SKIMMING

FROM VODUN TO HOODOO

THE TRANSATLANTIC HISTORY OF VOODOO

When people hear the term Voodoo, they often think of dolls or black magic. However, Voodoo is the Caribbean version of the West African religion Vodun. Vodun is based on a belief in loas, or spirits, which are thought to control nature and take possession of humans. During Voodoo ceremonies, led by a priest (houngan) or priestess (mambo), the loas are appeased through ritual offerings.

Voodoo is a syncretic religion, meaning it commonly incorporates aspects of other religions; it thrived among African slaves in the Americas. Voodoo first appeared in Haiti during the 18th century, when slaves blended African beliefs with Catholicism. Legend has it that the slave revolt that led to the Haitian Revolution in 1791 began with a Voodoo ceremony.

Other versions of Vodun developed throughout the region, like Brazilian Umbanda and Cuban Santería. Among African Americans, Voodoo became known as Hoodoo and flourished in New Orleans during the 19th century. Dances and ceremonies were held in Congo Square and at Lake Pontchartrain. Today, a diluted form of Hoodoo survives thoughout the American South in folk religion, art, and herbal medicine.

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TWO of THREE

❓ Where did Hoodoo develop?

✅ Answer: Last paragraph, second sentence: Among African Americans, Voodoo became known as Hoodoo and flourished in New Orleans during the 19th century.

TIP: Keep the information you're looking for in mind as you scan.

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THREE of THREE

❓ Voodoo is derived from which African religion?

✅ Answer: 1st paragraph, second sentence: ... . However, Voodoo is the Caribbean version of the West African religion Vodun.

TIP: Keep the information you're looking for in mind as you scan.

🆒 Word Parts (reading) 🆙

Benefits➕:
📓 Develop a more varied and complex vocabulary ;
💠 Learn the most important word parts in English ;
🔓 Decode the meaning of unfamiliar words .

❗️INSTRUCTIONS: Choose the correct word part matching the definition. Later, choose one word part from each column to build the defined word.

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❗️INSTRUCTIONS: Assemble the word.

4️⃣ NOUN: belief in only one god —

MONO — THEISM
❌
AUTO — FICATION

✅ Answer: n monotheism .
MONO (one or only) + THEISM (strike) = MONOTHEISM — belief in only one god.

5️⃣ NOUN: mental disorder of focusing one one idea —

MONO — MONY
❌
THERMO — MANIA

✅ Answer: n monomania .
MONO (one or only) + MANIA (relating to) = MONOMANIA — mental disorder of focusing on one idea.

6️⃣ ADJECTIVE: complete or absolute —

SOMN — ALLY
❌
PLEN — ARY

✅ Answer: adj plenary .
PLEN (full) + ARY (relating to) = PLENARY — complete or absolute.

7️⃣ ADJECTIVE: knowing in advance —

SUB — ARM — IST
❌ ❌
PRE — SCI — ENT

✅ Answer: adj prescient .
PRE (before) + SCI (know or understand) + ENT (state or condition of) = PRESCIENT — knowing in advance.

8️⃣ VERB: to conceal under a false appearance —

DIS — SIMUL — ATE
❌ ❌
E — SPIR — ATION

✅ Answer: v dissimulate .
DIS (not or to exclude) + SIMUL (like) + ATE (cause to become) = DISSIMULATE — to conceal under a false appearance.

9️⃣ NOUN: state of consistency —

REG — AN — ITY
❌ ❌
URB — ULAR — IZE

✅ Answer: n regularity .
REG (rule) + ULAR (relating to) + ITY (state or defree of) = REGULARITY — state of consistency.

🔟 ADJECTIVE: looking forward or to the future —

HYPO — SPECT — ORY
❌ ❌
PRO — CAV — IVE

✅ Answer: adj prospective .
PRO (front) + SPECT (look or view) + IVE (doing an action) = PROSPECTIVE — looking forward or to the future.

💠 Brevity (writing) 💠

Benefits➕:
💬 Learn to express yourself clearly and concisely ;
💠 Avoid redundancies in your writing ;
👁 Keep your reader's attention by writing more directly .

❗️INSTRUCTIONS: Read the sentence and remove (an) unnecessary word(-s) to make the sentence more concise. All or part of the selection can be removed without changing the sentence's meaning.

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❗️INSTRUCTIONS: remove unnecessary word or set of words.

1️⃣ I scheduled the meeting with a view to discuss streamlining office processes.

✅ Answer: 🔰 The unnecessary word(-s) here is(are) < ...with a view... > .
TIP: With a view to means "with the intent". Scheduled the meeting to discuss states the intent, so with a view is unnecessary.

✔️ I scheduled the meeting with a view to discuss streamlining office processes.

2️⃣ Shared interests often unite together people of different backgrounds.

✅ Answer: 🔰 The unnecessary word(-s) here is(are) < ... together ... >.
TIP: Unite means "combine as one group", and together means "with each other".

✔️ Shared interests often unite together people of different backgrounds.

3️⃣ The news follows after his favourite programme.

✅ Answer: 🔰 The unnecessary word(-s) here is (are) < ... after ... > .
TIP: Follows means "come after", so the word after is unnecessary.

✔️ The news follows after his favourite programme.

4️⃣ The traveller's guide spelled out in detail how to use the city's subway.

✅ Answer: 🔰 The unnecessary word here is < ... in detail ... > .
TIP: Spelled out means "explained with details", so in detail is unnecessary.

✅ The traveller's guide spelled out in detail how to use the city's subway.

5️⃣ Corruption cancels out any good a politician does.

✅ Answer: 🔰 The unnecessary word(-s) here is (are) < ... out ... > .
TIP: Both cancels and cancels out mean "offset", so the word out is unnecessary.

✔️ Corruption cancels out any good a politician does.