THE STATUE OF LIBERTY (test)

Liberty Island (New York City) Statue Sculptor:

The star-shaped walls of Fort Wood Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi
The Statue of Liberty National
th
Monument officially celebrated her 100 birthday on October 28, 1986. The
people of France gave the Statue to the people of the United States in
recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution. Over
the years, the Statue of Liberty has grown to include freedom and democracy as
well as this international friendship.
Sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design a sculpture
with the year 1876 in mind for completion, to commemorate the centennial of
the American Declaration of Independence. The Statue was a joint effort
between America and France and it was agreed upon that the American people
were to build the pedestal, and the French people were responsible for the
Statue and its assembly here in the United States.
However, lack of funds was a problem on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Meanwhile in France, Bartholdi required the assistance of Alexandre-Gustave
Eiffel to design the massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework. The Statue of Liberty
Financing for the pedestal was completed in August 1885, and pedestal granite pedestal
construction was finished in April of 1886. The Statue was completed in France in July, 1884 and arrived in
New York Harbor in June of 1885 on board the French frigate "Isere" which transported the Statue of Liberty
from France to the United States. In transit, the Statue was reduced to 350 individual pieces and packed in 214
crates. The Statue was re-assembled on her new pedestal in four months time. On October 28th 1886, the
dedication of the Statue of Liberty took place in front of thousands of spectators. The Statue was placed upon a
granite pedestal inside the courtyard of the star-shaped walls of Fort Wood.
On October 15, 1924, a Presidential Proclamation declared Fort Wood (and the Statue of Liberty within it) a
National Monument. In 1933, the care and administration of the National Monument was transferred to the
National Park Service.
In 1984, at the start of the Statue's restoration, the United Nations designated the Statue of Liberty as a World
Heritage Site. The newly restored Statue opened to the public on July 5, 1986 during Liberty Weekend, which
celebrated her centennial.
Although the park's increased popularity resulted in the annual park visitation to reach over 5 million, the
tragedy of September 11, 2001 resulted in the closure of Liberty Island. The island re-opened after 100 days,
however the Statue remained closed until August 3, 2004. Visitors presently have access to the Statue's pedestal
observation deck, promenade, museum and areas of Fort Wood. The crown of the Statue of Liberty eventually
re-opened to tourists on July 4, 2009.
Bartholdi incorporated many symbolic features to his colossus. There are 25 windows in the crown representing
gemstones found on the earth and the heaven's rays shining over the world. The seven rays of the Statue's
crown represent the seven seas and continents of the world. The tablet which the Statue holds in her left hand
reads (in Roman numerals) "July 4th, 1776." the date of American Independence.
The copper used in creating the Statue weighs 31 tons. The total weight of steel in the Statue is 125 tons. The
Statue's concrete foundation weighs 27,000 tons. The copper sheeting of the Statue is 2.37mm thick. Wind
sway: winds of 50 miles per hour cause the Statue to sway 7.62cm and the torch sways 12.70cm.

Adapted from www.nps.gov/stli/

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 THE STATUE OF LIBERTY (test)

Name / surname :
class : mark : / 20
 Read the document and fill in the missing information about the Statue of Liberty (3 points).

1. The Statue was given to the Americans by ……………………………..

2. It symbolizes ……………………….....…, ……..……..………………. and ……..……..………………….. .
3. This monument was designed by ………………………………. .
4. The pedestal was made by the ………………………………. .
5. The statue was made by the ……………… .
6. Bartholdi and ……………………………………………… were responsible for the framework of the statue.
7. The French people finished the statue in ……………………… .
8. The statue was dedicated in ……………………. .
9. On October 15, 1924, the Statue of Liberty became a …………………………………………………… .
10. 60 years later, it was declared a ………………..………………………………………………. .

 Are these statements true or false? Tick the right answer and justify by quoting the text (6 points).

1. The Statue of Liberty is 100 years old.  True  False

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. France offered the Statue as a recognition of the French Revolution.  True  False
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. This monument is linked to the U.S. Declaration of Independence. True  False

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. It was dismantled in 214 pieces.  True  False

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. Fort Wood is a square-shaped place.  True  False

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. The Statue of Liberty has been closed since 9/11/2001.  True  False
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 Translate the following passage: “Financing for the pedestal…packed in 214 crates.” (3 points).
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

 After visiting the Statue of Liberty. Complete the conversation with your guide (4 points).

John  Ladies and gentlemen, the visit is nearly over. I’ll be delighted to answer any of your questions.
Tourist  …………………………………………………………………….. ?
John  Liberty Island is 12 acre large, Sir.
Tourist  …………………………………………………………………….. ?
John  The Statue is about 305ft from the ground to the tip of the flame.
In 1886, it was the tallest structure in New York.
Tourist  …………………………………………………………………….. ?
John  5 million tourists visit the Statue every year.
Tourist  …………………………………………………………………….. ?
John  It is $5.00 for children between the ages of 4-12.

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