Adapted from English VIII (12th grade) pages 93-94

The Rose Parade, officially the Tournament of Roses Parade, is “America’s New Year Celebration” held in Pasadena, California, a festival of flower-covered floats, marching bands, equestrians and the Rose Bowl college football game on New Year’s Day. It is organized by the non-profit Pasadena Tournament of the Roses Association. Originally started on January 1, 1890, the Rose Parade is watched in person by hundreds of thousands of spectators on the parade route, and is broadcast on multiple television networks in the United States. It is seen by millions more on television worldwide in more than 200 international territories and countries. The Rose Bowl college football game was added in 1902 to help fund the cost of staging the parade.

  1. Which of the following is true?
  1. America is a city in the State of Pasadena in the country of California.
  2. California is a city in the State of Pasadena in the country of America.
  3. Pasadena is a city in the State of America in the country of California.
  4. Pasadena is a city in the State of California in the country of America.
  1. Which of the following is NOT listed as part of the celebration?
  1. People walking while playing musical instruments.C. Brightly colored fireworks in the shape of roses.
  2. People riding horses.D. Moving platforms decorated with flowers.
  1. All of the following are TRUE except …
  1. The Pasadena Tournament of the Roses Association is paid a lot of money to organize this celebration every year.
  2. Many thousands of people stand by the side of the road and watch the parade as it moves by them.
  3. The number of people who watch the parade on TV is higher than the number of people who see it in person.
  4. The first parade took place on the 1st of January, 1890.
  1. Why was a football game added to the parade?
  1. Because 1902 was a very special year for college football.
  2. In order to buy a stage so that the large numbers of people could see the parade more easily.
  3. Because the parade was being broadcast to more than 200 countries worldwide.
  4. Because they didn’t have enough money to run the parade the way they wanted to.

Members of Pasadena’s Valley Hunt Club first staged the parade in 1890. Since then the parade has been held in Pasadena every New Year’s Day, except when January 1 falls on a Sunday. In that case, it is held on the subsequent Monday, January 2. This exception was made official in 1893. According to the Tournament of Roses Association web site, this ‘Never on Sunday’ policy was decided in order to ‘avoid frightening horses tethered outside local churches and thus interfering with worship services.’ Therefore, the parade has never been held on a Sunday. Incidentally, the Rose Bowl Game is also not held on Sunday to avoid competing with the National Football League. Other bowl games usually held on January 1 also follow this rule.

  1. The word subsequent could best be replaced by :
  1. previousB. followingC. nearestD. preceding
  1. The wordsmade official could best be replaced by :
  1. approvedB. heldC. fellD. staged
  1. The word tethered could best be replaced by :
  1. scaredB. sleepingC. tied upD. eating grass
  1. The word services could best be replaced by :
  1. rest stopsB. gas stationsC. facilitiesD. meetings
  1. The word held could best be replaced by :
  1. graspedB. caughtC. organizedD. carried

Many of the members of the Valley Hunt Club were former residents of the American East and Midwest. They wished to showcase their new California home’s mild winter weather. At a club meeting, Professor Charles F. Holder announced. “In New York, people are buried in the snow. Here our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear. Let’s hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise.” So the club organized horse-drawn carriages covered in flowers, followed by foot races, polo matches, and a game of tug-of-war in the town park that attracted a crowd of 2,000 to watch the event. Upon seeing the scores of flowers on display, the professor decided to suggest the name “Tournament of Roses.”

  1. ‘former residents of the American East and Midwest’ means …
  1. …they used to live in the East and Midwest of America.
  2. …they have visited the East and Midwest of America.
  3. …they have never been to the East or Midwest of America.
  4. …they would really like to go to the East and Midwest of America
  1. California winters are ______New York winters.
  1. colder thanB. warmer thanC. snowier thanD. longer than
  1. A ‘tug-of-war’ is …
  1. A game where two teams pull on two ends of a rope and try to pull the other team in their direction.
  2. A town park where many people meet to watch various events.
  3. A battle between New York and California to prove which city is the best.
  4. A festival held in California to tell the world about their flowers and oranges.

Over the next 13)______years, marching bands and motorized floats were added. Activities 14)______included ostrich races, bronco busting demonstrations, and 15)______odd novelty race between a camel and an elephant.

On parade morning the various elements are merged and sent out from in front of Tournament House. The parade starts by heading north on South Orange Grove Boulevard beginning at Ellis Street and ending at Paloma Street 16)______Victory Park and Pasadena High School. In total, the Parade route is 5.5 miles (8.9km) 17)______; the assembled bands, horse units and floats take 18)______two hours to pass by. 19)______2013 parade featured 42 floats, 23 marching bands 20)______21 equestrian units.

Add the correct word from below into the correct spacesabove:

a) longb) Thec) fewd) ande) soon

f) approximatelyg) anh) near