a guest approaches you at the frontdesk asking you about that festival in July
Asalha Puja Day is an important festival in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It happens every year in July. This day is also called Dharma Day. It is the day when the Buddha gave his first teaching to his friends.
On Asalha Puja Day, many people go to the temples. They wear clean and nice clothes. They bring flowers, candles, and incense to the temple. People listen to the monks and pray for peace and good health.
The festival is quiet and peaceful. It is not a loud celebration. People use this day to think about kindness and to be good to others. Many people give food to the poor and help their family and friends.
July is the rainy season in Cambodia. Sometimes it rains during the festival, but the rain does not stop people. The green trees and plants look very beautiful during this time. The rain makes the air fresh and cool.
If you visit Siem Reap in July, you can see Asalha Puja Day. It is a good way to learn about Cambodian culture and religion. The festival shows the faith and kindness of the people. It is a very special day for everyone.
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Vocabularies:
- important: something that matters a lot.
- festival: a big party with music, dancing, and fun.
- a teaching: something someone tells you to help you learn.
- to wear: to have clothes or things on your body.
- a candle: a small stick that gives light when it is burning.
- incense: a small stick that makes nice smell when it burns.
- a monk: a man who lives simply and prays in a temple.
- to pray for peace: to ask for calm and no fighting.
- health: when your body is good and not sick.
- quiet: no noise or very little noise.
- peaceful: calm and nice, no noise or problems.
- a celebration: a happy event to enjoy something special.
- kindness: being nice and helpful to other people.
- rainy season: the time of year when it rains a lot.
- fresh air: clean and nice air to breathe.
- faith: believing in something, like a religion.
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Multiple-choice test – one answer correct:
1. important
a) something that matters a lot
b) something that does not matter
c) something very small
2. festival
a) a quiet place to sleep
b) a big party with music and fun
c) a small animal
3. a teaching
a) a place to eat food
b) a type of clothing
c) something someone tells you to help you learn
4. to wear
a) to have clothes on your body
b) to eat food
c) to sleep
5. a candle
a) a kind of food
b) a small stick that gives light when it burns
c) a big rock
6. incense
a) a kind of tree
b) a stick that makes nice smell when it burns
c) a type of shoe
7. a monk
a) a man who lives simply and prays in a temple
b) a person who drives a car
c) a child who goes to school
8. to pray for peace
a) to sing a song
b) to ask for calm and no fighting
c) to run fast
9. health
a) when you feel tired
b) when your body is good and not sick
c) when you feel hungry
10. quiet
a) no noise or very little noise
b) very loud noise
c) bright light
11. peaceful
a) noisy and busy
b) calm and nice, no noise or problems
c) dirty and messy
12. a celebration
a) a happy event to enjoy something special
b) a day to clean the house
c) a place to work
13. kindness
a) being nice and helpful to other people
b) being angry at someone
c) being tired all day
14. rainy season
a) the time when it is very hot
b) the time when it is very cold
c) the time of year when it rains a lot
15. fresh air
a) clean and nice air to breathe
b) dirty water
c) loud noise
16. faith
a) believing in something, like a religion
b) eating food
c) running very fast
_______________________
1 a, 2 b, 3 c, 4 a, 5 b, 6 c, 7 a, 8 b, 9 b, 10 a, 11 b, 12 a, 13 a, 14 c, 15 a, 16 a
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Match the word to the correct definition:
Words:
- important
- festival
- a teaching
- to wear
- a candle
- incense
- a monk
- to pray for peace
- health
- quiet
- peaceful
- a celebration
- kindness
- rainy season
- fresh air
- faith
Definitions:
a) clean and nice air to breathe
b) a man who lives simply and prays in a temple
c) a big party with music and fun
d) a small stick that gives light when it burns
e) calm and nice, no noise or problems
f) something someone tells you to help you learn
g) the time of year when it rains a lot
h) to have clothes on your body
i) being nice and helpful to other people
j) believing in something, like a religion
k) no noise or very little noise
l) when your body is good and not sick
m) something that matters a lot
n) a happy event to enjoy something special
o) a stick that makes nice smell when it burns
p) to ask for calm and no fighting
_________________________
1 m, 2 c, 3 f, 4 h, 5 d, 6 o, 7 b, 8 p, 9 l,
10 k, 11 e, 12 n, 13 i, 14 g, 15 a, 16 j
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Gap-fill sentences – words below:
- Asalha Puja is an _______ day in Cambodia.
- People go to the temple to hear a _______ about Buddha.
- On this special day, people like _______ white clothes.
- They light a _______ and burn incense sticks.
- Many people listen to a _______ in the temple.
- People _______ for peace, health, and happiness.
- The festival happens during the _______ season when it rains a lot.
- People feel calm and _______ at the temple.
- The air is clean and fresh; there is good _______.
- The festival is a _______ of kindness and faith.
- A _______ lives in the temple and teaches people about Buddhism.
- It is a day to think about what is really _______ in life.
- Everyone prays for good _______.
- Inside the temple, it is usually very _______.
- Being nice and helpful to others is called _______.
- People show their _______ by going to the temple and praying.
Fill in:
a) a teaching, b) festival, c) health, d) peaceful, e) quiet, f) faith, g) candle, h) important, i) kindness, j) to wear, k) a monk, l) fresh air, m) rainy season, n) a celebration, o) to pray for peace, p) incense
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1 h, 2 a, 3 j, 4 g, 5 k, 6 o, 7 m, 8 d, 9 l,
10 n, 11 k, 12 h, 13 c, 14 e, 15 i, 16 f
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True or false:
- Asalha Puja is an important festival in Cambodia that many people celebrate.
- People do not wear special clothes when they go to the temple on this day.
- During the festival, people light a candle to help in their prayers.
- Incense is a stick that makes a nice smell when it burns at the temple.
- A monk teaches people about Buddha and his teachings during the festival.
- Many people pray for peace, health, and happiness on this special day.
- The festival happens in the dry season when there is no rain.
- People feel quiet and peaceful when they are inside the temple.
- Fresh air is not important when people are at the temple for the festival.
- Kindness is not part of the celebration.
- Faith means not believing in anything.
- The rainy season is the time of year when this festival usually happens.
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True: 1,3,4,5,6,8,12
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Interview with a monk – fill in (words below):
Q1: What is Asalha Puja?
A1: Asalha Puja is an important __________about Buddha’s teaching.
Q2: When is the festival?
A2: It is in the rainy __________, usually in July.
Q3: What do people do on this day?
A3: People go to the __________, light a candle, and burn incense.
Q4: Why do people wear special clothes?
A4: They wear special __________to show respect and faith.
Q5: What do you teach on this day?
A5: I teach about kindness, __________, and health.
Q6: Do people pray at the temple?
A6: Yes, people __________ for peace, health, and happiness.
Q7: How do people feel at the temple?
A7: They feel __________, peaceful, and calm.
Q8: What is important about the festival?
A8: It is a celebration of __________ and kindness.
Q9: Why do people light candles?
A9: Candles help __________ focus when they pray.
Q10: What is incense for?
A10: Incense makes a good __________ and helps with quiet.
Q11: How does the rainy season help the festival?
A11: The __________ season brings fresh air and new life.
Q12: What do you hope people learn?
A12: I __________ they learn kindness and peace in their hearts.
_______________
smell – peace – festival – people – hope – temple – quiet – rainy – season – faith – clothes – pray
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Answer:
Q1: What is Asalha Puja?
A1: Asalha Puja is an important festival about Buddha’s teaching.
Q2: When is the festival?
A2: It is in the rainy season, usually in July.
Q3: What do people do on this day?
A3: People go to the temple, light a candle, and burn incense.
Q4: Why do people wear special clothes?
A4: They wear special clothes to show respect and faith.
Q5: What do you teach on this day?
A5: I teach about kindness, peace, and health.
Q6: Do people pray at the temple?
A6: Yes, people pray for peace, health, and happiness.
Q7: How do people feel at the temple?
A7: They feel quiet, peaceful, and calm.
Q8: What is important about the festival?
A8: It is a celebration of faith and kindness.
Q9: Why do people light candles?
A9: Candles help people focus when they pray.
Q10: What is incense for?
A10: Incense makes a good smell and helps with quiet.
Q11: How does the rainy season help the festival?
A11: The rainy season brings fresh air and new life.
Q12: What do you hope people learn?
A12: I hope they learn kindness and peace in their hearts.
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