Thanksgiving

Let's learn some new words before you read the passage:

Listen to the passage Thanksgiving and complete the sentences by dragging the correct word to each blank.

Each year, on the fourth Thursday in November, many Americans gather around the table with their families to eat a large 1.1. Do you know why this is so? It is a 1.2 of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving started back with the Pilgrims. The year was 1621. The Pilgrims had 1.3 a very difficult winter. The next fall they had a great harvest. They were so grateful that they decided to have a feast to celebrate. They invited 91 Native Americans to join them.

The Pilgrims and guests 1.4 around a large table to eat. There were games, races, and other activities. The celebration lasted three days. We don’t know if they really did have turkey, but they did have some kind of bird, as well as venison (meat from deer). They didn’t have pumpkin pie because there wasn’t enough flour for that. They did have pumpkins that had been boiled and softened. They also had berries, fruit, nuts, and fish.

It wasn’t until 1777 that all 13 1.5 celebrated Thanksgiving. A lady named Sarah Hale wrote articles in magazines about how important it was to celebrate Thanksgiving. Finally in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln 1.6 Thanksgiving to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. In 1941, Thanksgiving became an official national holiday. Thanksgiving has been celebrated ever since.

Read and answer the following questions.

Thanksgiving

Each year, on the fourth Thursday in November, many Americans gather around the table with their families to eat a large feast. Do you know why this is so? It is a celebration of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving started back with the Pilgrims. The year was 1621. The Pilgrims had survived a very difficult winter. The next fall they had a great harvest. They were so grateful that they decided to have a feast to celebrate. They invited 91 Native Americans to join them.

The Pilgrims and guests gathered around a large table to eat. There were games, races, and other activities. The celebration lasted three days. We don’t know if they really did have turkey, but they did have some kind of bird, as well as venison (meat from deer). They didn’t have pumpkin pie because there wasn’t enough flour for that. They did have pumpkins that had been boiled and softened. They also had berries, fruit, nuts, and fish.

It wasn’t until 1777 that all 13 colonies celebrated Thanksgiving. A lady named Sarah Hale wrote articles in magazines about how important it was to celebrate Thanksgiving. Finally in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. In 1941, Thanksgiving became an official national holiday. Thanksgiving has been celebrated ever since.

Source: Daily Warm-ups Reading Grade 5

According to the passage, with whom do Americans spend Thanksgiving?

What is true according to the passage?

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

The author is _____  a dish the Pilgrims ate at their feast in 1621.

Build your vocabulary by learning these intensive phrases/idioms

Make a complete sentence using the given words. Change the form of the words or add other words if necessary.

It was such a beautiful meteor shower that we watched it all night. (SO)

=> The meteor shower .....

Rewrite the sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the original one.

They didn’t pay the bill until the electricity was cut off.

=> It was not .....

Choose the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).

I was bitten by a dog once and I've been afraid of them ever since.

Mark: Sorry but I can't go to the movies with you. I've got three assignments to do. All must be submitted on Monday. 

Elena: You have three assignments due on Monday? It sounds like you're _____ of your procrastination.

Choose the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Let's sit down and talk turkey about the budget for this project.