This is a reading comprehension lesson to test
your ability to understand information written in
English. Read the information below
and then answer the 5 test questions.
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Holiday:Purim
Purim (Hebrew: פּוּרִים Pûrîm "lots",
from the word pur, related to Akkadian pūru) is a Jewish
holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish
people in the ancient Persian Empire which was forming a plot to
destroy them. The story is recorded in the Biblical Book of
Esther (Megillat Esther).
According to the Book of Esther, Haman, royal vizier to King
Ahasuerus (presumed to be Xerxes I of Persia), planned to
kill all the Jews in the empire, but his plans were foiled
by Mordecai and his adopted daughter Queen Esther. The day
of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing.
Purim is celebrated by giving reciprocal gifts of food and
drink (mishloach manot), giving charity to the poor (mattanot
la-evyonim), a celebratory meal (se'udat Purim), and public
recitation of the Scroll of Esther (kriat ha-megillah),
additions to the prayers and the grace after meals (al
hannisim). Other customs include drinking wine, wearing of
masks and costumes, and public celebration.
Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew
calendar on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar (Adar
II in leap years), the day following the victory of the Jews
over their enemies. In cities that were protected by a
surrounding wall at the time of Joshua, Purim is instead
celebrated on the 15th of the month on what is known as
Shushan Purim, since fighting in the walled city of Shushan
continued through the 14th. Today, only Jerusalem celebrates
Purim on the 15th.
This is a fun Jewish holiday. The story is really
interesting.
Test:Reading Comprehension
Purim
Read
the information above. In the test questions
below choose which is the best answer for each
question. There are 5 questions. Good luck.
1. Purim commemorates
the deliverance of the Jewish people in which empire?
a. Galactic Empire
b. Roman Empire
c. Persian Empire
d. Byzantine Empire
2. The story of Purim
is recorded in which of the following?
a. Biblical Book of Hayman
b. Biblical Book of Mordecai
c. Biblical Book of Haman
d. Biblical Book of Esther
3. Purim customs
include all but which of the following?
a. eating lox and bagels
b. public celebration
c. wearing of masks and costumes
d. drinking wine
4. Purim is celebrated
annually according to the Hebrew calendar on which of the
following dates?
a. 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar
b. 14th day of the Hebrew month of January
c. 14th day of the Hebrew month of March
d. 14th day of the Hebrew month of Shushan
5. Fighting continued
through the 14th in which walled city?
