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Gapped Text Exercises for Reading Skills

The document contains a reading passage about China's Terracotta Army and the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. Over 700,000 workers spent 30 years constructing the emperor's vast tomb, which contained thousands of terracotta warrior figures intended to protect him after death. Only a small portion
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
43 views5 pages

Gapped Text Exercises for Reading Skills

The document contains a reading passage about China's Terracotta Army and the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. Over 700,000 workers spent 30 years constructing the emperor's vast tomb, which contained thousands of terracotta warrior figures intended to protect him after death. Only a small portion
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Çukurova University

School of Foreign Languages


2022-2023 Academic Year
P1-Block 2 Week 7

READING: Gapped Text

TEXT 1: Read the following report about an unsolved art crime and match the following
sentences with the gaps (A-D) in the report. There is ONE extra sentence that you will not
need.
1. Immediately, they called the police and the museum director.
2. Today, the cost of these objects is about 500 million dollars.
3. At around midnight, a car parked near the Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts.
4. The police searched everywhere and they found one of the paintings.
5. Then, they walked around the gallery and took some extremely valuable works of art.

The Case of the Disappearing Paintings

On 18th March 1990, one of the world’s biggest art crimes took place. A. _____. At 1:24
am, two men in police uniforms rang the bell at the front door of the museum and shouted:
“Police! Let us in.” Richard Abath, a member of the night staff of the gallery, reported: “I
looked through the glass and saw two policemen. I opened the front door and I let them in.”
as soon as the men got inside, they told Abath, “we are robbing the museum.” The thieves
locked Abath and his partner in a back room of the museum. B. ______. After that, they
disappeared!

The next morning, when other staff members arrived at the museum, they discovered their
friends in the locked room. C. ______. Richard Abath described the thieves to the police:
“They both had dark hair and small dark moustaches. One was quite thin and he was
wearing glasses. The other was well-built.” However, the FBI and several detectives didn’t
discover any evidence in the gallery to help them solve the crime and until now no one
knows what happened to the paintings or where the men went.

The stolen works include thirteen famous paintings, among them Rembrandt’s “Storm on
the Sea of Galilee”, Vermeer’s “The Concert” and Manet’s “Chez Tortoni”, as well as an
ancient Chinese vase. D. ______. After all these years, the police are still looking for the
stolen objects and the spaces for these paintings are still empty. These are like a symbol of
hope that one day the stolen works will be back in the museum.
TEXT 2: Read the following text about China’s Terracotta Army and match the headings
(A-E) with the paragraphs. There is ONE extra heading that you will not need.
A. The emperor’s tomb is still closed.
B. Each warrior in the Terracotta Army is unique.
C. Qin Shi Huang probably never finished his tomb.
D. It’s the most beautiful tomb in the world.
E. Qin was a powerful leader, but a terrible person.

Qin Shi Huang was born in 234 BCE. He made China one kingdom and was its first
emperor, from 221-207 BCE. Qin’s most important project was the huge tomb he built for
himself. With its army of Terracotta Warriors, the emperor’s tomb stayed hidden for more
than 2200 years after his death.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TERRACOTTA ARMY

1. ________________________________________.
Framers digging in a field about 29 miles east of Xi’an found a site with 6000 Terracotta
statues in March 1974. Experts soon realized it was the tomb of Emperor Qin, and
historians now believe that 700.000 workers worked for over thirty years to build it.
Archaeologists discovered about 8000 Terracotta Warriors and 670 horses, but they believe
there are more. Another part of the site was empty, so perhaps the tomb was not complete at
the time the emperor died.

2. ________________________________________.
After a 200-year period of war, Qin Shi Huang brought the states together under one
government and made the capital at Xianyang. During Qin’s time as emperor of China, he
developed politics, economy and culture. However, Qin was not a kind person. He killed
people with ideas different to his, and hundreds of workers died while they were building
his tomb.

3. ________________________________________.
The army of warriors and horses was near Emperor Qin’s tomb in order to protect him after
his death. Most of the warriors’ hands are the same, but the face of each one is different, so
archaeologists think that people with great skill and talent created them.

4. ________________________________________.
Now, a few decades after farmers found the site, experts have only worked on less than 1
percent of Emperor Qin’s tomb. They are afraid it isn’t safe and want to find out how to
best protect the people working there before they open it to see what is inside.
TEXT 3: Gapped Text
A) Read the following magazine article about what children’s entertainment is like
nowadays. Then, match the sentences below with the gaps (A-D) in the article. There
is ONE extra sentence that you will not need.

1. Moreover, it affects their health because too little exercise is one of the main reasons
why so many children have weight problems.
2. As for older children, television is quickly becoming too old-fashioned.
3. Too many teenagers these days have got a TV in their bedroom.
4. Documentaries, children’s shows and specific kinds of films can develop their
learning skills and teach them about other cultures.
5. For instance, parents are sometimes frightened of letting their children play outdoors
and prefer them to stay at home.

Technology and Children’s Entertainment

In the last few decades, there have been so many new changes in children’s entertainment
that young people no longer take part in outdoor activities. According to research, as
technology has evolved so fast, it now offers children a greater variety of home
entertainment.

For the young, there is now a huge choice of digital television channels. These show
children’s programmes all day long, compared to the past, when there were only a few
hours of children’s entertainment. A. ________. Most teens go online every day to
communicate with their friends, upload photos and share their thoughts on social
networking websites. And of course, improvements in technology offer them a greater
choice of indoor activities, such as playing video games or listening to music on their
mobile phones.

But breakthroughs in technology and means of communication do not explain this situation
completely. There are other reasons that have led to the rise in children’s use of indoor
entertainment. B. ________. This is because there is so much traffic and crime these days
that the world is becoming a scary place. Also, there are those who believe that both TV
and the Internet can actually help children learn in a more entertaining way. C. ________.

However, this kind of entertainment seriously affects children’s social development and
other important parts of their lives in a negative way. They spend so much time on the
Internet or watching television that it causes them to forget about real relationships or their
schoolwork. D. ________.

No matter how dangerous some parents think letting their children play outside may be,
they need to recognize that for their health and development, children need safe places and
the chance to play in the fresh air.
B) Read the sentences and circle the correct answer.

1. The word “evolved” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to _____.


a. appeared b. combined c. developed

2. According to the article, older children _____.


a. watch more TV than younger ones
b. surf the Net on a daily basis
c. spend more time outdoors than younger ones

3. The word “communicate” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to _____.


a. chat b. play c. meet

4. According to the text, which of the following in NOT true?


a. Some parents don’t want their children to take part in outdoor activities.
b. Home entertainment helps children learn better social skills.
c. Watching TV and using the Internet can be educational.

5. What is the writer’s opinion about playing outdoors?


a. He thinks that children should avoid it.
b. He doesn’t mention his opinion at all.
c. He believes that outdoor activities are necessary for children.

Common questions

Powered by AI

Technology is portrayed as a double-edged sword; on one hand, it enhances learning by providing access to documentaries and educational content, potentially improving children's cultural awareness . On the other hand, excessive use of digital media negatively impacts social development and academic performance by reducing real-life interaction and focus on schoolwork .

Evolving children's entertainment technology has prompted a shift in traditional educational methods to integrate digital learning tools that leverage children's familiarity with technology for educational purposes . However, this evolution also challenges traditional teaching by necessitating a balance between digital engagement and the development of critical thinking and interpersonal skills that are enhanced through in-person, interactive learning experiences .

The absence of the artworks symbolizes both loss and hope within art history; their empty spaces at the museum serve as a reminder of the unsolved heist and humanity's vulnerability to theft, while also representing hope that these treasures may one day be recovered and restored to their rightful place . This dual symbolism underscores the enduring interplay between cultural heritage preservation and the challenges of its protection.

The unresolved Gardner Museum art theft emphasizes the need for robust security measures, including advanced surveillance technologies, staff training to handle suspicious situations, and partnerships with law enforcement for prompt response . This case informs current practices by highlighting vulnerabilities that have yet to be addressed and the value of proactive security strategies.

The decision to limit outdoor play is influenced by concerns over safety due to traffic and crime, making the world seem dangerous and prompting parents to favor indoor activities . Furthermore, the perceived educational benefits of television and internet use also play a role in shaping parental preferences for indoor entertainment .

Emperor Qin Shi Huang prioritized showcasing his power and ensuring protection after death, as evidenced by the construction of a massive tomb with thousands of unique Terracotta Warriors to guard it . The society's values are reflected in the devotion of 700,000 workers who spent over three decades building the tomb, highlighting the emphasis on loyalty and the importance of the afterlife in Chinese culture .

The Terracotta Army's discovery has significantly enriched the historical narrative of Qin Shi Huang's era by providing tangible evidence of the emperor's power, the scale of labor used, and the sophisticated craftsmanship of the period . These findings highlight the centralized control and resource mobilization under Qin's rule, offering insight into the social and political dynamics of ancient China .

Qin Shi Huang's tomb remains largely unexplored due to safety concerns and preservation issues, as experts lack methods to protect workers and artifacts during excavation . This limited exploration leaves gaps in historical knowledge about Qin's reign, the burial practices of the time, and the potential for discovering new artifacts that could reshape understandings of ancient China .

Technology's rapid evolution has provided a greater variety of home entertainment options like digital television channels, video games, and the internet . Additionally, safety concerns such as traffic and crime have made outdoor activities less appealing for families .

The Gardner Museum art theft illustrates challenges such as lack of evidence at the crime scene, inability to trace the stolen works valued at 500 million dollars, and the absence of substantial leads despite detailed descriptions of the thieves . These factors contribute to the enduring mystery and difficulty in solving art crimes, which often involve international networks and high-value items .

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