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PASSAGE I - Celebrating Powwows Pauwau is an Algonquin word that once (September 2023 - G01)
PASSAGE I
Celebrating Powwows
Pauwau is an Algonquin word that once referred to medicine men, who danced, during tribal ceremonies.
However, Europeans whom witnessedthese ceremonies for the first time thought the word referred to the whole event and begancalling the events “powwows,” the term now used by most American Indians.
These early ceremonies were held, by individual tribesto cure disease or to ensuresuccess in battle or hunting.
At modern-day powwows, people gather to dance, sing, socialize, and witness ceremonies honoring the achievements of individuals or groups.
At most modern powwows, the main focus is dance. Attendees can be apart ofthe competitive dances or the open social dances called intertribals.
The participants dancedto the music of drums. Each group of people who sit around a large skin drum, singing and playing the drum in unison, is known as a “Drum.” These Drums provide the music for eachpowwow activities.
While smaller powwows may host only one Drum, larger powwows (whichcan last for days) usually involve several Drums.Many American Indians mark important events of their lives at powwows.
At a recent powwow at Stanford University, one family paid tribute to their son, who was soon to graduate from law school. A special dance was announced, and the crowd grew quiet.
The young man’s father stepped up to the microphone and began describing his son’s manyachievements. When he was finished, a Drum began to sing and play.
Some of the young man’s family members began to dance in a circle. Before that,people came from out of the crowd to shake hands with the young man and dance with his family.
In this way, his achievements were honored by the entire community. Today, American Indians attend powwows due to the fact that they wantto celebrate their culture as well as the achievements of their family members.
Powwows provide and afford a chanceto mark important transitions, to visit with old friends and meet new ones, dance and singing take place,and tocelebrate the future as well as the past.
Questions from the Passage I
1. A) NO CHANGE B) men; who danced C) men who danced, D) men who danced
2. F) NO CHANGE G) who witnessing H) witnessing J) which witnessed
3. A) NO CHANGE B) begun C) would began D) will begin
4. F) NO CHANGE G) held by individual tribes H) held by individual tribes, J) held by, individual tribes,
5) A) NO CHANGE B) ensuring C) by ensuring D) for ensuring
6) F) NO CHANGE G) become apart of H) take part within J) take part in
7) A) NO CHANGE B) dance C) were dancing D) would have danced
8) F) NO CHANGE G) drum, singing and playing the drum in unison H) drum singing and playing the drum in unison, J) drum singing, and playing the drum in unison
9) A) NO CHANGE B) every C) all D) this
10) F) NO CHANGE G) lasting for days, larger powwows usually involveseveral Drums. H) larger powwows usually involve several Drumslasting for days. J) larger powwows usually involve (which can lastfor days) several Drums.
11) A) NO CHANGE B) For example C) In particular, D) Soon,
12) F) NO CHANGE G) in order to be thereH.because of their desire and wish J) DELETE the underlined portion.13) A) NO CHANGE B) a chance C) the opportunity for a chance D) a chance and opportunity
14) F) NO CHANGE G) for dancing and singing, H) to dance and sing, J)dancing and singing are enjoyed
15) Suppose the writer had intended to write a brief essayon an American Indian tradition that has been modifiedand continues to the present day. Would this essay suc-cessfully fulfill the writer’s goal?
A) Yes, because the essay describes tribal ceremoniesthat predated the arrival of Europeans and thepowwows that are a modern adaptation of thoseceremonies.
B) Yes, because the essay explains in considerabledetail the concept of the Drum and its central rolein present-day powwows.
C) No, because the essay states that the powwows that exist today serve entirely different purposesfrom those of the earlier tribal ceremonies.
D) No, because the essay points out that the wordpowwoworiginally referred to medicine men andthen doesn’t indicate whether their role still existstoday.
Solution
Correct answer:
1 - D
2 - H
3 - A
4 - G
5 - A
6 - J
7 - B
8 - F
9 - C
10 - F
11 - D
12 - J
13 - B
14 - H
15 - A
- The text deals with Powwows, which are important cultural events for Native American peoples ([1]).
- The original meaning of the word "Powwow" comes from the Algonquin language and referred to medicine men who danced in tribal ceremonies ([1]).
- Europeans reinterpreted the term to describe the whole event ([2]).
- Traditionally, Powwows were for healing, success in battle or hunting ([3]).
- Today, Powwows bring people together to dance, sing, socialize and celebrate achievements ([4]).
- Dancing is the main focus and can be competitive or social ([5]).
- Music is played by groups around a drum, called "Drums" ([6]).
- Larger Powwows can last for days and have several "Drums" ([7]).
- As well as cultural celebrations, Powwows mark important personal events ([8]).
- The text cites an example of a tribute to a law graduate at Stanford University ([9]).
- Powwows make it possible to celebrate family and community achievements ([10]).
- In short, Powwows are occasions to celebrate culture, achievements, encounters and the future of Native American peoples.
Exam Edition: September 2023 - G01
Exam Year: 2023
Related topics: The Cultural and Social Importance of Powwows, Grammar and Textual Comprehension