Name: ................................

Subject: English – Reading Comprehension (2)

Class: Jr. 6 ................................ Date: ................................

Halloween
The Halloween
customs which people celebrate each October
31st began long ago. They came from the
ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celtic
people lived about two thousand years ago in
an area which we now call Ireland, the United
Kingdom and France. The festival of Samhain
marked the end of summer, the harvest
season, and the beginning of their new year.
The Celtic people believed that on the night of
October 31st, the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. They built bonfires and
dressed in costumes to frighten the ghosts. The Celtics also offered good things
to eat.
The modern customs of Halloween are similar to the customs of the Celtic
people because many immigrants came to America and brought their beliefs
and traditions with them. The carving of Jack – O – Lantern is thought to come
from the tradition of Irish children. They would carve potatoes or turnips and
light them for their Halloween celebrations. The name Jack came from an Irish
man whom people thought was so wicked that he roamed the earth looking
for a place to rest.
Trick or treating is thought to have come from the English
people when they celebrated the religious festival of "All Saints
Day". On this day, the poor would beg for food and would be
given "Soul Cakes" to pray for the soul of relatives of rich
people.
Halloween in America is celebrated on October 31st. The celebrations are
held in towns, schools, churches and homes. Most children still dress in
costumes and continue to trick or treat in safe neighbourhoods or attend
festivals at churches or schools.
A. Answer the following questions.
1. Why were the poor given "Soul Cakes"?
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2. Do you like Halloween? Why / Why not?
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3. What are Jack – O – Lanterns made of and how did they get that name?
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B. Choose the correct answer.
1. The custom of trick or treat came from (the Irish – the Spanish – the English).
2. Jack roamed the earth looking for a place to rest because (he was so ugly – he
was wicked – none of these).
3. The previous text is (a story – a diary – an information text).
C. Write if the following sentences are true (T) or false (F) and correct the false
ones.
1. Modern customs of Halloween are like the customs of the Celtic people. ( )
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2. Halloween celebrations are held towards mid October. ( )
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D. Find in the text words which mean:
1. a set of traditions or habits of a certain group of people. (Para. 2):
_________________
2. to cut shapes into something. (Para. 2): _________________
3. people who leave their country and go somewhere else to live. (Para. 2):
_________________
4. went from place to place. (Para. 2): _________________
5. to ask people for money. (Para. 3): _________________

E. What do the following underlined words refer to in the text?

1. they: _____________________
2. their: _____________________
3. whom: _____________________