a4esl.org

Easter

Read the following story and answer the questions that follow.

Easter is celebrated every spring. It is always celebrated on a Sunday. Easter has its roots in many traditions gathered from many parts of the globe.

There are many symbols of Easter. German settlers to Pennsylvania brought with them the story of the Easter Bunny. Children believed that if they were good, the Easter Bunny would lay a nest of colored eggs. Because rabbits are known for producing a lot of young, especially in the springtime, they symbolize new life. As the Easter Bunny custom spread across the country, it led to other traditions such as Easter baskets and gift giving.

Birds lay a great number of colorful eggs in the spring which has brought about the use of Easter eggs, egg dyeing and egg hunts. Long ago, the egg was honored during many springtime festivals. Egg dyeing was popular in ancient times and continues to be popular today. To the Christian, the egg represents the rebirth of the earth and of man.

Ham is the traditional food of Easter. This type of pork is popular throughout the world. In many cultures, the pig is a symbol of prosperity.

As you have learned, Easter in America is a mixture of a lot of cultures, stories, and Christian beliefs. However, the reason for the celebration remains the same - to call to mind our crucified Jesus who rose from the dead to save us.

Decide what the answer should be, then click on the answer button and you will be able to see the hidden answer.

  1. On what day of the week is Easter celebrated?
  2. What symbol of Easter did the German settlers bring with them?
  3. What do rabbits symbolize?
  4. What are two other customs that came from the Easter Bunny tradition?
  5. What does the egg represent to the Christian?
  6. What do Americans traditionally eat on Easter?
  7. What is the pig a symbol of?
  8. Do Easter customs come from only American beliefs?
Copyright (C) 1997 by Barbara Donnelly
This quiz is part of the HTML-Only Self-Study Quizzes which is part of Activities for ESL Students, a project by The Internet TESL Journal.