History of a Jack O'Lantern

What is the main purpose of the passage?

• To explain how pumpkins grow

• To describe Halloween costumes

• To inform readers about the origin of jack-o’-lanterns

• To persuade readers to carve pumpkins

According to the passage, what were the original jack-o’-lanterns made from?

• Pumpkins

• Apples

• Turnips and potatoes

• Corn

Why did Stingy Jack put the burning coal into a carved-out turnip?

• To cook food

• To scare away spirits

• To trick the devil again

• To light his way in the dark

What does the story of Stingy Jack suggest about his character?

• He was generous and kind

• He was clever but deceitful

• He was brave and heroic

• He was quiet and shy

Why did the devil refuse to take Jack’s soul?

• Jack was too evil

• Jack had tricked him and made him promise

• Jack had already gone to heaven

• Jack gave the devil a turnip

What caused the tradition of carving pumpkins to become popular in the United States?

• Irish immigrants brought the tradition and found pumpkins worked well

• American farmers promoted it

• Halloween was invented in America

• Schools taught children to carve pumpkins

What does the phrase “gourd-like orange fruits inscribed with ghoulish faces” refer to?

• Apples

• Beets

• Pumpkins

• Turnips

What was the purpose of placing carved vegetables near doors and windows?

• To welcome guests

• To light the house

• To frighten away evil spirits

• To decorate for Thanksgiving

What is the meaning of the word “unsavory” as used in the passage?

• Tasty

• Unpleasant or morally bad

• Expensive

• Unusual

How did the name “Jack O’Lantern” originate?

• It was the name of a pumpkin farmer

• It evolved from “Jack of the Lantern,” a nickname for Stingy Jack

• It was created by American children

• It came from a ghost story told in England