Professional Documents
Culture Documents
I. Listening Comprehension
Video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQKJRnPpIxw
Directions: Highlight the correct answer.
1. According to the presenter, the priests stabbed which part of a persons
body in order to remove the heart?
A. ribs
B. chest
C. abdomen
D. shoulder
3. Why does the heart continue to beat even it is removed from the body?
A. because the brain programs the heart to do so
B. because the heart pumps blood
C. because the heart muscles of the heart can beat on their own
D. because the brain continues to give signal to the heart
II. Vocabulary
A. Word formation: noun verb adjectives
1. Human sacrifice had long been a part of the Toltec religion.
2. They sacrificed both animals and humans.
3. Sacrificial scenes have been depicted in ancient Mayan
ceramics, sculptures and murals.
1
English Department English 10
Prepared by: Abel M. Cadias, MA-ESL
Historians believe that the Mayans were first introduced to human sacrifice by the
Toltecs. Human sacrifice had long been a part of the Toltec religion. The sacrifices were
performed by a priest called a nacom. The nacom was in charge of cutting out the hearts
Line 6 of the victims. He did this while he was entirely dressed in black. The nacom's assistants
were elderly subordinates called chacs. Chacs were named after the god of rain. It was
their job to hold the victims down during the sacrifice. It is believed that commoners had
little or no access to the main temples. The general population only participated in
harvest, fertility, and hunting rites that were performed on specific calendar days. At these
times the ceremonial centers were packed with people who were bloodletting, drinking an
Line 12 intoxicating beverage called balche, and probably using hallucinogenic mushrooms or
peyote.
Ritual sacrifices played a vital role in the Mayan realm. They sacrificed both
animals and humans. Animals that were sacrificed in great numbers included crocodiles,
iguanas, dogs, peccaries, jaguars, and turkeys. The supreme sacrifice was the human life.
Line 17 This took place during elaborate ceremonies. Sacrificial scenes have been depicted in
ancient Mayan ceramics, sculptures and murals. Like the Aztecs, this was all done in an
attempt to appease the gods. Slaves, criminals, bastards, orphans and children made up
the bulk of the sacrificial victims. Children were desired because of their innocence, and
they would sometimes be abducted or purchased from neighboring cities. The purchase
Line 22 price was paid in red beans.
Diego de Landa witnessed human sacrifices. He tells us that the sacrificial victim
was painted blue. Next, the victim was led to the summit of the pyramid and laid over a
stone alter. Then with his arms and legs firmly held by the chacs, the nacom cut open the
Line 27 2
English Department English 10
Prepared by: Abel M. Cadias, MA-ESL
chest /and tore out his heart. This was usually done with an obsidian or flint knife. Next, the
heart was handed to the high priest, and the body was thrown down the temple stairs.
Other methods of sacrifice included drowning, beating, mutilation, and arrow
sacrifices. In the arrow sacrifice the victim was painted blue, and tied to a stake while dancers
took turns trying to pierce the victims heart. During the Toltec-Itza rule of Chichen Itza
pilgrims would travel great distances in order to perform human sacrifices. The victims who
were sometimes laden in gold, silver and precious stones were hurled into the Sacred Cenote,
a deep pool of water where the god Chac was said to live.
How did Nacom take out Sacrifice animal Arrow sacrifice: victim
they go heart. Chacs and human painted in blue, tied to a
about it? help by holding stake / dancers pierce
the victim down. victims heart
Drowning sacrifice:
victims laid in gold, silver,
precious stones / hurled
into Sacred Cenote
3. Which of the following word is NOT closest in meaning to obsidian in line 24?
a. tool
b. instrument
c. rock
d. victim
7. Which of the following does the author mention about ritual sacrifice?
a. There are evidences to show how Mayans did the ceremonies
b. Mayans usually used talented and gifted victims to sacrifice
c. Some Mayans sacrificed their own selves
d. The Aztecs preferred doing other methods of sacrifice
8. According to the passage, which of the following was true about nacoms?
a. They were controlled by the citizens
b. They wore feathered clothes while doing the sacrifice
c. They had assistants called chacs
d. They were commoners
4
English Department English 10
Prepared by: Abel M. Cadias, MA-ESL
IV. Structure
A. Infinitive to
Structure: to + verb (main form)
Purpose: to express purpose (answer why)
Examples:
1. It was their job to hold the victims down during the sacrifice.
2. Like the Aztecs, this was all done in an attempt to appease the
gods.
3. During the Toltec-Itza rule of Chichen Itza pilgrims would travel
great distances in order to perform human sacrifices.