ROME: The legend of Leonardo da Vinci is covered in mystery: How did he die? Are the remains buried in a French castle really those of the master? Was the "Mona Lisa" a self-portrait in disguise (伪装)?

A group of Italian scientists believe the key to solving those puzzles lies with the remains, and they say they are seeking permission to dig up the body to conduct carbon and DNA testing.

If the skull is undamaged, the scientists can go to the heart of a question that has fascinated scholars and the public for centuries: the identity of the "Mona Lisa." Recreating a virtual and then physical reconstruction of Leonardo's face, they can compare it with the smiling face in the painting.

"We don't know what we'll find if the tomb is opened. We could even just find grains and dust," says Giorgio Gruppioni, an anthropologist who is participating in the project. "But if the remains are well kept, they are a biological record of events in a person's life, and sometimes in their death." Silvano Vinceti, the leader of the group, said that he plans to press his case with the French officials in charge of the said burial site at Amboise Castle early next week.

Leonardo moved to France at the invitation of King Francis I, who named him "first painter to the king." He spent the last three years of his life there, and died in 1519 at age 67. The artist's original burial place, the palace church of Saint Florentine, was destroyed during the French Revolution and remains that are believed to be his were eventually reburied in the Saint-Hubert Chapel near the castle.

"The Amboise tomb is a symbolic tomb; it's a big question mark," said Alessandro Vezzosi, the director of a museum dedicated to Leonardo in his hometown of Vinci. Vezzosi said that investigating the tomb could help identify the artist's bones with certainty and solve other questions, such as the cause of his death. He said he asked to open the tomb in 2004 to study the remains, but the Amboise Castle turned him down.

The group of 100 experts involved in the project, called the National Committee for Historical and Artistic Heritage, was created in 2003 with the aim of "solving the great mysteries of the past," said Vinceti, who has written books on art and literature.

Arguably the world's most famous painting, the "Mona Lisa" hangs in the Louvre in Paris, where it drew some 8.5 million visitors last year. Mystery has surrounded the identity of the painting's subject for centuries, with opinions ranging from the wife of a Florentine merchant to Leonardo's own mother.

That Leonardo intended the "Mona Lisa" as a self-portrait in disguise is a possibility that has interested and divided scholars. Theories have existed: Some think that Leonardo's taste for tricks and riddles might have led him to hide his own identity behind that puzzling smile; others have guessed that the painting hid an androgynous lover.

If granted access to the grave site, the Italian experts plan to use a tiny camera and radar to confirm the presence of bones. The scientists would then exhume (挖掘) the remains and attempt to date the bones with carbon testing.

At the heart of the proposed study is the effort to discover whether the remains are actually Leonardo's, including with DNA testing.

Vezzosi questions the DNA comparison, saying he is unaware of any direct descendants (后代) of Leonardo or of tombs that could be attributed with certainty to the artist's close relatives.

Gruppioni said that DNA from the bones could also eventually be compared to DNA found elsewhere. For example, Leonardo is thought to have rubbed colors on the canvas with his thumb, possibly using saliva (唾液), meaning DNA might be found on his paintings.

Even in the absence of DNA testing, other tests could provide useful information, including whether the bones belonged to a man or a woman, and whether the person died young or old.

Even within the committee, experts are divided over the identity of the "Mona Lisa."

Vinceti believes that a tradition of considering the self-portrait to be not just a faithful imitation of one's features but a representation of one's spiritual identity may have resonated (共鸣) with Leonardo.

Vezzosi, the museum director, dismissed as "baseless and senseless" the idea that the "Mona Lisa" could be a self-portrait of Leonardo. He said most researchers believe the woman may have been either a wife of the artist's sponsor, the Florentine nobleman Giuliano de Medici, or Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a rich silk merchant, Francesco del Giocondo. The traditional view is that the name "Mona Lisa" comes from the silk merchant's wife, as well as its Italian name: "La Gioconda."  

   Where is this passage most probably taken from?

    A. A magazine.  B. A newspaper. C. A textbook.      D. A research report.

   Why does the author ask a couple of questions in the beginning?

    A. To arouse the interest of readers.   B. To puzzle Italian scientists.

    C. To answer the questions himself.     D. To make fun of French officials.

   The best title of this story might be “_____”.

    A. What Is the Purpose of an Investigation?

    B. How Did Leonardo da Vinci Die in France?

    C. Are the Remains Really Those of the Master?

    D. Did Leonardo Paint Himself as 'Mona Lisa'?

The sentence “he plans to press his case with the French officials” (underlined in Paragraph 4) suggests that Vinceti intends to _____.

    A. press the French officials to participate in their project

    B. urge the French officials to open the tomb early next week

    C. persuade the French officials to allow opening the tomb

    D. record events in a person’s life with the French officials

   Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

    A. Scholars have the same opinion on DNA testing.

    B. Scientists doubt if the remains are those of da Vinci.

    C. The identity of “Mona Lisa” has already been proved.

    D. Alessandro Vezzosi got permission to open the tomb.

   We can infer from the last two paragraphs that _____?

    A. “Mona Lisa” is the name of the wife of a silk merchant

    B. the “Mona Lisa” is a self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci

    C. experts divided the committee into several groups

    D. opinions differ of the identity of the “Mona Lisa”

At IRA’s annual research conference, held each year immediately prior to the annual convention, researchers and practitioners have an opportunity to share information about research-based best practices in reading education.

       The research conference is an important opportunity for educators whose primary responsibility is providing pre-service and in-service education in reading and literacy

Program

       Reading research 2007 will feature four distinct lines: beginning reading, comprehension, teacher preparation, and adolescent literacy. Get program details.

       The keynote speaker will be Donald J. Leu, holder of the John and Maria Neag Endowed Chair of Literacy and Technology |at the University of Connecticut.

       New this year, the 2007 IRA research award winners will be honored at a special Research Awards Luncheon during this conference and dissertation finalists will display their poster presentations

Registration            

       Prepaid registration is now open. The prepaid registration deadline is April 9,2007.

       Please note: Registration for the Saturday Reading Research Conference is limited, and we encourage attendees to take advantage of the savings and convenience of registering in advance. If there is additional space available on the day of the conference, only cash or checks will be accepted on site in Toronto.

       Conference registration includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and a closing wine and cheese reception. You can register online or by using the Convention Prepaid Registration Form from the December/January and the February/March issues of Reading Today or from the Preliminary Program, There will be no telephone registrations. Questions about registration should be directed to customerservice@ reading, org.

       Please note: Separate registrations are required for the Annual Convention, the Sunday Institutes, and the Saturday Research Conference!

Other information

       For information on travel and housing, visit the annual convention area.

       For further information on this conference,, contact the Research and 'Policy Division, international Reading Association, 800 Barksdale Road, PO Box 8139, Newark, DE 19714-8139, USA. E-mail; gkeating@reading.org. Telephone: 302-731-1600, ext. 226.

What is this passage mainly about?

       A.The registration information for IRA's annual research conference.

       B.Pre-service and in-service education in reading and literacy.

       C.Reading Research 20C 7.

       D.Convention Prepaid Registration Form.

Which of the following is true?

       A.Practitioners have no opportunity to attend the conference.

       B.The 2007 conference v/ill be held at the University of Connecticut.

       C.Attendees can make a phone call to register.

       D.Attendees can take the separate registrations.

What is new for 2p07 IRA annual research conference?

       A.The keynote speaker will be Donald J.Leu.

       B.IRA research award winners will be honored at a special-Research Awards Luncheon.

       C.Attendees will visit the annual convention area.

       D.Conference registration includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and a.closing wine and cheese reception.


The Gullah people in the southern US have honored their culture for more than 100 years. Living mainly on the Sea Islands and coastal areas of South Carolina, Georgia and Floride, the Gullah people, an African-American group, have a rich culture including their own language. It is a Creole language created by slaves who came to the US from the West Africa in the 1800s. It combines West African languages with English.
For many years efforts have been made to save the Gullah language. One project began in 1979. Its goal was to translate the New Testament part of the Bible into Gullah. Experts say that it was a difficult process because Gullah is not a written language. It is a spoken language only.
A team of Gullah speakers began working on the translation to make the Bible easier to understand for those who spoke Gullah as their main language. The Gullah version is called De Nyew Testament. It is written in English on one side of the page, and next to it, there is a Gullah translation. De Nyew Testament was published by the American Bible Society. The project also received help from the Summer Institute of Linguistics, Wycliffe Bible Translators, the United Bible Societies and the Penn Centre
Experts believe that the translated Bible is a major step towards saving the Gullah language and traditions. “This is more than a Bible translation,” says Robert Hodgson, at the American Bible Society. “De Nyew Testament raises the Gullah language and culture to a new level.” Ardell Greene is a member of the translation team. She calls the book “a treasure”. She says that the Gullah version of the Bible will be read in churches and will help young people keep the Gullah language alive.
【小题1】According to the passage, De Nyew Testament can be best seen as _______.

A.a good version of the Bible
B.something difficult to understand
C.a spoken form of the Gullah language
D.the effort to save the Gullah language
【小题2】Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Gullah communities can be found in the southern US.
B.Gullah is influenced by both English and West African languages.
C.De Nyew Testament is a complete Bible translation.
D.Ardell Greene thinks highly of De Nyew Testament.
【小题3】What does this passage mainly focus on?
A.Efforts to save the Gullah language.
B.Different versions of the Bible.
C.The history of the Gullah people.
D.The culture of the Gullah people.

At IRA’s annual research conference, held each year immediately prior to the annual convention, researchers and practitioners have an opportunity to share information about research-based best practices in reading education.
The research conference is an important opportunity for educators whose primary responsibility is providing pre-service and in-service education in reading and literacy
Program
Reading research 2007 will feature four distinct lines: beginning reading, comprehension, teacher preparation, and adolescent literacy. Get program details.
The keynote speaker will be Donald J. Leu, holder of the John and Maria Neag Endowed Chair of Literacy and Technology |at the University of Connecticut.
New this year, the 2007 IRA research award winners will be honored at a special Research Awards Luncheon during this conference and dissertation finalists will display their poster presentations
Registration            
Prepaid registration is now open. The prepaid registration deadline is April 9,2007.
Please note: Registration for the Saturday Reading Research Conference is limited, and we encourage attendees to take advantage of the savings and convenience of registering in advance. If there is additional space available on the day of the conference, only cash or checks will be accepted on site in Toronto.
Conference registration includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and a closing wine and cheese reception. You can register online or by using the Convention Prepaid Registration Form from the December/January and the February/March issues of Reading Today or from the Preliminary Program, There will be no telephone registrations. Questions about registration should be directed to customerservice@ reading, org.
Please note: Separate registrations are required for the Annual Convention, the Sunday Institutes, and the Saturday Research Conference!
Other information
For information on travel and housing, visit the annual convention area.
For further information on this conference,, contact the Research and 'Policy Division, international Reading Association, 800 Barksdale Road, PO Box 8139, Newark, DE 19714-8139, USA. E-mail; gkeating@reading.org. Telephone: 302-731-1600, ext. 226.
【小题1】What is this passage mainly about?

A.The registration information for IRA's annual research conference.
B.Pre-service and in-service education in reading and literacy.
C.Reading Research 20C 7.
D.Convention Prepaid Registration Form.
【小题2】Which of the following is true?
A.Practitioners have no opportunity to attend the conference.
B.The 2007 conference v/ill be held at the University of Connecticut.
C.Attendees can make a phone call to register.
D.Attendees can take the separate registrations.
【小题3】What is new for 2p07 IRA annual research conference?
A.The keynote speaker will be Donald J.Leu.
B.IRA research award winners will be honored at a special-Research Awards Luncheon.
C.Attendees will visit the annual convention area.
D.Conference registration includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and a.closing wine and cheese reception.

ROME: The legend of Leonardo da Vinci is covered in mystery: How did he die?Are the remains buried in a French castle really those of the master? Was the "Mona Lisa" a self-portrait in disguise (伪装)?

A group of Italian scientists believe the key to solving those puzzles lies with the remains, and they say they are seeking permission to dig up the body to conduct carbon and DNA testing.

If the skull is undamaged, the scientists can go to the heart of a question that has fascinated scholars and the public for centuries: the identity of the "Mona Lisa." Recreating a virtual and then physical reconstruction of Leonardo's face, they can compare it with the smiling face in the painting.

"We don't know what we'll find if the tomb is opened. We could even just find grains and dust," says Giorgio Gruppioni, an anthropologist who is participating in the project. "But if the remains are well kept, they are a biological record of events in a person's life, and sometimes in their death." Silvano Vinceti, the leader of the group, said that he plans to press his case with the French officials in charge of the said burial site at Amboise Castle early next week.

Leonardo moved to France at the invitation of King Francis I, who named him "first painter to the king." He spent the last three years of his life there, and died in 1519 at age 67. The artist's original burial place, the palace church of Saint Florentine, was destroyed during the French Revolution and remains that are believed to be his were eventually reburied in the Saint-Hubert Chapel near the castle.

"The Amboise tomb is a symbolic tomb; it's a big question mark," said Alessandro Vezzosi, the director of a museum dedicated to Leonardo in his hometown of Vinci. Vezzosi said that investigating the tomb could help identify the artist's bones with certainty and solve other questions, such as the cause of his death. He said he asked to open the tomb in 2004 to study the remains, but the Amboise Castle turned him down.

The group of 100 experts involved in the project, called the National Committee for Historical and Artistic Heritage, was created in 2003 with the aim of "solving the great mysteries of the past," said Vinceti, who has written books on art and literature.

Arguably the world's most famous painting, the "Mona Lisa" hangs in the Louvre in Paris, where it drew some 8.5 million visitors last year. Mystery has surrounded the identity of the painting's subject for centuries, with opinions ranging from the wife of a Florentine merchant to Leonardo's own mother.

That Leonardo intended the "Mona Lisa" as a self-portrait in disguise is a possibility that has interested and divided scholars. Theories have existed: Some think that Leonardo's taste for tricks and riddles might have led him to hide his own identity behind that puzzling smile; others have guessed that the painting hid an androgynous lover.

If granted access to the grave site, the Italian experts plan to use a tiny camera and radar to confirm the presence of bones. The scientists would then exhume (挖掘) the remains and attempt to date the bones with carbon testing.

At the heart of the proposed study is the effort to discover whether the remains are actually Leonardo's, including with DNA testing.

Vezzosi questions the DNA comparison, saying he is unaware of any direct descendants (后代) of Leonardo or of tombs that could be attributed with certainty to the artist's close relatives.

Gruppioni said that DNA from the bones could also eventually be compared to DNA found elsewhere. For example, Leonardo is thought to have rubbed colors on the canvas with his thumb, possibly using saliva (唾液), meaning DNA might be found on his paintings.

Even in the absence of DNA testing, other tests could provide useful information, including whether the bones belonged to a man or a woman, and whether the person died young or old.

Even within the committee, experts are divided over the identity of the "Mona Lisa."

Vinceti believes that a tradition of considering the self-portrait to be not just a faithful imitation of one's features but a representation of one's spiritual identity may have resonated (共鸣) with Leonardo.

Vezzosi, the museum director, dismissed as "baseless and senseless" the idea that the "Mona Lisa" could be a self-portrait of Leonardo. He said most researchers believe the woman may have been either a wife of the artist's sponsor, the Florentine nobleman Giuliano de Medici, or Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a rich silk merchant, Francesco del Giocondo. The traditional view is that the name "Mona Lisa" comes from the silk merchant's wife, as well as its Italian name: "La Gioconda."  

1.   Where is this passage most probably taken from?

A.A magazine.

B.A newspaper.

C.A textbook.

D.A research report.

2.   Why does the author ask a couple of questions in the beginning?

A.To arouse the interest of readers.

B.To puzzle Italian scientists.

C.To answer the questions himself.

D.To make fun of French officials.

3.   The best title of this story might be “_____”.

A.What Is the Purpose of an Investigation?

B.How Did Leonardo da Vinci Die in France?

C.Are the Remains Really Those of the Master?

D.Did Leonardo Paint Himself as 'Mona Lisa'?

4.The sentence “he plans to press his case with the French officials” (underlined in Paragraph 4) suggests that Vinceti intends to _____.

A.press the French officials to participate in their project

B.urge the French officials to open the tomb early next week

C.persuade the French officials to allow opening the tomb

D.record events in a person’s life with the French officials

5.   Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A.Scholars have the same opinion on DNA testing.

B.Scientists doubt if the remains are those of da Vinci.

C.The identity of “Mona Lisa” has already been proved.

D.Alessandro Vezzosi got permission to open the tomb.

6.   We can infer from the last two paragraphs that _____?

A.“Mona Lisa” is the name of the wife of a silk merchant

B.the “Mona Lisa” is a self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci

C.experts divided the committee into several groups

D.opinions differ of the identity of the “Mona Lisa”

 

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