Theme 2.2: Festivals and Traditions in the Spanish-Speaking World - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

14 original exam-style questions - 7 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

Download PDF Jump to mark scheme (page 8)Theme 2.2: Festivals and Traditions in the Spanish-Speaking World revision guide

This topic is chapter 9 of GCSE Spanish: Reading comprehension Practice Book.

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3.9 Theme 2.2: Festivals and Traditions in the Spanish-Speaking World

AQA 8692 · about 40 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Read each short Spanish text and answer the questions in English unless instructed otherwise. Note: accents and the enye are printed correctly; inverted question/exclamation marks are omitted for print compatibility. Write accents and the enye correctly in your answers where needed. Answer every question. Time guidance: 40 minutes.

Text A: A short descriptive article about La Tomatina festival in Buñol, Spain. Read the article and then answer matching and comprehension questions. Article: 'La Tomatina es una fiesta que se celebra en Buñol, Valencia, cada último miércoles de agosto. Miles de personas participan en una batalla de tomates en las calles. Antes de empezar hay música, gente que come en plazas y vendedores que ofrecen protección como gafas. La batalla dura una hora y al final se limpia todo con mangueras. La fiesta atrae turistas de todo el mundo y su origen popular se recuerda en cantos y carteles.'

(a)Match each lettered description to the correct fact (1-4). Descriptions: 1) The town where La Tomatina happens. 2) The usual month for the festival. 3) What participants throw. 4) How the streets are cleaned after. Options: A Buñol, B mangueras, C tomates, D agosto. Write the number and the correct letter, e.g. '1 A'.(4)

(Total for Question 1 is 4 marks)

Short comprehension/inference: From the three texts (La Tomatina, Semana Santa diary, Día de los Muertos leaflet), answer briefly in English: Which festival explicitly mentions markets selling items? One-word answer.

(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)

Short written comparison: Give two simple differences between how Navidad is often celebrated in Spain and in the UK, based on earlier comparison prompt. Answer in English; one difference per sentence.

(a)Sentence 1: Difference 1 (one full sentence in English).(1)

(b)Sentence 2: Difference 2 (one full sentence in English).(1)

(Total for Question 3 is 2 marks)

Identify the festival: Short clues in English; name the festival in one word (Spanish name is acceptable) based on the clues below. Clue: 'A festival in Valencia where people throw fruit at each other.'

(Total for Question 4 is 1 mark)

Short summary question: From any of the texts, give three typical things people do during a festival mentioned in this pack. Answer in English as a list of three short bullets or phrases; each correct item = 1 mark.

(Total for Question 5 is 3 marks)

Quick inference: Which festival in the pack explicitly mentions protective items like goggles being offered by vendors? Answer with the festival name in English or Spanish.

(Total for Question 6 is 1 mark)

Text A: True, False or Not Mentioned questions about the same La Tomatina article above. Answer each in English and give one-word justification from the text where required.

(a)a) True, False or Not Mentioned: La Tomatina lasts for more than one day. (Answer and justify briefly in one word from the article.)(1)

(b)b) True, False or Not Mentioned: The festival includes music before the fight. (Answer and justify briefly in one word from the article.)(1)

(c)c) True, False or Not Mentioned: Visitors must bring their own goggles. (Answer and justify with one word from the article.)(1)

(d)d) True, False or Not Mentioned: The festival attracts international tourists. (Answer and justify with one word from the article.)(1)

(e)e) True, False or Not Mentioned: The origin of the festival is political. (Answer and justify with one word from the article.)(1)

(f)f) True, False or Not Mentioned: Food stalls sell lunch in the plazas. (Answer and justify with one word from the article.)(1)

(Total for Question 7 is 6 marks)

Text B: A diary entry describing Semana Santa in a small town in Andalucía. Read the diary and then complete a gap-fill exercise from the box. Diary: 'Esta mañana he visto las procesiones de Semana Santa en mi pueblo de Andalucía. Las calles estaban llenas de gente. Las cofradías sacan pasos con imágenes religiosas y hay música solemne. Muchas familias van a la iglesia y algunas personas llevan nazarenos. Es una celebración tradicional que ocurre en la semana antes de Pascua.'

(a)Complete the gaps using words from the box: [procesiones, familiares, pasos, semana, música, iglesia]. Gap 1: 'Esta mañana he visto las ______ de Semana Santa.'(1)

(b)Gap 2: 'Las calles estaban llenas de ______.'(1)

(c)Gap 3: 'Las cofradías sacan ______ con imágenes religiosas.'(1)

(d)Gap 4: '...y hay ______ solemne.'(1)

(e)Gap 5: 'Es una celebración tradicional que ocurre en la ______ antes de Pascua.'(1)

(Total for Question 8 is 5 marks)

Text B: Short answer questions in English about the Semana Santa diary. Answer in English.

(a)a) Where did the writer watch the processions? (one phrase in English)(1)

(b)b) What do the cofradías carry in the processions? (one word in English)(1)

(c)c) Give one atmosphere detail from the diary. (one short phrase in English)(1)

(d)d) Who goes to church according to the diary? (one short phrase in English)(1)

(Total for Question 9 is 4 marks)

Text C: An informative leaflet about Día de los Muertos in Mexico City. Read the leaflet and then answer true/false/not mentioned and short questions. Leaflet: 'Día de los Muertos es una celebración en México que honra a los difuntos. Se hace el 1 y 2 de noviembre. Familias construyen altares con fotos, velas y ofrendas como pan y flores. La gente visita los cementerios y celebra con comida, música y disfraces. En la Ciudad de México hay grandes desfiles y mercados con calaveras de azúcar.'

(a)a) True, False or Not Mentioned: Día de los Muertos includes building altars with photos. (Answer in English with one-word justification from the text.)(1)

(b)b) True, False or Not Mentioned: The dates are in December. (Answer in English with one-word justification from the text.)(1)

(c)c) True, False or Not Mentioned: Sugar skulls are sold at markets. (Answer in English with one-word justification from the text.)(1)

(d)d) In the leaflet, do people wear sombre black clothes? (Answer True/False/Not Mentioned and give one-word justification.)(1)

(e)e) Give one example of an ofrenda item mentioned in the leaflet. (one word in English)(1)

(Total for Question 10 is 5 marks)

Compare customs: Short matching exercise comparing Spanish and UK Christmas customs. Read the short prompt and match the statements. Prompt: 'Compare Navidad in Spain and Christmas in the UK: in Spain families often celebrate on Nochebuena on 24 December with a big meal; in the UK many open presents on 25 December morning and have christmas crackers at the meal; in some Spanish-speaking countries Los Reyes Magos on 6 January bring gifts.'

(a)1) Presents usually opened on 25 December morning - which country is this? Options: A Spain, B UK, C Mexico. Write the number and the letter.(1)

(b)2) The celebration where Los Reyes Magos bring gifts on 6 January - which option? A Spain, B UK, C some Spanish-speaking countries. Write the number and the letter.(1)

(c)3) A big family meal on Nochebuena (24 December) is typical of: A Spain, B UK, C Mexico. Write the number and the letter.(1)

(Total for Question 11 is 3 marks)

Short answer comprehension from a new mini-text about Los Sanfermines in Pamplona. Text: 'Los Sanfermines son famosos por el encierro de toros en Pamplona cada julio. Personas corren delante de los toros por las calles hasta la plaza. Hay una semana de fiestas con conciertos y eventos tradicionales.' Answer two questions in English.

(a)a) In which month do Los Sanfermines take place? (one word in English)(1)

(b)b) What is the main event people talk about in Pamplona? (short phrase in English)(1)

(Total for Question 12 is 2 marks)

Vocabulary multiple-choice from festival contexts. Choose the correct English meaning for the Spanish word used in festival texts.

(a)What does 'ofrendas' mean in the context of Día de los Muertos? Options: A decorations, B offerings, C dances, D tickets. Choose the letter.(1)

A decorations
B offerings
C dances
D tickets

(Total for Question 13 is 1 mark)

Short translation comprehension: Translate the short Spanish phrase into English. Phrase context: a quinceañera announcement. Spanish: 'La quinceañera será en junio y las invitadas llevarán vestidos elegantes.' Translate into English in one sentence.

(a)Translate the sentence into English.(3)

(Total for Question 14 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · 3.9 Theme 2.2: Festivals and Traditions in the Spanish-Speaking World

Question 1

(a) B1 1 A
(a) B1 2 D
(a) B1 3 C
(a) B1 4 B
(a) Answer: 1 A; 2 D; 3 C; 4 B

Question 2

B1 Día de los Muertos or Mexico
Answer: Día de los Muertos

Question 3

(a) B1 Mentions Nochebuena big meal in Spain vs presents on morning of 25 Dec in UK
(a) Answer: In Spain families often have a big meal on Nochebuena (24 December), while in the UK many open presents on the morning of 25 December.
(b) B1 Mentions Los Reyes Magos gift tradition in some Spanish-speaking countries vs christmas crackers in the UK
(b) Answer: Some Spanish-speaking countries celebrate Los Reyes Magos on 6 January when gifts are given, whereas in the UK people often have christmas crackers at the meal and gifts are a 25 December focus.

Question 4

B1 La Tomatina
Answer: La Tomatina

Question 5

B1 One correct festival activity, e.g. 'throw tomatoes', 'build altars', 'run with bulls', 'go to church', 'watch processions', 'clean streets with hoses', 'visit cemeteries', 'wear costumes', 'have a big family meal' (each worth B1)
B1 Second correct activity
B1 Third correct activity
Answer: Examples: throw tomatoes; build altars with photos and candles; run in the encierro (running of the bulls).

Question 6

B1 La Tomatina
Answer: La Tomatina

Question 7

(a) B1 False, justification: 'una hora'
(a) Answer: False, 'una hora'
(b) B1 True, justification: 'música'
(b) Answer: True, 'música'
(c) B1 Not Mentioned, justification: 'vendedores'
(c) Answer: Not Mentioned, 'vendedores'
(d) B1 True, justification: 'turistas'
(d) Answer: True, 'turistas'
(e) B1 Not Mentioned, justification: 'popular'
(e) Answer: Not Mentioned, 'popular'
(f) B1 True, justification: 'vendedores' or 'plazas'
(f) Answer: True, 'plazas'

Question 8

(a) B1 procesiones
(a) Answer: procesiones
(b) B1 familiares or gente
(b) Answer: familiares
(c) B1 pasos
(c) Answer: pasos
(d) B1 música
(d) Answer: música
(e) B1 semana
(e) Answer: semana

Question 9

(a) B1 in their village / in their pueblo in Andalucía
(a) Answer: In their village in Andalucía
(b) B1 floats or statues (pasos)
(b) Answer: Floats (pasos) with religious statues
(c) B1 the streets were full of people / solemn music
(c) Answer: Streets full of people and solemn music
(d) B1 many families / muchas familias
(d) Answer: Many families go to church

Question 10

(a) B1 True, justification: 'altares'
(a) Answer: True, 'altares'
(b) B1 False, justification: '1 y 2 de noviembre'
(b) Answer: False, '1 y 2 de noviembre'
(c) B1 True, justification: 'calaveras de azúcar'
(c) Answer: True, 'calaveras de azúcar'
(d) B1 Not Mentioned, justification: 'disfraces'
(d) Answer: Not Mentioned, 'disfraces'
(e) B1 bread or flowers or candles
(e) Answer: Bread (pan) or flowers

Question 11

(a) B1 1 B
(a) Answer: 1 B
(b) B1 2 C
(b) Answer: 2 C
(c) B1 3 A
(c) Answer: 3 A

Question 12

(a) B1 July
(a) Answer: July
(b) B1 the running of the bulls / encierro
(b) Answer: The running of the bulls (encierro)

Question 13

(a) B1 B
(a) Answer: B - offerings

Question 14

(a) B1 La quinceañera será en junio = The quinceañera will be in June
(a) B1 y las invitadas llevarán vestidos elegantes = and the guests (female) will wear elegant dresses
(a) B1 Whole sentence accurately translated and fluent in English
(a) Answer: The quinceañera will be in June and the (female) guests will wear elegant dresses.

Theme 2.2: Festivals and Traditions in the Spanish-Speaking World - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

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