Thanksgiving ReadWorks & Fact/Opinion

When is Thanksgiving held today?

• the first Thursday of November

• the last Thursday of November

• the fourth Thursday of November

• after any particularly important event

This article is structured in a list format. What does the article list?

• myths that people associate with Thanksgiving and turkeys

• reasons why Thanksgiving was first created

• ways in which the turkey is important to Thanksgiving

• arguments for moving Thanksgiving different date

Some leaders of the United States have had a major impact on the way Americans celebrate Thanksgiving today.

What evidence from the text best supports this conclusion?

• Two turkeys pardoned by George W. Bush were flown to Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

• Franklin Roosevelt decreed that the Thanksgiving holiday should be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November every year.

• George Washington issued a proclamation urging Americans of the time to observe a day of thanksgiving for the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.

• Benjamin Franklin felt that the turkey would be a better national symbol for the United States than the Bald Eagle.

Based on the information in the text, what effect might Abraham Lincoln's setting an annual day of Thanksgiving have had?

• The turkey became the national bird of the United States.

• Holiday shopping was hurt, and continues to suffer.

• The decision caused controversy among many Americans.

• New traditions grew around the annual Thanksgiving celebration.

What is this article mostly about?

• the role of the turkey in the U.S. and during Thanksgiving

• traditions, little known facts, and myths about Thanksgiving

• the way Thanksgiving has affected shopping patterns

• U.S. Presidents' and Founding Fathers' contributions to Thanksgiving

Why might the author include the phrase "fact or fiction" in every heading throughout the article?

• to suggest that some of the statements in the headings are fact, but some are fiction

• to convince the reader that all the statements in the headings are factual

• to force the reader to decide whether the information in the article is factual or fictional

• to show that the author is not sure if the informatin in the article is true or not

Choose the answer that best completes this sentence.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln designated the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving, ______, in 1930, President Franklin Roosevelt decreed that the holiday should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month.

• for example

• therefore

• but

• so

How has the holiday shopping season affected Thanksgiving traditions?

• President Franklin Roosevelt set Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday of November in order to elongate the holiday shopping season.

• Students may also note that the Macy’s parade has become a major Thanksgiving tradition, and is both thrown by a major department store and is the kickoff to the holiday shopping season.

• The holiday shopping season has not been affected by Thanksgiving traditions in any way.

• In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln designated the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving, but in 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt decreed that the holiday should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month.

Thanksgiving is an American holiday that is celebrated in November.

• Fact

• Opinion

You should dress like a pilgrim for Thanksgiving.

• Fact

• Opinion