1. By Charles Dickens SCOPE Magazine Version
A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens
SCOPE Magazine Version

2. VOCABULARY
preposterous (prih-POS-ter-uhs) adjective; contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd
example: Here in upstate Michigan, the idea of an 80- degree Christmas Day is preposterous.

3. hobble (HOB-uhl) verb; to walk in an awkward way; to limp
example: After her ankle surgery, Amanda thought it best to use a wheelchair rather than hobble from class to class on crutches.

4. miserly (MY-zer-lee) adjective; stingy; inclined toward hoarding money
example: The villagers loathed their miserly king, who refused to share even the slightest bit of his wealth during the famine.

5. dilapidated (dih-LAP-ih-day-tid) adjective; reduced to or fallen into partial ruin or decay, as from age, wear, or neglect
example: Aunt Terry refused to walk across the dilapidated wooden bridge after witnessing it shudder and shake in the wind.

6. squalid (SKWOL-id) adjective; filthy and gloomy, usually because of neglect or poverty
example: “I don’t know how you can live in these squalid conditions,” said Emma’s mom. “You must clean up your room this weekend. It’s becoming a matter of safety!”

7. evoke (ih-VOHK) verb; to elicit, produce, or draw forth
example: Our pleas failed to evoke pity from our teacher, who went ahead and assigned a mountain of homework over winter break.

8. social cause (SOH-shul kawz) noun; a principle, an aim, or a movement relating to society that people support, defend, raise money for, etc.
example: The charity event successfully raised thousands of dollars for various social causes.

9. A Christmas Carol: Background
In Victorian England, poor people usually did not get much help.
Even young children, sick people, and the elderly went without assistance from the government or charities.

10. A Christmas Carol: Background
If you were a poor, out-of-work Londoner during this time, these were your options:
beg on the street
go to a workhouse
be thrown into prison

11. A Christmas Carol: Background
Workhouses were institutions where people were put to work in exchange for food and shelter.
People in workhouses often
had little or no heat
used rags for blankets
did not get nearly enough food
were severely overworked and even beaten

12. A Christmas Carol: Background
As a young man, Charles Dickens witnessed a decline in the traditional celebration of Christmas in England.
Because of the Industrial Revolution, many employers wouldn’t even give their employees Christmas Day off.

13. A Christmas Carol: Background
The Industrial Revolution was a time of change in Europe marked by
the introduction of power-driven machinery
the growth of factories
a huge increase in the production of goods
a shift from a rural, agricultural society to a more urban one

14. A Christmas Carol: Background
A Christmas Carol, along with several other Christmas books by Dickens, helped revive the holiday customs.
Some people even started calling Dickens “The Man Who Discovered Christmas.”

15. A Christmas Carol: Background
Scrooge’s story brought about other changes too. For example, because of the book,
a home for disabled children was started
a factory owner began closing his factory every Christmas and giving turkeys to of all his employees

16. A Christmas Carol: Background
Charles Dickens had experienced poverty as a child, and he was very concerned about the poor people of England.
He raised money to help people in need by reading A Christmas Carol at charity events.

17. Quick Write What does it mean to live a fulfilling life?
What is your definition of “success”?
What will it look like in your life when you are successful?