Worksheet Mexico
Nombre: ______________________________________________________________ Clase: ______
I. You have lots of money and want to see Mexico. Choose four places in Mexico
you will visit and give me three reasons for each of your choices. The
information below may help you decide. Some of the places listed below are not
listed on the map above.
a. Please put the missing cities on the map where they belong (see p. R3 in your
textbook).
Acapulco remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico, and
for good reason. Visitors from around the world flock to Acapulco each year
seeking beautiful beaches and crystal blue waters. Recreational activities abound
in Acapulco as well, with everything from deep sea fishing and scuba diving to
tennis and golf. Acapulco offers an exciting adventure for every type of visitor. If
you like round the clock activity, you can find in Acapulco. If you prefer a more
relaxed, serene atmosphere, one of Acapulco's luxurious resorts can provide you
with a secluded environment in which to unwind and let the world drift by.
Cabo San Lucas is a quaint town that features wonderful restaurants, some of
the finest shopping anywhere and a beautiful 300-slip marina with full services. In
addition, Cabo San Lucas features a very active nightlife, with a wonderful
selection of clubs and bars. In addition to these diversions, Cabo San Lucas is a
top spot for divers and fisherman. Cabo San Lucas offers some excellent
opportunities for deep see fishing and diving. The waters around Cabo San Lucas
teem with marine life, and whether you want to hook that prize marlin or explore
some of the most beautiful coral formations anywhere, Cabo San Lucas is your
destination.
Cancun is many things to many people. To college students
1
on spring break it is a week long, 24 hour party hot spot. To
honeymooners it is the perfect romantic getaway to start a life
together. To outdoor sports enthusiasts, Cancun is the perfect
place to catch some great waves, go
parasailing or dive in the clear blue ocean. From ancient ruins to beautiful
beaches, Cancun has something for every visitor. Indeed, it would be hard to
design a destination with better natural beauty, archeological riches and manmade attractions. No matter what you are seeking from a vacation, chances are
you will find it in Cancun.
Mazatlan enjoys a perfect location and wonderful weather. Nestled in the mouth
of the Sea of Cortez, Mazatlan is located on the Pacific Ocean, across from the tip
of the Baja Peninsula. The largest mountain range in the country of Mexico, known
as the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range is near Mazatlan. In addition to a
host of wonderful water based activities, the visitor to Mazatlan can enjoy golf
courses and tennis courts as well. No matter what sports you enjoy, you will be
likely to be able to enjoy them while in Mazatlan. In addition to outdoor activities,
Mazatlan boasts a host of indoor activities as well. After a day on the golf course
or tennis court, why not dance the night away at one of the famous night clubs in
Mazatlan?
Thanks to its privileged location, Sonora is a unique and safe tourist destination,
awaiting inquisitive visitors to discover its legendary cities, beautiful beaches and
spectacular views of landscapes where ocean meets desert and mountain. The
diversity of ecosystems found in Sonora makes possible a great variety of
recreational activities including fishing, mountain biking, scuba diving, ecotourism,
camping, and hunting. The visitor will also find a great number of animal species in
Sonora, both in land and in the ocean.
Oaxaca is a comfortable temperate climate that is not too hot in the summer and
not too cool in the winter. That is where having a good time while getting out and
about begins. A visitor can see Spanish colonial architecture with cathedrals like
Santo Domingo which began construction in 1572 and took 200 years to
complete. The sidewalks of the city are cut from green volcanic rock and beautiful
zocalo plants surround historic buildings. Then there are the festivals . . . and
Oaxaca doesn't just do famous ones like the "Day of the Dead" like no other, but
they seem to have an especially long list of festivals, celebrations and holidays that
give them another excuse to take time off work and party. So the odds that you
will find something going on. Are there any ruins to see? You bet! The Oaxaca
valley has been inhabited for thousands of years. The ruins at San José Mogote
(now just a collection of mounds), just a few kilometers north of Oaxaca, Mexico
dates back over three thousand years. The height of civilization in Oaxaca can be
2
seen at the ruins of Monte Alban which are on a mountain overlooking Oaxaca
City. Monte Alban seems to have been the dominant city in the area from around
450 BC to 700 AD. By 800 AD. The city of Monte Alban was abandoned while the
cities of Mitla and Yagul continued to grow and prosper (at least until the arrival or
conquest of the Spaniards).
Veracruz: In a beach town named Tecolutla (near Ct. Zamora) it is possible to find
economical but comfortable rooms for USD $20-30 a night and, for the more
adventurous, even $l0-15. Sitting at a restaurant and eating huge shrimp or fresh
snapper at prices of USD $5-10 is still possible there. It is fun to be in a beach town
where you are the only foreigner and enjoy the same type of vacations as many
families from Mexico City. An additional site not to be missed in this area is El
Tajin, the ancient ruins of the Totonacas Indians and home of the Voladores,
Mexico's Flyers who jump from a tall pole and are suspended by ropes as they
twirl to the ground accompanied by ancient music performed by one of the
members standing on the top of the tower. We also recommend people take a
look at Papantla because it is a town where you can see native people dressed in
the traditional white loose fitting garments and it is a town famous for brujas
(witches). Papantla has a beautiful square in the middle of town where you can sit
and watch the busy life of a village in the shade and enjoy the sights and sounds
and smells of México. There are some hotels if you choose to stay in the town for a
night.
While many tourists have explored Chihuahua’s world-famous Copper Canyon
region (deeper and narrower than the Grand Canyon), far fewer have retraced the
swanky steps of Pancho Villa who crossed and criss-crossed the state in search of
blood and glory. And, while everyone in Mexico (and the U.S.) has heard of Pancho
Villa, not so many know that his real name was "Dorotheo Arango". With a name
like that, no wonder he took on a pseudonym! Very few travelers are interested in
spending more time than absolutely necessary traversing or exploring desert
landscapes, and Chihuahua (= "dry, sandy place") has the unenviable reputation of
being mostly desert and not much else. Indeed, the Chihuahuan desert is North
America's largest. But deserts can be very interesting. Not only does the
Chihuahuan desert harbor a multitude of unusual plants and animals, many found
nowhere else on earth, it also includes the mysterious Bolsón de Mapimí or "Zone
of Silence", a region straddling the state borders of Chihuahua, Durango and
Coahuila. This Zone of Silence, best known for its lack of reception of radio waves,
was chosen, partly on account of its paucity of human inhabitants, as the site of
one of the world's first Biosphere Reserves.
Place: _______________________________________________________________
3
Reasons: 1) _______________________________________________________________
2) _________________________________________________________________________
3) _________________________________________________________________________
Place: ____________________________________________________________________
Reasons: 1) ______________________________________________________________
2) _________________________________________________________________________
3) _________________________________________________________________________
Place: ____________________________________________________________________
Reasons: 1) ______________________________________________________________
2) ________________________________________________________________________
3) _________________________________________________________________________
Place: _______________________________________________________________
Reasons: 1) __________________________________________________________
2) __________________________________________________________________
3) __________________________________________________________________
II. Your opinion, please. Lots of people from Mexico come to the United States
illegally. 1) Why do you think they leave their country? 2) Would you ever want to
leave this country? Mention two reasons you imagine people leave Mexico and
two reasons why you would or would not leave the U.S. to live somewhere else.
Write a paragraph in English (at least five sentences).
________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
4
________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
III. Here are some food items. Put them in the correct category below (use the
dictionary if you can’t find them in your book):
pimienta , tamales, el broculi, enchiladas, sopa de verduras, refresco, las espinacas,
leche, burritos, flan, sándwich, mayonesa , ensalada, jugo de manzana,
hamburguesa con queso, helado de chocolate, papas fritas, sal, sopa de pollo
El menu
Entradas: ____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Platos principales: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Platos para acompañar: ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Bebidas: _____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Postres: _____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Condimentos: ________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5
IV. Answer the Para comprender questions on page 207:
1. What is a dish that is commonly eaten in the Distrito Federal (Mexico City)?
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is Paula’s favorite dish like? _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What are three typical dishes from Mexico? a) ___________________________________
b) ________________________________________ c) _________________________________________
4. What are chiles en nogada like? ___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What is eaten with arroz con habichuelas? ________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
6. What is the typical dish of the Dominican Republic? _____________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
6