Óïð.7 Þíèò 2 Ðàáî÷àÿ òåòðàäü ÃÄÇ Rainbow English 11 êëàññ

Ïðèâåäåì âûäåðæêó èç çàäàíèÿ èç ó÷åáíèêà Áàðàíîâà, Àôàíàñüåâà, Ìèõååâà 11 êëàññ, Äðîôà:

7. Read the text and choose the appropriate variants to complete the sentences after it.

The Colosseum All of us know the shape in which a theatre is built. At one end is the stage on which the actors play their parts. The space in front of the stage is occupied by the audience. An amphitheatre was constructed to a different plan. The building was circular or oval; the seats for the spectators were ranged tier1 upon tier round the walls; the space enclosed by these tiers of seats was left free for the shows. This open space was called the arena, or sand floor. Arena is the Latin word for sand. The greatest of all these buildings was the Colosseum in Rome built to hold many thousands of spectators. Rome was the capital of the great Roman Empire. In the Collosseum, the people of Rome were entertained by very cruel shows. Wild beasts, in all their untamed ferocity, were let loose in the arena. They fought and tore one another with tooth and claw. The combat of man with beast gave the audience the greatest pleasure. Into the arena came the “beast fighter”, usually a criminal. Armed or unarmed, he met there a lion, a tiger or some other wild creature. He fought for his life. If he was beaten, he died; if he won, there was a chance that his skill might gain the favour of the crowd and secure him a pardon. Among the victims of this cruelty were many Christians. The crime of these sufferers was their faith in Christ and their refusal to worship the gods of Rome. The Christians to the lions was a cry often heard within the walls of the Colosseum.

After the wild animals had played their part, the gladiators were brought upon the scene. The gladiators were men of great strength, usually chosen from slaves or from prisoners.

A series of single combats followed, in each of them the pair of gladiators fought to the death. If the gladiator had fought well, the conqueror inquired from the spectators whether his life should be spared. They replied by raising their hands. If the thumbs pointed upwards, the gladiator survived; if they were turned down, he was to die, and the death blow was given at once.

These cruel sports had a bad effect upon the character of the Roman people. The savage sights of the arena became to them of more importance than the good of the country and soon the days of the great Roman Empire were gone forever.

Much of the Colosseum still stands today; it is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions.

1. The word arena that came from Latin used to mean sand

a) audience

b) theatre

c) amphitheatre

d) sand

2. The theatre and amphitheatre do not remind each other in shape.

a) are built in one and the same shape

b) look very much alike

c) do not remind each other in shape

d) used to be one and the same thing in the past

3. The Colosseum was built in Rome to entertain the spectators

a) to tame wild beasts

b) to entertain the spectators

c) to entertain the participants

d) to show the advantages of Roman architecture

4. The spectators in the Colosseum were in favour of the cruel shows

a) were in favour of the cruel shows

b) preferred fights of wild beasts to the combats of man with beast

c) eagerly pardoned those criminals who could win the battle

d) were mainly Christians

5. The gladiators who entertained the spectators in the Colosseum were strong males

a) called “beast fighters”

b) often punished for their faith

c) soldiers

d) strong males

6. Roman spectators can be described as people enjoying scenes of slaughter

a) scenes of slaughter

b) scenes of sports events

c) theatre performances

d) the spirit of freedom

7. Defeated gladiators’ lives could be spared by the spectators

a) were never spared

b) could be spared by the conqueror

c) could be spared by the spectators

d) could be spared by the emperor