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2015 ‫מועד דצמבר‬ - 41 - ‫ פרק ראשו ן‬- ‫ אנגלית‬

Text II (Questions 18-22)

(1) Sumptuary laws, which restrict certain kinds of luxuries, have been imposed by
rulers throughout history to regulate behavior and maintain social class distinctions.
Often predicated on religious or moral grounds, these laws have been applied to food,
drink, dress, and even household furnishings.

(5) Sumptuary laws are of ancient origin. The citizens of Sparta in ancient Greece were
denied the right to possess gold or silver. They were also prohibited from owning a
house or furniture made using any tool more sophisticated than an axe. In addition, they
were not allowed to attend events where alcohol was served. The Romans, too, had
sumptuary laws. Among other things, these dictated what cloth could be used to make

(10) garments, the number of guests who could attend a social gathering, and which foods
could be consumed by whom.

Such restrictions were still common in the Middle Ages, when leaders of some
European countries sought to curb extravagance among the lower classes. The kings of
France restricted the use of silk fabrics, fine linen, and gold and silver thread. England's

(15) King Edward III tried to prevent merchants and servants from eating more than one
meal of meat or fish per day.

The penalties for violating sumptuary laws could be harsh – one could be fined, lose
one's property or social title, or even be put to death. For the most part, however,
sumptuary laws were difficult, if not impossible, to enforce. Today, it is hard for us to

(20) imagine that our lives could be controlled by such laws. Indeed, radical shifts in social
structures and the wide availability of luxury items have rendered sumptuary laws all
but obsolete.

Questions

18. The main purpose of the text is to -

(1) describe the function of sumptuary laws in the Middle Ages
(2) discuss a type of law meant to limit extravagance
(3) examine laws restricting the consumption of food and drink
(4) present the advantages and disadvantages of sumptuary laws

)‫© 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