Reading Passage

The Pyramid of Cestius

A 2000-year-old pyramid in the city of Rome has been restored by archaeologists.

Though Rome draws tourists from around the world to its many impressive sites, one notable monument there has never attracted nearly as much interest: The Pyramid of Cestius. But why would there be a pyramid in Italy? After the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 B.C., Egyptian architectural style became the fashion in Rome.

Though obelisks and other monuments inspired by Egypt’s great pyramids sprung up around the city, only two actual pyramids are known to have been built. The only one left standing, the Pyramid of Cestius, was designed as the burial pyramid for a Roman politician named Caius Cestius, who ordered that the building work be completed within a period of 330 days.

Construction took place at some point between 18 B.C. and 12 B.C. Cestius' pyramid had a layer of white Carrara marble on the outside and was constructed from brick held together by cement on the inside. One of the things that strikes you when you look at the pyramid is how steep it is, making its shape quite unlike that of typical Egyptian pyramids. This difference could have resulted from inaccurate information sent back to Rome by soldiers who saw the pyramids in person in Egypt. Alternatively, Roman builders could have drawn inspiration from the pyramids in Nubia, a region in present-day northern Sudan and southern Egypt.

At the time of its construction, a strict Roman law prohibited tombs within the city, so the Pyramid of Cestius would have stood in countryside. Rome grew enormously over the next two centuries, and by the 3rd century A.D., the pyramid would have been surrounded by buildings. We also know that in the 3rd century A.D., the Pyramid of Cestius was hidden behind a high wall on the orders of Emperor Aurelian; this likely helped it survive through the centuries, even as other ancient monuments disappeared.

By the Middle Ages, the pyramid was covered in vegetation and dirt, and a popular myth suggested that it might be the tomb of Romulus or Remus, the legendary founders of Rome. Cestius’ actual tomb and an inscription identifying the pyramid were not rediscovered until the 1660s, when the pyramid underwent restoration.

During excavations, workers cleared away trees and plants and found two marble bases in front of the pyramid, as well as fragments of bronze statues that once stood on either side. However, they did not find the urn containing Cestius' remains, but they did discover a tunnel, suggesting that robbers might have looted the tomb long ago. Though some features no longer exist, at least the pyramid itself has survived.

Today, the Pyramid of Cestius stands near a busy intersection, making it easy for tourists and residents to overlook its full height of 119 feet. Across the intersection is Pirámide station, located on Line B of the Rome Metro.

In 2011, Japanese entrepreneur Yuzo Yagi, president of Yagi Tsusho Ltd, announced his intention to fund a major renovation of the Pyramid of Cestius. He described it as “an act of gratitude” to Italy, a country that contributed to his company's success. Work began shortly after he signed an agreement with the Special Superintendency for the Archaeological Heritage of Rome, and thanks to his 2-million-euro donation, the project was completed ahead of schedule.

As archaeologist Leonardo Guarnieri explained, officials now conduct tours of the newly renovated pyramid twice a month by reservation. Visitors can walk through a narrow corridor to reach the burial chamber, where they can admire frescoes, including four images of the winged Roman goddess Victoria, as well as vases used for rituals and purification. Some frescoes have disappeared over time, but historical records confirm their existence.

Only one issue remains after the restoration: the white exterior of the Pyramid of Cestius needs to be cleaned regularly due to urban pollution. A team of free-climbers will handle the task to avoid placing scaffolding around the newly restored monument.

Questions

1. Questions 1-7

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
In boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet, write:

• TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
• FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
• NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

1. The Pyramid of Cestius has always been one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions.
2. The construction of the Pyramid was completed before Cestius' death.
3. In the Middle Ages, people thought an original founder of Rome was buried in the Pyramid of Cestius.
4. Today the height of the Pyramid is something that tourists and residents immediately notice.
5. Japanese businessman Yuzo Yagi was an admirer of both Italian and Egyptian architecture.
6. The restoration of the Pyramid of Cestius, which was funded by Yuzo Yagi, finished earlier than expected.
7. Most of the original frescoes inside Cestius’ tomb have survived to this day.

2. Questions 8-13

Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.

History of the Pyramid of Cestius

Construction of Cestius' pyramid

• It was made from 8______ marble and cement.
• Its 9_____ is different from the pyramids found in Egypt.
• It was originally built in the 10______ as tombs in the city were forbidden.
• Emperor Aurelian ordered that a wall be built around it.

Restoration of Cestius' pyramid in the 1660s

• In the 1660s, some broken 11 _______ were found next to it.
• The 12________ inside the tomb suggests that robbers had been there.
• The frescoes show mythological scenes and images of vases.

Restoration of Cestius' pyramid today

• A Japanese businessman paid for its restoration.
• Climbers are helping to remove signs of 13 ______.

Kim tự tháp Cestius
Một kim tự tháp 2000 năm tuổi ở thành phố Rome đã được khôi phục (restored: renovated, refurbished, rehabilitated) bởi các nhà khảo cổ học (archaeologists: researchers, excavators, antiquarians).

Dù Rome thu hút khách du lịch khắp thế giới nhờ những di tích ấn tượng, một công trình đáng chú ý (notable monument: significant structure, landmark, memorial) lại chưa bao giờ nhận được nhiều sự quan tâm: Kim tự tháp Cestius. Tại sao lại có một kim tự tháp ở Ý? Sau cuộc chinh phục (conquest: subjugation, takeover, invasion) Ai Cập của La Mã năm 30 TCN, phong cách kiến trúc (architectural style: design, construction, aesthetic) Ai Cập trở thành trào lưu tại Rome.

Dù các cột tháp (obelisks: monoliths, pillars, spires) và công trình khác lấy cảm hứng từ kim tự tháp Ai Cập mọc lên khắp thành phố, chỉ hai kim tự tháp thật sự được xây dựng. Kim tự tháp duy nhất còn tồn tại, Kim tự tháp Cestius, được thiết kế làm lăng mộ (burial pyramid: tomb, sepulcher, mausoleum) cho chính trị gia Caius Cestius, người ra lệnh hoàn thành công trình trong 330 ngày.

Công trình (construction: building, erection, assembly) diễn ra khoảng giữa năm 18 TCN và 12 TCN. Kim tự tháp của Cestius có lớp đá cẩm thạch Carrara (Carrara marble) bên ngoài và được xây dựng (constructed: built, erected, assembled) từ gạch kết dính bằng xi măng (cement: concrete, mortar, adhesive) bên trong. Điểm gây ấn tượng là độ dốc (steep: precipitous, sheer, abrupt) khác biệt so với kim tự tháp Ai Cập thông thường (typical: standard, conventional, classic). Sự khác biệt này có thể do thông tin không chính xác (inaccurate information: erroneous, incorrect, flawed) từ những binh lính từng tận mắt thấy kim tự tháp Ai Cập. Một giả thuyết khác (alternative: option, substitute, different) là các kiến trúc sư La Mã lấy cảm hứng từ kim tự tháp ở Nubia (thuộc Sudan và Ai Cập ngày nay).

Thời điểm xây dựng, luật La Mã nghiêm cấm (prohibited: banned, forbidden, outlawed) xây mộ trong thành phố, nên kim tự tháp nằm ở vùng nông thôn (countryside: rural area, outskirts, hinterland). Sau hai thế kỷ, Rome mở rộng khổng lồ (enormously: immensely, vastly, tremendously), đến thế kỷ III SCN, kim tự tháp đã bị bao quanh (surrounded: encircled, enveloped, bordered) bởi các tòa nhà. Đến thế kỷ III, kim tự tháp bị che giấu (hidden: concealed, obscured, veiled) sau bức tường cao theo lệnh Hoàng đế Aurelian, giúp nó tồn tại qua nhiều thế kỷ trong khi các di tích cổ (ancient monuments: relics, antiquities, heritage) khác biến mất.

Đến thời Trung Cổ (Middle Ages: Medieval era, Dark Ages, feudalism), kim tự tháp bị thực vật (vegetation: flora, plants, greenery) và đất bẩn (dirt: soil, grime, debris) phủ kín. Truyền thuyết (myth: legend, folklore, tale) cho rằng đây là mộ của Romulus và Remus, những người sáng lập huyền thoại (legendary founders: mythical creators, iconic pioneers, fabled establishers) của Rome. Bản khắc (inscription: engraving, etching, carving) xác nhận chủ nhân thật của kim tự tháp chỉ được phát hiện lại vào thập niên 1660 khi nó trải qua (undergone: experienced, endured, underwent) phục hồi (restoration: renewal, rehabilitation, refurbishment).>> Form đăng kí giải đề thi thật IELTS 4 kĩ năng kèm bài giải bộ đề 100 đề PART 2 IELTS SPEAKING quý đang thi (update hàng tuần) từ IELTS TUTOR

Trong khai quật (excavations: digs, explorations, unearthings), công nhân dọn sạch cây cối và tìm thấy hai bệ đá cẩm thạch cùng mảnh vỡ (fragments: pieces, shards, remnants) tượng đồng từng đứng hai bên. Họ không tìm thấy bình đựng tro (urn: vase, vessel, receptacle) chứa hài cốt (remains: ashes, relics, corpse) của Cestius, nhưng phát hiện một đường hầm (tunnel: passage, shaft, underground path), cho thấy kẻ trộm có thể đã cướp phá (looted: plundered, ransacked, pillaged) ngôi mộ từ lâu.

Ngày nay, kim tự tháp đứng gần giao lộ (intersection: crossroads, junction, crossing) đông đúc, khiến du khách dễ bỏ qua (overlook: miss, disregard, neglect) chiều cao 119 feet của nó. Đối diện là ga Pyramide thuộc tuyến Metro Rome.

Năm 2011, doanh nhân (entrepreneur: businessman, industrialist, tycoon) Nhật Bản Yuzo Yagi tài trợ cải tạo (renovation: reconstruction, remodeling, revamping) kim tự tháp như "lời tri ân" đến Ý. Dự án hoàn thành trước thời hạn nhờ quyên góp (donation: contribution, endowment, grant) 2 triệu euro của ông.

Theo cơ quan giám sát (Superintendency: authority, administration, oversight), kim tự tháp hiện mở cửa tham quan 2 lần/tháng. Du khách có thể vào buồng chôn cất (burial chamber: crypt, tomb, vault) qua hành lang hẹp, chiêm ngưỡng tranh tường (frescoes: murals, paintings, artworks) hình nữ thần Victoria và các bình dùng cho nghi lễ (rituals: ceremonies, rites, customs) thanh tẩy (purification: cleansing, sanctification, detoxification).

Vấn đề duy nhất sau phục hồi (restoration) là lớp bề ngoài (exterior: façade, surface, outside) trắng cần được làm sạch định kỳ do ô nhiễm (pollution: contamination, smog, toxins). Đội leo núi tự do (free-climbers: climbers, alpinists, mountaineers) sẽ thực hiện để tránh dựng giàn giáo (scaffolding: framework, platform, support) quanh di tích.

Answer Keys

1. NOT GIVEN (There is no information in the passage about the popularity of the Pyramid of Cestius.)

2. TRUE (The passage states that Caius Cestius ordered the construction to be completed within a specific time frame.)

3. TRUE (The passage mentions that a popular myth developed during the Middle Ages.)

4. FALSE (The passage states that the pyramid's full height of 119 feet may be easily missed by passing tourists and residents.)

5. TRUE (The passage mentions that Yuzo Yagi announced his intention to help fund the renovation of the pyramid as an act of gratitude towards Italy.)

6. TRUE (The passage states that the restoration was completed ahead of schedule.)

7. FALSE (The passage mentions that some of the frescoes have disappeared over time.)

8. brick

9. shape

10. countryside

11. statues

12. tunnel

13. urban pollution