Lesson 45: CARN

Practice 1: Multiple Choice

Choose the word that best completes each sentence.

1. Lions are __________ that hunt other animals for food.

a) carnations
b) carnivores
c) carnivals
d) incarnations

2. The battlefield was a scene of terrible __________.

a) carnival
b) carnation
c) carrion
d) carnage

3. Many Hindus believe in __________—the rebirth of the soul.

a) incarnation
b) reincarnation
c) carnation
d) carnival

4. The __________ featured rides, games, and colorful parades.

a) carnage
b) carnation
c) carnival
d) carrion

5. Vultures feed on __________ left behind by predators.

a) carnivores
b) carnations
c) carnage
d) carrion

6. He seemed like evil __________—wickedness in human form.

a) incarnate
b) carnation
c) carnival
d) carrion

7. The __________ in her bouquet matched her pink dress perfectly.

a) carnage
b) carnation
c) carnival
d) carrion

8. Medieval theologians warned against __________ pleasures.

a) carnival
b) carnation
c) carnal
d) carrion

9. In Christian theology, the __________ refers to God becoming human.

a) Carnation
b) Reincarnation
c) Incarnation
d) Carnival

10. The restaurant is famous for its authentic __________.

a) carnation
b) carnival
c) chili con carne
d) carnage

Practice 2: Fill in the Blank

Use each word from the word bank exactly once.

Word Bank: carnivore, carnage, carnal, incarnate, reincarnation, carnation, carnival, carrion, chili con carne, incarnation

1. The hawk is a __________, feeding on mice and rabbits.

2. She believed in __________ and hoped to return as a bird.

3. The aftermath of the battle was pure __________—bodies everywhere.

4. He ordered __________ from the Tex-Mex menu.

5. The new CEO is the __________ of efficiency.

6. Buzzards circled overhead, attracted by the __________.

7. She pinned a pink __________ to her lapel.

8. The annual __________ brought joy to the entire town.

9. His __________ desires conflicted with his spiritual goals.

10. She seemed like patience __________—calm in every situation.

Practice 3: Reading Passage

The carnival had arrived, filling the town square with lights and laughter. For centuries, such festivals had marked the last days before Lent—a final "farewell to flesh" before weeks of fasting and abstinence. The very word "carnival" carries this meaning: carne vale, goodbye to meat.

Rosa walked through the crowds, past vendors selling chili con carne and grilled meats. As a vegetarian in a family of carnivores, she sometimes felt out of place. But tonight, the atmosphere was too joyful to mind.

Her grandmother had always spoken of reincarnation—the soul's journey through many incarnations, many bodies of flesh. "We return again and again," she would say, "until we learn what we need to learn."

Rosa paused at a flower stall. Carnations—named for their original flesh-pink color—filled buckets in every shade. She chose a white one for her grandmother's grave.

The carnival would end tomorrow, and the serious season would begin. But for now, there was life in its fullest carnal sense: the taste of food, the warmth of the crowd, the living pulse of community.

No carnage tonight. Just celebration. The flesh was happy.

Questions

1. "Carnival" originally meant:

a) A celebration of meat-eating
b) A farewell to flesh before Lent
c) A gathering of carnivores
d) A field of carnations

2. Rosa's family members are "carnivores." This means they:

a) Are dangerous predators
b) Eat meat
c) Love carnivals
d) Believe in reincarnation

3. Grandmother spoke of "incarnations" as:

a) Types of flowers
b) Different bodily forms the soul takes
c) Carnival attractions
d) Meat dishes

4. "Carnations" were named for their:

a) Connection to carnivals
b) Flesh-pink color
c) Use at funerals
d) Ability to reincarnate

5. "Life in its fullest carnal sense" refers to:

a) Spiritual transcendence
b) Physical, bodily experience
c) Violent carnage
d) Carrion birds