teacherzinha Easter Sunday Reading Comprehension Exercise Easter Sunday is a happy day. On Easter Sunday, Jesus' friends learned that he was alive again. They went to the cave where Jesus had been buried. The huge rock that had blocked the door of the cave was rolled away. The cave was empty. Then they saw an angel. The angel told them, "Jesus is not here. He has risen just like He promised!" Jesus was alive again. His friends were very happy. Some of His friends did not believe that Jesus had really come back to life. They did not believe until He came to see them. Then they were happy too. Jesus promised that everyone who believed on Him would someday live with Him. Many Christians celebrate that promise by going to church on Easter Sunday. Some go very early when the sun is coming up. Others go later in the day. Many people wear their best clothes. The churches are full of flowers. The people sing joyful hymns. They remember the story of the resurrection. Then, they go home to celebrate with family or friends.

Vocabulary Do you know what these words mean? If not, look them up in an English dictionary: block bury cave celebrate empty promise rise

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Sentence Completion I Use the vocabulary words to complete the sentences below. On Easter Sunday, Jesus' friends learned that He was __________ again. Jesus had been buried in a ________. When His friends went to the cave, the rock that had __________ the door was rolled away. An __________ told them "He is not here; He has risen just like He promised." Jesus ___________ promised that everyone who believed in Him would someday live with Him.

Sentence Completion II Use the vocabulary words to complete the sentences below. The coffee pot is __________; we need to make more. Please __________ the stairs so that the baby does not fall down them. He __________ to be home by 6:00. The sun __________ each morning. The dog __________ its bone in the grass. Reading Comprehension Why is Easter a happy day? Where was the rock that had blocked the door of the cave? Who told Jesus' friends that He was alive again? Did everyone believe that Jesus had come back to life? How did Jesus prove that He was alive? What did Jesus promise everyone who believed in Him? How do Christians celebrate the promise of Jesus?

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Good Friday Reading Comprehension Exercise Many years ago Jesus died on Good Friday. His friends and followers were very sad. They thought they would never see Jesus again. Why is this sad day called "good"? For many years, it was called "God's Friday." God's Friday sounds similar to Good Friday. This may be the way that Good Friday got its name. In other countries, this day is called Silent Friday or Holy Friday. Some Christians go to church on Good Friday. They may have parades. These parades are very sad. People march through the streets while it is still dark and sing sad songs. They talk about Jesus' death. Other Christians celebrate Good Friday in a different way. Instead of singing sad songs, they sing praise songs to thank Jesus for dying for them.

Vocabulary Do you know what these words mean? If not, look them up in an English dictionary: believe country death follower forgive holy parade praise silent

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Sentence Completion I Use the vocabulary words to complete the sentences below. In some __________, Good Friday is called "Holy Friday." Jesus' friends and ___________ were very sad when he died. Jesus died to _________ people for all the bad things they had done. Some people have sad ___________ to remember Jesus ‘death. Other people sing _________ songs to thank Him for dying.

Sentence Completion II Use the vocabulary words to complete the sentences below. Today the ____________ of Christ are called Christians. China is the largest ___________ in the world. My teacher __________ me because I got a good grade on the test. Chang-min was very sad because of his grandfather's _________. I ___________ that I should study hard.

Reading Comprehension What happened many years ago on Good Friday? Who was sad? Why? How might Good Friday have gotten its name? What are some other names for Good Friday? How do people today celebrate Good Friday?

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What is Easter? Reading Comprehension Exercise Easter is the most important Christian holiday. At Easter, Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His resurrection (return to life) three days later. Christians believe that Jesus Christ died so that the wrong things people think and do could be forgiven by God. They believe that those who accept God's forgiveness can stop doing wrong things and live pure, clean lives. They also believe that those who accept God's forgiveness will someday live forever with God. The early Christian church celebrated Easter at different times. Then, in 325 A.D. the Council of Nicaea fixed the holiday as the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 21. This always places Easter sometime between March 22 and April 25. In 2008, Easter Sunday will be March 23. Today some people use lilies to decorate their homes and churches at Easter time. The large white blossoms make them think of the clean new life they can have because of Jesus Christ's death and return to life. Churches celebrate Easter with Saturday evening and Sunday morning services. In the United States, many churches have outdoor Easter services at sunrise. The light of the rising sun reminds them of the light that came back to the world with the newly risen Jesus. Easter eggs are not a part of the Easter story. These were first a part of non-Christian celebrations of spring. Spring is a time of new life. Trees put on their leaves in spring. Grass begins to grow, and flowers appear. Many baby animals are also born in spring. Eggs made people think of new life because many animals hatch from eggs. People would celebrate spring by decorating eggs and giving them as gifts. Since Easter is celebrated soon after spring begins, the two celebrations began to mix. Today, Easter eggs, like lilies, remind Christians of the new life Jesus Christ offers them.

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Vocabulary Do you know what these words mean? If not, look them up in an English dictionary: baby celebrate Christian crucifixion decorate forgive full moon hatch lily life pure risen spring sunrise

Sentence Completion I Use the vocabulary words to complete the sentences below. Jesus Christ died by ____________________. Three days later he returned to _______________. ________________ believe that Jesus Christ died so that the wrong things people think and do could be _________________. Easter eggs were first a part of the non-Christian __________________ of spring, but today they remind people of the new life they can have because of Jesus Christ's death and return to life. Some churches have Easter services at _______________.

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Sentence Completion II Use the vocabulary words to complete the sentences below. ________________ is a pretty season because flowers appear. Tomorrow we will ____________________ my baby brother's birthday. I am going to ________________ my bedroom this weekend. The _______________ cried for its mother. Did you know that some snakes _______________ from eggs?

Reading Comprehension Who celebrates Easter? What do Christians believe? Is Easter the same date every year? When will Easter be this year? When do some churches have Easter services? Why? What else is celebrated close to the time of Easter? Are eggs a part of the Easter story? How did eggs become part of the Easter celebration?