We in the United States are not the only people that celebrate the holidays.  I am going to tell you about 8 different countries that celebrate the holiday season differently than we do.

Israel: In Israel they celebrate Hanukkah.  It lasts for 8 whole days, not one like we have here.  They light a candle in the evening and place it on the Menorah.  

1. Read the passage then answer the question.

Construction on Florence's grand cathedral began in 1296.  Over a hundred years later, however, the structure remained unfinished, with an enormous hole in the roof.  The designers had intended to top the cathedral with the world's largest dome, but this plan was stymied by architectural limitations.  The main factor stalling progress was the fact that no one knew how to create such a massive cupola without large, cumbersome support systems.

What is the meaning of cupola as used in the passage?

1. Dome
2. Roof
3. Decoration
4. Cathedral

2. Read the passage then answer the question.

While the political feats of her husband, President Chiang Kai-Shek, may be more widely recognized Soong Mei-ling's accomplishments are just as notable.  As First Lady, Soong Mei-ling introduced her husband to Western culture and ideas.  Likewise, she served as her husband's emissary, or spokesperson, to the West.  During a visit to the United States in 1943, Soong Mei-ling became the second woman to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress.  The trip earned her the esteem of the American public, who praised her passion and determination, and she raised billions of dollars in aid for her country. 

What is the meaning of emissary, as used in the passage?

1. A person sent to a foreign country to do religious work
2. A person sent on a mission to represent another person or country
3. A secret agent
4. A soldier paid by a foreign country

3. Underline, circle or highlight the text from the paragraph that best helps you understand that scrutinized means examined closely.

Do human beings have the freedom to make their own choices, to act out of their own free will, or are all choices, in some sense, predetermined by prior causes and physical laws?  In 2007, neuroscientist John-Dylan Haynes sought to answer this question by conducting an experiment: volunteer subjects were seated in a brain scanner and were asked to press a button with their left or right index fingers whenever they felt the urge.  Hayne's team scrutinized the subjects' brain activity in real time, carefully monitoring the results and searching for patterns.

4. Underline, circle or highlight the text from the paragraph that best helps you understand that innovations means inventions.

Men and women on board the space station need to work out, but it is done in little to no gravity.  This situation presents some unique challenges but scientists have developed many innovations to help astronauts stay in good shape.  These include special shoes and new types of weight-lifting machines, treadmills, and exercise bikes that all work without gravity.  This physical activity is important because it helps address the detrimental effects of zero gravity, such as premature aging and the loss of muscle mass and bone density.

Affixes & Stems:

Directions: Circle the answer below that is the correct response, next write a sentence using the word, and then highlight the word.

5. What does the word repulsive mean?

A. causing others to move or stay away
B. cooperating on a group activity
C. disappointing or angering others
D. doubting someone's intentions or motives

6.  What does the word recede mean?

A. to say something again
B. to start and stop repeatedly
C. to move back
D. to look forward

7. Who is better equipped for subsea exploration?

A. a sailor
B. A scuba diver

8. Which is a common misspelling of "2"?

A. too
B. two

9. If you had an eventful day, how might you describe it?

A. exciting
B. boring

10. what would a humorless person be unlikely to appreciate?

A. a good book 
B. a good joke 

Reference/Multiple Meaning:

Directions: Read carefully to answer the next two questions?
11. look at this sentence:

These seats are cheap because the foul pole obstructs the view of home plate.

Circle or underline the definition of obstruct that the sentence uses.

Obstruct/hub-struhkt/verb obstructing,obstructed 1.To block a path with and obstacle:After the avalanche, snow and ice obstructed the road. 2. to interrupt or block an action: Don't obstruct justice by lying to the police. 3. To block from sight: The palm trees outside our window obstructed our line of sight. From Latin [obstruere] 

12. Look at this sentence:

To make a simple fish stock, simmer the head of a bass in water with some herbs, celery, and white wine.

Circle or underline the definition of stock that the sentence uses.

Stock/stok/ noun pl stocks 1. A supply of goods available for sale:  After the heat wave, the store's stock of air conditioners was depleted.  2. A broth that uses a base for soup, gravy, or sauces: This soup recipe calls for chicken stock, carrots, onions, and potatoes.  3. A share of a company used for trade and investment: Do you own any stocks or bonds? -- From Old English

Thanksgiving means its funny and happy and we be with people and we eat good in we do a lot for thanksgiving and i be happy to see my people having fun with use and i be happy but we doing a lot foe thanksgiving and i will be happy if we do something for thanksgiving and to see my people happy then i will be happy and i be happy for then and for me to and my sister and i be happy we i put my people with use and i will have more fun with them and i will be happy for them in that's all i will do for thanksgiving and be happy for them and that's all happy thanksgiving for my people and i will be happy.