Page 47 - index
P. 47
2018 מועד סתיו - 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) The year 2007 marked the 800th anniversary of the birth of Jalal al-Din Mohammad
Balkhi, more commonly known as Rumi. To pay homage to this eminent Muslim
theologian, philosopher, and mystical poet, the United Nations Educational, Scientific,
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed it the Year of Rumi, and
(5) commemorative events were held throughout the world.
Born in 1207 on the eastern edge of the Persian Empire (present-day Afghanistan),
Rumi lived during a period of social and political upheaval in an area under constant
threat of invasion. His family fled, roaming throughout the region and eventually
settling in Konya, in what is now Turkey. There, Rumi became a traditional Islamic
(10) scholar and teacher, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. The
turning point in his life came when he met Shams al-Din, a wandering mystic, who
awakened Rumi's own spirituality, leading Rumi to abandon his scholarly career and
begin writing mystical poetry.
Rumi's literary standing transcends national, cultural, and linguistic borders. For
(15) centuries, his writings have influenced Persian and Turkish literature. To date, over 20
volumes of Rumi's works have been translated into 23 languages and have sold more
than two million copies worldwide. In the 1970s, interest in his poetry was sparked in
the English-speaking world by Coleman Barks's innovative translations. Indeed, Rumi
is one of the best-selling poets in the US today.
(20) It may seem odd that a 13th-century mystic has become one of the best-loved poets
of our time. Barks suggests that Rumi endures because of his startlingly imaginative
freshness, the profound longing that readers can sense, and his humour. "There's always
a playfulness stirred in with the wisdom," Barks points out. And, he adds,
contemporary readers respond to Rumi's poetry because they feel they are being
(25) spoken to directly by an inspirational teacher.
Questions
13. The main purpose of the second paragraph is to -
(1) discuss the social and political influences on Rumi's work
(2) describe Rumi's relationship with Shams al-Din
(3) discuss Rumi's career as an Islamic scholar and teacher
(4) describe Rumi's life before he became a poet
)© 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
