Read the text and do the task after the text.

The First April Fool's Day

In 1582, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world, and the New Year fell on January first. There were some people, however, who hadn't heard or didn't believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April first. Others played tricks on them and called them "April fools."

Poisson d'Avril

In France today, April first is called "Poisson d'Avril." French children fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends' backs. When the "young fool" discovers this trick, the prankster yells "Poisson d’Avril!" (April Fish!)

April Fool's Day in the USA

Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike on the first of April. One common trick on April Fool's Day, or All Fool's Day, is pointing down to a friend's shoe and saying, "Your shoelace is untied." Teachers in the nineteenth century used to say to pupils, "Look! A flock of geese!" and point up. School children might tell a classmate that school has been canceled. Whatever the trick, if the innocent victim falls for the joke the prankster yells, "April Fool! "

April Fool's Day Jokes

The "fools' errands" we play on people are practical jokes. Putting salt in the sugar bowl for the next person is not a nice trick to play on a stranger. College students set their clocks an hour behind, so their roommates show up to the wrong class - or not at all. Some practical jokes are kept up the whole day before the victim realizes what day it is. Most April Fool jokes are in good fun and not meant to harm anyone. The most clever April Fool joke is the one where everyone laughs, especially the person upon whom the joke is played.

"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year. " - American humorist Mark Twain

1. In 16th century France, when did the New Year begin?

January 1st
April 1st
June 1st

2. Who introduced a new calendar making January 1st the beginning of the New Year?

Pope Gregory
Pope John Paul II
Mother Teresa

3. Why did some people continue to celebrate New Years Day on April 1?

They hadn't heard about the new calendar
They didn't believe the date changed
Both of the above

4. In France today, what is April 1st called?

April Jesters Day
Poison April
Poisson d'Avril

5. How do French children fool their friends?

They put a tack on their chair
They tape a paper fish to their backs
They tell knock-knock jokes

6. Who said, "The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year."

Mark Twain
Jules Verne
Lucy Maud Montgomery

7. The most clever April Fools joke is:

The one that confuses everyone, even the prankster.
The one where everyone laughs, especially the person upon whom the joke is played.
The one that goes over everyone's head.