Matura Companion Reading - The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The world’s first ever lighthouse was such a successful construction project that it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, along with the likes of the Colossus of Rhodes and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was completed in about 270 BCE after about 20 years of construction work, and stood on an island in the harbour of Alexandria in Egypt, a harbour which is dangerously low-lying for ships. It looked more like a 20th century skyscraper than the lighthouses of recent times. It had three sections, the largest of which, the base, was square, with hundreds of rooms and dozens of windows. The middle section was an eight-sided tower and on top of this there was a chamber that housed the fire that provided a guiding light for ships at night. An air-powered lift carried fuel to feed the fire, whose light could apparently be seen from 30 miles away – possibly with the help of mirrors inside the chamber. The lighthouse was designed not only for practical purposes, but also as a symbol of the city’s wealth, and cost the equivalent of $3 million in today’s money.

It wasn’t unusual for visitors to Alexandria to climb the lighthouse and gaze at the city from its two viewing

platforms. Souvenirs in the form of coins with images of the lighthouse were available for purchase there, as well as snack foods like fruit. It’s not surprising that the lighthouse was such a big draw when you consider that it was the tallest manmade structure on the planet. In fact, if an earthquake hadn’t destroyed it in 1303, it would have remained so until the Eiffel Tower appeared in the 19th century.  

In 2015, plans were approved to build a perfect copy of the lighthouse close to where the original building fell. A skyscraper now stands on the original island site and so the new lighthouse will be built in the Eastern Harbour. Along with the lighthouse, there are plans for an underwater museum to bring tourism back to Alexandria. The museum will allow visitors to walk underwater through glass tunnels to see some of the 2500 relics which still remain below the water. Tourists can even walk past the giant blocks from the original lighthouse which fell into the ocean hundreds of years ago.

QUESTION:

The harbour at Alexandria was hazardous for docking until the lighthouse was built.

A True

B False

• A

• B

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The world’s first ever lighthouse was such a successful construction project that it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, along with the likes of the Colossus of Rhodes and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was completed in about 270 BCE after about 20 years of construction work, and stood on an island in the harbour of Alexandria in Egypt, a harbour which is dangerously low-lying for ships. It looked more like a 20th century skyscraper than the lighthouses of recent times. It had three sections, the largest of which, the base, was square, with hundreds of rooms and dozens of windows. The middle section was an eight-sided tower and on top of this there was a chamber that housed the fire that provided a guiding light for ships at night. An air-powered lift carried fuel to feed the fire, whose light could apparently be seen from 30 miles away – possibly with the help of mirrors inside the chamber. The lighthouse was designed not only for practical purposes, but also as a symbol of the city’s wealth, and cost the equivalent of $3 million in today’s money.

It wasn’t unusual for visitors to Alexandria to climb the lighthouse and gaze at the city from its two viewing

platforms. Souvenirs in the form of coins with images of the lighthouse were available for purchase there, as well as snack foods like fruit. It’s not surprising that the lighthouse was such a big draw when you consider that it was the tallest manmade structure on the planet. In fact, if an earthquake hadn’t destroyed it in 1303, it would have remained so until the Eiffel Tower appeared in the 19th century.  

In 2015, plans were approved to build a perfect copy of the lighthouse close to where the original building fell. A skyscraper now stands on the original island site and so the new lighthouse will be built in the Eastern Harbour. Along with the lighthouse, there are plans for an underwater museum to bring tourism back to Alexandria. The museum will allow visitors to walk underwater through glass tunnels to see some of the 2500 relics which still remain below the water. Tourists can even walk past the giant blocks from the original lighthouse which fell into the ocean hundreds of years ago.

QUESTION:

The highest section of the lighthouse was above its light. 

A True

B False

• A

• B

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The world’s first ever lighthouse was such a successful construction project that it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, along with the likes of the Colossus of Rhodes and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was completed in about 270 BCE after about 20 years of construction work, and stood on an island in the harbour of Alexandria in Egypt, a harbour which is dangerously low-lying for ships. It looked more like a 20th century skyscraper than the lighthouses of recent times. It had three sections, the largest of which, the base, was square, with hundreds of rooms and dozens of windows. The middle section was an eight-sided tower and on top of this there was a chamber that housed the fire that provided a guiding light for ships at night. An air-powered lift carried fuel to feed the fire, whose light could apparently be seen from 30 miles away – possibly with the help of mirrors inside the chamber. The lighthouse was designed not only for practical purposes, but also as a symbol of the city’s wealth, and cost the equivalent of $3 million in today’s money.

It wasn’t unusual for visitors to Alexandria to climb the lighthouse and gaze at the city from its two viewing

platforms. Souvenirs in the form of coins with images of the lighthouse were available for purchase there, as well as snack foods like fruit. It’s not surprising that the lighthouse was such a big draw when you consider that it was the tallest manmade structure on the planet. In fact, if an earthquake hadn’t destroyed it in 1303, it would have remained so until the Eiffel Tower appeared in the 19th century.  

In 2015, plans were approved to build a perfect copy of the lighthouse close to where the original building fell. A skyscraper now stands on the original island site and so the new lighthouse will be built in the Eastern Harbour. Along with the lighthouse, there are plans for an underwater museum to bring tourism back to Alexandria. The museum will allow visitors to walk underwater through glass tunnels to see some of the 2500 relics which still remain below the water. Tourists can even walk past the giant blocks from the original lighthouse which fell into the ocean hundreds of years ago.

QUESTION:

Workers had to bring fuel to the top of the lighthouse manually.

A True

B False

• A

• B

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The world’s first ever lighthouse was such a successful construction project that it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, along with the likes of the Colossus of Rhodes and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was completed in about 270 BCE after about 20 years of construction work, and stood on an island in the harbour of Alexandria in Egypt, a harbour which is dangerously low-lying for ships. It looked more like a 20th century skyscraper than the lighthouses of recent times. It had three sections, the largest of which, the base, was square, with hundreds of rooms and dozens of windows. The middle section was an eight-sided tower and on top of this there was a chamber that housed the fire that provided a guiding light for ships at night. An air-powered lift carried fuel to feed the fire, whose light could apparently be seen from 30 miles away – possibly with the help of mirrors inside the chamber. The lighthouse was designed not only for practical purposes, but also as a symbol of the city’s wealth, and cost the equivalent of $3 million in today’s money.

It wasn’t unusual for visitors to Alexandria to climb the lighthouse and gaze at the city from its two viewing

platforms. Souvenirs in the form of coins with images of the lighthouse were available for purchase there, as well as snack foods like fruit. It’s not surprising that the lighthouse was such a big draw when you consider that it was the tallest manmade structure on the planet. In fact, if an earthquake hadn’t destroyed it in 1303, it would have remained so until the Eiffel Tower appeared in the 19th century.  

In 2015, plans were approved to build a perfect copy of the lighthouse close to where the original building fell. A skyscraper now stands on the original island site and so the new lighthouse will be built in the Eastern Harbour. Along with the lighthouse, there are plans for an underwater museum to bring tourism back to Alexandria. The museum will allow visitors to walk underwater through glass tunnels to see some of the 2500 relics which still remain below the water. Tourists can even walk past the giant blocks from the original lighthouse which fell into the ocean hundreds of years ago.

QUESTION:

At the lighthouse

A there was a special place where visitors could enjoy the view.

B visitors were only permitted on the ground floor.

C food could be purchased using special coins.

D there was no opportunity to buy gifts.

• A

• B

• C

• D

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The world’s first ever lighthouse was such a successful construction project that it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, along with the likes of the Colossus of Rhodes and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was completed in about 270 BCE after about 20 years of construction work, and stood on an island in the harbour of Alexandria in Egypt, a harbour which is dangerously low-lying for ships. It looked more like a 20th century skyscraper than the lighthouses of recent times. It had three sections, the largest of which, the base, was square, with hundreds of rooms and dozens of windows. The middle section was an eight-sided tower and on top of this there was a chamber that housed the fire that provided a guiding light for ships at night. An air-powered lift carried fuel to feed the fire, whose light could apparently be seen from 30 miles away – possibly with the help of mirrors inside the chamber. The lighthouse was designed not only for practical purposes, but also as a symbol of the city’s wealth, and cost the equivalent of $3 million in today’s money.

It wasn’t unusual for visitors to Alexandria to climb the lighthouse and gaze at the city from its two viewing

platforms. Souvenirs in the form of coins with images of the lighthouse were available for purchase there, as well as snack foods like fruit. It’s not surprising that the lighthouse was such a big draw when you consider that it was the tallest manmade structure on the planet. In fact, if an earthquake hadn’t destroyed it in 1303, it would have remained so until the Eiffel Tower appeared in the 19th century.  

In 2015, plans were approved to build a perfect copy of the lighthouse close to where the original building fell. A skyscraper now stands on the original island site and so the new lighthouse will be built in the Eastern Harbour. Along with the lighthouse, there are plans for an underwater museum to bring tourism back to Alexandria. The museum will allow visitors to walk underwater through glass tunnels to see some of the 2500 relics which still remain below the water. Tourists can even walk past the giant blocks from the original lighthouse which fell into the ocean hundreds of years ago.

QUESTION:

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was destroyed in

A the 14th century.

B the 19th century.

C the 20th century.

D the 21st century.

• A

• B

• C

• D

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The world’s first ever lighthouse was such a successful construction project that it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, along with the likes of the Colossus of Rhodes and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was completed in about 270 BCE after about 20 years of construction work, and stood on an island in the harbour of Alexandria in Egypt, a harbour which is dangerously low-lying for ships. It looked more like a 20th century skyscraper than the lighthouses of recent times. It had three sections, the largest of which, the base, was square, with hundreds of rooms and dozens of windows. The middle section was an eight-sided tower and on top of this there was a chamber that housed the fire that provided a guiding light for ships at night. An air-powered lift carried fuel to feed the fire, whose light could apparently be seen from 30 miles away – possibly with the help of mirrors inside the chamber. The lighthouse was designed not only for practical purposes, but also as a symbol of the city’s wealth, and cost the equivalent of $3 million in today’s money.

It wasn’t unusual for visitors to Alexandria to climb the lighthouse and gaze at the city from its two viewing

platforms. Souvenirs in the form of coins with images of the lighthouse were available for purchase there, as well as snack foods like fruit. It’s not surprising that the lighthouse was such a big draw when you consider that it was the tallest manmade structure on the planet. In fact, if an earthquake hadn’t destroyed it in 1303, it would have remained so until the Eiffel Tower appeared in the 19th century.  

In 2015, plans were approved to build a perfect copy of the lighthouse close to where the original building fell. A skyscraper now stands on the original island site and so the new lighthouse will be built in the Eastern Harbour. Along with the lighthouse, there are plans for an underwater museum to bring tourism back to Alexandria. The museum will allow visitors to walk underwater through glass tunnels to see some of the 2500 relics which still remain below the water. Tourists can even walk past the giant blocks from the original lighthouse which fell into the ocean hundreds of years ago.

QUESTION:

The planned location of the new lighthouse is

A in the same place as the original.  

B in the Eastern Harbour.

C in the centre of Alexandria.

D underwater.

• A

• B

• C

• D

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The world’s first ever lighthouse was such a successful construction project that it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, along with the likes of the Colossus of Rhodes and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was completed in about 270 BCE after about 20 years of construction work, and stood on an island in the harbour of Alexandria in Egypt, a harbour which is dangerously low-lying for ships. It looked more like a 20th century skyscraper than the lighthouses of recent times. It had three sections, the largest of which, the base, was square, with hundreds of rooms and dozens of windows. The middle section was an eight-sided tower and on top of this there was a chamber that housed the fire that provided a guiding light for ships at night. An air-powered lift carried fuel to feed the fire, whose light could apparently be seen from 30 miles away – possibly with the help of mirrors inside the chamber. The lighthouse was designed not only for practical purposes, but also as a symbol of the city’s wealth, and cost the equivalent of $3 million in today’s money.

It wasn’t unusual for visitors to Alexandria to climb the lighthouse and gaze at the city from its two viewing

platforms. Souvenirs in the form of coins with images of the lighthouse were available for purchase there, as well as snack foods like fruit. It’s not surprising that the lighthouse was such a big draw when you consider that it was the tallest manmade structure on the planet. In fact, if an earthquake hadn’t destroyed it in 1303, it would have remained so until the Eiffel Tower appeared in the 19th century.  

In 2015, plans were approved to build a perfect copy of the lighthouse close to where the original building fell. A skyscraper now stands on the original island site and so the new lighthouse will be built in the Eastern Harbour. Along with the lighthouse, there are plans for an underwater museum to bring tourism back to Alexandria. The museum will allow visitors to walk underwater through glass tunnels to see some of the 2500 relics which still remain below the water. Tourists can even walk past the giant blocks from the original lighthouse which fell into the ocean hundreds of years ago.

QUESTION:

How long did the lighthouse take to build?   about __________