The Taj Mahal
9/30/2022 5:25:25 PM
Do you know?
- The Taj Mahal is one of the most significant Mughal Empire architectural marvels that still stands in all its beauty and finesse in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Taj Mahal was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. As a national symbol of India, it welcomes millions of visitors each year.
Let's explore more about this palace!
Let's learn some new words before you read the passage:
Listen and complete the passage.
| architecture | erect | tribute | marble |
| precious | enduring | imported |
The Taj Mahal is on the list of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Historians, tourists, and students of and design admire it for two reasons. One is for its beauty. The other is the love story that led to its creation.
The Taj Mahal stands on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, India. Its construction began in 1631 and was finished in 1653. It is an Islamic tomb built of white marble, which was from all over India and neighboring lands. Its creation required the use of more than 1,000 elephants to transport the . More than 22,000 builders labored for twenty-one years to it. They used twenty-eight different kinds of and semi-precious stones to decorate the temple. This “Crown Palace” is a monument to love. Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal emperor of India. When he was a fourteen-year-old prince, he fell in love with a fifteen-year-old Persian princess. Five years later, she became his third wife. This was in 1612. He called her “Mumtaz Mahal,” which means “Jewel of the Palace.” They had a happy marriage. However, she died giving birth to their fourteenth child. Heartbroken, her husband ordered the building of the Taj Mahal. This tomb is a to her. It still stands as an symbol of their love.
Read and answer the following questions.
The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is on the list of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Historians, tourists, and students of architecture and design admire it for two reasons. One is for its beauty. The other is the love story that led to its creation.
The Taj Mahal stands on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, India. Its construction began in 1631 and was finished in 1653. It is an Islamic tomb built of white marble, which was imported from all over India and neighboring lands. Its creation required the use of more than 1,000 elephants to transport the marble. More than 22,000 builders labored for twenty-one years to erect it. They used twenty-eight different kinds of precious and semi-precious stones to decorate the temple. This “Crown Palace” is a monument to love. Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal emperor of India. When he was a fourteen-year-old prince, he fell in love with a fifteen-year-old Persian princess. Five years later, she became his third wife. This was in 1612. He called her “Mumtaz Mahal,” which means “Jewel of the Palace.” They had a happy marriage. However, she died giving birth to their fourteenth child. Heartbroken, her husband ordered the building of the Taj Mahal. This tomb is a tribute to her. It still stands as an enduring symbol of their love.
Source: Daily Warm-ups - Nonfiction Reading Grade 6
Which culture does the Taj Mahal represent?
- Buddhist culture
- Jewish culture
- Islamic culture
How old was the Persian princess when she got married?
- fourteen years old
- fifteen years old
- twenty years old
What do you know from the passage?
- During the reign of Shah Jahan, India was one of the most powerful nations in the world.
- It took more than two decades for the construction of the Taj Mahal to be completed.
- The fourteen child of the emperor Shah Jahan became his successor.
Which is NOT mentioned about the Taj Mahal in the passage?
- the meaning behind its construction
- difficulties during its construction
- materials used for its construction
The passage is likely to be seen in _____.
- an article about famous historical works
- a blog to compare the Taj Mahal and other temples
- a headline about the degradation of cultural heritage
Build your vocabulary by learning these intensive phrases/idioms
Katherine spends all of her free time knitting baby clothes for her friends for pleasure rather than money. It must be _____.
- a snowball effect
- a labour of love
- a storm in a teacup
- a shopping spree
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. You must use between THREE and FIVE words, including the word given. Do not change the word given.
Greece has always stated that this country has no intention of occupying the territory. (DESIGNS)
=> Greece has always stressed that it the territory.
They’ve threatened to close the shop down, and I think they _____.
- let sleeping dogs lie
- mean business
- run like the wind
- cost an arm and a leg