V.  Read the text and answer the following questions.  (2 pts. )

Americans celebrate Halloween on October 31.  Halloween means “holy” (hallow “evening” (een).  This is the evening before the Christian holy day of All Saints Day. Before Christianity, people in Europe believed that on October 31 ghosts of dead people came back.  To scare the ghosts, people dressed like devils.  Later, people did not believe in ghosts, but they kept the day of Halloween for fun.

Immigrants came from Europe to America and brought with them the custom of Halloween.  Halloween has some strange symbols.  One symbol is the jack-o’-lantern in the window.  The jack-o’-lantern is to scare the ghosts.  People cut the pumpkin, throw away all of the inside, and cut a face in it.  Then they put a candle inside of it.  Jack-o’-lantern usually looks scary, too!

Questions:

1.  When do people celebrate Halloween?

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2.  Why did people keep the day of Halloween?

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3.  Does Halloween have only one strange symbol?

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4.  What do people put inside the pumpkin with the cutting face?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 38 to 45.

   Halloween falls on October 31 each year in North America and other part of the world. What do you know about Halloween? Do you celebrate it in your country? Here is a little history about it?

   Like other holidays, Halloween has evolved and changed throughout history. Over 2,000 years ago people called the Celts lived in what is now Ireland, the UK, and parts of Northern France. November 1 was their New Year's Day. They believed that the night before the New Year (October 31) was a time when the living and the dead came together.

   More than a thousand years ago the Christian church named November 1 All Saints Day (also called All Hallows). This was a special holy day to honor the saints and other people who died for their religion. The night before All Hallows was called Hallows Eve. Later the name was changed to Halloween.

   Like the Celts, the Europeans of that time also believed that the spirits of the dead would visit the earth on Halloween. They worried that evil spirits would cause problems or hurt them. So on that night people wore costumes that looked like ghosts or other evil creatures. They thought if they dressed like that, the spirits would think they were also dead and not harm them.

   The tradition of Halloween was carried to America by the immigrating Europeans. Some of the traditions changed a little, though. For example, on Halloween in Europe some people would carry lanterns made from turnips. In America, pumpkins were more common. So people began putting candles inside them and using them as lanterns. That is why you see Jack 'o lanterns today.                         

   These days Halloween is not usually considered a religious holiday. It primarily a fun for children. Children dress up in costumes like people did a thousand years ago. But instead of worrying about evil spirits, they go from house to house. They knock on door and say "trick or treat". The owner of each house give candy or something special to each trick and treat.

The Celts thought .................. on October 31.

A. the dead would revive

B. the spirits of dead people returned to the earth

C. they would have a party to welcome the dead

D. the spirits of dead people would never come back to the earth

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 38 to 45.

   Halloween falls on October 31 each year in North America and other part of the world. What do you know about Halloween? Do you celebrate it in your country? Here is a little history about it?

   Like other holidays, Halloween has evolved and changed throughout history. Over 2,000 years ago people called the Celts lived in what is now Ireland, the UK, and parts of Northern France. November 1 was their New Year's Day. They believed that the night before the New Year (October 31) was a time when the living and the dead came together.

   More than a thousand years ago the Christian church named November 1 All Saints Day (also called All Hallows). This was a special holy day to honor the saints and other people who died for their religion. The night before All Hallows was called Hallows Eve. Later the name was changed to Halloween.

   Like the Celts, the Europeans of that time also believed that the spirits of the dead would visit the earth on Halloween. They worried that evil spirits would cause problems or hurt them. So on that night people wore costumes that looked like ghosts or other evil creatures. They thought if they dressed like that, the spirits would think they were also dead and not harm them.

   The tradition of Halloween was carried to America by the immigrating Europeans. Some of the traditions changed a little, though. For example, on Halloween in Europe some people would carry lanterns made from turnips. In America, pumpkins were more common. So people began putting candles inside them and using them as lanterns. That is why you see Jack 'o lanterns today.                         

   These days Halloween is not usually considered a religious holiday. It primarily a fun for children. Children dress up in costumes like people did a thousand years ago. But instead of worrying about evil spirits, they go from house to house. They knock on door and say "trick or treat". The owner of each house give candy or something special to each trick and treat.

According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. The Celts created All Hallows

B. The name Halloween originated from the word Hallows Eve.

C. Halloween falls on October 31 each year.

D. Halloween is a special holy day to honor the saints and people who died for their religion.

Exercise 2: Read the following passage and choose the best answer. Halloween is a holiday. It is on the night of October 31st . It is_________(1) in many English Speaking countries. Children wear costumes. They go to people’s homes. The people give them _________(2). Children say “trick or treat” to ask for candy. This comes from a theat. It means, “Give me a treat _________(3) I will play a trick on you” Children today _________(4) not do the tricks if they don’t get treats. But some children still do mischief playful pranks or things to make fun of people like putting toilet paper in trees or writing _________(5) soap on windows .In these countries Halloween is about ghosts, witches, goblins, and other scary things.

1. A. presented B. proposed C. celebrated D. played

2. A. candy B. cake C. meat D. egg

3. A . and B. but C. or D. because

4. A . never B. sometimes C. just D. usually

5. A . for B. with C. often D. on to

In Canada and the United States, ……(1)…..of the most popular days in the year is Halloween. Halloween is on October 31st. It’s a day…….(2)……some people dress up in strange or unusual costumes. For example, they may dress up to ……(3)…an animal, a person from history. In some places, children go to schoolin…(4)….Halloween costumes. After dark, many young children…(5)….on their costumes and visit their neighbours. They knock on the ….(6)….and shout “Trick or treat”. Then their neighbours…..(7)….them some candy, and the children go on to the….(8)…house. Adults also enjoy dressing up for Halloween. There….(9)…usually Halloween parties in the evening and usually there is a prize for the best or…(10)….unusual costumes.

In Canada and the United States, ……(1)…..of the most popular days in the year is Halloween. Halloween is on October 31st. It’s a day…….(2)……some people dress up in strange or unusual costumes. For example, they may dress up to ……(3)…an animal, a person from history. In some places, children go to schoolin…(4)….Halloween costumes. After dark, many young children…(5)….on their costumes and visit their neighbours. They knock on the ….(6)….and shout “Trick or treat”. Then their neighbours…..(7)….them some candy, and the children go on to the….(8)…house. Adults also enjoy dressing up for Halloween. There….(9)…usually Halloween parties in the evening and usually there is a prize for the best or…(10)….unusual costumes.

VI. Read the passage carefully, then decide whether the following statement are true (T) or false (F)
Halloween has its origin in the ancient Celtic celebration called Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celtic people lived in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France over 2,000 years ago. The Celtic New Year began on November 1. Samhain was a festival that celebrated the end of summer and the harvest season on the day before the new year. During this festival, the Celts would wear costumes and try to tell each other their future.
By the time Christianity had spread to the region in the ninth century A.D., November 1 had been designated All Saints Day or All-hallows. The day before, October 31", was referred to as All-hallows Eve. It is now simply called Halloween.
32. The origin of Halloween can be traced to Celts.
33. The celebration of Samhain took place on November 1st.
34. During Samhain, people wore costumes and told each other's fortune.
35. By the 900s, Christianity had spread into Celtic lands.
36. All-hallows Eve is another name for Halloween.

l. Put the name of the celebration in each blank.
Halloween, New Year's Day ,Boxing Day, Passover, Christmas, Mother's Day, Easter ,Father's Day, Mid-Fall Festival
1. It is celebrated in Viet Nam on the 15th of August in a lunar year
2. It is celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day
3. It is celebrated on the second Sunday in May when people give cards or gifts to their mothers
4. It is celebrated in late March or early April in memory of freeing of the Jews from being slaves in Egypt.
5. It is celebrated on the third Sunday in June when people give cards or presents to their fathers
6. It is celebrated on Sunday in March or April when Christians think about Christ coming back to life.
7. It is celebrated on 25 December when Christians remember the birth of Christ
8. It is celebrated on the first day of the year, January 1st
9. It is celebrated in the night of October 31, when children wear costumes and go from door to d oor to ask for candy.

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31^st. By tradition, Halloween begins after sunset. Long ago, people believed that witches gathered together and ghosts roamed the world on Halloween. Today, most people no longer believe in ghosts and witches. But these supernatural beings are still a part of Halloween. The colours black and orange is the colour of pumpkins. A jack-o’-lantern is a hollowed-out pumpkin with a face carved on one side. Candles are usually placed inside, giving the face of ghostly glow. According to legend, jack-o’-lantern protects people in their homes from ghostly spirits.

Dressing in masks and costumes is a popular Halloween activity. Costumes can be traditional and scary, such as a witch’s pointy hat and black gown. Costumes may also have modern flavour. Many children dress up as movie characters or a favourite superhero. But Halloween is not just for children. Many adults enjoy showing off their costumes at Halloween parties.

1. When is Halloween held?

Halloween held on October 31st.

2. Why do people decorate their house by using jack-o’-lantern?

3. What is a popular Halloween activity?

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4. Who is Halloween for?

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5. What will children wear on Halloween?

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