Halloween ESL Listening Comprehension Challenge

What was the original purpose of the Celtic festival called Samhain?

• To honor the birth of new children

• To celebrate the beginning of summer

• To mark the end of the harvest season

• To commemorate the founding of their villages

Why did the Catholic Church merge Samhain with a church-sanctioned holiday?

• To attract more people to the church

• To celebrate the end of winter

• To create a new holiday for farmers

• To eliminate all pagan traditions

What does the term 'All Hallows Eve' translate to?

• Mass of the Saints

• Day of the Holy

• Night of the Spirits

• Festival of the Dead

Which group brought Halloween traditions to America?

• The French

• The Germans

• The Irish

• The Spanish

What activity did Irish immigrants introduce to America during Halloween?

• Lighting fireworks

• Carving pumpkins

• Dressing as witches

• Bobbing for apples

Why did young pranksters wear masks during Halloween?

• To protect their faces from the cold

• To look like their favorite characters

• To scare away evil spirits

• To avoid being recognized

What led to the dangerous nature of Halloween in the 1930s?

• Introduction of new scary costumes

• Lack of police presence

• Rise in hooliganism and vandalism

• Increased number of ghosts

What was the original purpose of trick-or-treating?

• To extort candy in exchange for not vandalizing

• To gather food for the winter

• To celebrate the end of the harvest

• To collect donations for the church

How did storekeepers and neighbors respond to the rise in Halloween vandalism?

• By banning Halloween celebrations

• By organizing community patrols

• By giving treats or bribes

• By calling the police

What was the alternative encouraged for children to avoid troublemaking during Halloween?

• Traveling door-to-door for treats

• Participating in community games

• Staying indoors

• Attending church services