Transcript
They might not look like much, but these are in fact texts from ancient Rome.
Since their discovery 250 years ago, no one has been able to read the so-called Herculaneum scrolls. Open them, and they disintegrate.
Now, scientists in France have made a breakthrough. By firing intense beams of light at the documents, they can see what is written inside.
Experts are overjoyed.
Vocabulary
ancient Rome
a society thousands of years ago in the area of Rome, now the capital of Italy
scrolls
long pieces of paper that were used for writing on and could be rolled up
disintegrate
to break apart into many small pieces
breakthrough
an important discovery after a long period of work
intense
very strong or powerful
To do
Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from news reports. Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence correctly.
intense / scrolls / disintegrate / breakthrough / ancient Rome
1. “Every so often in the history of human endeavour, there comes a __________ that takes mankind across the frontier and into a new era.”
2. Pope Francis has ordered souvenir shops to end a profitable trade in Vatican __________, completing a process said to have been started by his predecessor.
The ornate parchments, bearing the seal of the Vatican, have been sold as gifts or to mark major church events such as weddings, baptisms and ordinations.
3. “In both __________ and London the streetlife is terribly important,” says Professor Beard. “Streets are the key. “You have people flogging things in markets, all the hustle and bustle.
4. Mr Hennessy, a CSIRO principal research scientist, says Australia’s weather and environment will be noticeably affected by climate change over the next 15 to 30 years. The report predicts that… the hot, dry weather that contributes to bushfires will become more frequent and more __________.
5. From shopping centres and schools, to our greatest buildings, it is claimed many of Britain’s best murals are being allowed to __________.
Answers
1. “Every so often in the history of human endeavour, there comes a breakthrough that takes mankind across the frontier and into a new era.”
2. Pope Francis has ordered souvenir shops to end a profitable trade in Vatican scrolls, completing a process said to have been started by his predecessor.
The ornate parchments, bearing the seal of the Vatican, have been sold as gifts or to mark major church events such as weddings, baptisms and ordinations.
3. “In both ancient Rome and London the streetlife is terribly important,” says Professor Beard. “Streets are the key. “You have people flogging things in markets, all the hustle and bustle.
4. Mr Hennessy, a CSIRO principal research scientist, says Australia’s weather and environment will be noticeably affected by climate change over the next 15 to 30 years. The report predicts that… the hot, dry weather that contributes to bushfires will become more frequent and more intense.
5. From shopping centres and schools, to our greatest buildings, it is claimed many of Britain’s best murals are being allowed to disintegrate.