• remembering the dead and honouring the spirit

The Chinese Ghost Festival is a traditional festival in China. It is also called the Hungry Ghost Festival. It takes place on the 15th day of the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. The whole seventh month is sometimes called Ghost Month. In 2026, the main festival day is August 27.

During this time, many people believe that the dead can return to the world of the living. Some are family members who have died. Other spirits may have no family to remember them. People believe that these spirits can be hungry, so families prepare food for them.

Families may put rice, fruit, meat, fish, cakes and drinks on a table. They may also burn incense and pray for their dead family members. These actions show love and respect for the people who have died.

Another important tradition is burning paper money. People believe that the dead can use this money in the other world. Some people also burn paper clothes, houses, cars and other things. These are gifts for the spirits.

In some places, people put small lanterns on rivers. The lanterns can help the spirits find their way. Temples may also have special events during the festival. People can pray, listen to music and watch traditional performances.

There are also some rules during Ghost Month. Some people do not swim in rivers or lakes at night. They also try not to stay outside very late. Some people do not move to a new home or have a wedding during this month. These are old traditions, and not everyone follows them.

The festival is an important part of Chinese culture. It brings families together and helps people remember the dead. It shows that family love and respect can continue even after a person has died.

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Vocabulary:

Word / phrase	A1 definition
a lunar calendar	a calendar that follows the moon
the main festival	the most important day of a festival
to believe	to think that something is true
to return	to come back
a spirit	the part of a dead person that people believe can still exist
to remember	to think about someone or something from the past
to burn incense	to burn special sticks that make a nice smell
to pray	to speak to God or a spirit
to show respect	to show that you think someone is important
to burn paper money	to burn paper money as a gift for dead people
a gift	something you give to another person
a lantern	a light in a container, often made of paper
a performance	a show for people to watch
a rule	something you must or must not do
to stay outside	to remain outdoors
a wedding	a special day when two people get married
to follow a tradition	to do something because people have done it for a long time

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Match word and definition:

1. a lunar calendar
2. the main festival
3. to believe
4. to return
5. a spirit
6. to remember
7. to burn incense
8. to pray
9. to show respect
10. to burn paper money
11. a gift
12. a lantern
13. a performance
14. a rule
15. to stay outside
16. a wedding
17. to follow a tradition

A. a show for people to watch
B. to think that something is true
C. something you must or must not do
D. to burn paper money as a gift for dead people
E. a light in a container, often made of paper
F. to come back
G. to speak to God or a spirit
H. the most important day of a festival
I. to remain outdoors
J. a special day when two people get married
K. to think about someone or something from the past
L. a calendar that follows the moon
M. to burn special sticks that make a nice smell
N. the part of a dead person that people believe can still exist
O. to show that you think someone is important
P. something you give to another person
Q. to do something because people have done it for a long time

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Answers:
1-L, 2-H, 3-B, 4-F, 5-N, 6-K, 7-M,
8-G, 9-O, 10-D, 11-P, 12-E, 13-A,
14-C, 15-I, 16-J, 17-Q
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Match definition and word:

A. a show for people to watch
B. to think that something is true
C. something you must or must not do
D. to burn paper money as a gift for dead people
E. a light in a container, often made of paper
F. to come back
G. to speak to God or a spirit
H. the most important day of a festival
I. to remain outdoors
J. a special day when two people get married
K. to think about someone or something from the past
L. a calendar that follows the moon
M. to burn special sticks that make a nice smell
N. the part of a dead person that people believe can still exist
O. to show that you think someone is important
P. something you give to another person
Q. to do something because people have done it for a long time

1. to pray
2. a wedding
3. a gift
4. to believe
5. a performance
6. a rule
7. to burn incense
8. to return
9. a lantern
10. to follow a tradition
11. the main festival
12. to remember
13. a spirit
14. to stay outside
15. a lunar calendar
16. to burn paper money
17. to show respect

___________________________

Answers:
A-5, B-4, C-6, D-16, E-9, F-8,
G-1, H-11, I-14, J-2, K-12, L-15,
M-7, N-13, O-17, P-3, Q-10
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True or false

1. Some people burn paper clothes and houses for the spirits.
2. The whole seventh month is sometimes called Ghost Month.
3. People believe that all spirits have a family waiting for them.
4. Temples are closed during the festival.
5. The Chinese Ghost Festival is also called the Hungry Ghost Festival.
6. People always have weddings during Ghost Month.
7. Families may prepare food for spirits during the festival.
8. People do not pray for family members who have died.
9. The festival is also about family and respect.
10. The festival is only about frightening people with stories about ghosts.
11. The main festival day is on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.
12. Lanterns may be placed on rivers in some places.
13. People believe that lanterns make the spirits disappear.
14. Families may burn incense for their dead family members.
15. Everyone follows all the old Ghost Month rules.
16. Temples may have special events during the festival.
17. People may put fruit, meat and fish on a table.
18. The Chinese Ghost Festival takes place in the first month of the lunar calendar.
19. Burning paper money is not part of the festival.
20. Families never put drinks on the table during the festival.

________________________

False: 3,4,6,8,10,13,15,18,19,20

________________________

Correct answers:

1. Some people burn paper clothes and houses for the spirits.
2. The whole seventh month is sometimes called Ghost Month.
3. People believe that all spirits have a family waiting for them. True is: Some spirits may have no family to remember them.
4. Temples are closed during the festival. True is: Temples may have special events during the festival.
5. The Chinese Ghost Festival is also called the Hungry Ghost Festival.
6. People always have weddings during Ghost Month. True is: Some people do not have weddings during Ghost Month.
7. Families may prepare food for spirits during the festival.
8. People do not pray for family members who have died. True is: People may pray for their dead family members.
9. The festival is also about family and respect.
10. The festival is only about frightening people with stories about ghosts. True is: The festival is not only about scary ghosts.
11. The main festival day is on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.
12. Lanterns may be placed on rivers in some places.
13. People believe that lanterns make the spirits disappear. True is: People believe lanterns can help the spirits find their way.
14. Families may burn incense for their dead family members.
15. Everyone follows all the old Ghost Month rules. True is: Not everyone follows these old traditions.
16. Temples may have special events during the festival.
17. People may put fruit, meat and fish on a table.
18. The Chinese Ghost Festival takes place in the first month of the lunar calendar. True is: The festival takes place in the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
19. Burning paper money is not part of the festival. True is: Burning paper money is an important tradition.
20. Families never put drinks on the table during the festival. True is: Families may put drinks on the table.

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Match the sentence halves

1. The Chinese Ghost Festival takes place
2. The whole seventh month is sometimes called
3. Many people believe that the dead can
4. Families prepare food because the spirits
5. Families may burn incense and pray
6. Burning paper money is another
7. Some people burn paper clothes, houses and cars
8. Small lanterns on rivers can help
9. Temples may have special events where people
10. Some people do not swim in rivers or lakes
11. The festival is also about family
12. People remember that family love and respect

A. can continue after a person has died.
B. can return to the world of the living.
C. important tradition during the festival.
D. and respect for people who have died.
E. Ghost Month.
F. because these are gifts for the spirits.
G. on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.
H. can be hungry.
I. pray, listen to music and watch performances.
J. at night during Ghost Month.
K. their dead family members.
L. the spirits find their way.

_________________________

Answer:
1-G, 2-E, 3-B, 4-H, 5-K, 6-C,
7-F, 8-L, 9-I, 10-J, 11-D, 12-A
________________________
Correct version:

1. The Chinese Ghost Festival takes place on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.
2. The whole seventh month is sometimes called Ghost Month.
3. Many people believe that the dead can return to the world of the living.
4. Families prepare food because the spirits can be hungry.
5. Families may burn incense and pray for their dead family members.
6. Burning paper money is another important tradition during the festival.
7. Some people burn paper clothes, houses and cars because these are gifts for the spirits.
8. Small lanterns on rivers can help the spirits find their way.
9. Temples may have special events where people pray, listen to music and watch performances.
10. Some people do not swim in rivers or lakes at night during Ghost Month.
11. The festival is also about family and respect for people who have died.
12. People remember that family love and respect can continue after a person has died.

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---

Find the information in the text:

1. The day of the main festival in 2026: _____
2. The name of the seventh month: _____
3. Three kinds of food families may prepare: _____
4. Two things people may burn: _____
5. Two things made of paper that people may burn: _____
6. Two places where people should be careful at night: _____
7. Two events people may watch or listen to at temples: _____
8. Two drinks or foods that families may put on a table: _____
9. Two family members whom people may remember: _____
10. Two things people may do at temples: _____
11. Two things that some people do not do during Ghost Month: _____
12. Two things that may help spirits during the festival: _____
13. Two reasons why people take part in the festival: _____
14. Two things that the festival can bring or help people do: _____
    

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Correct answers:

The day of the main festival in 2026: August 27

The name of the seventh month: Ghost Month

Three kinds of food families may prepare: rice, fruit, meat

Two things people may burn: incense and paper money

Two things made of paper that people may burn: paper clothes and paper houses

Two places where people should be careful at night: rivers and lakes

Two events people may watch or listen to at temples: music and traditional performances

Two drinks or foods that families may put on a table: cakes and drinks

Two family members whom people may remember: parents and grandparents

Two things people may do at temples: pray and listen to music

Two things that some people do not do during Ghost Month: swim at night and move to a new home

Two things that may help spirits during the festival: food and lanterns

Two reasons why people take part in the festival: to remember the dead and show respect

Two things that the festival can bring or help people do: bring families together and remember the dead

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Put the events in order, according to the text

a) People may burn paper money and other paper gifts.
b) The festival brings families together.
c) Families prepare food for the spirits.
d) Some people follow old rules during Ghost Month.
e) The dead may return to the world of the living.
f) People remember their dead family members.
g) Temples may have special events.
h) People may put lanterns on rivers.
___________________________

Answers: 1. e, 2. c, 3. a, 4. h, 5. g, 6. d, 7. f, 8. b

___________________________

Correct order:

1. The dead may return to the world of the living.
2. Families prepare food for the spirits.
3. People may burn paper money and other paper gifts.
4. People may put lanterns on rivers.
5. Temples may have special events.
6. Some people follow old rules during Ghost Month.
7. People remember their dead family members.
8. The festival brings families together.

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Complete the sentences

1. The Chinese Ghost Festival is a traditional festival in ________.
2. Some spirits may have no ________ to remember them.
3. Families may put rice, fruit, meat, fish, cakes and ________ on a table.
4. People may burn ________ and pray.
5. Paper clothes, houses and cars are ________ for the spirits.
6. Small lanterns can help the spirits find their ________.
7. Some people do not stay outside very ________.
8. The festival brings ________ together.

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Correct version:

The Chinese Ghost Festival is a traditional festival in China.

The main festival day in 2026 is August 27.

The whole seventh month is sometimes called Ghost Month.

Some spirits may have no family to remember them.

Families may put rice, fruit, meat, fish, cakes and drinks on a table.

People may burn incense and pray for their dead family members.

These actions show love and respect for the people who have died.

People believe that the dead can use paper money in the other world.

Some people burn paper clothes, houses, cars and other things.

Small lanterns can help the spirits find their way.

Temples may have special events during the festival.

People can pray, listen to music and watch traditional performances.

Some people do not swim in rivers or lakes at night.

People remember their parents, grandparents and other family members who have died.

The festival brings families together.

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Choose the correct answer

1. When does the Ghost Festival take place?
   • a) In the seventh lunar month
   • b) In the first lunar month
   • c) In the twelfth lunar month
2. Why do families prepare food?
   • a) For a party
   • b) For the spirits
   • c) For tourists
3. What do people burn as gifts for the spirits?
   • a) Real clothes
   • b) Paper clothes
   • c) Old clothes
4. Where may people put small lanterns?
   • a) On rivers
   • b) On roads
   • c) On houses
5. What does the festival show?
   • a) The importance of sports
   • b) The start of summer
   • c) Family love and respect
6. What may families put on a table for the spirits?
   • a) Food and drinks
   • b) Books and toys
   • c) Shoes and bags
7. What do people sometimes burn and pray with?
   • a) Paper houses
   • b) Incense
   • c) Lanterns
8. What can people watch at temples?
   • a) Traditional performances
   • b) Football matches
   • c) Films
9. What do some people avoid at night during Ghost Month?
   • a) Eating fruit
   • b) Listening to music
   • c) Swimming in rivers or lakes
10. Who do people remember during the festival?

• a) Only their friends
• b) Their parents, grandparents and other family members
• c) Only famous people

11. What can lanterns help the spirits do?

• a) Find their way
• b) Find a new home
• c) Find their family

12. What does the festival bring together?

• a) Tourists
• b) Teachers
• c) Families

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Answers:
1-a, 2-b, 3-b, 4-a, 5-c, 6-a,
7-b, 8-a, 9-c, 10-b, 11-a, 12-c
#################

One word does not belong, is odd

1. Car – rice – fruit – meat
2. Clothes – houses – fish – cars
3. Grandparents – family – lanterns – parents
4. Listen – swim – watch – pray
5. Water – temples – rivers – lakes
6. Paper money – paper clothes – rice – incense
7. Houses – grandparents – parents – family
8. Rivers – cars – lanterns – lakes
9. Swim – respect – remember – pray
10. Fish – cars – fruit – cakes

______________________

Correct answer:

1. Car – rice – fruit – meat — Car is not food.
2. Clothes – houses – fish – cars — Fish is not a paper gift.
3. Grandparents – family – lanterns – parents — Lanterns are not people.
4. Listen – swim – watch – pray — Swim is not something people do at temples.
5. Water – temples – rivers – lakes — Temples are not water.
6. Paper money – paper clothes – rice – incense — Rice is not something people burn.
7. Houses – grandparents – parents – family — Houses are not people.
8. Rivers – cars – lanterns – lakes — Cars are not connected with rivers, lakes or lanterns.
9. Swim – respect – remember – pray — Swim is not connected with remembering and respecting the dead.
10. Fish – cars – fruit – cakes — Cars are not food.

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Find one word in the text that answers each question.

1. When does the main festival take place in 2026? ________
2. Where is the Ghost Festival a traditional festival? ________
3. What do families prepare for the spirits? __________
4. Who can return to the world of the living? __________
5. Why do families prepare food? __________
6. What do people burn and pray with? __________
7. What can people burn as gifts for the spirits? __________
8. Where may people put small lanterns? __________
9. What can lanterns help the spirits find? __________
10. Where may people have special events? __________
11. What can people watch at temples? __________
12. When do some people avoid swimming in rivers and lakes? __________
13. Who do people remember during the festival? __________
14. What does the festival bring together? __________
15. What can continue even after a person has died? __________

——————————–

Correct version:

When does the main festival take place in 2026? August

Where is the Ghost Festival a traditional festival? China

What do families prepare for the spirits? food

Who can return to the world of the living? spirits

Why do families prepare food? hungry

What do people burn and pray with? incense

What can people burn as gifts for the spirits? paper

Where may people put small lanterns? rivers

What can lanterns help the spirits find? way

Where may people have special events? temples

What can people watch at temples? performances

When do some people avoid swimming in rivers and lakes? night

Who do people remember during the festival? family

What does the festival bring together? families

What can continue even after a person has died? respect

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Match the questions and answers

Questions

1. What is the Chinese Ghost Festival?
2. When does the main festival day come in 2026?
3. What can happen during Ghost Month?
4. Why do families prepare food?
5. What do families put on a table?
6. What do people burn during the festival?
7. What can people burn for the spirits?
8. Where do people put small lanterns?
9. What can people see at temples?
10. Who do people remember?
11. What do some people avoid during Ghost Month?
12. What does the festival show?

Answers

a) Families honour their parents, grandparents and other family members.
b) The festival demonstrates family love and respect for people who have died.
c) The dead may return to the world of the living.
d) People place the small lanterns on rivers.
e) The spirits may be hungry.
f) The main festival day falls on August 27.
g) People offer paper clothes, houses, cars and other things to the spirits.
h) Visitors watch traditional performances at temples.
i) People use incense and paper money as part of the traditions.
j) Families offer rice, fruit, meat, fish, cakes and drinks.
k) The Chinese Ghost Festival takes place in China as a traditional festival.
l) Some people stay away from rivers and lakes at night.

____________________

Answers:
1-k, 2-f, 3-c, 4-e, 5-j, 6-i,
7-g, 8-d, 9-h, 10-a, 11-l, 12-b

___________________

Correct version:

Interview with an Expert: The Chinese Ghost Festival

Interviewer: What is the Chinese Ghost Festival?
Expert: The Chinese Ghost Festival takes place in China as a traditional festival.

Interviewer: When does the main festival day come in 2026?
Expert: The main festival day falls on August 27.

Interviewer: What can happen during Ghost Month?
Expert: The dead may return to the world of the living.

Interviewer: Why do families prepare food?
Expert: The spirits may be hungry.

Interviewer: What do families put on a table?
Expert: Families offer rice, fruit, meat, fish, cakes and drinks.

Interviewer: What do people burn during the festival?
Expert: People use incense and paper money as part of the traditions.

Interviewer: What can people burn for the spirits?
Expert: People offer paper clothes, houses, cars and other things to the spirits.

Interviewer: Where do people put small lanterns?
Expert: People place the small lanterns on rivers.

Interviewer: What can people see at temples?
Expert: Visitors watch traditional performances at temples.

Interviewer: Who do people remember?
Expert: Families honour their parents, grandparents and other family members.

Interviewer: What do some people avoid during Ghost Month?
Expert: Some people stay away from rivers and lakes at night.

Interviewer: What does the festival show?
Expert: The festival demonstrates family love and respect for people who have died.

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Remember how babies
learn a language:

Babies learn a language by listening.
They use their ears to hear sounds.
Their brain remembers these sounds.
Babies connect sounds with people and things.
They listen to their parents.
Then they copy the sounds they hear. They imitate words.
Slowly, babies learn to speak.

So,
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN………………