April Fool's Day
Have you ever played a prank on April Fool's Day? Or have
you been the victim of a prank yourself?
Well, what you are about to read is no joke...
April Fool's Day is the result
of a small change to the calendar back in the year 1582. At that time, a French King moved New Year's
Day from April 1st to January 1st. The message spread around the country, but
not everyone heard the news.
Those who weren't paying attention showed up for
the usual celebration of the new year on April 1st. Obviously, they looked like fools.
In a way, April Fool's
Day is a holiday to honor those embarrassing situations that happen to all of
us from time to time.
Reading
Comprehension Questions
1) What was the author’s purpose in writing this
passage?
a.
to stress the importance of April Fool's Day
b.
to explain the origin of April Fool’s day
c.
to predict the future of April Fool's Day
d.
to describe famous pranks on April Fool's Day
2) Based on the above passage, April Fool's
Day started as a result of which of these?
a.
an altering of the calendar
b.
an honoring of the King
c.
a large scale practical joke
d.
an overblown rumor
3) The above passage suggests that April Fool’s
Day is celebrated today as a to tribute which of the following?
a.
pranksters
b.
embarrassing situations
c.
a French King
d.
modern communication
4) The above passage would most likely appear in a book with
which of the following titles?
a.
"Holidays You Never
Knew Existed"
b.
"The History of Common
Holidays"
c.
"Fun Facts about
Religious Holidays"
d.
"Modern Holidays Invented
in the Past Century"
5) The author's tone in the above passage can best be
described as which of these?
a.
technical
b.
stuffy
c.
rude
d.
informal
Answer Key
1)
What was the
author’s purpose in writing this passage?
a.
to stress the importance of April Fool's Day
b.
to explain the origin
of April Fool’s day
c.
to predict the future of April Fool's Day
d.
to describe famous pranks on April Fool's Day
2)
Based on the above
passage, April Fool's Day started as a result of which
of these?
a.
an altering of
the calendar
b.
an honoring of the King
c.
a large scale practical joke
d.
an overblown rumor
3)
The above
passage suggests that April Fool’s Day is celebrated
today as a to tribute which of the following?
a.
pranksters
b.
embarrassing
situations
c.
a French King
d.
modern communication
4)
The above
passage would most likely appear in a book with which of the following titles?
a.
"Holidays
You Never Knew Existed"
b.
"The History of Common Holidays"
c.
"Fun
Facts about Religious Holidays"
d.
"Modern
Holidays Invented in the Past Century"
5)
The author's
tone in the above passage can best be described as which of these?
a.
technical
b.
stuffy
c.
rude
d.
informal