Birthday traditions: headings and paragraphs
An information text has paragraphs, and each paragraph has one main idea. A heading is a short title for the main idea. To match headings to paragraphs, first find the key words in each paragraph. Then choose the heading that has the same idea. Do not choose a heading only because it has one word from the paragraph. Birthdays are celebrated in different ways, and every family is special. In some places people blow out candles. In others they eat special food. Read the text below and look at its key words.
| Paragraph | Key words | Heading |
|---|---|---|
| A | candles, wish, breath | Candles and a wish |
| B | noodles, long life | Long noodles in China |
| C | paper figure, sweets, stick | A piñata party |
| D | family, cake, guests | A party at home |
A. In many countries, a child blows out the candles on the birthday cake. Before that, the child makes a wish in silence. The wish does not come out of the mouth. A big breath helps to blow out all the candles at once.
B. In China, many people eat long noodles on their birthday. Long noodles show a wish for a long life.
C. In Mexico, children often hit a colourful paper figure called a piñata with a stick. When it breaks, sweets fall out.
D. In many Egyptian families, relatives and friends come as guests. The adults and children eat cake together, sing, and give small gifts.
Heading detective. The grown-up reads a short paragraph about a festival and the child chooses a heading from three cards. The child says the key words that helped. Then the child writes a paragraph about a family celebration and the grown-up chooses a heading.
| Paragraph | Key words |
|---|---|
| B | noodles, long life |