Sansri Brothers Middle School Level : 4 MS School year : 2017/2018

Homework n0 4
Text :
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is a famous monument in India. The name means « crown of palaces ». It is a
mausoleum that contains burial chambers for the deceased. It is located in the city of Agra,
about 240 km southeast the modern Indian capital of New Delhi.
The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India.
Shah Jahan, the king whose wife « Mumtaz Mahal » died in 1631, ordered the construction of
this building to be her resting place. Twenty thousand was the number of people who used to
work daily to complete the mausoleum. It took 22 years to be finished.
Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. One of the Taj Mahal’s most recognizable
features is a large white dome that is often called an « onion dome » because of its shape. The
full height of the monument is 171 metres. Its complex includes a large garden, a reflecting
pool, a mosque and other mausoleums.
Taj Mahal is considered to be one of India’s most admired works of art, as well as a
famous landmark and a tourist attraction which draws millions of visitors every year.
Questions :
Part one (16pts):
I) Reading Comprehension (08pts) : Read the text carefully then do the following activities:

Activity One (02 pts): Fill in the fact sheet of the monument.
Name : ………………………………………..
Location : …………………………………….
Completed in : ……………………………….
Made of : ……………………………………..
Activity Two (01 pt): Answer the following questions :
1- Is Taj Mahal in Indonesia?
2- Does it attract tourists?

Activity Three (02 pts): Match words with their definitions :

A B
1- Monument a- building in which Muslims pray.
2- Mausoleum b- person who governs.
3- Ruler c- a statue, building, or other structure erected to commemorate a famous or
notable person or event.
4- Mosque d- special building made to hold the dead body of an important person of
family

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Activity Four (02 pts): Find in the text :
A/ words that are closest in meaning to :
dead = …………………. situated = …………………..
B/ words that are opposites in meaning with :
horrible ≠ ………………. ancient ≠ ……………………
Activity Five (01pt): What do the underlined words in the text refer to?
whose → who →
II ) Mastery of Language (08 pts) :
Activity One (02 pts): Correct the mistakes, then rewrite the corrected sentence :
Shah Jahan were the king whose ordered to buiding Taj Mahal on 1631.
Activity Two (01.5 pts): Link the pairs of sentences with the appropriate relative pronoun :
1- a. Makkah Clock is the biggest clock in the world.
b. It is situated in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

2- a. Makkah Clock can be seen from a distance of 13 km.

b. Its height reaches 601 metres.

3- a. It was in Ramadhan of 2010.

b. Makkah Clock started to work then.

Activity Three (02.5 pts): Put the verbs between brackets in the correct form.
Ancient Egyptians (to be) very interested in their houses and families. They used to (to live) in
houses of mud brick. Even rich people (to live) in such houses. They (not use to) build houses
with stones, because it (to be) difficult to cut, shape and transport.
Activity Four (02 pts): Classify the following words according to the vowel sounds they
contain : famous – about – height – most

/ eɪ/ / aɪ / / əʊ/ / aʊ/

Part two : Written Expression (04 pts)

Your Indian friend asked you about famous landmarks and monuments in Algeria.
Write him/her a letter in which you give a short description about « Maqam Echahid ».
Include:
- Location - Historical facts
- Architecure and special features - Tourism
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