Comprehension  (Page 4/5)

[Taken and adapted from an article in Reader’s Digest Christmas 2002 Edition]

Now answer the questions about the article.

1. What does the word “modest” [paragraph 1] tell us about the church and parishioners of Oberndorf?

2. Write down a synonym for the word “Curate” [paragraph 2].

3. Date the carol, Silent Night .

4. How did Joseph know that the organ was not working?

5. Why was waiting for the organ repairman not considered a viable solution to the problem?

6. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Quote a word from paragraph three to substantiate your answers.

• Joseph Mohr’s mother did needlework for a living.
• Joseph Mohr’s parents were happily married.
• Music provided Joseph Mohr with much needed money.

7. Two events motivated Joseph Mohr to write the words of Silent Night . Explain in your own words what these two events were.

8. Would you describe Joseph Mohr’s writing of Silent Night as a swift and easy task? Explain your answer.

9. Identify the two phases of song-writing.

10. In which way was Silent Night different from the usual Christmas hymn?

11. Which part of the church building is the “nave” (paragraph nine)?

12.1 What is the congregation called in paragraph nine?

12.2 What is the congregation compared to in this expression?

13. What was the reaction of the Oberndorf congregation to this new Christmas carol?

14. Quote a synonym for Christmas “hymn” as used in paragraph 10.

When we want to describe things accurately, we sometimes compare them to other things which are similar. E.g. She is as beautiful as a rose. We can also say: She is like a beautiful rose.

When we compare two different things (the rose and the girl) and use the words ‘as’ or ‘like’ in the comparison, we have used a simile.

1. Identify the two things which are compared in this simile
2. What similarity exists between them?

17. Why does the writer of this article consider it fortunate that the organ of Oberndorf remained cranky?

18. What is “no man’s land”?

19. What was strange about the Germans and British singing Silent Night in 1914?

20. Considering the examples given in paragraph 18 and 19, what effect does Silent Night have on people?

21. On which day do we celebrate Christmas Eve? Write down the date.

Section 3: a jewish festival, hanukah and what the torah means

Hanukkah or Chanukah (Hebrew, “dedication”), is the annual festival of the Jews celebrated on eight successive days. It begins on the 25th day of Kislev, the third month of the Jewish calendar, corresponding, approximately, to December. Also known as the Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication, and Feast of the Maccabees, Hanukkah commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabeus in 165 BC.

According to Talmudic tradition, only one jug of pure olive oil, sealed by the high priest and necessary for the rededicatory ritual, could be found, but that small quantity burned miraculously for eight days. A principal feature of the present-day celebration, commemorating this miracle, is the lighting of candles, one the first night, two the second, and so on until a special eight-branched candelabrum is completely filled. The principal source for the story of Hanukkah is found in the Talmud.