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Funeral rites have always played important roles in human history. They typically symbolize a kind of closure of an individual’s life on Earth and give family and friends the opportunity to pay their respects and say goodbye. There are many different kinds of funeral ceremonies throughout the world, depending on culture, religion, and beliefs. The funeral tradition of the Toraja people on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia is like no other as it blends the Toraja’s ancient animist beliefs with the western influences of Christianity. To the Toraja, death is a new beginning, as the deceased passes from the restrictions of this life into the afterlife, where they will oversee and conduct the lives of the people they have left behind. But, before this can occur, an elaborate funeral celebration must take place. This celebration, as well as the treatment of their dead, separates the traditions of the Toraja from most modern cultures.
The first noticeable difference between Torajan funerals and modern western ones is the way in which they prepare for one. The Toraja will often begin preparing for their family members’ funerals well before they actually die. A Sometimes, they will even start preparations before the member falls ill. B In most western cultures, this would be unheard of since most funeral preparations are made immediately after death. C This is not so for the Toraja. D The reason is mainly due to cost since the family will incur heavy expenses when they attempt to send their family member into the afterlife in the most celebrative, festive, and prepared manner possible.
Interestingly, the Toraja do not relate to death in its physical form. That is, if a family member dies, only his physical form has ceased to function. The essence of the individual is eternal and will continue to exist in this world until a proper funeral ceremony has been performed to send the person off to the next stage of existence. Because of this, the deceased are simply wrapped up and kept in the house, called a tongkonan, until the time of celebration. During this in-between period, the deceased is treated as if he were still alive. The rest of the family holds conversations with him and even feeds him, just like a living being. Death, then, is not an end, but the beginning of the passage into the afterlife. Dying also does not take an individual away for the Toraja. They believe they are in complete control of that aspect, and only through celebration and feast are they able to break the limbo of their family member.
An elaborate funeral celebration is also important to impress the gods with the individual’s worldly importance and wealth. Water buffalo are crucial to Torajan culture, representing both financial success and status in society. During the funeral celebration, a number of water buffalo are sacrificed in accordance with the person’s level in the Torajan hierarchy. But, water buffaloes are not cheap, especially for the Toraja, who are mainly subsistence farmers. Therefore, the family must work months, or sometimes years, to save enough money in order to purchase a satisfactory number of water buffaloes and other animals, such as pigs, for the funeral ceremony. Once all is in order, a date for the celebration will be set so that friends and members of the community can visit bearing gifts. Large quantities of food and libations are consumed during the festivities of sport, dance, and storytelling, which usually continue for a week.
With the cycle in full force, the climax occurs at the end of the feast, when the body is placed in a coffin and carried to its final resting place, which is not in the ground but high up above it. Traditional Toraja cemeteries are located in the side of a cliff, where hollowed-out sections are made for families and individuals. The body is placed in a horizontal vault and enclosed with stone or wood. This, however, does not mean they are sealed off from their homeland. A wooden effigy of the individual, called a tau tau, is placed at the entrance of the tomb to guard it and protect living family members. Tau tau are also thought to bestow prosperity on the Toraja in general as well as connect them with deceased family members and gods beyond.
libations : alcoholic drinks
effigy: a crude figure or statue of a person
1. According to paragraph 1, most humans have funeral ceremonies because they
A create a sense of finality for the families and friends involved in the event
B give loved ones an opportunity to spend more time with distant family members
C follow a strict code which will successfully send the deceased into the afterlife
D are necessary to cultures that have followed animist beliefs for centuries
2. The author’s description of the Toraja funeral tradition mentions all of the following EXCEPT:
A The ceremonies often take months or even years to prepare for.
B The bodies of the deceased are placed in vaults in the sides of cliffs.
C Water buffaloes play an important role in the funeral ceremonies.
D They are not influenced by any Western traditions of religion.
3. The word elaborate in the passage is closest in meaning to
A beautiful
B involved
C long
D stark
4. According to paragraph 2, Torajan funerals are unique because
A the Toraja prepare for the funeral only months after someone dies
B preparations begin while the individual it is for is still alive and well
C the Toraja organizes the funeral immediately after an individual passes away
D everyone in the society contributes to the financing of the funeral
5. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
Furthermore, it would probably be considered a bad omen by most people were a person to engage in this kind of behavior.
Where would the sentence best fit?
Click on a square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.
6. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
A The funeral is the vehicle that allows the deceased individual to enter the next stage of his life.
B The deceased individual will linger in this world until he is prepared to enter the next one.
C After a proper ceremony is performed, the individual becomes immortal and enters the afterlife.
D The afterlife is attained only after an individual has given up his worldly ties with a funeral.
7. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 4 about the funeral celebration?
A It is a welcomed time for the family that is involved in it.
B The families are under great pressure to raise money for it.
C The Toraja believe their gods are only pleased by sacrificing buffaloes.
D Many of the Toraja are boycotting funerals because of the slaughter.
8. The author’s description of Toraja cemeteries in paragraph 5 mentions all of the following EXCEPT:
A Tau tau are the guardians of the tomb.
B They are located in the sides of hills or mountains.
C The body is entombed at the end of the feast.
D The deceased are always buried in individual tombs.
9. According to paragraph 5, the Toraja place tau tau at the entrance of the tomb to
A speak to family members when they visit the deceased
B bring fortune to the entire society of the Toraja
C keep other deceased family members company
D remind visitors what the deceased looked like in their prime
10. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some answer choices do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points .
The lengthy funeral ceremony of the Toraja releases the deceased to the next level of their existence.
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A The number of cows slaughtered at the celebration depends on the person’s wealth.
B The Toraja view death as a new beginning rather than an end for the individual.
C Funeral preparations are made days in advance of a family member’s impending death.
D The funeral celebration of the Toraja represents the person’s success in life.
E Friends and family bring gifts to the funeral celebration as a condolence.
F Toraja funerals are festive times of eating and games and can last as long as a week.
Drag your answer choices to the spaces where they belong.
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