The Taj Mahal is a love story, a sad and beautiful one. If it didn’t exist, we would easily imagine that the story of its construction was simply a fairy tale. Three hundred years ago, there lived an Indian emperor called Shah Jahan. His wife was a beautiful and bright woman whom he loved greatly. Her title was Mumtazl Mahan: its shortened form. Taj Mahan, means “pride of the palace”. In the year 1630 this beloved wife of the emperor died. He was so brokenhearted that he thought of giving up his throne. He decided out of his love for his wife, to build her the most beautiful tomb that had ever been seen.

He summoned the best artists and architects from India, Turkey, Persia and Arabia and finally, the design was complete. It took more than twenty thousand men working over a period of 18 years to build the Taj Mahan, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

The building itself stands on a marble platform. 29 meters square and 6-7 meters high. Towers rise from each of the four corners. The Taj itself soars another 61 meters into the air. It is an eight-sided building made of white marble.

The emperor planned to build an identical tomb of black marble for himself on the other side of the river connected by a silver bridge. However his son put him into a prison in the palace before he could finish, and for the rest of his life, he could only gaze across river at the tomb of his beloved wife.

1. The whole passage tells us about ______.

A. a beautiful fairy tale

B. the story of the Taj Mahal

C. white and black marble tombs made for two emperors

D. the love story of Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the Taj Mahal?

A. It was completed quickly owing to the efforts of the best artists and workers.

B. A lot of people took part in the building work

C. It is a magnificent building.

D. It is a tomb for the emperor’s beloved wife.

3. The emperor’s own tomb was designed to be

A. 61 meters high           B. eight-sided        C. black-coloured       D. white-colored

4. The emperor

A. died soon after Taj Mahan died       B. was killed by his son

C. was beloved by his people           D. died after 1648

【背景知识】

泰姬陵，全称为“泰姬·玛哈尔陵”，又译泰姬玛哈，是印度知名度最高的古迹之一，在今印度距新德里200多公里外的北方邦的阿格拉，亚穆纳河右侧，是莫卧儿王朝第5代皇帝沙贾汗为了纪念他已故皇后阿姬曼·芭奴，即泰姬·玛哈尔而建立的陵墓，被誉为“完美建筑”，又称为“印度的珍珠”。它由殿堂、钟楼、尖塔、水池等构成，全部用纯白色大理石建筑，并用玻璃、玛瑙镶嵌，具有极高的艺术价值。它是是伊斯兰教建筑中的代表作。诺贝尔文学奖得主、著名诗人泰戈尔曾如此形容泰姬陵：“永恒面颊上的一滴眼泪”。

【Quotes】

Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:

Should guilty seek asylum here,

Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.

Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,

All his past sins are to be washed away.

The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;

And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.

In this world this edifice has been made;

To display thereby the creator's glory.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

Where there is love there is life.

Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age.

Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.

Where love is concerned, too much is not even enough.

【答案】BACD