A Giraffe in Central Asia

Where was Tamerlane from?

What did rulers of other countries want to do with Tamerlane?

How far did the giraffe mentioned in the audio walk from Cairo to Samarkand?

Complete the text you are listening to by dragging the correct word to each blank.

A Giraffe in Central Asia

   Tamerlane (1336?-1405) was a very strong Mongol leader. He and his soldiers fought until Tamerlane became the 4.1 of all 4.2 Asia. Rulers of other countries wanted to 4.3 with Tamerlane. It was safer to be friends than enemies. 

   4.4 from many countries took gifts to Tamerlane. They took beautiful cloth, 4.5, gold, and silver. They often tried to take something unusual as a gift, too. 

   In 1404, near the end of Tamerlane's life, an Egyptian ambassador arrived in Samarkand. This was where Tamerlane lived. The ambassador and his men traveled on horses and camels. They brought a giraffe from Africa as a gift. 

   Egyptian camels and horses 4.6 walking in the desert. They did it all the time. A giraffe is not used to the desert. But this giraffe walked 5,000 kilometers from Cairo to Samarkand. 

    We know about the Egyptian ambassador's gift because several people wrote about it. No one wrote that Tamerlane liked it. However, we suppose that he was very pleased to have this strange African animal in Central Asia.

Read and answer the following questions.

A Giraffe in Central Asia

   Tamerlane (1336?-1405) was a very strong Mongol leader. He and his soldiers fought until Tamerlane became the ruler of all Central Asia. Rulers of other countries wanted to make friends with Tamerlane. It was safer to be friends than enemies. 

   Ambassadors from many countries took gifts to Tamerlane. They took beautiful cloth, jewelry, gold, and silver. They often tried to take something unusual as a gift, too. 

   In 1404, near the end of Tamerlane's life, an Egyptian ambassador arrived in Samarkand. This was where Tamerlane lived. The ambassador and his men traveled on horses and camels. They brought a giraffe from Africa as a gift. 

   Egyptian camels and horses were used to walking in the desert. They did it all the time. A giraffe is not used to the desert. But this giraffe walked 5,000 kilometers from Cairo to Samarkand. 

    We know about the Egyptian ambassador's gift because several people wrote about it. No one wrote that Tamerlane liked it. However, we suppose that he was very pleased to have this strange African animal in Central Asia. 

According to the passage, why did rulers of other countries want to make friends with Tamerlane?

Which of the following were the gifts that ambassadors took to Tamerlane?

Which of the following can be inferred from the last paragraph?

Put the right word in each blank. The sentences are from the text.

1. 9.1 from many countries took gifts to Tamerlane. 
2. Egyptian camels and horses 9.2 walking in the desert. 
3. Rulers of other countries wanted to 9.3 with Tamerlane.
4. They took beautiful cloth, 9.4, gold and silver.
5. He and his soldiers fought until Tamerlane became the 9.5 of all of 9.6 Asia. 

Put the right word in each blank. These are new sentences for words in the text. 

1. Who is your country's 10.1 to the United States?
2. Some women like to wear a lot of 10.2.
3. A king is the 10.3 of a country.
4. When Japanese students study in the United States for a long time, they 10.4 the food.
5. Simon finds it hard to 10.5 with other children.
6. There will be rain later in 10.6 and eastern parts of the country.