Reading 3
I Now answer the questions - only one answer is correct each time.
1. What prompts the question at the end of the first paragraph?
a Pegasus, Cetus and Andromeda are dull constellations with exciting names.
b Pegasus, Cetus and Andromeda have no connection with autumn.
c Only Pegasus is connected with the sky.
d Many people find astronomy boring and incomprehensible.
2. Why does the writer mention the North American Indians, ancient Chinese and Aborigines?
a to demonstrate that ancient Chinese technology was the most advanced
b to illustrate different ways of describing the stars
c to prove that southern cultures produce the most original astronomers
d to show that all cultures study astronomy
3. The constellations and their names familiar to us originate from
a Europe b Asia c South America d Australia
4. What was Aratus's source for The Phaenomena?
a the royal house of Macedonia c the writings of Eudoxus
b an ancient globe d a lost poem
5. The globe was
a a manuscript about star constellations c an ball-shaped object
b a poem d a painting
6. The writer makes the assumption that the seamen of ancient times
a were very superstitious c loved poetry
b made up stories about the stars d had little formal education
7. Which is the correct chronological order?
a Hipparchus, Aratus, Eudoxus c Eudoxus, Aratus, Hipparchus
b Aratus, Hipparchus, Eudoxus d Aratus, Eudoxus, Hipparchus
8. Thanks to a discovery made by Hipparchus we know that
a the positions of the constellations alter over a long period of time
b the gravity of the Sun and Moon cause the Earth to bulge at the equator
c constellations disappear over a period of 26,000 years
d stars change position within constellations
9. What is puzzling about the descriptions of the constellations in The Phaenomena?
a They are not consistent with those of Eudoxus.
b They are not correct for 250 BC.
c They match those on the globe.
d They show that Aratus did not understand latitude.
10. What does the writer suggest about the Minoans?
a They were better astronomers than any other ancient civilisation.
b They sailed from the Mediterranean to other parts of the world.
c Their view of the stars was used later by the Greeks.
d They used accurate maps of the Mediterranean.
II Find the words or phrases in the article that have the following meanings. The numbers
indicate which section you should look at.
1. frightening, strong and powerful (1) ................................................
2. eat sth eagerly (1) ................................................
3. inspire, make sth happen, cause (1) ................................................
4. prospered (1) ................................................
5. mention in an indirect way (2) ................................................
6. shaking, moving from side to side (2) ................................................
7. destroy completely, bring devastation (3) ................................................
8. sth that stays from an earlier time, part of your history (3) ................................................
III Answer the following questions in your own words.
1. Explain the word riddle in the title.
2. Give reasons why the writer doesn't see the following civilizations as the likely astro-navigators.
The Egyptians ........
The Phoenicians ...............
The Babylonians ................
KEY
1. 1pt/each
1a 2b 3a 4c 5c 6d 7c 8a 9b 10c
2.
1. 1pt/each
2. fierce
3. devour
4. prompt
5. flourished
6. allude
7. wobbling
8. wiping out
9. legacy
3.
1. = 2pts
2. = 3pts (1each)