Guy Fawkes Night · Worksheet C1
Read the passage and answer the questions. (CEFR B1–B2)
1Few countries hold an annual festival to mark a terrorist attack that never happened, yet that is essentially what Britain does every November. In its early years, the day was openly political and religious. An act of Parliament required churches to hold services of thanksgiving, and the celebrations often expressed hostility toward Catholics. Effigies of the Pope were burned alongside those of Fawkes, and the law requiring the commemoration was not repealed until 1859.
2Over time, most of this hostility faded, and the night became a family event built around fireworks. Some traditions remain controversial, however. In Lewes, one society still marches under a No Popery banner. In the 1950s, it was even shut out of the town's main procession because it refused to stop carrying the banner.
3Meanwhile, Fawkes himself has been reinvented. Thanks to a graphic novel and a 2005 film, his stylized face became a global symbol of resistance, worn by protesters who know little about the Gunpowder Plot. The man burned in effigy for centuries is now, for some, a hero. Bonfire Night shows how a single historical event can carry very different meanings for different generations.
What is the main idea of the passage?
Until when did the law require people to commemorate the day?
Why was one society in Lewes shut out of the town's main procession in the 1950s?
What can we infer about many people who wear the Guy Fawkes mask today?
In paragraph 1, the word "repealed" is closest in meaning to
Why does the writer begin the passage with the sentence about "a terrorist attack that never happened"?
Guy Fawkes Night · Worksheet C2
Match the words with the definitions. Then rewrite and summarize.
1. “In its early years, the day was openly political and religious.”
Hint: Start with "At first," and change "openly" to "clearly". Use "was about".2. “Over time, most of this hostility faded, and the night became a family event built around fireworks.”
Hint: Use "Little by little" and replace "hostility faded" with "people stopped feeling so angry".3. “The man burned in effigy for centuries is now, for some, a hero.”
Hint: Use "Although" and "dolls of him". Change "for some" to "some people".Summarize the passage in about 50 words.
Guy Fawkes Night · Worksheet C3
Prepare for a debate. Then write your opinion (100–150 words).
Add your own reason:
Add your own reason:
| Opinion | I believe / I think that … |
|---|---|
| Reason 1 | First, … For example, … |
| Reason 2 | Second, … In fact, … |
| Counter | Some people say … However, … |
| Conclusion | In conclusion, … |