Christmas Celebrations in the Philippines

Front

Noche buena? It's Spanish for "good night.“ However, in the Philippines, Noche Buena is steeped in cultural significance. The country was a Spanish colony for more than 300 years. For Filipinos, Noche Buena is the revelry before Christmas Day. Families and friends come together to celebrate and share food.

What is revelry?

a. a religious assembly
b. lively and noisy festivities

c. family reunions
d. fireworks and explosions

Back

Front

Sleighbells, snowy skies, and a glowing fire evoke an idyllic holiday setting. But the tropics can be just as festive as any wintry holiday. If you can travel, I strongly recommend experiencing Christmas in the Philippines. You’ll never go wrong with the warmth and hospitality of the people and the great food served during their feasts. Their tourism ad sums it up: “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

Which author's purpose is suggested by the text?

a. to explain Filipinos’ warmth and hospitality

b. to entertain the reader with holiday stories

c. to persuade readers to visit the Philippines at

Christmas
d. to teach readers about how Filipinos

celebrate the holidays

Back

Front

The Philippines proudly boasts of being the only Christian nation in Asia. For this, Christmas is the most important holiday in the country. People in the Philippines like to celebrate Christmas for as long as possible. The playing of Christmas carols in shops starts as early as September! Official celebrations begin on December 16th, when many people go to the first of nine pre-dawn masses called Misa de Gallo. The Christmas celebrations continue to the first Sunday in January. Many people stay awake all night as they go to church to hear the last mass on Christmas Eve. It is followed by a midnight feast called Noche Buena. It is a big open house celebration with family, friends, and neighbors dropping in. Most households would have several dishes served: Lechon (roasted pig), ham, fruit salad, rice cakes, steamed rice, and various drinks.

Which of the following best explains how the author organized the paragraph?

a. by giving the history of the Philippines
b. by describing how the Philippines celebrate Christmas
c. by listing the different religions in the Philippines
d. by comparing and contrasting Christmas celebrations in other countries

Back

b. by describing how the Philippines celebrate Christmas

Front

Choose the correct spelling of the word to complete the sentences below.

____________is the Jewish Festival of Lights.

a. Hanuka

b. Hannukka

c. Hanukkah

d. Hannukah

Back

c Hanukkah

Front

Choose the correct spelling of the word to complete the sentences below.

____________ is an African-American celebration of life from December 26th to December 1st.

a. Kwanza

b. kwanza

c. Kwanzaa

d. kwanzaa

Back

c. Kwanzaa

Front

Choose the correct spelling of the word to complete the sentences below.

I have watched the Netflix movie, The ________ Chronicles ten times.

a. Christmas

b. Xmas
c. Cristmas

d. Krismas

Back

a. Christmas

Front

Choose the correct homophones to complete the paragraph.

Mom makes rice cakes, crema de fruta cake, and fruit salad for Noche Buena. _____________ traditional Filipino desserts. She spreads them on that round table over _______________ by the door.

a.

a. There, they’re b. They’re, there

Back

b They're, there

Front

Choose the correct homophones to complete the paragraph.

In the mid 16th century, farmers toiled every day, and the heat would be at its scorching peak. As Christmas began, priests saw farmers persistently attending evening masses despite their fatigue. To compromise, churches held mass at dawn when it’s still dark.

Which word from the paragraph is an adjective?

a. livelihood c. fatigue
b. scorching d. every day

Back

b. scorching

Front

In the mid 16th century, farmers toiled every day, and the heat would be at its scorching peak. As Christmas began, priests saw farmers persistently attending evening masses despite their fatigue. To compromise, churches held mass at dawn when it’s still dark.

Which word from the paragraph is an adverb?

a. Filipinos c. persistently b. dark d. mass

Back

c. persistently

Front

The Tree of Trees

Mom bought a tree bigger than giants in fairy tales.
The branches were so long

They could hug the whole world.

It took a hundred shiny balls and

million lights
To awaken the giant from

slumber
And a thousand gifts to cover its

gigantic feet

Which of the following is an example of hyperbole?

1. a. Mom bought a tree bigger than giants in fairytales

2. b. To awaken the giant from slumber

3. c A thousand gifts to cover its gigantic feet

4. d. it took a hundred shiny balls

Back

a. Mom bought a tree bigger than giants in fairytales.