Pardoning the Thanksgiving Turkey

National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is a ceremony that takes place at the White House every year shortly before Thanksgiving. It all began in 1947. Since 1989 it has also been an annual tradition for the president to "pardon" the turkey.

Watch the video for this year’s pardoning of the turkey.

Read the following words and expressions and their definitions.

• pardon - to officially say that someone who is guilty of a crime will be allowed to go free and will not be punished
• a fierce competition between a bunch of turkeys - a lot of turkeys trying to achieve the same thing
• wing your way in - try to find a place for yourselves
• solely - only
• indulge - to patiently allow someone to do or say something
• a round of applause - a short period of applause by everyone present

Read the assignment, then watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. What have many turkeys been trying in the past months?


2. What does “TOTUS” stand for?


3. Why does Obama thank Malia and Sasha?


4. How often has Obama as a president pardoned a turkey?


5. “Time flies, even if turkeys don’t.”
   Explain what this sentence means.
   Do you get why everybody is laughing about it?