Factual texts that present information clearly and accurately are called reports. The purpose of a report is to record factual information in a systematic way. There are many different types of report and the one you choose will depend on the task you have been given. You could write a report on a bird or an animal. Perhaps you want to write a report about what it was like to live in a particular period of history or about a famous person. Reports usually follow a set format that consists of a general introduction followed by a description and ending with a summarising statement. Wishing trees in Hong Kong Hong Kong has many traditions dating back hundreds of years. These are very important even in a modern world of technology and rapid progress. One concerns the very old trees found around the territory. People call them 'wishing trees'. Let me explain why. There are lots of banyan and camphor trees in Hong Kong and they have massive roots above ground level. They curve and twist into wonderful, imaginative shapes. People think that these trees have mysterious powers. In ancient times people used to choose a tree to help protect one of their children. When times were hard or if the child became sick or worried, the family would make special offerings of candles, fruit or even wine. Sometimes sweethearts pledge their love beneath the branches of a tree, which becomes a special symbol for the rest of their lives. Nowadays people tend to visit famous wishing trees. Though they can make a wish any time, visits are more frequent during Chinese days of worship. The Lunar New Year is also a popular time to make wishes. When they want to make a wish, visitors write it down on bundles of brightly-coloured paper in five layers called 'Ng Bo Dip', which translates as 'Five Treasure Piles'. These papers are red and gold, the colours of good luck. They tie the bundles with strings or roll them up and tie them to an orange. Then they throw the whole lot into the branches of the tree and hope the wind will not blow their wishes away. The most famous wishing tree in Hong Kong is in the village of Lam Tsuen near Tai Po in the New Territories. Nobody knows how many wishes have actually come true, but it does not really matter - making a wish is the important thing. Glossary tradition (n) - a belief or custom passed from one generation to another technology (n) - the science of industrial and mechanical arts mysterious (adj) - full of secrecy, not easily understood ancient (adj) - very old to pledge (v) - to make a promise worship (n) - the act of showing respect to the gods to translate (v) - to say or write something in a different language Comprehension 1. What are the two main types of tree used as wishing trees? 2. Are the roots of these trees above or below the ground? 3. What offerings did people make in ancient times? 4. Who pledges their love beneath the branches? 5. What do the red and gold colours of the Five Treasure Piles mean? 6. Where will you find the most famous wishing tree in Hong Kong? Writing style True or false. Reports deal with facts. Whether you are writing or reading one, you need to be able to recognise what is true (a fact) and what is false (not a fact). Read the statements below and decide which are true and which are false. Some are immediately obvious, while for others, you will need to think about or even do some research. 7. Hong Kong Island is surrounded by water. 8. The international telephone dialling code for Hong Kong is 853. 9. Lai King MTR station is between Mei Foo and Kwai Fong. 10. A Hong Kong tram ride costs $3. 11. The Bun Festival takes place on Lantau. 12. The Buddha statue at Po Lin Monastery is 40 metres high. 13. Horse-racing takes place at Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses. 14. Kai Tak is the name of Hong Kong's airport. 15. Victoria Peak is 554m high. 16. Victoria Park is in Causeway Bay. Crossword Hong Kong has many different types of trees, flowers and animals. Read the clues below and find the name of the correct tree, flower or animal from the list below and write it in the right place. List: python, banyan, bauhinia, boar, orchid, bamboo 1. A tree that has fabulous roots you can see. 2. This wild pig is found in the New Territories. 3. A non-venomous snake. 4. Sometimes this plant is used as scaffolding in Hong Kong. 5. This flower is Hong Kong's national symbol. 6. A beautiful flower, sometimes very rare. Answers: 1. camphor and banyan; 2. above; 3. candles, fruit and wine; 4. sweethearts; 5. good luck; 6. Lam Tsuen; 7, 9, 13, 15 & 16 - True; 8. False: it's 852; 10. False: it costs HK$2; 11. False: it takes place on Cheung Chau; 12. False: it's 34 metres high; 14. False: it's Chek Lap Kok. Crossword: 1. banyan; 2. boar; 3. python; 4. bamboo; 5. bauhinia; 6. orchid