Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a vandal
    • ex. The police are looking for the vandal who damaged the statue.
  2. absurd
    • ex. It is absurd to wear a winter coat in very hot weather.
  3. barbarism
    • ex. The attack on the old temple was described as an act of barbarism.
  4. obelisk
    • ex. Many countries have obelisk monuments to remember important events.
  5. a creation
    • ex. The painting is her latest creation, and she spent three months finishing it.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Rome’s famous elephant statue, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, has been damaged after an apparent act by a vandal. An 11-centimeter piece of the sculpture was broken off. Local police found the broken piece on the ground and are checking security cameras carefully to understand exactly what happened and to possibly identify the person responsible.

Italy’s culture minister called the damage “an absurd act of barbarism” against one of the capital’s most important symbols. He said the government will help pay for the restoration of the sculpture. The statue stands near the Pantheon and is popular among tourists. The small elephant carries an ancient Egyptian obelisk on its back. It is located in Piazza della Minerva.

According to city officials, the repair work will last about 48 hours. The statue has the nickname “Minerva’s Piglet” because its short, thick legs make it look more like a pig than an elephant. The artwork is one of Bernini’s well-known creations in Rome.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Famous Monuments

  • Do you visit famous monuments or cultural sites when you travel? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What kind of behavior do you think is expected from tourists who visit cultural sites or famous monuments? Discuss.
  • Imagine you are a city official. What rules would you apply to balance tourism and preservation? Discuss.

Barbarism

  • One of Rome’s famous statues was damaged by a vandal. How do you feel when you read or hear of news like this (ex. angry, disappointed? Discuss.
  • What should be the punishment for vandals who destroy cultural symbols or property? Discuss.
  • What can be done to prevent vandals from damaging cultural landmarks? Discuss.