Ancient Babylon
Historians have long been fascinated by the ancient region of Mesopotamia and Ancient Babylonia, originally
(1) as Sumer. There was a magnificent city named Babylon, (2) on the
banks of the River Euphrates, approximately fifty five miles south of what is now modern Baghdad, Iraq. The river ran
through the middle of the city with a bridge (3) the two halves. It was home to the Babylonian
kings and was the commercial and political centre of the Babylonian (4) as well. For years, many
people doubted that the city had actually existed, probably due to the legends (5) it and the
enormous wealth and power that was said to be held there. However, once (6) from the city were
discovered, the world began to know the truth and to realise that Ancient Babylon did, in fact, exist.
The name ‘Babylon’ comes from the Greek version of the Akkadian name ‘Babbilu’. (7) as a
small town, it grew to be one of the largest cities of its times. Under the (8) of King Hammurabi,
Babylon became the capital of the Babylonia, and important laws were drawn up and placed down into a written code.
Hammurabi’s code of law was a significant step in the history of justice. (9) Hammurabi’s death,
the power of Babylonia began to decline as his (10) failed to protect it from invaders.
Babylon became (11) again years later under King Nebuchadnezzar II, (12)
rebuilt the city, including the great seven-storey ziggurat. Ziggurats were structures made from layers of mud bricks which
were built in all the major cities of ancient Mesopotamia by powerful rulers. Nebuchadnezzar is also believed to have
built the magnificent Hanging Gardens of Babylon, (13) were considered to be one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World. Those years were the height of Ancient Babylon, and what (14)
today is an uninhabited area with little sign of the greatness of its past.
1. a. believed b. thought c. known d. called
2. a. pictured b. finding c. located d. falling
3. a. linking b. binding c. combining d. including
4. a. Land b. Empire c. History d. Universe
5. a. suggested b. suggesting c. surround d. surrounding
6. a. ruins b. interests c. excavations d. phenomenon
7. a. Originated b. Appearing c. Starting d. First
8. a. kingdom b. regulations c. praise d. reign
9. a. Until b. Beyond c. Preceded d. Following
10. a. followers b. successors c. ancestors d. heirs
11. a. impressive b. distinguished c. prosperous d. profitable
12. a. that b. which c. whose d. who
13. a. what b. who c. which d. where
14. a. remains b. retains c. retrains d. reattains
52
EXAMINATION PRAC TICE
A. Match the words/phrases 1-10 with their definitions a-j. Then use some of them to complete sentences 1-5.
vocabulary
1. We stayed at a luxurious chalet located on one of the highest points of the village.
The luxurious chalet on one of the highest points of the village.
2. The exhibits that appealed to me most were the two statues made of gold and ivory in the Acropolis museum.
The two exhibits were the statues made of gold and ivory in the Acropolis
museum.
3. The Tomatina festival, held on the last Wednesday of August, is one of the most amusing festivals in Spain.
The Tomatina festival, , is one of the most amusing festivals in Spain.
4. The tourists didn’t know which path to follow, so they ended up hiring a local tour guide.
Not ended up hiring a local tour guide.
5. First Saed was fired from his job, then he decided he wanted to get an MBA.
Having decided he wanted to get an MBA.
6. Before the wedding ceremony, the bride’s relatives offered us some delicious traditional sweets.
Before the wedding ceremony, by the bride’s relatives.
7. The trip had exhausted them, so they decided to have a rest and start exploring the island the next day.
Feeling , they decided to have a rest and start exploring the island
the next day.
8. I had the chance to take some wonderful pictures of the royal gardens because earlier that day I had helped
an old man who proved to be the chief-gardener.
The old man proved to be the chief-gardener and as a result I had
the chance to take some wonderful pictures of the royal gardens.
B. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given. Do not change
the word given. You must use between two and eight words including the word given.
WHERE
APPEALING
PLACE
KNOWING
SACK
TREATED
FROM
WHOM
1. take the leap a. very exciting and happy
2. eve b. to put on
3. transition c. rare or expensive food
4. don d. a large and special meal
5. earnest e. make an important change in one’s life
6. exuberant f. making one feel a strong emotion
7. feast g. the day before
8. delicacy h. process of change
9. moving i. relationship
10. kinship j. sincere
1. On the of the wedding, the groom’s family held a big for all
their relatives and delicious were served.
2. The wedding ceremony was so that the bride’s mother and aunts were crying.
3. Everyone keeps asking my brother when he will finally decide to into marriage, but he tells
them that he is still too young.
4. The from living at home with their families to living alone is not always easy for students
who study abroad.
5. Please accept my most apologies for not being able to attend the graduation ceremony.
53
reading
A. You are going to read an extract about the island of Rapa Nui. Decide if the statements 1-7 are True,
False or Not Mentioned in the text.
Historians have long been fascinated by the ancient region of Mesopotamia and Ancient Babylonia, originally
(1) as Sumer. There was a magnificent city named Babylon, (2) on the
banks of the River Euphrates, approximately fifty five miles south of what is now modern Baghdad, Iraq. The river ran
through the middle of the city with a bridge (3) the two halves. It was home to the Babylonian
kings and was the commercial and political centre of the Babylonian (4) as well. For years, many
people doubted that the city had actually existed, probably due to the legends (5) it and the
enormous wealth and power that was said to be held there. However, once (6) from the city were
discovered, the world began to know the truth and to realise that Ancient Babylon did, in fact, exist.
The name ‘Babylon’ comes from the Greek version of the Akkadian name ‘Babbilu’. (7) as a
small town, it grew to be one of the largest cities of its times. Under the (8) of King Hammurabi,
Babylon became the capital of the Babylonia, and important laws were drawn up and placed down into a written code.
Hammurabi’s code of law was a significant step in the history of justice. (9) Hammurabi’s death,
the power of Babylonia began to decline as his (10) failed to protect it from invaders.
Babylon became (11) again years later under King Nebuchadnezzar II, (12)
rebuilt the city, including the great seven-storey ziggurat. Ziggurats were structures made from layers of mud bricks which
were built in all the major cities of ancient Mesopotamia by powerful rulers. Nebuchadnezzar is also believed to have
built the magnificent Hanging Gardens of Babylon, (13) were considered to be one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World. Those years were the height of Ancient Babylon, and what (14)
today is an uninhabited area with little sign of the greatness of its past.
1. a. believed b. thought c. known d. called
2. a. pictured b. finding c. located d. falling
3. a. linking b. binding c. combining d. including
4. a. Land b. Empire c. History d. Universe
5. a. suggested b. suggesting c. surround d. surrounding
6. a. ruins b. interests c. excavations d. phenomenon
7. a. Originated b. Appearing c. Starting d. First
8. a. kingdom b. regulations c. praise d. reign
9. a. Until b. Beyond c. Preceded d. Following
10. a. followers b. successors c. ancestors d. heirs
11. a. impressive b. distinguished c. prosperous d. profitable
12. a. that b. which c. whose d. who
13. a. what b. who c. which d. where
14. a. remains b. retains c. retrains d. reattains
52
EXAMINATION PRAC TICE
A. Match the words/phrases 1-10 with their definitions a-j. Then use some of them to complete sentences 1-5.
vocabulary
1. We stayed at a luxurious chalet located on one of the highest points of the village.
The luxurious chalet on one of the highest points of the village.
2. The exhibits that appealed to me most were the two statues made of gold and ivory in the Acropolis museum.
The two exhibits were the statues made of gold and ivory in the Acropolis
museum.
3. The Tomatina festival, held on the last Wednesday of August, is one of the most amusing festivals in Spain.
The Tomatina festival, , is one of the most amusing festivals in Spain.
4. The tourists didn’t know which path to follow, so they ended up hiring a local tour guide.
Not ended up hiring a local tour guide.
5. First Saed was fired from his job, then he decided he wanted to get an MBA.
Having decided he wanted to get an MBA.
6. Before the wedding ceremony, the bride’s relatives offered us some delicious traditional sweets.
Before the wedding ceremony, by the bride’s relatives.
7. The trip had exhausted them, so they decided to have a rest and start exploring the island the next day.
Feeling , they decided to have a rest and start exploring the island
the next day.
8. I had the chance to take some wonderful pictures of the royal gardens because earlier that day I had helped
an old man who proved to be the chief-gardener.
The old man proved to be the chief-gardener and as a result I had
the chance to take some wonderful pictures of the royal gardens.
B. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given. Do not change
the word given. You must use between two and eight words including the word given.
WHERE
APPEALING
PLACE
KNOWING
SACK
TREATED
FROM
WHOM
1. take the leap a. very exciting and happy
2. eve b. to put on
3. transition c. rare or expensive food
4. don d. a large and special meal
5. earnest e. make an important change in one’s life
6. exuberant f. making one feel a strong emotion
7. feast g. the day before
8. delicacy h. process of change
9. moving i. relationship
10. kinship j. sincere
1. On the of the wedding, the groom’s family held a big for all
their relatives and delicious were served.
2. The wedding ceremony was so that the bride’s mother and aunts were crying.
3. Everyone keeps asking my brother when he will finally decide to into marriage, but he tells
them that he is still too young.
4. The from living at home with their families to living alone is not always easy for students
who study abroad.
5. Please accept my most apologies for not being able to attend the graduation ceremony.
53
reading
A. You are going to read an extract about the island of Rapa Nui. Decide if the statements 1-7 are True,
False or Not Mentioned in the text.
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