SRT-102

Read the given text carefully and do the activities that follow.

The period commonly known as Renaissance (1400-1600) began in Florence, Italy. It represented a renewed interest in Greek and Roman art and literature. The greatest achievements in art during this period were the perfection of depth perspective, use of colours, and effects of light and shadow. Artists across Europe improved on the ancient artists’ techniques as no other period had done. The learned were studying Greek and Roman to read the ancient literary classics. There were many advances in science and technology, discoveries in the New World, and changes in religion. The growth of universities throughout Europe helped create a more educated middle class that was to take over running the government within the following centuries. Europe had come out of the Dark Ages. This idea of rebirth in learning characterized other epochs in history in different parts of the world.

In AD 800, Charlemagne became the king of the franks and initiated the Carolingian renaissance, which lasted until the end of the ninth century. This period saw beautiful and more modern cities patterned on Roman architecture. Charlemagne stimulated learning and the development of the arts, sponsored a palace academy, established a curriculum in schools for the nobility, created libraries (a carryover from Alexandrian Egypt of 323 BC.), and changed writing to an improved style of script.

Kevian Russia also enjoyed a century of rebirth some two hundred years later under the able rule of Yaroslav the Wise. Like Charlemagne, he founded schools, established libraries, and brought about many architectural achievements.

A.    Rewrite the following statements choosing the best option from the given alternatives.

1.     The earliest periods of rebirth was…………….

1. Russian
2. Irtalian
3. Carolingian
4. Roman

2.    All of the following are mentioned as characteristics of periods except…….

a.      maintaining the status quo

b.     improved education

c.      architectural advances

d.     the creation of libraries

3.     The word carryover in line16 means almost the same as……..

1. remnant
2. residue
3. innovation
4. barbarism

4. Which of the renaissance period lasted the longest?

1. Italian
2. Alexandrine
3. Carolingian
4. Kevian

B.     Answer the following questions in a sentence only exceeding which will result negatively.

1. What is meant by renaissance?
2. Why did the learned begin to study Greek and Roman?
3. What was the significance of the middle class?
4. Jot down the commonality between Kevian Russia and Charlemagne 

C.     Decide whether the following statements are true or false.

a.      The first renaissance began in Egypt.

b.     The greatest achievement in renaissance is excellence in depth perspective.

c.      It was only after the renaissance that the middle class began to form government in Europe.

d.     Carolingian renaissance was stared by Charlemagne.

D. Summarize the whole text in one third of its length.

Source:TOEFL Prep Guide Cliffs (ed.2004)

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