“This tiny village has been excommunicated and
cursed with a spell so powerful that only the Pope can lift it”
By: Inka Piegsa-Quischotte
Published: 27 April 2016, BBC http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20160418-spains-cursed-village-of-witches
Level of Difficulty: *
WATCH AND LISTEN
QUESTIONS
1.
Why
is the situation of the Spanish village surprising? Because….
2.
What
is the name of the village in question?
3.
What
makes the village special?
4.
Ruiz was a typical witch/ wasn’t a typical witch because she was/wasn’t
dressed like one and she had/ didn’t have the usual stuff witches have with
her.
5.
Circle
the answer(s) that fit(s) : The story of witchcraft was a trick/ a cover-up/
a fabrication/a hoax.
6.
What
was going on at the castle was a business venture / a criminal activity.
How do you know?
7.
What
political advantage did Trasmoz have?
8.
What
practical advantage did Trasmoz have that helped the locals in their
activities?
9.
The
whole of Trasmoz was excommunicated because they were practicing witchcraft.
True or False? How do you know?
10.
The
monastery started diverting water from Trasmoz because the excommunication
hadn’t worked. True or False?
11.
What
does “the defeat” refer to in the phrase “the Church never forgave the defeat”?
12.
Why
is it necessary for the Pope to lift the curse?
13.
Circle
the correct answer: After the curse, Trasmoz flourished/ was deserted / was
ruined/ was neglected.
14.
Read
the story of La Tia Casca and decide which of the following fits best:
·
Casca
was blamed for the epidemic because she was a witch
·
Casca
was blamed for the epidemic because they couldn’t find any treatment
·
Casca
was blamed for the epidemic because of her personality
15.
The
festival organized in Trasmoz every year proves that……………………………………..
16.
Is
Ruiz telling the truth when she says she can’t cast a spell?
17.
Why
did the writer throw rice and salt over her shoulder?
SPAIN’S CURSED VILLAGE OF WITCHES KEY AND
TEACHER’S NOTES
This exciting and interesting yet simple text
should go with a bang in class given the title. The structure of the text has
given me the opportunity to pose some serious comprehension questions which
will, I hope, come more easily thanks to the subject matter.
1.
Because
it was excommunicated in its entirety and cursed with a spell so strong that
only the Pope can lift it
2.
Trasmoz
3.
It
has centuries of witchcraft history
4.
Wasn’t
atypical witch because she wasn’t dressed like one and she didn’t have…
5.
They
are all true
6.
A
criminal activity; They were forging fake coins
7.
It
was a lay territory
8.
It
had rich iron and silver mines
9.
False:
the Church was angry because they weren’t paying taxes to the Church. The
witchcraft was an excuse
10.
True
11.
King
Ferdinand’s decision that Trazmos’ actions were justified
12.
Because/
since a pope sanctioned the curse
13.
Was
ruined
14.
The
second one
15.
The
tradition of witchcraft seems to be alive and well
16.
Personal
answer
17.
To
ward off evil spirits
