The City School – EOUT Section 1: Reading for Ideas 25 marks Instructions: Task 1- Read the text carefully. Task 2- Open MS word. Task 3- Write your name and class and complete 1- content points 2- summary writing 3- fact and opinion on a word document and submit it as a class assignment. Passage 1: Travels in Spain 1 In 1964 I had occasion to spend a month in Spain, most of which was spent in Andalusia. Even after five hundred years, the society there bears the mark of Arab culture. In dance, music and every other aspect of life, the influence of the Arabs is apparent. The present inhabitants of Andalusia mention the Arab era with pride and deem it a golden age in their history. In many places in Spain, and especially in Andalusia, ruins of bridges, forts, and fortifications that were built by the Arabs can be found. Among famous examples of architecture still left standing are the Alhambra of Granada and the mosque at Cordova. 2 In the older part of Granada, within the citadel, the old neighbourhood of Zako is worth seeing. Its houses are in the old Arab style, with fountains playing in their courtyards, the men’s quarters in front, and the women’s quarters next to the back garden. Though the streets are paved with stones, they are too narrow for a motor car to drive through them. But they are dotted with stalls where jalebis are deep fried or kebabs roasted. The church has conceded to the extent that Muslims are allowed to say their prayers in a part of the mosque at Cordova. 3 Granada is situated in the lap of mountains. The city itself is positioned on one prominence, while the crumbling buildings of the Alhambra are scattered on another. Between the two is a steep valley, through which flows a river. Notable among the few remaining buildings from earlier times, is the ‘Madrassa’, which I have seen being used as a police station, though now I believe it has been handed over to the university. In the mountain caves outside the town, live gypsies, said to be the descendants of Arabs who became nomads in order to escape the oppression of the Christian church in the fifteenth century. After the heat of the Inquisition cooled down, they stayed on in the caves and made them their home. These caves now have electricity and are visited by crowds of tourists attracted by the gypsy songs and dances. 4 When I spoke a few words in the gypsy language and told them that I belonged to the subcontinent, the gypsies were delighted, and lavished hospitality on me. Many researchers feel that these gypsies come from the region that is now Pakistan. Their assumption is strengthened by the language that these people speak. In the beginning of the Christian The City School – EOUT Section 1: Reading for Ideas 25 marks Instructions: Task 1- Read the text carefully. Task 2- Open MS word. Task 3- Write your name and class and complete 1- content points 2- summary writing 3- fact and opinion on a word document and submit it as a class assignment. Passage 1: Travels in Spain 1 In 1964 I had occasion to spend a month in Spain, most of which was spent in Andalusia. Even after five hundred years, the society there bears the mark of Arab culture. In dance, music and every other aspect of life, the influence of the Arabs is apparent. The present inhabitants of Andalusia mention the Arab era with pride and deem it a golden age in their history. In many places in Spain, and especially in Andalusia, ruins of bridges, forts, and fortifications that were built by the Arabs can be found. Among famous examples of architecture still left standing are the Alhambra of Granada and the mosque at Cordova. 2 In the older part of Granada, within the citadel, the old neighbourhood of Zako is worth seeing. Its houses are in the old Arab style, with fountains playing in their courtyards, the men’s quarters in front, and the women’s quarters next to the back garden. Though the streets are paved with stones, they are too narrow for a motor car to drive through them. But they are dotted with stalls where jalebis are deep fried or kebabs roasted. The church has conceded to the extent that Muslims are allowed to say their prayers in a part of the mosque at Cordova. 3 Granada is situated in the lap of mountains. The city itself is positioned on one prominence, while the crumbling buildings of the Alhambra are scattered on another. Between the two is a steep valley, through which flows a river. Notable among the few remaining buildings from earlier times, is the ‘Madrassa’, which I have seen being used as a police station, though now I believe it has been handed over to the university. In the mountain caves outside the town, live gypsies, said to be the descendants of Arabs who became nomads in order to escape the oppression of the Christian church in the fifteenth century. After the heat of the Inquisition cooled down, they stayed on in the caves and made them their home. These caves now have electricity and are visited by crowds of tourists attracted by the gypsy songs and dances. 4 When I spoke a few words in the gypsy language and told them that I belonged to the subcontinent, the gypsies were delighted, and lavished hospitality on me. Many researchers feel that these gypsies come from the region that is now Pakistan. Their assumption is strengthened by the language that these people speak. In the beginning of the Christian era, when warlike tribes from Central Asia began their invasions, the early inhabitants were forced to flee to the south. It is very likely that many of these people mingled with the invaders and travelled west, adopting a nomadic life. In Spain I heard gypsies speak words like pani, and kala chiri, which have the same meaning in their language that they do in Urdu, that is ‘water’ and ‘blackbird’. 5 The Alhambra evokes a romantic sense of the grandeur of bygone cultures. In keeping with the architectural style prevalent in the Middle Ages, the Arab elite of Granada kept erecting buildings inside the citadel until this ‘royal space’ became entirely self-sufficient. The court of the rulers there became the hub for craftsmen and artists. However, the depredations of time have so changed this lively neighbourhood that now its fame is confined to the palace known as the Alhambra. In the eyes of the experts this building is unrivalled in its location and artistic qualities. The opposite side of the town is reserved for the public audience hall and the king’s administrative centre. 6 There are numerous windows in its tall marble wall, through each of which the city of Granada can be seen in its entirety as though set in a picture frame. Embraced by fountains, a colourful path takes one to the women’s apartment at the back, from every casement of which a panorama of snow-covered mountain peaks is visible. The old Alhambra garden has retained its original appearance, with seven-hundred-year-old cedars imported from Lebanon still standing there, engaged in a lamentation for the past. One of the buildings within this crumbling enclosure has been turned into a hotel. I stayed there for two days, and during this time I wandered the ruined courtyard, heard old tunes on traditional instruments, and listened to the local people talking about the Civil War which had ended twenty years before. Read Passage 1 and then answer all the questions below 1 (a) Notes Identify and write down the Arab influences to be seen in Andalusia, and the attractions of the area for the visitor as described in the passage. USE ONLY THE MATERIAL FROM PARAGRAPHS 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. At this stage, you need NOT use your own words. To help you get started, the first point in your column of notes is done for you. You will be awarded up to 12 marks for content points. MAIN POINTS : Arab influences: The society bears the mark of Arab culture Attractions for the visitor: Andalusia has much to attract the visitor 1 (b) Summary Now use your notes to write a summary, in which you explain the Arab influences to be seen in Andalusia, and the attractions of the area for the visitor as described in the passage. This time, you will be awarded up to 10 marks for using your own words wherever possible and for accurate use of language. Your summary, which must be in continuous writing (not note form), should be around 160 words, including the 10 words given below. Begin your summary as follows: Although Andalusia ceased to be Arab five hundred years ago…….............................………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2) From Paragraph 4, select and write down one fact and one opinion. One fact is ............................................................................................................................ [1] One opinion is ...................................................................................................................... [1] 3) Which of the following statements is correct? Write down the statement you have selected. a-The writer was happy to see the Arab influences in Andalusia. …………….. b-The writer enjoyed the music and the sight-seeing in Andalusia. …………….. c-The writer was interested to hear the language of the cave-dwellers. Total marks :25 .…………… [1]
