Vocabulary

Replace the underlined words in the sentences with the words below: ghosts, masks, play tricks, saints, scare, skeletons

1. On All Saints Day, Christians remem­ber the holy people.

2. To frighten the ghosts, people dressed like devils.

3. Children wear something to cover their faces.

4. Children want to look like all the bones that make the body.

5. The jack-o'-lantern is to scare the people with no bodies that come back after they die.

6. When people give nothing, the chil­dren do something to make them look stupid.

Comprehension

A. Looking for Main Ideas

Circle the letter of the best answer.

1. On October 31, Americans celebrate __________.

1. All Saints Day

2. Halloween

3. Christianity

2. _________ from Europe brought Hal­loween to America.

1. Saints

2. Immigrants

3. Children

3. Today, Halloween is ___________.

1. popular with children

2. for people who give nothing

3. for special people

B. Looking for Details

Circle T if the sentence is true. Circle F if the sentence is false.

1. All Saints Day is the day before Halloween. T F

2. Halloween is older than Christianity. T F

3. Halloween came from Europe. T F

4. A jack-O'-lantern is a pumpkin T F

5. On Halloween, children say "Trick"! T F

6. On Halloween, people give jack-o'-lanterns. T F

George washington

In 1775, when the American War of Independence began, George Washington was chosen to lead the Amer­ican army. Washington knew his job would be difficult. The army was small. The soldiers were untrained and had few guns. The British army was large and strong. Its soldiers were very well trained.

Early battles showed Washington's prob­lems. His army was easily defeated in the Battle of New York. Then Washing­ton thought of a plan. On Christmas night in 1776, he had his soldiers attack the enemy in the city of Trenton, New Jer­sey. The enemy soldiers never expected an attack on such a night. They were having a Christmas party. Washington won his first victory. Washington's army won the final battle in Yorktown in 1781.

George Washington was a great leader and was respected by all his men. He was not interested in fame or money, but only in helping his country. There are many stories about George Washington. Many are probably not true. The most famous story, though, is about the cherry tree. It is said that young George cut down his father's cherry tree. When his father asked who cut down the tree, George confessed and said, "I cannot tell a lie."

In 1789 leaders from all the states met to choose the first president of the United States. The vote was unanimous. Everyone voted for George Washington. He became the country's first president, and is remembered as the "Father of our Country."

Vocabulary

Complete the definitions. Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. When you admit that you did some­thing wrong, you ________.

1. attack

2. confess

3. lie

2. When you are beaten, you are ________.

1. chosen

2. voted

3. defeated

3. When people have a good opinion of someone else, he or she is ________.

1. respected

2. strong

3. famous

4. When everyone agrees on a deci­sion, the decision is _______ .

1. large

2. unanimous

3. true

5. When you have had no practice do­ing a job, you are ______ .

1. not interested

2. untrained

3. cut down

6. When two armies fight, it is called a ________.

1. party

2. vote

3. battle

7. When you are famous or everyone knows you, you have ________.

1. fame

2. money

3. independence

8. When an army wins, it is called a ________.

1. plan

2. victory

3. leader

Comprehension

A. Looking for Main Ideas

Write complete answers to these questions.

1. What was George Washington's jot during the War of Independence?

2. Why did people respect George Wash­ington?

3. What happened to George Washing­ton in 1789?

B. Looking for Details

Circle Т if the sentence is true. Circle F if the sentence is false.

1. George Washington was made president in 1775. T F

2. The British army was bigger than the American army. T F

3. The British soldiers were better trained than the Ameri­can soldiers. T F

4. The Americans won all their battles. T F

5. The American soldiers had a party at Christmas in Tren­ton. T F

6. George Washington was not interested in fame or money. T F

7. George Washington cut down his father's cherry tree. T F

8. George Washington was the first president of the United States. T F