Verdi would have loved the idea. In the ruins of the Temple of Luxor,
near the ancient city of Thebes where the pharaohs ruled, stages for a grand opera are being put into shape.There, in early May, a $10 million productionof “AIDA” will take place in the open air. Colossal figures of Ramses II will look down on Verdi’s monumental drama of love, war and betrayal. The background will be the river Nile. It will also be a fantastic spectacle – or a spectacular fiasco.
The impresario is Fawzi Mitwali, a wealthy Egyptian-born mineral-oil
wholesaler,who sees the show as sort of a Woodstock for the very rich. “I want to bring all people together, all opera lovers, into one big nation during the opera performance,”performance,” he says. About 40,000 tickets, at prices from $250 to $550, are being sold worldwide for a run that will last only 10 performances.King Hussein of Jordan, King Juan Carlos of Spain and, of course, the Prince and Princess of Wales have been invited. Six of the eight Concorde supersonic
15 jets currently in service are supposed to fly in to Luxor airport, and most of the Nile’s luxury cruise boats will be tied up along the banks to offer accommodations.
But this opera fan’s dream could turn into an archaeologist’s nightmare. Lanny Bell, director of an archaeological project in Luxor, shudders at the impact that thousands of opera fans,not to mention hundreds of lance carriers recruited 20 from the Egyptian army, might have on fragile structures already eroded by rising ground water and corrosive salt. Merely the vibrations of so many stamping feet could be a problem, he warns. “General damage can be anticipated,” he says
gloomily, “like from an earthquake.”
Then there are the logistical horrors. Luxor has only about half the first-class hotel rooms it needs to house the nightly audience of 4,000, and cruise boats may not be able to take up the slack. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan will have just begun, a period when all-day fasting and all-night feasting often bring Egypt to a virtual standstill. Luxor residents doubt there will be enough food, enough clean sheets, even enough jet fuel at the airport.
Mitwali scoffs at the sceptics. “I know it is difficult,” he says. “I only do difficult things.” He stresses that Egyptian officials are watching closely to make sure the monuments are not damaged. The Egyptians hope that the Luxor “AIDA” can restore an aura of glamour and confidence to their country after the terrorist incidents of recent years – notably the Achille Lauro hijacking – that scared rich foreigners away. So grand a project certainly deserves success, but it may be well to remember that “AIDA” itself ends tragically, with the Ethiopian princess and her Egyptian lover sealed in a cold, dark tomb.
1. Answer the following comprehension questions.
· What is the passage about?……………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
· Explain what is meant by “who sees the show as a sort of Woodstock for the very rich”. (19)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
· What is the central concern of archaeologist Lenny Bell?…………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
· What natural causes have already damaged the archaeological sites?………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
· What problems can guests arriving in Luxor anticipate?…………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
· Why is it so important to the Egyptians that the show is a huge success?…………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
· What is the author implying in the last sentence of the passage? “So grand a project…..dark tomb.” (35-37)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
· What is the main idea in paragraph 3?
a) potential archaeological damage
b) the problem of using the Egyptian army
c) earthquake damage
What is the main idea in paragraph 4
a) logistical problems
b) the shortage of hotels
c) the problem of the holy month of Ramadan
· Explain the meaning of the following words or phrases as they are used in the passage.
a) for a run (12)…………………………………………………………………………..
b) shudders (18)…………………………………………………………………………..
c) gloomily (23)………………………………………………………………………….
d) logistical (24)……………………………………………………………………………
e) to take up the slack (26)………………………………………………………………
f) all-day fasting (27)…………………………………………………………………..
g) a virtual standstill (28)………………………………………………………………..
h) scoffs at the sceptics (30)……………………………………………………………..
i) an aura of glamour (33)
What do the following words refer to?
there (3)…………………………………………… it (6)………………………………………………
who (9)……………………………………………. he (11)……………………………………………
it (25)……………………………………………… it (30)…………………………………………….
their (33)………………………………………….. it (35)…………………………………………….
itself (36)…………………………………………… her (37)…………………………………………..
In paragraph 4, there are no linking words joining the ideas in each of the sentences. Choose the most
appropriate linking word to join the following sentences.
a) between sentence 1 & 2 ----- but, for example, first, if
b) between sentence 2 & 3 ----- in addition, therefore, still, of course
c) between sentence 3 & 4 ----- however, finally, briefly, then
4. IRREGULAR VERBS …..write the infinitive, past simple, past participle and translation of the following verbs.
INFINITIVE PAST SIMPLE PAST PARTICIPLE TRANSLATION
……………………………………………………………….put (3)………………………………………
take (4)……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
see (9)………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
say (11)………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………..sold (12)………………………………………
fly (15)…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
take (26)………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………begun (27)……………………………………..
bring (27)…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
know (30)…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
do (30)……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
make (31)…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
MODALS ….translate each of the following modal constructions and state what each modal expresses,
e.g., ability, possibility, obligation, permission, advice etc.
· the dream could turn into a nightmare (17)……………………………………………………………….
· the impact that fans might have on fragile structures (20)………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
· vibrations could be a problem (22)………………………………………………………………………
· damage can be anticipated (22)………………………………………………………………………….
· cruise boats may not be able to take up the slack (25)…………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
· AIDA can restore an aura of glamour (33)…………………………………………………………………
· it may be well to remember (35)………………………………………………………………………….
6. PASSIVES….re-write the following passive voice constructions using the active voice.
· stages are being put into shape (3)………………………………………………………………………
· tickets are being sold (12)………………………………………………………………………………
· the Prince and Princess of Wales have been invited (14)……………………………………………….
· cruise boats will be tied up (16)………………………………………………………………………….
· structures (which have been) eroded by water and salt (20)………………………………………………
· to make sure the monuments are not damaged (32)………………………………………………………
CLOZE ….fill each of the numbered spaces with an appropriate word taken from the box.
Verdi would have loved the idea. In _____________(1) ruins of the Temple of Luxor, ___________(2)
the ancient city of Thebes where the ______________(3) ruled, stages for a grand opera _____________(4)
being put into shape. There, in ____________(5) May, a $10 million production of Aida ______________(6)
take place in the open air. _______________(7) figures of Ramses II will look down ______________(8)
Verdi’s monumental drama of love, war ___________(9) betrayal. The background will be the river Nile.
It will also _____________(10) a fantastic spectacle – or a spectacular fiasco.
be and are near the on
colossal will early pharaohs
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