Groundhog Day

Communities hold ceremonies, rousting a groundhog from its burrow and judging whether it sees its shadow or not.

What must "rousting" mean?

• studying

• predicting

• awakening

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If the animal does see its silhouette, so the story goes, it means six more weeks of winter.

What must silhouette mean?

• a dark outline of an object

• a mirror image in a surface

• a sign of longer winter

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For instance, the Celts of Europe celebrated it as Imbolc. For them, this pre-Christian festival marked the beginning of spring. As Christianity spread across Europe, Imbolc evolved into Candelmas, a feast honoring Jesus.

What caused Imbolc to evolve into Candelmas?

• the beginning of spring

• the Celts of Europe

• the spread of Christianity

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They gave the job to an animal native to North America -- the groundhog. Also known as woodchucks, groundhogs belong to the marmot family, a group of large ground squirrels.

What do squirrels and woodchucks have in common?

• They are native to Europe

• They are in the marmot animal family

• They came with the German immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries

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Its members wear top hats and speak in Pennsylvania Dutch, a dialect brought by German immigrants. They supposedly communicate with the groundhog in “Groundhogese.”

What must "groundhogese" mean?

• and easy way to differentiate groudhogs and marmots

• a language used to speak to groundhogs

• Punxsutawney Phil's immigrant family

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Groundhogs are not the only animal forecasters of winter weather. In Vermillion, Ohio, residents rely on the woolly bear caterpillar. According to tradition, if these insects have more orange than black coloring, the upcoming winter will be mild.

How are the Woollybear caterpillar and groundhogs similar?

• both are orange and black and used during festivals

• both are found in Ohio, both are Native American symbols

• both are animals, both used by group to "predict" weather

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Punxsutawney Phil cheered winter-weary spectators when he failed to see his shadow.

Question - What must "spectators" mean?

• people watching something

• other animals

• meteorologists who predict weather

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They stir Phil from his burrow and judge whether he sees his shadow.

What must a "burrow" be?

• news station

• a hole or tunnel

• winter snowstorm

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What is the purpose of this section of the article:

The origins of Groundhog Day reach back decades and across the Atlantic Ocean. February 2 marks the midpoint of winter in Europe. It has been a significant day in ancient and modern cultures. For instance, the Celts of Europe celebrated it as Imbolc.

• to compare Celts with Christians

• to describe the difference between groundhogs and other animals

• to explain how Groundhog Day came about

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