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Scientists search for real Mona Lisa (14th August, 2013)

Scientists are close to finding the remains of the model for Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece the Mona Lisa. Researchers have opened a centuries-old tomb in Florence, Italy. They believe it contains the skeleton of da Vinci's muse Lisa Gioconda, the wife of a 16th-century merchant. Silvano Vinceti, head of an Italian cultural heritage organisation, plans to test the DNA of the bones to find out if Ms Gioconda is the woman behind that famous, enigmatic smile. Mr Vinceti will then use a computer graphics program to make a face from the skull and compare it to the painting.


 
 

Leonardo da Vinci's painting has fascinated both art experts and ordinary people. Vinceti said: "For centuries, historians the world over have been coming up with various theories about who this enigmatic, mysterious woman could have been." He asks: "Was Gioconda the model for the Mona Lisa? Or was it some other model, …Or is it just…the painter's fantasy?" Antonio Moretti, a geologist, told euronews.com that the team is lucky because there are many bones that were all placed in order. They also have a nameplate indicating they belong to the Gioconda family.

 


 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23644448
http://www.euronews.com/2013/08/09/archaeologists-unearth-suspected-family-tomb-of-mona-lisa/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa

Try Level 4 (one level lower) or Level 6 (one level higher)

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

close to finding the

a.

of da Vinci's muse

2.

Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece

b.

from the skull

3.

They believe it contains the skeleton

c.

heritage organisation

4.

head of an Italian cultural

d.

smile

5.

test the DNA

e.

to the painting

6.

the woman behind that famous, enigmatic

f.

the Mona Lisa

7.

make a face

g.

of the bones

8.

compare it

h.

remains



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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

fascinated both art

a.

mysterious woman

2.

historians the

b.

various theories

3.

coming up with

c.

all placed in order

4.

this enigmatic,

d.

world over

5.

just the painter's

e.

is lucky

6.

the team

f.

experts and ordinary people

7.

many bones that were

g.

to the Gioconda family

8.

indicating they belong

h.

fantasy

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Scientists are (1) ___________________ remains of the model for Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece the Mona Lisa. Researchers (2) ___________________-old tomb in Florence, Italy. They believe it contains the skeleton of da Vinci's muse Lisa Gioconda, the wife of a 16th-century merchant. Silvano Vinceti, (3) ___________________ heritage organisation, plans to test the DNA (4) ___________________ out if Ms Gioconda is the woman behind that (5) ___________________. Mr Vinceti will then use a computer graphics program (6) ___________________ the skull and compare it to the painting.

Leonardo da Vinci's painting (7) ___________________ art experts and ordinary people. Vinceti said: "For centuries, (8) ___________________ have been (9) ___________________ theories about who this enigmatic, mysterious woman (10) ___________________." He asks: "Was Gioconda the model for the Mona Lisa? Or was it some other model, …Or is it just…the painter's fantasy?" Antonio Moretti, a geologist, told euronews.com that the team is lucky because there are many bones (11) ___________________ in order. They also have a nameplate (12) ___________________ to the Gioconda family.

THE MONA LISA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about the Mona Lisa in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about the Mona Lisa for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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