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Presents

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 11:47 am
by TalkingPoint
Presents

Instructions: Read the text below to find the answers to the questions on your worksheet.

Presents, gifts and tokens of one's affection are a subject close to everyone's heart. The giving and receiving of presents is one of oldest customs known to man and one which often requires a lot of thought on the part of the giver. Exactly what to give, how much to spend, etc. are questions which can occupy a person for weeks before a special event.

If you are looking for an unusual, antique toy for a young child you might want to consider the rare Mickey Mouse and motorcycle set which was auctioned at Christie's in London in 1997. It comes complete with its original box and was bought as a birthday present for a little boy in England in 1930. In June 1997 it was auctioned for over $83,000 dollars!

On a larger scale, gifts between nations can be very impressive. The largest of all is the gift which France gave to the United States of America on 4th July 1884: the statue of "Liberty Enlightening the World" which is more commonly known as the Statue of Liberty.

Construction of this huge statue began nine years earlier in 1875. The sculptor was a man called Auguste Bartholdi and the structural engineer was none other than Gustave Eiffel (who is best known as the man behind the construction of the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris).

Although the statue was presented to the Americans in 1884 it didn't actually arrive in the United States until the following year. It had to be dismantled and shipped, piece by piece, across the Atlantic Ocean. All in all the statue, which weighs 252 tonnes, was reduced to 350 separate pieces for transportation in the French frigate "Isere".

Two years after it's arrival, in 1886, it was reassembled on a pedestal designed by Richard Morris Hunt and made from granite from Connecticut. The statue's final location, Liberty Island, was originally known as Bedloe's Island. President Grover Cleveland officially accepted the statue on behalf of the nation on 28th October 1886 and in 1924 it was pronounced a National Monument. Many people from all over the United States and, indeed, the world flocked to see the impressive sight of the 46.5-metre-high statue standing at the mouth of New York's harbour, and to make the long climb up inside the statue to enjoy the view from the crown or the torch. Unfortunately, in 1916 the statue's arm was closed to visitors for safety reasons. Nowadays the number of daily visitors to the statue is limited so it might be a good idea to book in advance.

Quick Quiz
Read the clues below and write the solutions on a piece of paper. Then take the first letter of each answer and rearrange them to find the hidden word connected with this Talking Point.
  • 1. The structural engineer was none other than Gustave Eiffel (who is best known as the man behind the construction of the famous Eiffel __________ in Paris).
    2. All in all the statue, which weighs 252 tonnes, was reduced to 350 separate pieces for transportation in the French frigate "__________".
    3. President __________ Cleveland officially accepted the statue on behalf of the nation on 28th October 1886.
    4. Many people from all over the United States and, indeed, the world __________ to see the impressive sight of the 46.5-metre-high statue.
    5. If you are looking for an unusual, antique toy for a young child you might want to consider the rare Mickey Mouse and motorcycle __________ which was auctioned at Christie's in London in 1997.