Task 5: Read the text carefully, then do the tasks.
Ok Om Bok is a traditional festival of Khmer people in Mekong Delta. Ok Om Bok Festival takes place on the Full Moon day of the tenth month in the Vietnamese Lunar Calendar, aiming at worshipping the Moon.
On the night of the Full Moon day, Khmer people set up a table of offerings; new sticky rice, yam, coconuts, bananas, sweeties, etc and bow their heads to show their thanks to the Moon. After that, there is a colorful and sparkling lanterns ceremony on Ba Om Lake. Khmer people not only drop these lanterns on the lake but also fly them to the sky. Dozens of great lanterns lighten the night sky in bustling music and the joy of Khmer people. Khmer people believe that these lanterns will bring bad luck and risk far away.
The most attractive and exciting activity of the Ok Om Bok Festival is the Ngo race (a special kind of boat of Khmer people in the shape of Nagar snake). Ngo race is a traditional sport of Khmer in the Ok Om Bok Festival. Ngo is a long boat with 25 - 30 meters in length and 1 - 1.4 meter in width. There are about 40 to 60 boatmen in every “Ngo” with a leader at the top to guide the whole team. Before the race, people gather along the riverbanks making an exciting atmosphere. During the race, the boisterous sound of drum, trumpet, cheers and applause urge boatmen row as fast as possible to the end.
Overall, Ok Om Bok is an important festival in Khmer people’s life. Ok Om Bok Festival has a sacred meaning in the spiritual life of these people, making it a cultural characteristic of this ethnic community.
A. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
1. Ok Om Bok Festival is celebrated in October in the Western Calendar.
2. At the night of the festival, Khmer people drop lanterns on the lake and fly lanterns to the sky.
3. Ngo is a snake-shaped boat of Khmer people.
4. The Ngo boat race takes place right after the Ok Om Bok Festival.
5. The boatmen are encouraged by the people gathering along the riverbanks.
6. Ok Om Bok Festival promotes the traditional cultural identity of the Khmer community.
B. Answer the questions.
1. When does Ok Om Bok Festival take place?
2. What is the Ok Om Bok Festival celebrated for?
3. Where do Khmer people float their lanterns?
4. How long is a Ngo boat?
5. How many boatmen are there in every Ngo boat?
6. Why is Ok Om Bok an important festival in Khmer people’s life?
A. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
1. Ok Om Bok Festival is celebrated in October in the Western Calendar. F
2. At the night of the festival, Khmer people drop lanterns on the lake and fly lanterns to the sky. T
3. Ngo is a snake-shaped boat of Khmer people.T
4. Ngo boat race takes place right after Ok Om Bok Festival.F
5. The boatmen are encouraged by the people gathering along the riverbanks. T
6. Ok Om Bok Festival promote traditional cultural identity of Khmer community. T
B. Answer the questions.
1. When does Ok Om Bok Festival take place?
Ok Om Bok Festival takes place on the Full Moon day of the tenth month in Vietnamese Lunar Calendar.
2. What is Ok Om Bok Festival celebrated for?
Ok Om Bok Festival is aiming at worshipping the Moon.
3. Where do Khmer people float their lanterns?
Khmer people float their lanternson Ba Om Lake.
4. How long is a Ngo boat?
Ngo boat is 25 - 30 meters.
5. How many boatmen are there in every Ngo boat?
There are about 40 to 60 boatmen in every Ngo boat.
6. Why is Ok Om Bok an important festival in Khmer people’s life?
Ok Om Bok Festival has sacred meaning in spiritual life of these people, making a cultural characteris of this ethnic community.
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