Sec/lang/07

Name: ____________ Subject: English Language Grade: V__

Roll No: _____ Revision Worksheet Date: 01.04.2020

Topic- Comprehension
Q1. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Long ago, out of the dry and hostile desert of modern day
Iraq was the magnificent and powerful city of Babylon. It is
believed that a king called Nebuchadnezzar II brought
home in marriage Amytis, daughter of the King of Medes.

Amytis came from a land that was green, rugged and

mountainous. Therefore when the new queen arrived at
Babylon, she found the flat sun baked terrain of the city
very depressing. Seeing her and unhappy, Nebuchadnezzar
consulted the architects of his Kingdom. He ordered them
to recreate the homeland of his wife.

Architects set to artificially create the mountains and trees

of her home on the banks of the river Euphrates. The outer walls of this mountainous city for 80 seat check
320 feet high and 56 miles long outer walls of this mountainous city were 80 feet thick, 320 feet high and 56
miles long. The width allowed a four horse chariot to turn with ease. Inside the inner walls an, astonishing
array of temples, streets, palaces and walls were
constructed.

The city thus created was kept lush green with the
Hanging Gardens. The Gardens did not really hang in the
exact sense of being suspended from cables or ropes.
They got the name hanging as they were rooftop gardens,
overhanging the terraces on which they were planted. The
highest of these gardens, it is said, were 80 feet and the
terraces were 16 feet wide.

Terraces were raised one above another, resting upon cube- shaped hollow pillars. Huge slabs of stone
formed the platforms that were then covered with layers of reed, asphalt and tiles. Over these was put a thick
sheet of lead to prevent the waters from seeping and rotting the foundation. In the top most layer of piled
earth, beautiful trees and plants that would delight any beholder were thickly planted.
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The desert of Babylon rarely received rain. So, for the gardens to survive, water drawn from the nearby river
Euphrates was raised. That meant lifting the water up so that it could flow down the sloping terraces,
watering the plants at each level. People, specially appointed for the purpose were continually engaged in
the operation of the water engines that lifted water from the river.

Thus, defying all laws of nature, the desert of Babylon was transformed into a paradise garden by the labour
of man. Travellers passing through this baked desert would be awestruck by the sight of a mountain city of
marvelous beauty. Soon, word was spread around and people travelled miles to see this man- made wonder
of the ancient world.

1. What difference did Amytis find between her land and Babylon?

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2. How did the king plan to make Amytis happy?

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3. What did the architects set out to do?

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4. What were the Hanging Gardens?

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5. How were the Hanging Gardens constructed?

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6. What arrangements were made to water the Hanging Gardens?

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7. Find words from the passage that mean the opposite of the given words.

i. friendly- iii. naturally-

ii. cheerful- iv. destroyed-