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First Thanksgiving Meal Reading Comprehension 4-6

Last updated over 6 years ago

10 questions

Note from the author:

An embeded ReadWorks reading comprehension activity about food at the first Thanksgiving meal as compared to now.

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Question 1

1.

What was the first Thanksgiving?

a meal that consisted of lobster, bass, clams, oysters, ducks, geese, and swans

a tuber brought from South America to Europe by the Spanish in 1570

a mission that four men were sent on by William Bradford in 1621

an autumn harvest celebration of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians

Question 2

2.

The article provides information by using a list. What does it list?

Thanksgiving food

places where clams can be found

birds served at the first Thanksgiving

four men who went on a "fowling" mission

Question 3

3.

The food served at Thanksgiving has changed over time. What evidence from the article supports this statement?

"For many Americans, the Thanksgiving meal includes seasonal dishes such as roast turkey with stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie."

"While no records exist of the exact bill of fare, the Pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow noted in his journal that the colony’s governor, William Bradford, sent four men on a 'fowling' mission in preparation for the three-day event."

"The 1621 Thanksgiving celebration marked the Pilgrims’ first autumn harvest, so it is likely that the colonists feasted on the bounty they had reaped with the help of their Native American neighbors."

"Culinary historians believe that much of the Thanksgiving meal consisted of seafood, which is often absent from today’s menus."

Question 4

4.

What are some foods that were probably served at the first Thanksgiving?

cranberry sauce, corn on the cob, and mashed potatoes

deer, beans, and mussels

turkey, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie

ducks, geese, and roasted potatoes

Question 5

5.

What is the main idea of this article?

There are differences between the food served at the first Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving food today.

Blueberries, plums, grapes, gooseberries, raspberries, and cranberries are all indigenous to New England.

Potatoes were not served at the first Thanksgiving, but there may have been Indian turnips and groundnuts.

Early English settlers in North America may have hollowed out pumpkins and filled the shells with milk, honey, and spices.

Question 6

6.

Read this paragraph from the article.
“Whether mashed or roasted, white or sweet, potatoes had no place at the first Thanksgiving. After encountering it in its native South America, the Spanish began introducing the potato to Europeans around 1570. But by the time the Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower, the tuber had neither doubled back to North America nor become popular enough with the English to hitch a ride. New England’s native inhabitants are known to have eaten other plant roots such as Indian turnips and groundnuts, which they may or may not have brought to the party.”

What does the phrase "nor become popular enough with the English to hitch a ride" tell readers about the potato?

People in England preferred eating Indian turnips and groundnuts to eating potatoes. 

People in England were planning to take the potato with them on the Mayflower but changed their minds.

People in England did not like the potato enough to bring it with them on the Mayflower.

People in England did not like eating potatoes because the potato had been introduced to Europe by the Spanish.

Question 7

7.

Read this paragraph from the article.
“Wild—but not domestic—turkey was indeed plentiful in the region and a common food source for both English settlers and Native Americans. But it is just as likely that the fowling party returned with other birds we know the colonists regularly consumed, such as ducks, geese and swans.”

What word could replace "But" without changing the meaning of the sentence?

Particularly,

However,

Previously,

Finally,

Question 8

8.

Who joined English settlers to celebrate the first Thanksgiving?

Question 9

9.

Name three dishes that the Thanksgiving meal includes for many Americans today.

Question 10

10.

What is the biggest difference between the first Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving today? Support your answer with evidence from the article.