Unit: 16
The wonders of the world
A. READING

Look at two famous man-made wonders of the world and answer the questions.



1. Can you name these two wonders of the world?
2. Where do you think they are located?
3. What do you know about them?
Answers:
Can you name these two wonders of the world?
 The first is the Pyramid. The second is the Taj Mahal.
2. Where do you think they are located?
 The Pyramid is located near Cairo, Egypt, Africa. The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, India, Asia.
3. What do you know about them?
 The first pyramid was built during the Third Dynasty by king Djoser. The largest Egyptian pyramids are the pyramids at Giza. They are shaped as a reference to the rays of the sun. They are served as tombs of the emperors which are called the pharaohs with a face of human and a body of lion. And the Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum. It was built by Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is recognized as “the jewel of Muslim art in India, masterpieces of the world’s heritage”.
VOCABULARY
Pharaoh /ˈfeərəʊ/ (n): vua Ai Cập cổ đại
Purpose /ˈpɜːpəs/ (n): mục đích
burial /ˈberiəl/ (n): sự mai táng
chamber /ˈtʃeɪmbə(r)/ (n): buồng, phòng
 Burial chamber (n): hầm mộ
treasure /ˈtreʒə(r)/ (n): châu báu
belongings /bɪˈlɒŋɪŋz/ (n) của cải, người thân thuộc
block /blɒk/ (n): khối
base /beɪs/ (n): nền móng
VOCABULARY
rank /ræŋk/ (v): xếp hạng
surpass /səˈpɑːs/ (v): vượt qua, trội hơn
consist of /kənˈsɪst/ (v): bao gồm
theory /ˈθɪəri/ (n): lí thuyết
propose /prəˈpəʊz/ (v): đề xuất
involve /ɪnˈvɒlv/ (v): có liên quan
spiral /ˈspaɪrəl/ (a,n): hình xoắn ốc
VOCABULARY
ramp /ræmp/ (n): đường dốc
Proceed /prəˈsiːd/ (v): tiến hành, xử lí
 process /ˈprəʊses/ (n): qui trình
enclose /ɪnˈkləʊz/ (v): dựng tường, rào
region /ˈriːdʒən/ (n): vùng, miền, khu vực
mysterious /mɪˈstɪəriəs/ (a): bí ẩn
 mystery/ˈmɪstri/ (n): sự bí ẩn
VOCABULARY
(v): xếp hạng
(v): vượt qua, trội hơn
(v): bao gồm
(n): lí thuyết
(v): đề xuất
(v): có liên quan
(a,n): hình xoắn ốc
VOCABULARY
(n): vua Ai Cập cổ đại
(n): mục đích
(n): sự mai táng
(n): buồng, phòng
 (n): hầm mộ
(n): châu báu
(n) của cải, người thân thuộc
(n): khối
(n): nền móng
VOCABULARY
(n): đường dốc
(v): tiến hành, xử lí
 (n): qui trình
(v): dựng tường, rào
(n): vùng, miền, khu vực
(a): bí ẩn
 (n): sự bí ẩn
Read the text about the Great Pyramid of Giza and then do the tasks that follow.
1. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built by the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu around the year 2560 BC. The purpose of this huge stone pyramid was to serve as a tomb when he died and to protect the burial chamber from the weather and from thieves who might try to steal the treasures and belongings there. The Great Pyramid is believed to have been built over a 20-year period. First, the site was prepared and then the huge blocks of stone were transported and put in their places.

2. When it was built, the Great Pyramid was 147 metres high on a base of 230 square metres. It ranked as the tallest structure on earth for more than 43 centuries, only to be surpassed in height in the nineteenth century AD. The structure consisted of approximately 2 million blocks of stone, each weighing about 2.5 tons. It has been suggested that there are enough blocks in the three pyramids to build a 3-metre high, 0.3-metre-thick wall around France.

3. Although it is not known how the blocks were put in place, several theories have been proposed. One theory involves the construction of a straight or spiral ramp that was raised as the construction proceeded. A second theory suggests that the blocks were lifted and placed using thousands of huge weight arms.

4. Today, the Great Pyramid of Giza is enclosed, together with the other pyramids in the tourist region of the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the River Nile. Also n the area is the museum housing the mysterious Sun Boat, only discovered in 1954 near the south side of the pyramid. The boat is believed to have been used to carry the body of Khufu in his last journey on earth before being buried inside the pyramid.

Task 1:The words in the box all appear in the passage. Fill each blank with a suitable word.
mysterious ramp tomb chamber spiral wonder

1. Last week we paid a visit to the ________ of an unknown mandarin.
2. The movie was about a ________the world.
3. A _______ is needed at the exit and the entrance for wheelchairs users.
4. The Queen’s private __________ is not opened to public.
5. It’s not known why Boson disappeared in ___________ circumstances.
6. A snail’s shell is _______ in form.
Task 2: Read the passage again and answer the questions.
Where is the Great Pyramid of Giza situated and when was it built?
 It is located on the west bank of the River Nile and it was built around the year 2560 BC.
2. How high and large was the Great Pyramid of Giza?
 It was about 147 metres high on a base of 230 metres square.
3. What was the purpose of this huge stone pyramid?
 The purpose of this huge stone Pyramid was to serve as a tomb when the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu died and to protect the burial chamber from the weather and from thieves who might try to steal the treasures and belongings there.
4. How did the people of ancient Egypt build the Great Pyramid?
 It is thought that the ancient Egyptian used straight or spiral ramps/ or huge weight arms to lift and place the blocks of stone.
5. According to the passage, what is the boat believed to have been used for?
 The boat is believed to have been used to carry the body of Khufu in his last journey on earth before being buried inside the pyramid.
Task 3: Scan the text and say what the following words refer to


Example: He (line 3) refers to Khufu.
Who( line 4) ___________
It( line 8) ___________
It ( line 9) ___________
Each( line 12) ___________ 
Task 3: Scan the text and say what the following words refer to
Example: He (line 3) refers to Khufu.

Answer:
The Great Pyramid of Giza was built by the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu around the year 2560 BB. The purpose of this huge stone pyramid was to serve as a tomb when he died and to protect the burial chamber from the weather and from thieves who might try to steal the treasures and belongings there.
Who( line 4) refers to the thieves.
When it was built, the Great Pyramid was 147 metres high on a base of 230 square metres. It ranked as the tallest structure on earth for more than 43 centuries, only to be surpassed in height in the nineteenth century AD.
It( line 8) refers to the Great Pyramid
It ( line 9) refers to the Great Pyramid
The structure consisted of approximately 2 million blocks of stone, each weighing about 2.5 tons. It has been suggested that there are enough blocks in the three pyramids to build a 3-,etre high, 0.3-metre-thick wall around France.
Each( line 12) refers to the block of stone.
AFTER YOU READ
Work in groups
Discuss the question: Which of the wonders of the world do you prefer and why.