Page 48 - index

2018 ‫מועד אביב‬ - 47 - ‫ פרק שני‬- ‫ אנגלית‬

Reading Comprehension

This part consists of two passages, each followed by several related questions. For each
question, choose the most appropriate answer based on the text.

Text I (Questions 13-17)

(1) Two large lion statues stand outside the New York Public Library. Designed by
sculptor Edward Clark Potter and carved from marble by the Piccirilli Brothers, the
lions have been guarding the main entrance to the majestic library ever since it opened
in May 1911.

(5) The twin lions were originally called Leo Astor and Leo Lenox, in honor of John
Jacob Astor and James Lenox. The two men were benefactors who used their fortunes
to build several libraries, among them the New York Public Library. Later, the lions
became known as Lady Astor and Lord Lenox. In the 1930s, they underwent a final
name change. At that time, the United States was experiencing the economic hardships

(10) of the Great Depression. New York's Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia called upon the city's
residents to be strong and patient. To underline his message, he renamed the two lions
"Patience" and "Fortitude", which is how they are known to this day.

The stately lions have been referred to as New York's most lovable public
sculptures, but not everyone loved them at first. After they were installed, there were

(15) complaints. A letter to The New York Times, for example, declared that the statues
looked like "a cross between a hippopotamus and a cow". But it was not long before
the lions won the hearts of citizens and visitors alike – an enthusiasm that has lasted for
over a hundred years. Countless tourists have been photographed next to the lions and
have bought souvenirs of them. Patience and Fortitude have appeared in cartoons,

(20) children's books, and films.

Over the years, the library adorned the lions with decorations: baseball caps to

celebrate the victories of local teams, flowers in springtime, and wreaths at Christmas.

In 2004, after enduring almost a century of weather and pollution, the lions were

professionally cleaned and restored. The restorer informed the library's administration

(25) that the wreaths were damaging the marble, and so the tradition was discontinued.

However, in 2013, experts designed marble-friendly wreaths, to the joy of many New

Yorkers.

Questions

13. The main purpose of the first paragraph is to introduce -

(1) Edward Clark Potter
(2) a famous library
(3) the Piccirilli Brothers
(4) two marble statues

)‫© כל הזכויות שמורות למרכז ארצי לבחינות ולהערכה (ע"ר‬

.‫ בלא אישור בכתב מהמרכז הארצי לבחינות ולהערכה‬- ‫ כולה או חלקים ממנה‬- ‫ או ללמדה‬,‫אין להעתיק או להפיץ בחינה זו או קטעים ממנה בכל צורה ובכל אמצעי‬