Question

II. 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 Vietnamese Lunar Calendar, aiming at
worshipping the Moon.
At 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 head 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 lantern 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 Ok Om Bok Festival is Ngo race (a special kind of
boat of Khmer people in shape of Nagar snake). Ngo race is a traditional sport of Khmer in 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
sacred meaning in spiritual life of these people, making 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. Ngo boat race takes place right after Ok Om Bok Festival.
5. The boatmen are encouraged by the people gathering along the riverbanks.
6. Ok Om Bok Festival promote traditional cultural identity of Khmer community.
B. Answer the questions.
1. When does Ok Om Bok Festival take place?
_______________________________________________________________
2. What is 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?
_______________________________________________________________

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

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?
_____It is celebrated for worshipping the moon__________________________________________________________
3. Where do Khmer people float their lanterns?
____They float their lanterns on Ba Om Lake___________________________________________________________
4. How long is a Ngo boat?
______It is about 25-30 meters long_________________________________________________________

5. How many boatmen are there in every Ngo boat?________There are about 40-60 boatman on every Ngo boat_______________________________________________________
6. Why is Ok Om Bok an important festival in Khmer people’s life?
________Because Ok Om Bok Festival has
sacred meaning in spiritual life of these people, making a cultural characteristic of this ethnic
community._______________________________________________________