CASPP ELA Practice

Read the passage and answer the questions.

A Rainy Day at the Farmer's Market

I heard the honking of the horn as my dad's truck pulled into the driveway. Immediately, I knew it was time to stop playing catch with my dog. My grandmother called, "Matthew! Your dad is home. Please come help him!"

I was disappointed. It was a cloudy Saturday, and I thought we would be able to skip the Farmer's Market. I had hoped to do what I wanted today, but no such luck.

"Matthew!" Grandmother called again.

"I'll be right there!" I yelled.

"Please get the big umbrellas from the basement," Grandmother said. "It looks like it's going to rain."

I still had to put on some shoes. I decided to wear my cowboy boots, but I couldn't find them. I looked in the front closet, upstairs, and by the back door. I could've worn my sneakers, but I really wanted to wear my boots. I knew that if I didn't hurry, everyone was going to be upset with me. Reluctantly, I put on my sneakers and went outside.

By then there were only a few crates of produce that needed to be loaded onto the truck.

"I could have used your help, son," said Dad. "Kayla helped me load all of this produce into the truck."

I knew he wasn't happy with me, and I felt bad that my sister Kayla had helped instead of me. I started to explain how I wanted to wear my boots, but couldn't find them. Then I realized how selfish I sounded.

Grandmother came outside, and I helped her carry a box of fresh baked goods. Once we were all in the truck, Dad drove toward town. The Farmer's Market was located in a parking lot behind the town square.

Dad stopped the truck at the main entrance to check in. "Good morning, Bill," Dad said to the attendant. "What's the weather prediction?"

"It's not looking good," said Bill. He directed us to where we should park our truck.

Dad drove the truck toward our parking space, and then carefully backed in. We set up our table with fruits and vegetables on one side and baked goods on the other. Grandmother's homemade pies and cookies made my mouth water.

"We'd better put up the umbrellas in case it rains," said Dad.

I gulped. I realized I had forgotten the umbrellas. Dad, Grandma, and Kayla looked at me expectantly.

"I'll be right back!" I yelled, and took off running before anyone had a chance to say anything.

I knew that my friend Jose and his family were supposed to be at the market, so I searched for them, keeping my fingers crossed that it didn't start to rain. I ran past tables of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and even homemade soaps and hand-knitted sweaters, but I could not find Jose.

Exhausted, I continued searching through the rows of tables. I reached the last row with growing concern. If it rained, our truck would get soaked, and so would my family.

Finally I saw Jose. I ran over and almost collapsed.

"Is everything all right, Matthew?" asked Jose's mom.

I gasped for air as I explained how I forgot our umbrellas. I asked if they had any extras we could borrow.

"Of course! Jose, please help Matthew," said Jose's mom.

Then it happened: a drop of rain hit my face!

Jose and I quickly pulled out two large umbrellas from the family's truck. Jose helped me carry the big umbrellas back to our space. We had to go slowly, being careful not to bump into anyone. The market had opened for business, and it was already crowded.

We arrived just in time. As we opened the umbrellas, the few drops of rain began to turn into a steady drizzle. Dad smiled and nodded, seemingly pleased that I had solved the problem on my own. After we set up the umbrellas, Jose hurried back to his family. Luckily the rain didn't stop the crowds. But the rain sure taught me a lesson that day.

What happens after Matthew and Jose open the umbrellas?

• The rain begins to fall

• The crowd begins to thin out

• Matthew visits Jose and his mother at their stand

• Matthew sets up the table with fruits and vegetables

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

Read the passage and answer the questions.

A Rainy Day at the Farmer's Market

I heard the honking of the horn as my dad's truck pulled into the driveway. Immediately, I knew it was time to stop playing catch with my dog. My grandmother called, "Matthew! Your dad is home. Please come help him!"

I was disappointed. It was a cloudy Saturday, and I thought we would be able to skip the Farmer's Market. I had hoped to do what I wanted today, but no such luck.

"Matthew!" Grandmother called again.

"I'll be right there!" I yelled.

"Please get the big umbrellas from the basement," Grandmother said. "It looks like it's going to rain."

I still had to put on some shoes. I decided to wear my cowboy boots, but I couldn't find them. I looked in the front closet, upstairs, and by the back door. I could've worn my sneakers, but I really wanted to wear my boots. I knew that if I didn't hurry, everyone was going to be upset with me. Reluctantly, I put on my sneakers and went outside.

By then there were only a few crates of produce that needed to be loaded onto the truck.

"I could have used your help, son," said Dad. "Kayla helped me load all of this produce into the truck."

I knew he wasn't happy with me, and I felt bad that my sister Kayla had helped instead of me. I started to explain how I wanted to wear my boots, but couldn't find them. Then I realized how selfish I sounded.

Grandmother came outside, and I helped her carry a box of fresh baked goods. Once we were all in the truck, Dad drove toward town. The Farmer's Market was located in a parking lot behind the town square.

Dad stopped the truck at the main entrance to check in. "Good morning, Bill," Dad said to the attendant. "What's the weather prediction?"

"It's not looking good," said Bill. He directed us to where we should park our truck.

Dad drove the truck toward our parking space, and then carefully backed in. We set up our table with fruits and vegetables on one side and baked goods on the other. Grandmother's homemade pies and cookies made my mouth water.

"We'd better put up the umbrellas in case it rains," said Dad.

I gulped. I realized I had forgotten the umbrellas. Dad, Grandma, and Kayla looked at me expectantly.

"I'll be right back!" I yelled, and took off running before anyone had a chance to say anything.

I knew that my friend Jose and his family were supposed to be at the market, so I searched for them, keeping my fingers crossed that it didn't start to rain. I ran past tables of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and even homemade soaps and hand-knitted sweaters, but I could not find Jose.

Exhausted, I continued searching through the rows of tables. I reached the last row with growing concern. If it rained, our truck would get soaked, and so would my family.

Finally I saw Jose. I ran over and almost collapsed.

"Is everything all right, Matthew?" asked Jose's mom.

I gasped for air as I explained how I forgot our umbrellas. I asked if they had any extras we could borrow.

"Of course! Jose, please help Matthew," said Jose's mom.

Then it happened: a drop of rain hit my face!

Jose and I quickly pulled out two large umbrellas from the family's truck. Jose helped me carry the big umbrellas back to our space. We had to go slowly, being careful not to bump into anyone. The market had opened for business, and it was already crowded.

We arrived just in time. As we opened the umbrellas, the few drops of rain began to turn into a steady drizzle. Dad smiled and nodded, seemingly pleased that I had solved the problem on my own. After we set up the umbrellas, Jose hurried back to his family. Luckily the rain didn't stop the crowds. But the rain sure taught me a lesson that day.

How does the author develop the idea that Matthew takes responsibility for his actions?

• Matthew stops explaining to his dad about the boots and begins helping

• Matthew comes outside in time to load the last crates of produce onto the truck

• Matthew is disappointed that he still must go to the market, even though it is raining

• Matthew asks his friend to help him carry the umbrellas carefully though the crowd.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

Read the passage and answer the questions.

A Rainy Day at the Farmer's Market

I heard the honking of the horn as my dad's truck pulled into the driveway. Immediately, I knew it was time to stop playing catch with my dog. My grandmother called, "Matthew! Your dad is home. Please come help him!"

I was disappointed. It was a cloudy Saturday, and I thought we would be able to skip the Farmer's Market. I had hoped to do what I wanted today, but no such luck.

"Matthew!" Grandmother called again.

"I'll be right there!" I yelled.

"Please get the big umbrellas from the basement," Grandmother said. "It looks like it's going to rain."

I still had to put on some shoes. I decided to wear my cowboy boots, but I couldn't find them. I looked in the front closet, upstairs, and by the back door. I could've worn my sneakers, but I really wanted to wear my boots. I knew that if I didn't hurry, everyone was going to be upset with me. Reluctantly, I put on my sneakers and went outside.

By then there were only a few crates of produce that needed to be loaded onto the truck.

"I could have used your help, son," said Dad. "Kayla helped me load all of this produce into the truck."

I knew he wasn't happy with me, and I felt bad that my sister Kayla had helped instead of me. I started to explain how I wanted to wear my boots, but couldn't find them. Then I realized how selfish I sounded.

Grandmother came outside, and I helped her carry a box of fresh baked goods. Once we were all in the truck, Dad drove toward town. The Farmer's Market was located in a parking lot behind the town square.

Dad stopped the truck at the main entrance to check in. "Good morning, Bill," Dad said to the attendant. "What's the weather prediction?"

"It's not looking good," said Bill. He directed us to where we should park our truck.

Dad drove the truck toward our parking space, and then carefully backed in. We set up our table with fruits and vegetables on one side and baked goods on the other. Grandmother's homemade pies and cookies made my mouth water.

"We'd better put up the umbrellas in case it rains," said Dad.

I gulped. I realized I had forgotten the umbrellas. Dad, Grandma, and Kayla looked at me expectantly.

"I'll be right back!" I yelled, and took off running before anyone had a chance to say anything.

I knew that my friend Jose and his family were supposed to be at the market, so I searched for them, keeping my fingers crossed that it didn't start to rain. I ran past tables of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and even homemade soaps and hand-knitted sweaters, but I could not find Jose.

Exhausted, I continued searching through the rows of tables. I reached the last row with growing concern. If it rained, our truck would get soaked, and so would my family.

Finally I saw Jose. I ran over and almost collapsed.

"Is everything all right, Matthew?" asked Jose's mom.

I gasped for air as I explained how I forgot our umbrellas. I asked if they had any extras we could borrow.

"Of course! Jose, please help Matthew," said Jose's mom.

Then it happened: a drop of rain hit my face!

Jose and I quickly pulled out two large umbrellas from the family's truck. Jose helped me carry the big umbrellas back to our space. We had to go slowly, being careful not to bump into anyone. The market had opened for business, and it was already crowded.

We arrived just in time. As we opened the umbrellas, the few drops of rain began to turn into a steady drizzle. Dad smiled and nodded, seemingly pleased that I had solved the problem on my own. After we set up the umbrellas, Jose hurried back to his family. Luckily the rain didn't stop the crowds. But the rain sure taught me a lesson that day.

Which of these inferences about Matthew is supported by the passage?

• Matthew does not get enough exercise

• Matthew wants to go to the farmer's market

• Matthew does not care if his family gets wet

• Matthew enjoys eating his grandmother's baked goods

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

Which sentence from the passage best supports that Matthew enjoys eating his grandmother's baked goods?

• "I had hoped to do what I wanted today."

• "Grandmother's homemade pies and cookies made my mouth water."

• "I realized I had forgotten the umbrellas."

• "I ran over and almost collapsed."

Tags

CCSS.RF.4.4C

CCSS.RF.5.4C

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.2

Cuisine and Etiquette

by the Peace Corps

Cuisine and Etiquette in Zambia

Zambia's staple food is maize (corn), and Zambians eat maize in several ways. When the corn is ripe but still green, it can be roasted or boiled. When it is dry and hard, it can be fried or boiled. It can also be pounded slightly to remove the outside layer and boiled either by itself or mixed with beans or groundnuts (peanuts). At times the maize is ground to a size a little bigger than rice and is cooked like rice. Finally, we have the fine cornmeal, which is called mealie-meal in Zambia. This is used for making nsima, the most popular meal. Nsima is steamed cornmeal.

Meat from cows, goats, sheep, and fish is used in sauces over nsima. There are also a lot of vegetables put in sauces, such as leaves from beans, okra, cow peas, pumpkins, and cassava. Other vegetables eaten almost daily include onions and tomatoes.

All the cooking is done by the wife. Nsima is usually prepared for lunch and dinner and not for breakfast. In a traditional setting, boys from the age of seven eat with the man of the house.

The mother eats with the girls and the younger boys. This is because all of the children below the age of seven are under the guidance of their mother. Almost all learning takes place through daily activities in the home. The mother, who is in charge of the kids' learning, has to take care of their learning at meal time. This is changing, especially in towns and cities. The trend now is that members of the family all eat together.

Before eating, everybody washes hands in order of the status of the members of the family: father first, then mother, and others follow according to their ages. One of the younger children, boy or girl, passes a water dish around for others to wash their hands. If a visitor happens to have a meal with the family, he or she is given the honor of washing first.

It is rude to talk very much or loudly while eating. After eating, the family members wash their hands again in the same order. The wife and the young ones clear the table. Belching after a meal used to be a compliment, but it is not nowadays.

Cuisine and Etiquette in Uganda

In Uganda, the staple food is matoke (cooking bananas). Other food crops include cassava (manioc), sweet potatoes, white potatoes, yams, beans, peas, groundnuts (peanuts), cabbage, onions, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Some fruits, such as oranges, pawpaws (papayas), lemons, and pineapples, are also grown.

Most people, except for a few who live in the city centers, produce their own food. The responsibility for preparing the family's meals belongs solely to women and girls in the home. Men and boys of age 12 and above are not even expected to sit in the kitchen, which is separate from the main house. Cooking is done on an open fire using wood for fuel.

Most families eat two meals a day. The two meals are lunch and supper. Breakfast is just a cup of tea or a bowl of porridge.

When a meal is ready, all members of the household wash their hands and sit down on [floor] mats. Hands have to be washed before and after the meal because most Ugandans eat with their hands. At mealtime everybody is welcome; visitors and neighbors who drop in are expected to join the family at a meal.

Food is served by women. They cut it up into small pieces for each member of the family. Sauce, which is usually a stew with vegetables, beans, butter, salt, and curry powder, is served to each person on a plate. Sometimes fish or beef stew is served.

Normally a short prayer is said before the family starts eating. During the meal, children talk only when asked a question. It is bad manners to reach for salt or a spoon. It is better to ask someone sitting close to it to pass it. It is also bad manners to leave the room while others are still eating. Everyone respects the meal by staying seated until the meal is over. Leaning on the left hand or stretching ones legs while at a meal is a sign of disrespect and is not tolerated.

People usually drink water at the end of the meal. It is considered odd to drink water while eating.

When the meal is finished, everyone in turn gives a compliment to the mother by saying, "Thank you for preparing the meal, madam." No dessert is served after the meal. Fruits like papaw, pineapple, or sweet bananas are normally eaten as a snack between meals.

Excerpt from "Worldwise Window" by the Peace Corps. In the public domain.

The author used the contrast in roles of males and females in “Cuisine and Etiquette in Uganda” to stress the importance of social structure. What does the author's use of contrast in describing the roles of males and females in “Cuisine and Etiquette in Zambia”tell the reader about the importance of social structure in that country?

• The contrast of roles shares insight into the cultural structure.

• The contrast of roles explains the education process of the children.

• The contrast of roles clarifies the order of the hand washing in that country.

• The contrast of roles explains that women do not have the same rights in all countries.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

Cuisine and Etiquette

by the Peace Corps

Cuisine and Etiquette in Zambia

Zambia's staple food is maize (corn), and Zambians eat maize in several ways. When the corn is ripe but still green, it can be roasted or boiled. When it is dry and hard, it can be fried or boiled. It can also be pounded slightly to remove the outside layer and boiled either by itself or mixed with beans or groundnuts (peanuts). At times the maize is ground to a size a little bigger than rice and is cooked like rice. Finally, we have the fine cornmeal, which is called mealie-meal in Zambia. This is used for making nsima, the most popular meal. Nsima is steamed cornmeal.

Meat from cows, goats, sheep, and fish is used in sauces over nsima. There are also a lot of vegetables put in sauces, such as leaves from beans, okra, cow peas, pumpkins, and cassava. Other vegetables eaten almost daily include onions and tomatoes.

All the cooking is done by the wife. Nsima is usually prepared for lunch and dinner and not for breakfast. In a traditional setting, boys from the age of seven eat with the man of the house.

The mother eats with the girls and the younger boys. This is because all of the children below the age of seven are under the guidance of their mother. Almost all learning takes place through daily activities in the home. The mother, who is in charge of the kids' learning, has to take care of their learning at meal time. This is changing, especially in towns and cities. The trend now is that members of the family all eat together.

Before eating, everybody washes hands in order of the status of the members of the family: father first, then mother, and others follow according to their ages. One of the younger children, boy or girl, passes a water dish around for others to wash their hands. If a visitor happens to have a meal with the family, he or she is given the honor of washing first.

It is rude to talk very much or loudly while eating. After eating, the family members wash their hands again in the same order. The wife and the young ones clear the table. Belching after a meal used to be a compliment, but it is not nowadays.

Cuisine and Etiquette in Uganda

In Uganda, the staple food is matoke (cooking bananas). Other food crops include cassava (manioc), sweet potatoes, white potatoes, yams, beans, peas, groundnuts (peanuts), cabbage, onions, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Some fruits, such as oranges, pawpaws (papayas), lemons, and pineapples, are also grown.

Most people, except for a few who live in the city centers, produce their own food. The responsibility for preparing the family's meals belongs solely to women and girls in the home. Men and boys of age 12 and above are not even expected to sit in the kitchen, which is separate from the main house. Cooking is done on an open fire using wood for fuel.

Most families eat two meals a day. The two meals are lunch and supper. Breakfast is just a cup of tea or a bowl of porridge.

When a meal is ready, all members of the household wash their hands and sit down on [floor] mats. Hands have to be washed before and after the meal because most Ugandans eat with their hands. At mealtime everybody is welcome; visitors and neighbors who drop in are expected to join the family at a meal.

Food is served by women. They cut it up into small pieces for each member of the family. Sauce, which is usually a stew with vegetables, beans, butter, salt, and curry powder, is served to each person on a plate. Sometimes fish or beef stew is served.

Normally a short prayer is said before the family starts eating. During the meal, children talk only when asked a question. It is bad manners to reach for salt or a spoon. It is better to ask someone sitting close to it to pass it. It is also bad manners to leave the room while others are still eating. Everyone respects the meal by staying seated until the meal is over. Leaning on the left hand or stretching ones legs while at a meal is a sign of disrespect and is not tolerated.

People usually drink water at the end of the meal. It is considered odd to drink water while eating.

When the meal is finished, everyone in turn gives a compliment to the mother by saying, "Thank you for preparing the meal, madam." No dessert is served after the meal. Fruits like papaw, pineapple, or sweet bananas are normally eaten as a snack between meals.

Excerpt from "Worldwise Window" by the Peace Corps. In the public domain.

What main idea can be found in both “Cuisine and Etiquette in Zambia” and “Cuisine and Etiquette in Uganda”?

• Mealtime customs are important in both cultures.

• Women are responsible for all of the meal preparation.

• Hand washing is necessary to meal preparation in both cultures.

• Men are not expected to participate in mealtime preparation.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

Which sentence best supports that mealtime customs are important in both cultures?

• When the corn is ripe but still green, it can be roasted or boiled. When it is dry and hard, it can be fried or boiled.

• Almost all learning takes place through daily activities at home.

• The trend now is that members of the family all eat together

• Before eating, everybody washes their hands in order of the status of the members of the family: father first, then mother, and others to follow according to their ages.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

Cuisine and Etiquette

by the Peace Corps

Cuisine and Etiquette in Zambia

Zambia's staple food is maize (corn), and Zambians eat maize in several ways. When the corn is ripe but still green, it can be roasted or boiled. When it is dry and hard, it can be fried or boiled. It can also be pounded slightly to remove the outside layer and boiled either by itself or mixed with beans or groundnuts (peanuts). At times the maize is ground to a size a little bigger than rice and is cooked like rice. Finally, we have the fine cornmeal, which is called mealie-meal in Zambia. This is used for making nsima, the most popular meal. Nsima is steamed cornmeal.

Meat from cows, goats, sheep, and fish is used in sauces over nsima. There are also a lot of vegetables put in sauces, such as leaves from beans, okra, cow peas, pumpkins, and cassava. Other vegetables eaten almost daily include onions and tomatoes.

All the cooking is done by the wife. Nsima is usually prepared for lunch and dinner and not for breakfast. In a traditional setting, boys from the age of seven eat with the man of the house.

The mother eats with the girls and the younger boys. This is because all of the children below the age of seven are under the guidance of their mother. Almost all learning takes place through daily activities in the home. The mother, who is in charge of the kids' learning, has to take care of their learning at meal time. This is changing, especially in towns and cities. The trend now is that members of the family all eat together.

Before eating, everybody washes hands in order of the status of the members of the family: father first, then mother, and others follow according to their ages. One of the younger children, boy or girl, passes a water dish around for others to wash their hands. If a visitor happens to have a meal with the family, he or she is given the honor of washing first.

It is rude to talk very much or loudly while eating. After eating, the family members wash their hands again in the same order. The wife and the young ones clear the table. Belching after a meal used to be a compliment, but it is not nowadays.

Cuisine and Etiquette in Uganda

In Uganda, the staple food is matoke (cooking bananas). Other food crops include cassava (manioc), sweet potatoes, white potatoes, yams, beans, peas, groundnuts (peanuts), cabbage, onions, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Some fruits, such as oranges, pawpaws (papayas), lemons, and pineapples, are also grown.

Most people, except for a few who live in the city centers, produce their own food. The responsibility for preparing the family's meals belongs solely to women and girls in the home. Men and boys of age 12 and above are not even expected to sit in the kitchen, which is separate from the main house. Cooking is done on an open fire using wood for fuel.

Most families eat two meals a day. The two meals are lunch and supper. Breakfast is just a cup of tea or a bowl of porridge.

When a meal is ready, all members of the household wash their hands and sit down on [floor] mats. Hands have to be washed before and after the meal because most Ugandans eat with their hands. At mealtime everybody is welcome; visitors and neighbors who drop in are expected to join the family at a meal.

Food is served by women. They cut it up into small pieces for each member of the family. Sauce, which is usually a stew with vegetables, beans, butter, salt, and curry powder, is served to each person on a plate. Sometimes fish or beef stew is served.

Normally a short prayer is said before the family starts eating. During the meal, children talk only when asked a question. It is bad manners to reach for salt or a spoon. It is better to ask someone sitting close to it to pass it. It is also bad manners to leave the room while others are still eating. Everyone respects the meal by staying seated until the meal is over. Leaning on the left hand or stretching ones legs while at a meal is a sign of disrespect and is not tolerated.

People usually drink water at the end of the meal. It is considered odd to drink water while eating.

When the meal is finished, everyone in turn gives a compliment to the mother by saying, "Thank you for preparing the meal, madam." No dessert is served after the meal. Fruits like papaw, pineapple, or sweet bananas are normally eaten as a snack between meals.

Excerpt from "Worldwise Window" by the Peace Corps. In the public domain.

Which detail from “Cuisine and Etiquette in Zambia” best shows that the father is at the top of the social structure in a family?

• In a traditional setting, boys from the age of seven eat with the man of the house.

• This is because all of the children below the age of seven are under the guidance of their mother.

• The mother eats with the girls and the younger boys.

• Before eating, everybody washes hands in order of the status of the members of the family: father first, then mother, and others follow according to their ages.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

First, read the sentence from “Cuisine and Etiquette in Zambia.”

Zambia's staple food is maize (corn), and Zambians eat maize in several ways.

Now read the sentence from “Cuisine and Etiquette in Uganda.”

In Uganda, the staple food is matoke (cooking bananas).

Which dictionary definition best defines staple as it is used in both texts?

• a metal wire fastener

• a quality of cloth fiber

• important part of the diet

• raw material for manufacture

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

Who Were the Celts?

by Amy Baskin

"Celt" is a name given to early Indo-European peoples. In the Iron Age they spread out from Central Europe to the British Isles and Spain. In the sixth century BCE the Greeks first named these people "Keltoi." Later the Romans called these same people living in what is now southern France "Galli," or "Gauls."

The Celts or Gauls have often been defined by what they were not: Romans or Greeks. Unfortunately, the ancient Celtic tribes never wrote about themselves. Written accounts were penned by biased narrators: the Romans and the Greeks, warring neighbors with whom they often clashed.

Ammianus Marcellinus, a Roman historian, lived in the fourth century CE. He wrote that the Celts were "terrible for the fierceness of their eyes, fond of quarreling, and of overbearing insolence." This is not a flattering description. Romans and Greeks often saw the Celts as barbaric and uncivilized. They fought to conquer Celtic territory.

Recently archaeologists have excavated many Celtic sites and examined artifacts. These clues paint a fairer, more reliable picture of the Celts. We now use the word "Celt" to describe many distinct groups who never referred to themselves as Celt. The word Celt is used in much the same way as the term "Native American" in that it describes people who share similarities of heritage but are different in meaningful ways.

These tribes had different ways of life and were only loosely related. For instance, while the Romans pledged allegiance to a single emperor, the Celts never had a unifying leader. What they did share in common were similar languages, elegant artistic styles, and complex mythologies. Trade also connected these tribes when they were not fighting each other.

Three Periods of the Ancient Celts

There are three major periods of early Celtic history. Clues found in one chieftain's burial site in Austria give us information about the Hallstatt Period from the ninth century BCE to the fifth century BCE. The chieftain's clothing was made with silk. Silk was obtained from China. This is evidence that even this far back into history, this Celtic tribe engaged in trade with distant cultures. Since ancient salt mines were also found near the site, we can reasonably conclude that the Celts traded salt for the silk. In those times salt was valuable, as it was used to preserve foods.

Artifacts from many sites across Europe show that Celtswere active and talented traders, metalworkers, and farmers. They wove and dyed their own cloth, made their tools, weapons, and ornaments out of iron and bronze, and traded widely.

The next era is called the La Tène Period. It lasted from the fifth century BCE to the first century BCE. During this time tribes spread throughout Europe. The Celts adorned metal and stonework with exquisitely rounded shapes and swirling lines, as well as with complex symbolic images of animals and people.

As far north as Denmark, archaeologists have reconstructed whole villages based on patterns of holes in the ground. These holes once held wooden posts. From this they have determined that Celtic tribes typically lived in rounded huts. Thatched roofs with holes in the middle let out smoke from their fires. Steep mud walls surrounding the villages kept enemies out.

In Ireland and other regions, scientists have found bodies of Celts in peat bogs. They are astonishingly well preserved. These Celts had manicured fingernails. Some even used an early form of gel to style their hair. The Celts used colorful dyes to decorate their plaid fabrics.

The third major time frame is the Romano-Celtic Period. This period lasted from the first century BCE through the fifth century CE. During this time the Romans conquered all of what is now France, and much of Britain. Many Celtswere assimilated into the Roman Empire and much Celticculture was lost. Their lack of unity against the Romans may have led to their eventual demise.

Most of mainland Western Europe eventually adopted the culture of the Romans. In some parts the old Celtic culture disappeared entirely. There are very few signs of Celticculture left which have survived over time, especially in lands closest to Rome.

Celtic Culture Today

In areas where the Celts resisted the Roman invasion, the Celts held on to more of their traditions. On the fringes of Western Europe—Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and even France—sleek, rounded Celtic designs still decorate homes and architecture. People wear plaid fabrics inherited from their Celtic ancestors. Traces of the ancient Celts can be found in the names of some places in Europe, especially rivers. The rivers Thames, Seine, Danube, and Rhine all have names derived from Celtic languages.

The Celts may not have kept written records of themselves, but thankfully, they were great storytellers. Much of their oral tradition has been passed down from one generation to the next. Today we have the Celts to thank for many famous legends of the British Isles. Tales of King Arthur and the Mabinogion stem from Wales. Stories of the Irish High King Brian Boru and Scotland's William Wallace, known as Braveheart, are also Celtic lore. Though the ancient Celtsare long gone, Celtic stories are very much alive and inspiring artists today. "Celtic of any sort," observed the English writer J. R. R. Tolkien, is "a magic bag, into which anything may be put, and out of which almost anything may come." Without Celtic folklore, Tolkien could never have written The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

If you ever have the opportunity to travel through Europe, listen very carefully. You will hear people speak and sing in Celtic languages: Gaelic in Ireland, Welsh in Wales, and Breton in Western France. The old expression "all the world loves an underdog" seems to apply to how the Celts are thought of in contemporary culture. We remain fascinated by the history, myths, languages, and artistic expressions of a culture once conquered by Rome but, remarkably, still thriving.

Ammianus Marcellinus, a Roman historian, lived in the fourth century CE. He wrote that the Celts were "terrible for the fierceness of their eyes, fond of quarreling, and of overbearing insolence." This is not a flattering description. Romans and Greeks often saw the Celts as barbaric and uncivilized. They fought to conquer Celtic territory.

What does the phrase "overbearing insolence" most likely mean?

• arrogant disrespect

• corrupt behavior

• frightening appearance

• severe anger

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