Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Diwali. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Diwali is the Hindu New Year festival and the biggest occasion in the Hindu calendar. It is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains. It is called the festival of lights because it celebrates the victory of good (light) over evil (darkness). The name of the festival comes from the Sanskrit word dipavali, which means row of lights. Lights play an important role in Diwali. Throughout the five-day celebration, Hindus place special, decorative lights in their temples and homes. There are also lots of colourful fireworks displays. In India people make small lamps and try to float them across the Ganges river. It brings good luck if the lamp manages to get all the way across. Children love it because of the lights and because they get sweets from adults.
There are two legends of Diwali in which Hindu gods overcome evil. In one, Lord Krishna killed the evil demon king of Pragjyotishpur to set free 16,000 daughters of the gods. The second legend has the Hindu king Rama destroying Ravana, the wicked ten-armed, ten-headed king of Sri Lanka. Ravana kidnapped Rama’s wife for 14 years. Many Hindus love these mythical stories. The Times of India newspaper, however, summed up the modern meaning of Diwali: “Regardless of the mythological explanation…what the festival of lights really stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a…celebration of the simple - and some not so simple - joys of life.”
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
the biggest occasion
a.
from the Sanskrit
2
festival of
b.
across
3.
The name of the festival comes
c.
lights
4.
play an important
d.
in the Hindu calendar
5.
colourful fireworks
e.
role
6.
get all the way
f.
displays
Paragraph 2
1.
Hindu gods overcome
a.
stories
2
the wicked ten-armed,
b.
life
3.
Hindus love these mythical
c.
up the modern meaning
4.
summed
d.
evil
5.
a renewed commitment
e.
ten-headed king
6.
joys of
f.
to friendship
LISTENING GAP FILL
Diwali is the Hindu New Year festival and ___________________ in the Hindu calendar. It is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains. It is called the festival of lights because ___________________ of good (light) over evil (darkness). The name of the festival comes from the Sanskrit word dipavali, ___________________ lights. Lights play an important role in Diwali. Throughout the five-day celebration, Hindus place special, ___________________ their temples and homes. There are also lots of colourful fireworks displays. In India people make small lamps and ___________________ across the Ganges river. It brings good luck if the lamp manages to get all the way across. Children love ___________________ lights and because they get sweets from adults.
There are two legends of Diwali in which Hindu ___________________. In one, Lord Krishna ___________________ king of Pragjyotishpur to set free 16,000 daughters of the gods. The second legend has the Hindu king Rama destroying Ravana, the ___________________, ten-headed king of Sri Lanka. Ravana kidnapped Rama’s wife for 14 years. Many Hindus ___________________ stories. The Times of India newspaper, however, summed up the modern meaning of Diwali: “Regardless of the mythological explanation…what the festival of lights ___________________ today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a…celebration of the simple - and some not so ___________________.”
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Diwali is the Hindu New Year festival and the biggest ____________ in the Hindu calendar. It is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains. It is called the festival of lights because it celebrates the ____________ of good (light) over evil (darkness). The name of the festival ____________ from the Sanskrit word dipavali, which means ____________ of lights. Lights play an important role in Diwali. Throughout the five-day celebration, Hindus place special, ____________ lights in their temples and homes. There are also lots of colourful fireworks displays. In India people make small lamps and try to ____________ them across the Ganges river. It brings good luck if the lamp ____________ to get all the way across. Children love it because of the lights and because they get sweets from ____________.
decorative adults victory float comes occasion manages row
There are two ____________ of Diwali in which Hindu gods overcome evil. In one, Lord Krishna killed the ____________ demon king of Pragjyotishpur to set free 16,000 daughters of the gods. The second legend has the Hindu king Rama destroying Ravana, the wicked ten-____________, ten-headed king of Sri Lanka. Ravana kidnapped Rama’s wife for 14 years. Many Hindus ____________ these mythical stories. The Times of India newspaper, however, ____________ up the modern meaning of Diwali: “Regardless of the mythological explanation…what the festival of lights really ____________ for today is a reaffirmation of ____________, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a…celebration of the simple - and some not so ____________ - joys of life.”
hope evil summed love legends simple stands armed
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Diwali is the Hindu New Year festival and the biggest occasionally / occasion in the Hindu calendar. It is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains. It is called the festival of lights because they / it celebrates the victory of good (light) over / under evil (darkness). The name of the festival comes from the Sanskrit word dipavali, which means row of lights. Lights play / playing an important role in Diwali. Throughout the five-day celebration, Hindus place specially / special, decorative lights in their temples and homes. There are also lots of colourful fireworks displays. In India people make small lumps / lamps and try to float them across the Ganges river. It brings good luck if the lamp manages to get all the way cross / across. Children love / loving it because of the lights and because they get sweets from adults.
There are two legends of Diwali in what / which Hindu gods overcome evil. In one, Lord Krishna killed the evil demon king of Pragjyotishpur to set freedom / free 16,000 daughters of the gods. The second legend has the Hindu king Rama destroying Ravana, the wicked / wicked ten-armed, ten-headed king of Sri Lanka. Ravana kidnapped Rama’s wife for 14 years. Many Hindus love these mythical story / stories. The Times of India newspaper, however, summed up the modern mean / meaning of Diwali: “Regardless of the mythological explanation…what the festival of lights really / real stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed / renewal commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a…celebration of the simple - and some not / no so simple - joys of life.”
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Diwali is the Hindu New Year festival and the biggest (1) ____ in the Hindu calendar. It is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains. It is called the festival of lights because it celebrates the victory of good (light) (2) ____ evil (darkness). The name of the festival comes from the Sanskrit word dipavali, which (3) ____ row of lights. Lights play an important role in Diwali. Throughout the five-day celebration, Hindus place special, decorative lights in their temples and homes. There are also (4) ____ of colourful fireworks displays. In India people make small lamps and try to (5) ____ them across the Ganges river. It brings good luck if the lamp manages to get all the way across. Children love it because of the lights and because they get sweets from (6) ____.
There are two legends of Diwali in which Hindu gods overcome (7) ____. In one, Lord Krishna killed the evil demon king of Pragjyotishpur to set (8) ____ 16,000 daughters of the gods. The second legend has the Hindu king Rama destroying Ravana, the wicked ten-(9) ____, ten-headed king of Sri Lanka. Ravana kidnapped Rama’s wife for 14 years. Many Hindus love these mythical stories. The Times of India newspaper, however, (10) ____ up the modern meaning of Diwali: “Regardless of the mythological explanation…what the festival of lights really stands (11) ____ today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a…celebration of the simple - and some not so simple - (12) ____ of life.”
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
occasion
(b)
occasions
(c)
occasioned
(d)
occasionally
2.
(a)
under
(b)
over
(c)
below
(d)
before
3.
(a)
meaning
(b)
meanie
(c)
meanings
(d)
means
4.
(a)
lot
(b)
slots
(c)
lots
(d)
load
5.
(a)
float
(b)
flotation
(c)
floated
(d)
floating
6.
(a)
adulthood
(b)
adults
(c)
adulterer
(d)
adultery
7.
(a)
alive
(b)
lively
(c)
evil
(d)
devil
8.
(a)
freedom
(b)
frees
(c)
freer
(d)
free
9.
(a)
army
(b)
armed
(c)
arms
(d)
armed
10.
(a)
sums
(b)
summed
(c)
sum
(d)
summing
11.
(a)
for
(b)
up
(c)
down
(d)
in
12.
(a)
joy
(b)
joyous
(c)
joys
(d)
joyful
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the biggest nacoiosc
2.
the falseitv of lights
3.
it celebrates the vcrioyt
4.
colourful fireworks sdisaylp
5.
tflao them across the Ganges
6.
they get sweets from dsautl
Paragraph 2
7.
nedlegs of Diwali
8.
the dkcwie ten-armed, ten-headed king
9.
mlacthyi stories
10.
the rmdoen meaning of Diwali
11.
really sndtsa for
12.
friendship and oigdollw
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
There are two legends of Diwali in which Hindu gods overcome evil. In one, Lord Krishna killed the evil
( )
for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and
( )
day celebration, Hindus place special, decorative lights in their temples and homes. There are also lots of colourful
( )
fireworks displays. In India people make small lamps and try to float them across the Ganges river. It brings
( 1 )
Diwali is the Hindu New Year festival and the biggest occasion in the Hindu calendar. It is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains. It is
( )
from the Sanskrit word dipavali, which means row of lights. Lights play an important role in Diwali. Throughout the five-
( )
of the lights and because they get sweets from adults.
( )
meaning of Diwali: “Regardless of the mythological explanation…what the festival of lights really stands
( )
demon king of Pragjyotishpur to set free 16,000 daughters of the gods. The second legend has the Hindu king Rama
( )
destroying Ravana, the wicked ten-armed, ten-headed king of Sri Lanka. Ravana kidnapped Rama’s wife for 14
( )
called the festival of lights because it celebrates the victory of good (light) over evil (darkness). The name of the festival comes
( )
goodwill, and a…celebration of the simple - and some not so simple - joys of life.”
( )
good luck if the lamp manages to get all the way across. Children love it because
( )
years. Many Hindus love these mythical stories. The Times of India newspaper, however, summed up the modern
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
calendar Hindu the in occasion biggest The.
2.
festival the The the from of comes Sanskrit name.
3.
lights Place in special their , temples decorative.
4.
make and float People lamps to small try them.
5.
lights the of because it love Children.
6.
Hindu evil of which overcome Legends in gods Diwali.
7.
the Set , of 16 daughters gods free 000.
8.
Rama’s kidnapped Ravana years 14 for wife.
9.
What really the stands festival for of lights.
10.
friendship commitment A to renewed.
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Diwali. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Diwali. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Diwali. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
