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re-enact 
naval
battles
. Audience 
members won 
spot 
prizes
, including clothes, 
gold and slaves. But 
Emperor Titus seems to 
have enjoyed himself 
too much. The day after 
the celebrations ended, 
the exhausted Emperor 
collapsed and died. 
Now that’s the sign of a 
good party. 
1
Pre-reading
Try to imagine the most 
extravagant party ever! You 
can spend as much as you like 
and you can hold it anywhere 
you want. 
2
Reading I
Read the article once and 
compare your party idea 
with some of the ones in the 
article. Which one is the most 
extravagant? 
3
Reading II 
Read the article again. Then, 
write a name (or names) next 
to each party description. 
1.
His party was 
probably the most 
expensive ever. 
2. 
His party cost €1.5 
million. 
3. 
The organiser of this 
party died shortly 
after the party 
ended. 
4. 
It had an ice sculpture 
in the shape of 
Michelangelo’s David. 
5.
He got a Mercedes 
as a present. 
6.
It was held near 
Calais. 
7.
One of the 
decorations included 
a 20-metre-high 
photo of the host.
ANSWERS
ON
PAGE
38
* Sixteenth 
birthday party 
Turning sixteen is an 
important 
coming-
of-age 
milestone
for American 
girls (and, 
less so, boys)
GLOSSARY
a reality show
n
a TV show which stars ordinary 
people (not actors) 
a spoilt brat
n
a child who gets everything he/she 
asks for 
a CEO
abbr
chief executive officer – the most 
important person in a company 
a do
n
a party 
a judge
n
someone who decides who wins or 
loses in a competition 
to throw (a party)
vb
to have/organise a party 
vulgar
adj
if you describe something as “vulgar”, 
you think it is bad/ugly, etc. 
tacky
adj 
if you describe something as “tacky”, 
you think it is cheap and bad
to hire
vb
if you “hire” someone to do 
something, you pay them to do a 
job / provide a service, etc.
a banquet
n
a big, formal dinner 
a jousting tournament
n
a competition from Medieval times: 
two riders (each with long sticks) 
ride towards one another and try to 
knock one another off with the sticks 
wrestling
n
a sport that involves fighting 
AD
abbr
Anno Domini. 80AD is 80 years after 
the birth of Jesus Christ 
to re-enact
vb
if you “re-enact” an event, you 
recreate the event with actors 
a naval battle
n
a fight between two groups of ships 
a spot prize
n
a small prize given informally during 
a competition/event
a milestone
n
an important event in history or the 
development of something
The most extravagant parties in the world. 
By James Blick
Mega Parties
Think 
about
it!
What’s the best party you’ve ever been to? What was it like? What’s the worst?
What would your dream party be like? Do you think it’s acceptable to throw extravagant 
parties if you can afford it? Why? Why not? Do you like fancy dress parties? Why? Why not?