Festivals and Celebrations
Reading I
A. Match the words with their meaning.
| Words | Meanings |
|---|---|
| a. mush | a soft thick mass or mixture |
| b. jerk | to make something move with a sudden short sharp movement |
| c. concussion | a temporary loss of consciousness |
| d. hurl | to throw something violently in a particular direction |
| e. pulp | the soft part inside the fruits and vegetables |
| f. clutch | to hold something tightly |
| g. sip | to drink something, taking a very small amount each time |
B. Write ‘True’ for true statements and ‘False’ for false ones.
| Statements | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. The tourists are informed to wear a red hat through public notices. | (True) |
| b. Aranceri seems dressed in Doctor Who Esque costumes. | (False) |
| c. When a cart approaches, run away from the square. | (False) |
| d. The narrator feels bored during the festival period. | (False) |
| e. The volunteers encourage the visitors to join the battle. | (False) |
| f. The narrator accepts Massi’s offer. | (False) |
C. Answer the following questions.
a. What does the red hat symbolize?
=> Answer: The red hat serves as a symbol of the carnival and is closely related to the idea of freedom. It has historical associations with freed slaves and with medieval peasants who wore it while protesting against feudal lords.
b. How does the narrator feel when she wipes her face?
=> Answer: The narrator is overcome with fear and shock after wiping her face and noticing blood.
c. What does the square look like after an hour-battle of the oranges?
=> Answer: An hour of orange throwing leaves the square buried under a thick and unpleasant sludge. The mixture consists of orange pulp and horse manure, and its smell is a strong combination of sweetness and sourness.
d. How do aranceri members chase the cart?
=> Answer: The aranceri pursue the approaching cart by rushing towards it and throwing oranges at it as part of the battle.
e. Does Silvia enjoy this carnival? Why?
=> Answer: Yes, Silvia likes the carnival because she sees it as a useful way of relieving emotional pressure. The celebration allows her to release the frustrations she has gathered over the course of the year, which she feels is good for her psychological health.
f. Why does Massi say, “Forget the nets”?
=> Answer: Massi says this because he wants the narrator to participate in the orange fight without the protection of the nets. He believes that experiencing the battle directly is the best way to enjoy the real nature of the carnival.
📚 Grammar I
A. Change the following sentences into indirect speech. The beginning of each sentence is given.
A. Agaman asked Timothy if he was working tonight.
B. A stranger asked me if that was the road to the station.
C. My friend inquired of her whether she had done her homework.
D. The tourist was asked if he had been to Paris.
E. Usha inquired of Anju how long she had been working in that company.
F. My mother asked me what flavor of ice cream I had had at the party.
G. The teacher wanted to know if the students had studied reported speech before.
H. I asked him where he would stay that night.
I. Sumangal asked his friend how many players had been shown yellow cards by the referee.
J. Sarita asked Sommaya what magic the medicine had on the patient.
B. Change the following remarks into reported speech.
a. Kritika asked me why I had gone out the previous night.
b. Sunita asked Usha who that beautiful woman was.
c. Gautrab asked Yang Dolma how her mother was.
d. My friend asked what I was going to do over the weekend.
e. My teacher asked where I would live after graduation.
f. Anusha asked Melisha what she had been doing when she saw her.
g. I asked the pilgrim how the journey had been.
h. Krishna asked how often I went to the cinema.
i. The Principal asked if I lived in Patan.
j. Niraj asked Luniva if Phadindra had arrived on time.
✍️ Writing I
Write an essay describing a festival which is celebrated in your community. Include its brief history, people involved, major activities, religious or social importance, duration, and drawbacks, if any.
Diwali
Diwali, commonly referred to as the Festival of Lights, is a prominent Hindu festival celebrated in India and in a number of countries where Hindu communities are present. It generally falls between mid-October and mid-November and extends across five days.
The festival is strongly associated with the use of light. People place diyas and candles around their homes to signify the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. They further decorate their houses with flowers and colorful Rangolis. Sharing sweets and exchanging gifts are also important parts of the celebration and help bring relatives and friends closer.
The third day is considered especially significant. Devotees perform Lakshmi Puja to receive blessings concerning wealth and prosperity. Diwali is also traditionally linked with the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after his victory over Ravana and the completion of his fourteen-year exile.
The festival is celebrated outside India as well, including in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore. Through gatherings and festive activities, Diwali encourages people to spend time together, maintain social relationships, and spread happiness and positive feelings.
🌏 Thanksgiving around the World
📖 Reading II
A. The meanings of some of the words from the text are given below. Find the words and write against the correct meanings.
| Meanings | Words |
|---|---|
| a. in a way occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or study | intermittently |
| b. to remind people of an important event or person from the past | commemorate |
| c. in a way that shows the usual qualities or features of a particular type of person or thing | typically |
| d. a curved shape that is wide in the middle and pointed at each end | crescent-shaped |
| e. full of life and energy | vibrant |
| f. a person who is having fun in a noisy way, usually with a group of other people | reveller |
| g. from or in another country; seeming exciting and unusual | exotic |
| h. to spread through and be easy to notice | pervade |
| i. brightly coloured and likely to attract attention | flamboyant |
| j. done quickly and with a lot of activity, but not very well organized | haphazardly |
B. The following events represent different activities observed during Thanksgiving around the world. Study them carefully and write the names of countries where they are celebrated.
| Events | Country |
|---|---|
| a. Families gather for a feast in the evening accompanied by dancing and singing. | Libaria |
| b. People wear new clothes and get community blessings. | Iran |
| c. Palm nut soup, fish and traditional Kpokoi are served. | Ghana |
| d. People return to their hometowns to celebrate the festival. | South Korea |
| e. Celebrants go to the beach in a noisy way. | Brazil |
| f. Parades are taken out in the streets. | USA |
| g. Food and wine are offered to the forefathers. | South Korea |
C. Answer the following questions.
a. What is the main feature of American Thanksgiving?
=> Answer: American Thanksgiving is mainly a celebration of gratitude in which people come together with family and friends to enjoy a meal. It is observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November.
b. What do parades include in Thanksgiving in America?
=> Answer: The American Thanksgiving parades are large and colorful public celebrations. They feature giant floats, marching bands, and performances, with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City being the most famous.
c. When and why is Chuseok celebrated in Korea?
=> Answer: Chuseok is observed in Korea in the autumn season, normally during September or October. It is celebrated as a harvest festival and provides an occasion for expressing thanks to ancestors for a successful harvest.
d. How did Thanksgiving begin in Brazil?
=> Answer: Thanksgiving in Brazil, known as Dia de Ação de Graças, was influenced by the Thanksgiving tradition of the United States. Brazilians celebrate it on the fourth Thursday of November with a traditional feast.
e. Who started Thanksgiving in Liberia? Why was it started?
=> Answer: The Thanksgiving tradition in Liberia was introduced by freed American slaves who settled there. They established the celebration to show gratitude for the freedom and opportunities they received in their new homeland.
f. What is Thanksgiving celebrated in Barbados for?
=> Answer: In Barbados, Thanksgiving is connected with the Crop Over Festival. It marks the completion of the sugar cane harvesting season and is celebrated through music, dancing, and feasting.
g. What is Homowo marked in Ghana?
=> Answer: Homowo is a harvest celebration of the Ga people in Ghana. It is observed as an expression of gratitude for plentiful crops and as a way of honoring their ancestors.
📚 Grammar II
A. Rewrite the following sentences choosing the correct alternative from brackets.
a. Sujita asked her mother when her father would come home.
b. She replied that she had never had caviar when I said to her, “Have you ever had caviar?”
c. The salesperson said to him, “What can I do for you?”
d. The tourist inquired from me whether I belonged to Banepa.
e. The little girl asked us what time we were supposed to come back.
f. The head teacher asked her whether she had filled out the exam form the week before.
g. Ronuka asked me if I had called her.
B. Nihar Chaudhary interviewed her Social Studies teacher last week. Here is the report prepared by her after the interview. Read it carefully and list out direct questions asked by Nihar.
- •What is Ihi?
- •Why are pre-adolescent girls married to Suvarna Kumar in Ihi ceremony?
- •Why was Ihi started?
- •What is the age range of girls who undergo the Ihi ceremony?
- •What is the significance of Bel fruit in the Ihi ceremony?
- •How long does the Ihi ceremony go on for?
- •What foods or drinks are not allowed during the Ihi ceremony?
✍️ Writing II
A. Write a news story using the following clues.
Vitamin A Capsules
The Department of Health Services has announced that Vitamin A capsules will be distributed by health assistants on October 19 and 20. Children from six months to five years of age are eligible for the supplementation. Nepal has been running this annual programme since 2050 BS, with the capsules being provided to prevent blindness and improve children's immunity.
The same campaign will also provide deworming tablets to children aged one to five years. The deworming programme has been in operation since 2056 BS and is designed to control parasitic infections that can adversely affect children's growth and development.
Parents and caregivers have been requested to take children who meet the age requirements to the designated health centres on the stated dates. The Department of Health Services has assured the public that appropriate health protocols will be applied during the programme to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Health authorities expect the campaign to provide support to thousands of Nepali children. The distribution of both Vitamin A capsules and deworming tablets is expected to promote children's health and overall well-being.