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GCSE · Spanish

ES.W8 Customs and Festivals in Spanish-Speaking Countries

AQA 8692 · Calculators not allowed · about 50 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Accents, the enye and inverted punctuation have been omitted in the printed Spanish prompts for technical reasons; write them correctly in your answers where required. Questions 10 and 11 must be full paragraphs in Spanish. Spend about 50 minutes on the whole pack.

Vocabulary gap-fill: complete each sentence about customs at Navidad, Dia de los Muertos and Semana Santa. Context: common words used in these festivals.

(a)En Espana, el 6 de enero los ninos reciben regalos por el Dia de los ______.(1)

(b)En Mexico, las familias decoran altares con flores y ______ para Dia de los Muertos.(1)

(c)Durante la Semana Santa hay procesiones con pasos y ______ que representan escenas religiosas.(1)

(d)En Navidad muchas familias comen turron y otros ______ tipicos.(1)

(e)En algunas regiones, los vecinos se visten con ______ tradicionales durante la fiesta.(1)

(f)En las celebraciones, la musica y los bailes fomentan la ______ comunitaria.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 6 marks)

Grammar multiple choice: choose the best option to complete each sentence about festival customs. Context named in each item.

(a)Para la procesion, ellos ______ las velas la noche anterior. A: encendieron B: encienden C: encenderan D: encendian(1)

(b)Si vamos al festival manana, ______ fotos de los disfraces. A: tomaremos B: tomabamos C: tomaramos D: tomamos(1)

(c)Durante la fiesta, los jovenes ______ musica tradicional. A: escucharon B: escuchan C: escucharian D: escuchaban(1)

(d)Cuando era nino, siempre ______ a la cabalgata con mis primos. A: iba B: fui C: ire D: ido(1)

(e)Los altares se decoran con fotografias y ______ para recordar a los muertos. A: flores B: juguetes C: sombreros D: mesas(1)

(Total for Question 2 is 5 marks)

Photo caption task. Look at a photo showing a street parade with people in costume, music, and decorated floats. Escribe cuatro frases cortas en espanol que describan la escena. Menciona: los trajes, la musica, la gente y un elemento decorativo. Each bullet is worth 2 marks for communication.

(a)Frase 1: Describe the costumes you see (los trajes).(2)

(b)Frase 2: Describe the music (la musica).(2)

(c)Frase 3: Describe the people (la gente).(2)

(d)Frase 4: Mention one decorative element you see (un elemento decorativo).(2)

(Total for Question 3 is 8 marks)

Multiple choice: Which country or region is best known for this festival tradition? Choose A, B, C or D.

(a)Festival with decorated skull imagery and family altars to remember the dead.(1)

A Mexico
B Spain
C Peru
D Argentina

(b)Semana Santa processions with pasos and nazarenos are particularly famous in which country?(1)

A Chile
B Spain
C Colombia
D Guatemala

(c)Three Kings parades with gifts for children on 6 January are most associated with which country?(1)

A Mexico
B Cuba
C Spain
D Chile

(d)Festival where people make large parade floats and celebrate with samba style music is commonly associated with which country?(1)

A Brazil
B Mexico
C Spain
D Peru

(e)Festival famous for giant papier-mache figures called 'mojigangas' appears especially in which country?(1)

A Mexico
B Spain
C Argentina
D Ecuador

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

Word families: give the missing noun or adjective that matches the prompt about festivals. Context: words used when describing celebrations.

(a)celebrar (verb) -> la accion de celebrar (noun): la ______(1)

(b)tradicional (adjective) -> lo que es tipico de la tradicion (noun): lo ______(1)

(c)decorar (verb) -> el resultado de decorar (noun): la ______(1)

(d)festivo (adjective) -> el dia festivo (noun): el ______(1)

(Total for Question 5 is 4 marks)

Fill the gaps in the short passage about Dia de los Muertos using words from the box. Box: altares, calaveras, recuerdos, pan de muerto, ofrendas. Passage context: a Mexican family preparing for Dia de los Muertos.

(a)Gap 1: En casa de Ana preparan (1) ______ con fotografias y flores.(1)

(b)Gap 2: Sobre los altares ponen (2) ______ como comida y fotos.(1)

(c)Gap 3: Tambien compran (3) ______, un pan tradicional.(1)

(d)Gap 4: Las (4) ______ de azucar son decorativas.(1)

(e)Gap 5: La familia comparte (5) ______ de los seres queridos.(1)

(Total for Question 6 is 5 marks)

Short reading comprehension: Read this sentence about Navidad in Spain and answer in English. Context: a Spanish family on Christmas Eve.

(a)Sentence: 'La Nochebuena es cuando la familia cena junta y canta villancicos antes de abrir algunos regalos.' What does 'La Nochebuena' refer to and what two activities are mentioned? Answer in English.(4)

(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)

True or false: read the sentence and say whether it is true or false in English. Context: Semana Santa in Spain.

(a)Sentence: 'En muchas ciudades de Espana, durante la Semana Santa las procesiones son silenciosas y no incluyen musica.' Is this statement true or false? Explain briefly in English.(4)

(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)

Short translation into English. Translate the Spanish sentence about Three Kings Day into English. Context: a Spanish town's cabalgata.

(a)Translate: 'Cada ano la cabalgata llega al centro de la ciudad y los Reyes tiran caramelos a los ninos.'(4)

(Total for Question 9 is 4 marks)

Structured writing task, 40-50 words. Describe how a specific festival in a Spanish-speaking country is celebrated in your chosen town or region. You must include present and past tenses and mention at least one food or decoration. Use about 40-50 words in Spanish.

(Total for Question 10 is 16 marks)

Extended writing task, 90-150 words. Compara una celebracion del Reino Unido que conoces con una celebracion de un pais de habla espanola. Da tu opinion y justifica por que prefieres una u otra. Usa presente, preterito y futuro, conecta ideas y incluye frases de opinion. Write about 90-150 words in Spanish.

(Total for Question 11 is 16 marks)

Translate into Spanish these short sentences about festivals. Each sentence is worth 2 marks.

(a)1) We sing carols on Christmas Eve.(2)

(b)2) Last year we ate traditional sweets.(2)

(Total for Question 12 is 6 marks)

Mark scheme · ES.W8 Customs and Festivals in Spanish-Speaking Countries

Question 1

(a) B1 Reyes
(a) Answer: Reyes
(b) B1 ofrendas
(b) Answer: ofrendas
(c) B1 estatuas
(c) Answer: estatuas
(d) B1 dulces
(d) Answer: dulces
(e) B1 trajes
(e) Answer: trajes
(f) B1 unidad
(f) Answer: unidad

Question 2

(a) B1 A - encendieron, preterite for a completed action the night before
(a) Answer: A
(b) B1 A - tomaremos, simple future for a planned future action
(b) Answer: A
(c) B1 B - escuchan, present tense to describe habitual behaviour during the festival
(c) Answer: B
(d) B1 A - iba, imperfect to describe a repeated past action
(d) Answer: A
(e) B1 A - flores, flowers are a central decoration for altars on Dia de los Muertos
(e) Answer: A

Question 3

(a) B1 Content: mentions costumes or clothing evident in the photo
(a) B1 Communicative clarity: a grammatically recognisable Spanish phrase that identifies costumes
(a) Answer: Hay personas con trajes coloridos y mascaras tradicionales.
(b) B1 Content: refers to music being played or heard
(b) B1 Communicative clarity: a recognisable Spanish phrase about music
(b) Answer: Se oye musica en vivo con tambores y trompetas.
(c) B1 Content: mentions people watching or participating
(c) B1 Communicative clarity: phrase communicates who the people are or what they do
(c) Answer: La gente celebra en la calle y muchas familias participan juntas.
(d) B1 Content: names a visible decorative element such as flores, globos, pancartas, carrozas
(d) B1 Communicative clarity: phrase makes clear reference to the decorative item
(d) Answer: Hay carrozas decoradas con flores y luces.

Question 4

(a) B1 A - Mexico
(a) Answer: A Mexico
(b) B1 B - Spain
(b) Answer: B Spain
(c) B1 C - Spain
(c) Answer: C Spain
(d) B1 A - Brazil
(d) Answer: A Brazil
(e) B1 A - Mexico
(e) Answer: A Mexico

Question 5

(a) B1 celebracion
(a) Answer: celebracion
(b) B1 tradicional
(b) Answer: tradicional
(c) B1 decoracion
(c) Answer: decoracion
(d) B1 festivo
(d) Answer: festivo

Question 6

(a) B1 altares
(a) Answer: altares
(b) B1 ofrendas
(b) Answer: ofrendas
(c) B1 pan de muerto
(c) Answer: pan de muerto
(d) B1 calaveras
(d) Answer: calaveras
(e) B1 recuerdos
(e) Answer: recuerdos

Question 7

(a) B1 Identifies La Nochebuena as Christmas Eve
(a) B1 Mentions that the family have dinner together
(a) B1 Mentions that they sing carols (villancicos)
(a) B1 Mentions opening some presents afterwards
(a) Answer: La Nochebuena is Christmas Eve; the family have dinner together, sing carols and open some presents.

Question 8

(a) B1 States False
(a) B1 Explains that many processions do include music such as drums or bands
(a) B1 May state that some processions are solemn but many have music
(a) B1 Communicates explanation in clear English
(a) Answer: False. Many processions include music like drums or brass bands; although some are solemn, music is common.

Question 9

(a) B1 Each year the parade arrives in the town centre (or city centre)
(a) B1 and the Kings throw sweets to the children
(a) B1 Communicates natural English word order
(a) B1 Uses correct meaning for cabalgata and caramelos
(a) Answer: Each year the parade arrives in the town centre and the Kings throw sweets to the children.

Question 10

Content and communication (AO4, 10 marks)
- Level 3 (8-10): The candidate describes how the festival is celebrated with relevant detail, uses both present and past tenses correctly in most sentences, and mentions a food or decoration.
- Level 2 (4-7): Description covers the festival but with limited development; present and past tenses are attempted though with errors; a food or decoration may be mentioned briefly.
- Level 1 (1-3): Only a basic description is given, little or no use of multiple time frames, and minimal reference to food or decoration.
- Level 0 (0): No creditable content or irrelevant material.
Range and accuracy of language (AO4, 6 marks)
- Level 3 (5-6): Language is accurate and varied for the task; verbs in present and past are generally correct; vocabulary appropriate to festivals is used accurately.
- Level 2 (3-4): Some variety of vocabulary and structures; several verb forms are correct though there are noticeable errors.
- Level 1 (1-2): Limited vocabulary and frequent errors that sometimes obscure meaning.
- Level 0 (0): Language too limited or inaccurate to convey basic meaning.
Indicative content:
- Specific present-tense statements about what happens each year, for example 'En mi pueblo se celebra... cada ano'.
- A past-tense reference to something that happened last year or in the past, for example 'El ano pasado hubo una procesion o comimos pan de muerto'.
- Mention of a typical food or decoration, for example 'comimos turron', 'decoramos altares con flores' or 'hay carrozas decoradas'.
- Reference to who participates, for example 'las familias, los jovenes, las bandas'.
- Use of simple connectives such as 'y', 'pero', 'porque' to link ideas.

Question 11

Content and communication (AO4, 10 marks)
- Level 4 (8-10): All bullet points are fully addressed with developed comparison, clear opinion and justification. Ideas are well organised and relevant examples are given from both celebrations.
- Level 3 (5-7): Comparison covers both celebrations with relevant detail; opinion is stated and a reason is given, though development may be uneven.
- Level 2 (2-4): Some comparison is attempted but with limited development; opinion may be simple and justification brief.
- Level 1 (1): Very basic comparison or one-sided description with minimal relevance.
- Level 0 (0): No creditable content.
Range and accuracy of language (AO4, 6 marks)
- Level 4 (5-6): A wide range of vocabulary and verb tenses including present, preterite and future used accurately; connectives and opinion phrases are used effectively.
- Level 3 (3-4): Some variety of tense and vocabulary; present and past are generally correct and future attempted; errors do not prevent communication.
- Level 2 (1-2): Limited range of language; frequent tense errors; meaning sometimes unclear.
- Level 0 (0): Language limited or inaccurate to the point of preventing communication.
Indicative content:
- Comparison of two celebrations naming key features of each, for example family meals, processions, music, costumes, or altars.
- Use of the preterite to describe what happened at a recent celebration, for example 'El ano pasado fui a...'.
- Use of the present to describe habitual features, for example 'En el Reino Unido celebramos...'.
- Use of the future to indicate plans or preferences, for example 'El ano que viene ire a...'.
- Clear personal opinion with justification using porque or ya que, for example 'Prefiero X porque...'.
- Use of connectives to compare and contrast, for example 'sin embargo', 'aunque', 'mientras que', 'por otro lado'.

Question 12

(a) B1 Correct Spanish translation of 'We sing carols' eg 'Cantamos villancicos'
(a) B1 Correct expression of 'on Christmas Eve' eg 'en Nochebuena' or 'la Nochebuena'
(a) Answer: Cantamos villancicos en Nochebuena.
(b) B1 Correct past tense 'Last year' eg 'El ano pasado' or 'El año pasado' without accent
(b) B1 Correct preterite of comer and phrase 'dulces tradicionales' eg 'comimos dulces tradicionales'
(b) Answer: El ano pasado comimos dulces tradicionales.
(c) B1 Correct future tense eg 'El ano que viene iremos' or 'El ano que viene iremos' without accent
(c) B1 Mentions 'to the procession' and 'together' eg 'a la procesion juntos'
(c) Answer: El ano que viene iremos a la procesion juntos.

Customs and Festivals in Spanish-Speaking Countries - Worksheets, Questions and Revision