades dances foodfight festival

Z V L S P H G S M D H S

W F G A H Q E Q X Y F E

A O H P V C Y D Q I C D

H O T A N I I A R F K A

J D F A M S T E S F Q R

Z F D U W E W S A W Z A

A I B U N O L A E H V P

L G G R R U H S L F Z I

B H M K A N I T A M O T

D T S L H B R H J B H C

Pamplona is a small city in the north of Spain. Once a year, in July, many tourists from Spain

and other parts of the world visit the city to experience the running of the bulls during the San

Fermin Festival. The public has the chance to run with the bulls through the city streets of

Pamplona. The track ends in a bull fighting ring. When a little rocket goes off, the runners are alerted that the bulls have been released

to the streets.

The festival starts on July 6 when a little rocket is launched from the balcony of the city

hall of Pamplona. On the first day there is a parade through the city with a large statue

of Saint Fermin. It is joined by many musicians and dancers. The running of the bulls

takes place on the next day and continues until the festival ends 6 days later. The

runners are pursued by six bulls. Before the running starts, the participants pray to Saint

Fermin to ask for his protection during the risky event. At 8 o’ clock in the morning

firecrackers are set off to alert the runners that the bulls have been released into the

streets. Over the last 100 years, 150 people have died while running with the bulls and

several hundred people have suffered serious injuries.

The event originated in the mid-1800s when city officials would take the bulls from the edge of the city towards the bull fighting arena in

the center of the city. Over the years, people started to join the bulls in the run towards the stadium.

1) What is the difference between the Fermin Festival and bullfighting?

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

2) What happens on the first day of the festival?

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

3) How did the Fermin Festival originate?

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

4) Why do the participants of the festival pray to Saint Fermin?

___________________________________________________

Exercise 11: Would you like to participate in the Fermin Festival? Explain.

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

Exercise 10: Answer the following questions about Pomplona.

The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex in Granada. The palace

started off as a small fortress that was built in the 9th century. After

years of neglect, the Islamic rulers of Spain renovated it in the late 11th

century. Much later, in the 14th century, the fortress was converted

into a palace for the Muslim kings. In the late 15th century, the palace

became a Christian court after the Muslim rulers were defeated.

The Royal Palace of Madrid

is the official residence of

the Spanish royal family.

Currently, however, it is only

used for ceremonies. It was

built between 1738 and 1755. The palace has more than 2,800 rooms

and is one of the biggest palaces in Western Europe. 50 rooms of the

palace are open for the public to visit.

The Aqueduct of Segovia was

built by the Romans during the 1st

century AD and is one of the best

preserved Roman structures in

Spain. The structure is 91 feet tall

and nearly 2,400 feet long. It was

used to bring water from the

mountains to the city of Segovia.

It was used until the late 19th century.

Cuenca is a typical medieval city. The ancient

town was built on the steep sides of a

mountain in the 8th century. The

fortified city was built when

Spain was under Islamic

rule. After Spain was

under Christian rule in

the 12th century, a cathedral and other important buildings were added

to the site.

The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona was

designed by a famous Spanish architect,

Gaudi. The construction of the massive

church started in 1882 and has been under

construction ever since. It is not expected

to be completed any time soon. When

the church is finished, there will be 18

towers, 12 of which are dedicated to

the apostles, 4 to the evangelists, 1

to Jesus and 1 to Mary.

The site on which the Mosque of Cordoba stands has been a sacred

place for a very long time. It was once a Roman temple that was

dedicated to the Roman gods. It also served as a Christian place of

worship under the rule of the Visigoths. When Spain was under Islamic

rule, the place was transformed into a mosque in the 8th century.

Finally, in the 13th century, a cathedral was added inside the mosque

by Christian conquerors. The Mosque of Cordoba is now a very popular

tourist attraction because of its mixture of architectural styles.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is a

museum of modern and contemporary

art. The building itself is one of the

most admired works of contemporary

architecture. The museum opened in

1997 and has attracted more than 10

million visitors.

Plaza de Cibeles is one of the most

beautiful squares in Madrid. The

square is dominated by the

Palacio de Comunicaciones.

It was constructed in

1904 and served as the

city’s post office.

Currently, the palace is

Madrid’s official city

hall.

Exercise 12: Choose the best answers for the questions below.

1) What is the current residence of the Spanish king?

a. Palacio de Comunicaciones b. The Alhambra

c. The Royal Palace of Madrid d. none of above

2) The Aqueduct of Segovia was built during ….. times.

a. medieval b. Roman

c. Islamic d. modern

3) Cuenca was ..

a. built during Islamic times b. a fortress

c. ruled by Christians d. all of above

4) The Sagrada Familia ..

a. is not finished yet b. was designed by Gaudi

c. is a church d. all of above

5) The Alhambra ..

a. has undergone many changes b. was built by Muslims

c. is the palace of the Spanish king d. none of above

6) The Aqueduct of Segovia served as a …..

a. water bridge b. normal bridge

c. city gate d. all of above

7) The Guggenheim Museum ..

a. exhibits all kinds of art from Spain’s history.

b. attracts more than 10 million visitors each year.

c. is admired because of its design.

d. none of above.

8) The Mosque of Cordoba ..

a. was built by the ancient Romans.

b. is dedicated to the Roman gods.

c. is both a mosque as a cathedral.

d. is currently of museum.

9) Which of the following attractions is not located in Madrid?

a. Plaza de Cibeles b. The Sagrada Familia

b. The Royal Palace d. none of above

1) The Sagrada Familia is located in …

2) The Mosque of Cordoba was ….. several times.

3) The Alhambra is a …

4) Plaza de …. Is one of the most beautiful squares in

Madrid.

5) The Romans built a massive ….. in the city of Segovia

6) Spain was ruled by ….. rulers in the past.

7) Cuenca was built on the steep side of a ...

8) The ….. Museum exhibits modern and contemporary

art.

9) The Sagrada Familia was designed by ...

Exercise 14: Which attraction do you think is most impressive? Explain.

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 13: Complete the puzzle and find the hidden word.

1) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

3) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

4) _ _ _ _ _ _ _

5) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

6) _ _ _ _ _ _ _

7) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

8) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

9) _ _ _ _ _

Answer: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Francisco

Franco (1892 – 1975)

Francisco Franco

was a general and

the dictator of Spain

from 1939 until his death. He rose

to power during the Spanish Civil

War. Fascist Italy and Nazi

Germany helped Franco to get

control over the country. Franco

ruled Spain with an iron fist, the

people only had limited freedom.

Antoni Gaudi (1852 – 1926)

Gaudi was a Spanish

architect who designed

many buildings in Barcelona. He

greatly influenced the way Barcelona looks

today. Gaudi’s works were greatly

influenced by nature, rather than other

architects. The Sagrada Familia is probably

the most famous work of Gaudi.

Hernan

Cortes (1485 – 1547)

Hernan Cortes is known for defeating

the Aztec Empire and the founder of

colonial Mexico. When Cortes first

arrived in Mexico, he became allies

with the local people. Later, however,

he used deadly force to conquer

Mexico.

Salvador Dali (1904 – 1989)

Dali was a Spanish painter

and sculptor who became

famous for his surrealistic

works. He used a technique, called

illusionism, to paint his personal dream world.

His photographic realism and unusual sceneries

in his paintings made him world famous.

Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973)

Pablo Picasso was a

painter and designer

and was one of the most

influential artists of the 20th century.

He is known as the creator of Cubism.

Cubism is a style of painting with

cubes, cones and other shapes.

Francisco

Pizarro (1475 – 1541)

Francisco Pizarro was

one of Spain’s most successful conquerors.

In 1532, he led a small army of Spanish

soldiers and defeated the powerful Inca

Empire in Peru. After the Incas were

defeated, Pizarro was appointed governor

of Peru.

5) Match the artists with the works below.

a. Picasso b. Gaudi c. Dali

6) Salvador Dali ..

a. was an illusionist. b. created the dream world.

c. is the creator of Cubism. d. all of above.

7) Francisco Pizarro ..

a. defeated the Incas. b. defeated the Aztecs.

c. was in charge of Peru. d. B and C

Exercise 15: Choose the best answers for the questions below.

1) Which people lived during the Spanish Empire?

a. Francisco Franco b. Hernan Cortes

c. Francisco Pizarro d. B and C

2) Who was not an artist?

a. Pablo Picasso b. Hernan Cortes

c. Antoni Gaudi d. Salvador Dali

3) Pablo Picasso is famous for ..

a. creating a new painting style b. surrealistic paintings

c. the Sagrada Familia d. all of above

4) Francisco Franco was ..

a. an explorer b. a dictator

c. a king d. none of above

Spanish cuisine has been influenced by many cultures over the years. Their dishes are

typically low in fat and very colorful. They are also very easy to prepare. Most dishes rely

on high quality ingredients and are cooked to bring out the natural flavors of the food.

For that reason, the Spanish people don’t include much sauce in their meals.

Each region in Spain has their own preferences in the way they prepare their dishes. Since Spain is surrounded by water for the most part,

fish and seafood are very popular.

Empanadas

Sangria

Croquetas

Tortilla Española

Calamari

Tapas

Paella

Chorizo

Gazpacho

Exercise 16: Complete the crossword puzzle about Spanish food.

Exercise 17: Below you can see the descriptions of different

kinds of Spanish food. Write down their names on the right.

Battered and deep-fried squid

A cold tomato-based soup

A wide variety of appetizers or snacks

An omelet made with potatoes in olive oil

A drink made of red wine mixed with

lemonade, fruit and spices

Stuffed bread or pastry with a variety of

savory ingredients.

_______________

_______________

_______________

_______________

_______________

_______________

Exercise 18: The table below contains words that have been

chopped in half. Find the pieces that fit together and write them

down below.

FLA SEA CHO FOOD

PAS SANG TILLA TOR

RIZO RIA TA VORS

1) ______________________ 2) ______________________

3) ______________________ 4) ______________________

5) ______________________ 6) ______________________

8

7

6

5 4

3

2

1

1

1) _ _ _ _ _ _

2) _ _ _ _ _ _ _

3) _ _ _ _ _ _ _

4) _ _ _ _ _

5) _ _ _ _ 6) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

7) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

8) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Answer: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Exercise 19: Write the names of the things related to Spain and find

the hidden word.

3 4

6

2 5

1

8

7

1) fancor _ _ _ _ _ _

A Spanish dictator in the past.

2) feilpive _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The king of Spain

3) ieinbar _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Spain is located on the … Peninsula.

4) trcseo _ _ _ _ _ _

A famous Spanish explorer.

5) cdrpioa _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A bullfighter who attacks the bull with spears.

6) ponmlpoa _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A famous Spanish festival.

Exercise 20: Unscramble the words. Hints are given below.