Holiday Reading Skills
Frosty the Snowman is the protagonist of his story. What does protagonist mean?
The main character
If an author writes a persuasive holiday editorial encouraging people to donate food, what is the author's purpose?
Persuade
What winter holiday did soldiers celebrate during the harsh winter at Valley Forge?
Christmas
Which colony famously held the first Thanksgiving?
Plymouth Colony (Pilgrims)
What is the meaning of the root "fest-" as in "festive"?
Celebration
If you infer that Santa is tired after delivering presents all night, what clues helped you infer?
Context clues such as yawning, slow movement, descriptions showing exhaustion
A student writing about "How my family celebrates New York's" is using what mode of writing?
Personal narrative
During colonial winter months, which activity was MOST essential for survival?
Food preservation and preparing winter supplies.
Which Native American group helped the Pilgrims survive the first winter?
The Wampanoag
Give me a word that is a synonym for "joyous"?
Cheerful, merry, delighted.
In a winter short story, the author repeatedly mentions "bells jingling". What literary device is this?
Imagery
A holiday mystery story includes foreshadowing. What is foreshadowing?
A hint about events that will happen later.
Which group of holiday travelers made a famous December crossing of the Delaware River in 1776?
George Washington and the Continental Army
During the colonial era, why were winter holidays important socially?
They allowed communities to gather and celebrate after long work season.
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence (Answer is either A or B)
A. The candles glowed beautifully on the table.
B. The candles glowed beautifully, on the table.
A
If the theme of a holiday story is "giving matters more than receiving," what part of the text would best support that? Or give me an example showing what that would mean.
A moment where a character sacrifices something for others.
Which transition best fits this sentence: "The hanukkah celebration continued for eight nights. ______, the family lit candles and sang blessings."
"Each night," "Similarly," "In addition", "Also". etc
Why were winter encampments like Valley Forge significant to the Revolutionary War?
They tested soldiers' endurance and improved training under Baron von Steuben
Which American holiday became widely celebrated after President Lincoln declared it a national observance during the Civil War?
Thanksgiving
In the sentence, "The cozy cabin, decorated with garlands, welcomed with travelers," what type of phrase is "decorated with garlands"?
Participial phrase
A holiday poem uses a comparison "The snow drifted down like feather." What figurative language is this?
Simile
A student revises their holiday essay to improve sentence variety. Give me an example of a change that they could do.
Combining sentences, using complex/compound sentences, or altering beginning, etc.
Small allowances didn't change the overall cruelty and lack of freedom.
Why might early American winter celebrations vary be colony?
Differences in culture, religion, climate, and regional customs.
Which sentence uses the subjunctive mood:
A. "I hope your winter break is relaxing."
B. "If I were in charge, we'd start break early."
B