Located at the city of Agra in the State of Uttar Pradesh, the Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful masterpieces of architecture in the world. It was Shah Jehan who ordered the building of the Taj, in honor of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz and Shah Jehan were married in 1612 and, over the next 18 years, had 14 children together. The Empress used to accompany her husband in his military campaigns, and it was in 1630, in Burhanpur, that she gave birth to her last child, for she died in childbirth. So great was the Emperor love to his wife that he ordered the building of the most beautiful mausoleum on Earth for her.
Although it is not known for sure who planned the Taj, the name of an Indian architect of Persian descent, Ustad Ahmad Lahori, has been cited in many sources. As soon as construction began in 1630, masons1, craftsmen, sculptors, and calligraphers were summoned2 from Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Europe to work on the masterpiece. It took more than twenty thousand men working over a period of 22 years to build the Taj Mahal. The unique mughal style combines elements of Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic architecture. Most impressive are the black and white chessboard marble floor, the four tall minarets (40m high) at the corners of the structure, and the majestic dome in the middle.
The emperor planned to build an identical tomb of black marble for himself on the other side of the river. However, his son put him into a prison in the palace before he could finish,and for the rest of his life, he could only gaze across river at the tomb of his beloved wife.
【生词注释】
1. masonn. 石工；泥瓦工
2. summonvt. 召集；传唤
1. Whats the meaning of the underlined word “mausoleum” in the first paragraph?
A. Building.B. Hall.
C. Tomb.D. Place.
2. The emperors own tomb was designed to be .
A. 40 meters highB. blackcolored
C. whitecoloredD. eightsided
3. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE about the Taj Mahal？
A. It was completed quickly owing to the efforts of the best artists and workers.
B. A lot of people took part in the building work.
C. It is a magnificent building.
D. It is a tomb for the emperors beloved wife.
4. Mumtaz Mahal .
A. was beloved by her people
B. was killed by her son
C. died soon after the Taj Mahal completed
D. was beloved by Shah Jehan
5. The whole passage tells us about .
A. the combined style of the Taj Mahal
B. the story of the Taj Mahal
C. the love story of Mumtaz and Shah Jehan
D. who planned the Taj Mahal
There are some famous historic Chinese kilns1 which have produced masterpieces that still wow2 people today. One porcelain3 piece created some one thousand years ago, is thought to have come from the historic Chai kiln and is on display in Japan.
At a museum on the Japanese island of Kushu, the porcelain piece “Blue Lily Vase” makes visitors stand in awe.
Its sky blue color and unique design make it a favorite with experts.
A historian said, “I have spent thirty years researching Chinese porcelain, but this piece has stunned4 me with its beauty and nobility. My love for it surpasses5 any others Ive seen before.”
The piece is held in high esteem because of the provenance of the royal Chai kiln.
Lu Chenglong, vice director of Palace Museum, said, “There are four of Chai kiln porcelain: skylike blue, paperthin, mirrorbright, and a bell sound. Its said in ancient times, a tiny Chai kiln piece fetched very high prices.”
Chai Kiln is believed to have been built during the Post Zhou Dynasty, commissioned6 by emperor Chai Rong around a thousand years ago. Experts think this “Blue Lily Vase” was made during that time. The color and quality is also similar to those depicted7 in the kiln records.
The public exhibition of this piece will lead to much discussion between experts as to whether it is authentic.
【生词注释】
1. kilnn. 窑
2. wowvt. 激起……的赞扬
3. porcelainn. 瓷器
4. stunvt. 使大吃一惊
5. surpassvt. 超越；胜过
6. commissionvt. 任命
7. depictvt. 描述
1. What stunned the historian?
A. The beauty and nobility of the “Blue Lily Vase”.
B. The bell sound of the “Blue Lily Vase”.
C. The blue color of the “Blue Lily Vase”.
D. The long history of the “Blue Lily Vase”.
2. Which word can be filled in the blank?
A. Advantages.
B. Characteristics.
C. Disadvantages.
D. Qualities.
3. Which sentence is similar to the sentence “The public exhibition of this piece will lead to much discussion between experts as to whether it is authentic”?
A. Experts are sure that this “Blue Lily Vase” is the masterpiece of the royal Chai kiln.
B. Experts are sure that this “Blue Lily Vase” is not the masterpiece of the royal Chai kiln.
C. Experts doubt whether this “Blue Lily Vase” is the masterpiece of the royal Chai kiln.
D. Experts are sure that this “Blue Lily Vase” is expensive.
4. We can learn from the passage that .
A. experts think this “Blue Lily Vase” was made during the Post Zhou Dynasty
B. experts think this “Blue Lily Vase” is the masterpiece of the royal Chai kiln
C. experts think the color and quality of this “Blue Lily Vase” is different to those depicted in the kiln records
D. experts think this “Blue Lily Vase” is not the masterpiece of the royal Chai kiln
5. The passage mainly tells us .
A. Chai Kiln is believed to have been built during the Post Zhou Dynasty
B. Lu Chenglong loves Chinese culture very much
C. ancient Chinese porcelain is on show in Japan
D. “Blue Lily Vase” have four characteristics
Benin1 is located in West Africa and covers a land area of 112,622 Sq. km. This tiny country has the highest concentration of attractions in that part of West Africa, including villages with long histories of voodoo2 culture, special art and architecture.
On Friday, the Beninese parliament3 passed a law on the protection of its cultural and natural heritage4, the APA reported.
This law is aimed at defining, classifying and protecting Benins cultural and natural heritage against destruction, illegal international exchange and other forms of illegal behavior.
The chairman of the Commission on Education, Culture, Employment and Social Affairs, Karimou Chabi Sika, was interviewed by APA in Benins Parliament House. He explained that the law was passed so as to protect the riches of its cultural and natural heritage.
