to protect children from bad luck;
traditions elsewhere
In Jiangsu, parents make boiled (cooked in hot water) eggs and put them in colorful (having many bright colors) knitted (made by hand using wool or thread) pouches (small bags).
They hang these pouches around their children’s neck (the part of the body between the head and shoulders).
This tradition is believed (thought to be true) to protect (keep safe) children from bad luck (unlucky events or situations) and evil spirits (bad, magical beings).
The colorful pouches are often handmade, showing how much parents care for their children. The eggs are thought to bring safety (the state of being free from harm or danger) because they are strong and round.
This custom (a traditional way of doing something) is a way to wish children good luck and happiness.
It’s a special tradition that connects (brings together) families and shows love for their children.
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True or false?
- Parents in Jiangsu make boiled (cooked in hot water) eggs for their children.
- The eggs are placed in colorful knitted (made by hand using wool or thread) pouches (small bags).
- The pouches are always made of cotton.
- The tradition is believed to protect children from bad luck and evil spirits.
- The eggs are thought to bring safety (the state of being free from harm or danger) because they are strong and round.
- This custom is a way to wish children good luck and happiness.
- The pouches are often handmade, showing how much parents care for their children.
- The eggs are thought to bring bad luck.
- The custom connects families and shows love for their children.
- This tradition is only practiced during Chinese New Year.
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False statements:
>>The pouches are always made of cotton.
This is false because the text mentions that the pouches are knitted, which suggests they are made from wool or thread, not cotton.
>>The eggs are thought to bring bad luck.
This is false because the text says that the eggs are believed to protect children from bad luck and evil spirits, not bring bad luck.
>>This tradition is only practiced during Chinese New Year.
This is false because the text does not limit the tradition to Chinese New Year. It only mentions that the tradition happens during special occasions or when parents want to protect their children.
>>The eggs are thought to bring safety (the state of being free from harm or danger) because they are strong and round.
This is false because the text says that the eggs are thought to bring safety because they are strong and round, but this is not explained correctly. The text actually connects the eggs‘ strength and roundness to their ability to protect from bad luck and evil spirits, not just bring safety.
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Here are 10 multiple-choice questions based on the text, each with four answers where more than one can be correct:
1. What do parents in Jiangsu put the boiled eggs in?
a) Wooden boxes
b) Colorful knitted pouches
c) Paper bags
d) Silk pouches
2. What is believed to be the purpose of hanging boiled eggs around children’s necks?
a) To decorate the children
b) To bring bad luck
c) To protect children from bad luck and evil spirits
d) To make children feel happy
3. What are the pouches usually made from?
a) Thread or wool
b) Silk
c) Cotton
d) Plastic
4. What do the eggs symbolize?
a) Strength and roundness
b) Protection from bad luck
c) Good health
d) Safety (being free from harm or danger)
5. What does the tradition show about parents?
a) They care for their children
b) They want their children to be fashionable
c) They are celebrating a festival
d) They want to keep their children safe
6. When is this tradition commonly practiced?
a) During Chinese New Year
b) On birthdays
c) On special occasions
d) Every day
7. What does the tradition of hanging boiled eggs represent?
a) Good luck
b) A way to keep children healthy
c) A way to connect families
d) A way to keep children warm
8. What is the significance of the eggs being round and strong?
a) They are decorative
b) They are thought to bring safety
c) They symbolize good health
d) They are believed to protect from bad luck
9. How are the pouches made?
a) By machine
b) Handmade
c) Purchased from stores
d) Pre-made by factories
10. What is the meaning of the tradition in Jiangsu?
a) To keep children protected from harm
b) To show love and care for children
c) To celebrate family members
d) To bring bad luck to children
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1. What do parents in Jiangsu put the boiled eggs in?
Correct answers: b) Colorful knitted pouches
2. What is believed to be the purpose of hanging boiled eggs around children’s necks?
Correct answers: c) To protect children from bad luck and evil spirits
3. What are the pouches usually made from?
Correct answers: a) Thread or wool
4. What do the eggs symbolize?
Correct answers: b) Protection from bad luck
d) Safety (being free from harm or danger)
5. What does the tradition show about parents?
Correct answers: a) They care for their children
d) They want to keep their children safe
6. When is this tradition commonly practiced?
Correct answers: a) During Chinese New Year
c) On special occasions
7. What does the tradition of hanging boiled eggs represent?
Correct answers: a) Good luck
c) A way to connect families
8. What is the significance of the eggs being round and strong?
Correct answers: b) They are thought to bring safety
d) They are believed to protect from bad luck
9. How are the pouches made?
Correct answers: b) Handmade
10. What is the meaning of the tradition in Jiangsu?
Correct answers: a) To keep children protected from harm
b) To show love and care for children
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What is correct?
Do not look at original text, write down the answer. At the end of the 10 questions you find the correct answers.
- The eggs are boiled in water or oil?
- The pouches are knitted with thread or cotton?
- The eggs are believed to bring good luck or bad luck?
- The tradition is practiced during Chinese New Year or Halloween?
- The pouches are colorful or plain?
- The eggs are thought to protect from bad luck or good fortune?
- The pouches are handmade or machine-made?
- The tradition connects families or separates them?
- The eggs are round and strong or square and weak?
- The custom is believed to show love or hate for children?
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Answers to the questions:
- The eggs are boiled in water.
- The pouches are knitted with thread or wool.
- The eggs are believed to bring good luck and protect from bad luck.
- The tradition is practiced during special occasions, including Chinese New Year.
- The pouches are colorful.
- The eggs are thought to protect from bad luck.
- The pouches are handmade.
- The tradition connects families and shows love for children.
- The eggs are round and strong.
- The custom is believed to show love and care for children.
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Complete – here are 5 easy fill-in-the-blank sentences based on the text:
The eggs are thought to bring __________ because they are strong and __________.
Parents in Jiangsu make __________ eggs and put them in colorful __________ pouches.
The eggs are believed to protect children from __________ and evil __________.
The pouches are often __________, showing how much parents care for their children.
This tradition is a way to wish children __________ and __________.
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Match word and definition:
- Boiled – __________
- Knitted – __________
- Pouches – __________
- Hang – __________
- Protect – __________
- Luck – __________
- Evil – __________
- Colorful – __________
- Custom – __________
- Connect – __________
Fill in:
a) To put something up so it stays in place.
b) Having many different colors.
c) Cooked in hot water.
d) To join or link together.
e) Made by weaving thread or yarn together.
f) Chance or fortune, either good or bad.
g) Small bags or containers.
h) Very bad or harmful.
i) To keep safe from harm or danger.
j) A usual way of doing something, a tradition.
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Match questions and answers:
- What do parents in Jiangsu put the eggs in?
__________ - Why do parents hang boiled eggs around their children’s necks?
__________ - What are the eggs believed to bring?
__________ - What is special about the pouches?
__________ - What do the eggs symbolize?
__________ - When do parents practice this tradition?
__________ - What is the tradition meant to show?
__________ - What are the eggs described as?
__________ - What does the tradition help to connect?
__________ - What is the main purpose of the custom?
__________
a) The eggs are described as round and strong.
b) The eggs symbolize protection and strength.
c) The main purpose of the custom is to protect children from bad luck and evil spirits.
d) Parents in Jiangsu put the eggs in colorful knitted pouches.
e) Parents practice this tradition during special occasions, like Chinese New Year.
f) The eggs are believed to bring good luck and safety.
g) Parents hang boiled eggs around their children’s necks to protect them from bad luck and evil spirits.
h) The tradition helps to connect families.
i) The pouches are special because they are often handmade.
j) The tradition is meant to show love and care for children.
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We are in the year 2060, the old tradition of eggs in knitted pouches has been forgotten.
Retell the story in past tense (how to………., check useful link)
In Jiangsu, parents __________ boiled eggs and __________ them in colorful knitted pouches. They __________ these pouches around their children’s necks.
This tradition __________ believed to protect children from bad luck and evil spirits. The colorful pouches __________ often handmade, showing how much parents care for their children.
The eggs __________ thought to bring safety because they __________ strong and round. This custom __________ a way to wish children good luck and happiness.
It __________ a special tradition that connects families and __________ love for their children.
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In Jiangsu, parents made boiled eggs and put them in colorful knitted pouches. They hung these pouches around their children’s necks. This tradition was believed to protect children from bad luck and evil spirits. The colorful pouches were often handmade, showing how much parents cared for their children. The eggs were thought to bring safety because they were strong and round. This custom was a way to wish children good luck and happiness. It was a special tradition that connected families and showed love for their children.
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And finally, a word puzzle. First find word in the text. Then, which phrase are we looking for:
