Washington’s Cherry Blossoms Signal the Start of Spring

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Materials Daily News

Intermediate

Exercise 1

Vocabulary

iconic

Adjective

aɪˈkɑːnɪk

acting as a sign or symbol of something

This is the iconic little black dress Audrey Hepburn wore.

The superhero wears his iconic golden mask.

The black dress that the actress was wearing became iconic.

site

Noun

saɪt

a place where a building, town, etc. was, is located; a place where something has happened or that is used for something

You cannot enter this construction site.

Paris has many famous tourist sites.

They didn't know that their house was built on the site of an ancient cemetery.

This is the site for the university's new dormitories.

basin

Noun

ˈbeɪsən

an area of land around a large river with streams running down into it; an enclosed area of water

The Tidal Basin is a man-made reservoir.

blossom

Noun

ˈblɑːsəm

a flower or a mass of flowers, especially on a fruit tree or bush

Viewing cherry blossoms is an annual event in Japan.

serve

Verb

sərv

to have a particular effect or result

She served as a maid at a hotel for a year.

She served an enormous turkey dinner to her family.

The cafe serves brunch on Sundays.

The restaurant serves brunch on the weekend.

plant

Verb

plænt

to put plants, seeds, etc. in the ground to grow

She planted tulips last year.

maintain

Verb

meɪnˈteɪn

to keep a building, a machine, etc. in good condition by checking or repairing it regularly

It is important for companies to maintain good relationships with their customers.

I try to maintain a relaxed attitude towards work.

We maintain all the equipment in excellent condition, so you shouldn't have any problems.

It is critical to the effectiveness of our organization to maintain careful records of all meetings.

Exercise 2

Article

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Washington’s Cherry Blossoms Signal the Start of Spring

The West Potomac Park in Washington, DC is home to some of Washington’s most iconic sites, like the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the Tidal Basin.

But, the park’s most famous attraction? Cherry blossoms.

Thousands of cherry trees bloom around the waters of the Tidal Basin.

These pink and white flowers serve as a symbol of international friendship. The original cherry trees were a gift from Japan.

On March 26, 1912, more than 3,000 cherry trees arrived in Washington. Most were planted around the Tidal Basin. But cherry trees were also planted near the Washington Monument and the White House.