In the study of the arts and sciences, architecture ranks highly as one of the most fundamental and

practical subjects based on human culture. Architecture is the living proof of the persistence of
mans ideas with the passage of time.Back in prehistoric times, early man lived in caves. Many
years later, simple huts were erected to replace the caves as places of dwelling. The earliest known
huts were found in Russia and were made from mammoth bones.

As more time passed, man learnt to build stronger and bigger buildings. These served as
temples for worship or as tombs for important people. Between the years 2700 B.C and 2200
B.C., the Egyptians built massive stone pyramids which are still standing today, some four
thousand years later, to honor their gods and pharaohs. These pyramids are one of the seven
wonders of the world.

Wood was a popular building material with the Chinese and the Japanese. Many Buddhist
temples were built from wood. The roofs of these buildings were covered with tiles that
curved gently upwards. Wooden Japanese houses still retain the same design as those
constructed centuries ago. Rooms in such houses are divided by paper screens.

In India, the Hindu temples are the pinnacle of Indian architecture. Huge, carved statues of
Hindu gods decorate the pillars and the roofs of these temples.

Greek architecture from the period 450 B.C to 400 B.C has greatly influenced western
designs. Ancient Greek buildings were well-known for their beauty and fine proportions. the
Greeks were fond of using columns to support the roofs of their buildings.

During the fourth century, much of Europe was under siege from her enemies. Kings and
noblemen resorted to building strong castles to protect themselves. These castles had thick
walls, high towers and small windows to discourage invaders. Another feature was the
inclusion of a moat around the castle. Access to the castle was only via the drawbridge which
would be lowered and raised accordingly to admit traffic in and out of the castle. As more
and more European countries became stable politically, European architects shifted towards a
style that highlighted grace and beauty instead of protection.

It was not until the turn of the twentieth century that architects realized the appearance of a
building must be closely related to its function. New techniques and new materials were thus
used to create more interesting designs.
From paragraph 1 :
1. Give the meaning of the word highly.
R/In the study of the arts and sciences, architecture ranks highly as one of the most
fundamental and practical subjects based on human culture. Architecture is the living
proof of the persistence of mans ideas with the passage of time.
From paragraph 2 :
2. (a) What was mans first home ?
R/ Back in prehistoric times, early man lived in caves.
 (b) Which word in this paragraph means built ?

R/ Architecture is the living proof of the persistence of mans ideas with the passage
of time.

(c) What were the earliest huts made of ?

R/ were made from mammoth bones.

From paragraph 3 :
3. (a) Why did the Egyptians build the stone pyramids ?

R/ to honor their gods and pharaohs.

(b) What does the word These refer to ?

R/refers to the pyramids that were considered as temples and tombs for their gods
and pharaohs

From paragraph 4 :
4. (a) What do you suppose is unique about wooden Japanese houses ?

R/ The roofs of these buildings were covered with tiles that curved gently upwards and
Rooms in such houses are divided by paper screens.
(b) What can you say about the wooden Japanese houses built at a later date and those built
centuries ago ?

R/ because in spite of the centuries the current house maintains the same design as
the houses built centuries ago maintaining an architectural tradition

From paragraph 5 :
5. What was a common characteristic of temples in India ?

R/ The temples in India are characterized by their huge carved statues of Hindu gods
decorate the pillars and roofs of these temples.

From paragraph 6 :
6. (a) How has Greek architecture influenced Western designs ?

R/ Ancient Greek buildings were well-known for their beauty and fine proportions.
(b) Explain the meaning of the word fine.

R/fine means or refers to something or someone that is delicate, sharp, witty,

tenuous or insightful.

From paragraph 7 :
7. (a) Why did ancient European kings build castles ?
 R/ to protect yourself from your enemies

(b) Which word n this paragraph means emphasized ?

R/ highlighted

(c) What was the purpose of the drawbridge ?

R/ Access to the castle was only via the drawbridge which would be lowered and
raised accordingly to admit traffic in and out of the castle.
From paragraph 8 :
8. Which year does the turn of the twentieth century refer to ?

R/ refers to the year 1900

Del prrafo 1:
1. Da el significado de la palabra 'altamente'.
Del prrafo 2:
2. a) Cul fue el primer hogar del hombre?
(b) Qu palabra en este prrafo significa 'construida'?
(c) De qu estaban hechas las chozas ms antiguas?
Del prrafo 3:
3. (a) Por qu los egipcios construyeron las pirmides de piedra?
(b) A qu se refiere la palabra "Estos"?
Del prrafo 4:
4. (a) Qu supones que es nico sobre las casas japonesas de madera?
(b) Qu puede decir acerca de las casas japonesas de madera construidas en una fecha posterior y las
construidas hace siglos?
Del prrafo 5:
5. Cul era una caracterstica comn de los templos en la India?
Del prrafo 6:
6. (a) Cmo ha influido la arquitectura griega en los diseos occidentales?
(b) Explique el significado de la palabra 'bien'.
Del prrafo 7:
7. a) Por qu los antiguos reyes europeos construyeron castillos?
(b) Qu palabra n en este prrafo significa 'enfatizado'?
(c) Cul era el propsito del puente levadizo?
Del prrafo 8:
8. A qu ao se refiere el cambio de siglo XX?
En el estudio de las artes y las ciencias, la arquitectura ocupa un lugar destacado como uno de los temas
ms fundamentales y prcticos basados en la cultura humana. La arquitectura es la prueba viviente de la
persistencia de las ideas del hombre con el paso del tiempo. En los tiempos prehistricos, el hombre
primitivo viva en cuevas. Muchos aos despus, se erigieron cabaas simples para reemplazar las
cuevas como lugares de vivienda. Las primeras cabaas conocidas se encontraron en Rusia y estaban
hechas de huesos de mamut.
A medida que pasaba ms tiempo, el hombre aprendi a construir edificios ms fuertes y ms grandes.
Estos sirvieron como templos para adoracin o como tumbas para personas importantes. Entre los aos
2700 aC y 2200 aC, los egipcios construyeron enormes pirmides de piedra que an se mantienen en pie
hoy, unos cuatro mil aos ms tarde, para honrar a sus dioses y faraones. Estas pirmides son una de
las siete maravillas del mundo.
La madera era un material de construccin popular entre los chinos y los japoneses. Muchos templos
budistas fueron construidos de madera. Los techos de estos edificios estaban cubiertos con tejas que se
curvaban suavemente hacia arriba. Las casas japonesas de madera conservan el mismo diseo que las
construidas hace siglos. Las habitaciones en tales casas estn divididas por pantallas de papel.
En India, los templos hindes son el pinculo de la arquitectura india. Enormes estatuas talladas de
dioses hindes decoran los pilares y los techos de estos templos.
La arquitectura griega del perodo 450 aC a 400 aC ha influido mucho en los diseos occidentales. Los
edificios griegos antiguos eran bien conocidos por su belleza y proporciones finas. a los griegos les
gustaba usar columnas para sostener los techos de sus edificios.

Durante el siglo IV, gran parte de Europa estaba bajo el asedio de sus enemigos. Los reyes y los nobles
recurrieron a la construccin de fuertes castillos para protegerse. Estos castillos tenan paredes gruesas,
altas torres y ventanas pequeas para desalentar a los invasores. Otra caracterstica fue la inclusin de
un foso alrededor del castillo. El acceso al castillo era solo a travs del puente levadizo, que se bajara y
se elevara en consecuencia para admitir el trfico dentro y fuera del castillo. A medida que ms y ms
pases europeos se establecieron polticamente, los arquitectos europeos cambiaron hacia un estilo que
resaltaba la gracia y la belleza en lugar de la proteccin.
No fue sino hasta el cambio de siglo que los arquitectos se dieron cuenta de que la apariencia de un edificio debe estar
estrechamente relacionada con su funcin. Nuevas tcnicas y nuevos materiales se utilizaron para crear diseos ms interesantes.