Classroom Pronunciation Reductions Grammar Conversation Reading Listening Vocabulary Activities Videos
Idioms Slang Acronyms Phonics Portmanteau Words Handwriting Alphabet Surveys Tests
Holidays Movies Everyday Environment Learning News Places Flashcards Study Literacy
World America History Drive Education Teaching Dictionary Resources About Contact
 
April Fools Day
 
Reading Comprehension

This is a reading comprehension lesson to test your ability to understand information written in English. Read the information below and then answer the 5 test questions.
Hey if you cannot understand something on this page,
then use the Fun Easy English dictionary (opens in a new window)
April Fools DayHoliday: April Fool's Day

In sixteenth-century France, the start of the new year was observed on April first. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night. Then in 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world, and the new year fell on January first. There were some people, however, who hadn't heard or didn't believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April first. Others played tricks on them and called them "April fools." They sent them on a "fool's errand" or tried to make them believe that something false was true. In France today, April first is called "Poisson d'Avril." French children fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends' backs. When the "young fool" discovers this trick, the prankster yells "Poisson d’Avril!" (April Fish!)

Today Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike on the first of April. One common trick on April Fool's Day, or All Fool's Day, is pointing down to a friend's shoe and saying, "Your shoelace is untied." Teachers in the nineteenth century used to say to pupils, "Look! A flock of geese!" and point up. School children might tell a classmate that school has been canceled. Whatever the trick, if the innocent victim falls for the joke the prankster yells, "April Fool! "

The "fools' errands" we play on people are practical jokes. Putting salt in the sugar bowl for the next person is not a nice trick to play on a stranger. College students set their clocks an hour behind, so their roommates show up to the wrong class - or not at all. Some practical jokes are kept up the whole day before the victim realizes what day it is. Most April Fool jokes are in good fun and not meant to harm anyone. The most clever April Fool's joke is the one where everyone laughs, especially the person upon whom the joke is played.

"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year. "
- American humorist Mark Twain
From YOUR Teacher: April Fool's Day

April Fool's Day was always a favorite holiday for me and my friends when we were kids. Playing jokes on each other was really fun.
Test: Reading Comprehension April Fool's Day

Read the information above. In the test questions below choose which is the best answer for each question. There are 5 questions. Good luck.
1.  In sixteenth-century France, the New Year was observed on which date?

a.  January 1
b.  March 1
c.  April 1
d.  August 1
2.  Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar in what year?

a.  1552
b.  1562
c.  1572
d.  1582
3.  What does "Poisson d'Avril" mean?

a.  position in April
b.  pushing in April
c.  April fish
d.  April pastries
4.  Based on the reading, what is a common trick on April Fool's Day?

a.  saying a friend's shoelace is untied
b.  eating someone's cake at night
c.  hiding the calendar for a month
d.  changing your socks to different colors
5.  Based on the reading, what is the most clever April Fool's joke?

a.  where everyone eats
b.  hiding school papers
c.  throwing out garbage
d.  where everyone laughs
 
 
 
 
 
 
Search Fun Easy English
 
 
 
 
About    Contact    Copyright    Resources    Site Map