Michelangelo's 'David' in danger of collapse

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Michelangelo's "David" could collapse because of its weak ankles. Scientists said that cracks in the heels of the 5.17-metre-tall statue could make it crumble under its 5.5-ton weight. The cracks have become the statue's Achilles heel. Scientists found many "micro-fractures" that have weakened David's ankles. Several things have caused this. These include the poor quality of marble, the statue leaning at an angle and vibrations from traffic and museum visitors.

Michelangelo started David when he was 26. He spent three years making it. The statue is of the biblical hero David, who killed the giant Goliath. The rulers of Florence paid for it. They wanted a symbol of the city's commercial and military strength. It was shown to the public in 1504. It stayed outside for 350 years and then moved indoors in 1873 to protect it from the weather. Art lovers want it moved to an earthquake proof museum to protect it.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://rt.com/news/156500-florence-statue-michaelangelo-collapse/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/10802304/Michelangelos-David-has-weak-ankles-and-could-collapse.html
http://www.dailytech.com/Achilles+Heel+Might+Destroy+Michelangelos+Massive+Marble+David+Statue/article34848c.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_%28Michelangelo%29

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	collapse because of	a.	Achilles heel
2.	crumble under its	b.	its weak ankles
3.	The cracks have become the statue's	c.	"micro-fractures"
4.	Scientists found many	d.	traffic
5.	the statue leaning	e.	5.5-ton weight
6.	vibrations from	f.	at an angle

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	The statue is of the biblical	a.	and military strength
2.	The rulers of Florence	b.	the weather
3.	a symbol of the city's commercial	c.	paid for it
4.	It was shown to	d.	proof museum
5.	protect it from	e.	hero David
6.	an earthquake	f.	the public in 1504

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Michelangelo's "David" could collapse (1) ___________________ ankles. Scientists said that cracks in the heels of the 5.17-metre-tall statue could make (2) ___________________ its 5.5-ton weight. The cracks have become the (3) ___________________. Scientists found many "micro-fractures" that have weakened David's ankles. Several things (4) ___________________. These include the (5) ___________________ marble, the statue leaning at an angle and vibrations from traffic (6) ___________________.

Michelangelo started David when he was 26. (7) ___________________ making it. The statue is of (8) ___________________ David, who killed the giant Goliath. The rulers of Florence paid for it. (9) ___________________ of the city's commercial (10) ___________________. It was shown to the public in 1504. It stayed outside for 350 years and (11) ___________________ in 1873 to protect it from the weather. Art lovers want it moved to an (12) ___________________ museum to protect it.

STATUES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about statues 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 statues for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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