Winter Holiday Math & Reading — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Mia baked 12 gingerbread cookies and her brother baked 9. How many cookies did they bake in all?
A) 3
B) 20
C) 21
D) 22
12 + 9 = 21. You can think: 12 + 8 = 20, then 1 more makes 21 cookies total.
2. Read: "The children hung stockings by the fireplace." What does hung mean here?
A) Threw on the floor
B) Placed on a hook or nail
C) Put inside a box
D) Carried to school
To 'hang' something means to put it up so it dangles from above. Stockings are hung from hooks or nails by the fireplace so they stay put.
3. A shop sold 18 wreaths. Then 9 more were returned. How many wreaths does the shop have now?
A) 27
B) 8
C) 9
D) 10
18 - 9 = 9. The shop had sold 18 wreaths, but 9 came back, so only 9 wreaths stayed sold.
4. Which holiday is celebrated by lighting a menorah for eight nights?
A) Christmas
B) Kwanzaa
C) New Year
D) Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that lasts eight nights, with one new menorah candle lit each night. Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year have different traditions.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. 7 plus 6 plus 5 equals 18.
Add in order: 7 + 6 = 13, then 13 + 5 = 18. You could also see 7 + 5 = 12, then 12 + 6 = 18.
2. A wreath is a circle of leaves hung on a door.
Wreaths are round decorations made from evergreen branches. People hang them on the front door during the holidays to welcome visitors.
3. 16 minus 7 equals 9.
16 - 7 = 9. You can count back 7 from 16 or use the fact 7 + 9 = 16.
4. Gingerbread houses are made of cookies and candy.
Gingerbread houses use ginger cookie walls glued together with icing. Colorful candies are added for roof tiles, windows, and decorations.
5. 5 plus 8 plus 3 equals 16.
Add in order: 5 + 8 = 13, then 13 + 3 = 16. You could also notice 5 + 3 = 8, then 8 + 8 = 16 (doubles).