Activity of text interpretation, aimed at students in the sixth year of elementary school, about the circus. The circus as we know it today emerged during the Roman Empire. How about knowing more about the history of the circus? When did he arrive in Brazil? Are you curious? So, carefully read the text “March 27: Circus Day”! Then answer the various interpretative questions proposed!
This reading comprehension activity is available for download in an editable Word template, ready to print in PDF, as well as the completed activity.
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SCHOOL: DATE:
PROF: CLASS:
NAME:
Read:
The circus as we know it today emerged during the Roman Empire. The first famous circus was Circus Maximus, which would have been inaugurated in the 6th century BC. a., with an average capacity for 150 thousand people. At the time, the main attraction was the carriage race, but as time went by, other attractions emerged, such as the gladiator fights, the performances of wild animals and people with unusual abilities such as swallowers of fire.
With the end of the Caesars' empire and the beginning of the medieval era, popular artists started to perform in public squares, fairs and church entrances. In 1768, in London, the Royal Amphitheater of the Arts was inaugurated, where the common presentations were alternated to attract the public's attention. The numbers are no longer just equestrian performances and now have numbers with clowns, acrobats and jugglers.
The circus arrived in Brazil around 1830, and here it adapted to local conditions, becoming one of the most important manifestations of the performing arts, through families coming from Europe. These families manifested themselves in theatrical performances. Gypsies also coming from Europe, presented themselves to the public from city to city, in spaces that were given to them.
After reaching its peak in the first half of the 20th century, the circus suffered the consequences of the remodeling of traditional forms and lost audiences due to the popularization of cinema and television. In the 1980s, initiatives were launched to revitalize its wealth, obtained thanks to the appropriation of elements from different cultures, artistic and regional languages.
The artistic manifestations were according to the public's acceptance, which was not pleasing, it was no longer shown in that particular region. Some attractions were adapted to the Brazilian style. The European clown, for example, was less talkative, using mime as a basis. In Brazil, the clown talks a lot, uses a simpler comedy, with everyday things, colloquial language and also musical instruments, such as the guitar.
Available in:. (With cuts).
Question 1 - Underline the text keyword in the period below:
“The circus as we know it today emerged during the Roman Empire.”
Question 2 - Identify the circus attraction that came first:
( ) “the chariot race”.
( ) “the gladiator fights”.
( ) “the presentations of wild animals and people with unusual abilities”.
Question 3 - In the passage “[…] where the common presentations were alternated to draw the public's attention.”, the term “where” takes up a place. Identify it:
( ) “public squares”.
( ) “fairs”.
( ) “the Royal Amphitheater of the Arts”.
Question 4 - In “The circus arrived in Brazil around 1830 […]", the underlined expression indicates:
( ) an exact time circumstance.
( ) an assumed time circumstance.
( ) an approximate time circumstance.
Question 5 - In the segment “Gypsies also coming from Europe, presented themselves to the public from city to city […]”, the highlighted verb expresses:
( ) an action by gypsies from Europe.
( ) a state of gypsies from Europe.
( ) a characteristic of gypsies coming from Europe.
Question 6 – In the phrase “In the 1980s, initiatives to revitalize its wealth emerged, obtained thanks to the appropriation of elements from different cultures […]”, “thanks to” introduces a fact that:
( ) is the cause of the previous fact.
( ) is the purpose of the previous fact.
( ) is the consequence of the previous fact.
Question 7 – In “The European clown, for example, was less talkative, using mime as a basis. In Brazil, the clown talks a lot, uses a simpler comedy […]", the author of the text:
( ) exposes an opinion about the European clown and the Brazilian clown.
( ) makes a comparison between the European clown and the Brazilian clown.
( ) raises a hypothesis about the European clown and the Brazilian clown.
By Denyse Lage Fonseca
Graduated in Languages and specialist in distance education.
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