1
Some call him a whistle pig. To others, he's known as a woodchuck. To his friends, he's just Phil. And for one day a year, this animal-which you probably know as a groundhog-carries on an ancient tradition. Every year on February 2, we watch and wait to see Punxsutawney Phil emerge from his burrow. Will he see his shadow and return underground, predicting six more weeks of winter? Or will he remain above ground, telling us that an early spring is coming? It's Groundhog Day!
2 But how did this strange tradition begin? And who are these furry creatures? Let's learn about Groundhog Day-and groundhogs-and find out how and why rodents like Punxsutawney Phil hold our attention every year.
What Is a Groundhog, Anyway?
3 "Groundhog" is one of the many common names for a rodent with the scientific name Marmota monax. They're also known as marmots and land beavers. Groundhogs are furry creatures. They weigh about 12-15 pounds (5-7 kilograms). They live in thickets at the edge of forests, and they make their homes by digging burrows. They're vegetarians, eating a variety of leaves, grasses, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. And they can make life difficult for gardeners: Groundhogs have been known to take one or two bites from every pumpkin or squash in a garden.
Which statement best summarizes paragraph 3?
A Groundhogs can frustrate gardeners because the creatures like to sample different vegetables in a garden.
B Groundhogs usually weigh about 12-15 pounds ( 5 - 7 kilograms).
C Groundhogs are furry rodents that eat plants, live in forests, and make their homes by digging burrows.
D Groundhogs are also known as marmots and land beavers.
C Groundhogs are furry rodents that eat plants, live in forests, and make their homes by digging burrows.
4
Most importantly for us, groundhogs descend into their burrows to hibernate in late fall, generally emerging in February to look for a mate. Then they return to their burrows before coming out again in March-and staying out for spring and summer. But what does a groundhog's "decision" to stay above ground or retreat back into its burrow on February 2 really mean? And why do so many people believe in the animal's weather forecasting skills?
What is the meaning of the word descend, as it is used in paragraph 4?
A jump up
B look carefully
c move quickly
D go down
D go down
5 It's commonly believed that the first Groundhog Day took place in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. But Groundhog Day's roots go back to ancient Celtic traditions. February 2 falls on the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. What is now Groundhog Day was once the Celtic festival of Imbolc. It was a day when farmers expected good weather for planting. It was also a day of fortune- telling and weather prediction.
6 As Christian traditions spread across Europe, February 2 became Candlemas, when people would present their candles to the local priests for blessing. And the tradition of forecasting the weather continued. This included the belief that a sunny day on Candlemas meant a long winter.
QUESTION 3
What is the main idea of paragraphs 5 and 6?
A February 2 falls between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
B Christians believed that a sunny day on the holiday of Candlemas predicted a long winter.
C February 2 has a long history as a day of celebration and weather prediction.
D The Celtic festival of Imbolc was a day when farmers expected good weather for planting.
C February 2 has a long history as a day of celebration and weather prediction.
7
Using an animal to predict the weather on February 2 was an invention of German people. They moved into former Celtic areas of Europe. But they looked to badgers for answers, not groundhogs. On Badger Day, as it was known, if the badger saw his shadow on a sunny day, he would return to his burrow for a long winter. If the day was cloudy, he would cast no shadow and stay aboveground. This meant spring was on the way.
Modern Groundhog Day
8 The first mention of Groundhog Day in the U.S. didn't come until 1840. But the day was probably being celebrated for years before then. People from Germany moved to Pennsylvania. And they brought their February 2 celebration with them. Groundhogs were more plentiful than badgers. So they switched to groundhogs. The day was a minor event until 1887. That was when a group in Punxsutawney declared their groundhog to be the only true weather forecaster. Among the group, known as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, was a newspaper editor who publicized the event. And a national tradition was born.
Based on paragraphs 7 and 8, drag these events to put them in the order they actually happened. (Note: This is not necessarily the order the events appear in the passage.)
A. People from Germany invented Badger Day.
B. A group in Punxsutawney said the groundhog was the only true weather forecaster.
C. Groundhog Day became a national tradition in the U.S.
D. Groundhog Day was first mentioned in the U.S.
A. People from Germany invented Badger Day.
D. Groundhog Day was first mentioned in the U.S.
B. A group in Punxsutawney said the groundhog was the only true weather forecaster.
C. Groundhog Day became a national tradition in the U.S.
9
Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous of the groundhogs, though there are many other forecasters. Phil communicates his prediction to a group of men wearing suits and top hats. They announce the rodent's decision with great pomp and ceremony. Despite the tongue-in-cheek seriousness of the event, Groundhog Day is just for fun: As of 2023, Phil has been correct a mere 40 percent of the time. But Phil provides us all with a nice break from the winter and a chance to celebrate a tradition that reaches far into the past.
Which statement best summarizes paragraph 9?
A Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous groundhog who communicates his weather prediction to a group of men wearing suits and top hats.
B Groundhog Day is a fun tradition that provides a break from winter, even though Punxsutawney Phil's predictions are only correct 40 percent of the time.
C Despite the low accuracy of Punxsutawney Phil's predictions, Groundhog Day is still celebrated with great pomp and ceremony.
D Groundhog Day is a chance to celebrate a tradition that has a long history and reaches far into the past.
According to tradition, when Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow on Groundhog Day, how does he predict six more weeks of winter? Select two answers.
A He makes a loud, whistling sound.
B He starts eating grass and leaves.
C He sees his shadow.
D He returns underground.