Summary Writing Practice 4 (March 2019, IGCSE FLE)

 

Summary Writing

March 2019

 

Passage

 

Ostia Antica

 

Ostia Antica, the location of the harbour city of Ancient Rome, is a fascinating and under-visited archaeological site.

 

Ostia Antica is not far from the centre of Rome, and makes a pleasant half-day (allow longer if you want to lunch there or are particularly interested in archaeology). To get there, take the suburban train line to Ostia from Piramide Station. The train journey takes about 20 minutes. The archaeological area is close to the station, over a footbridge.

 

Although it is now four kilometres inland, Ostia was originally developed as a sea port, prior to the silting up of the estuary of the River Tiber. Ostia increased in importance approximately 2400 years ago, becoming a major naval and trading base. As Rome’s port, the town had obvious commercial significance, and expanded in size and grandeur to match this position. However, about 1700 years ago, its place was taken by a new port at Fiumicino, and within the next couple of centuries Ostia had begun its decline. The Tiber was no longer navigable, the roads were overgrown, and Ostia sank into muddy oblivion.

 

Nowadays much of the old town has been excavated, and visitors can wander and explore at will; a street plan can be obtained from the ticket kiosk. There is a lot to see. Major sites include the Roman Theatre (there are plays put on here in the summer), the impressive Forum, a large baths complex and several temples. Many of the buildings are preserved up to the second storey, giving a powerful sense of the past.

 

There are impressive mosaics and columns everywhere, but highlights include the smaller domestic details: the fishmonger’s marble slab, the bar with its wares illustrated on the wall, the communal public toilets, the residential villas with peaceful courtyards.

 

The old village of Ostia, with a papal fortress, is just down the road from the Roman town. Modern Ostia – Ostia Lido – is further away, by the sea. It is a construction of modern apartment blocks and boulevards with little atmosphere and – thanks to high fences – not much of a sea view either

 

 Questions

_______________________________________________________________________________ 

What do you learn about the history of Ostia Antica and what it offers to modern-day visitors, according to Passage B?

 

 

You must use continuous writing (not note form)

 

Your summary should not be more than 120 words.

 

Up to 10 marks are available for the content and 5 marks are available for the quality of your writing.

 

You MUST use your own words.

 

Answers

________________________________________________________________________

History of Ostia Atica and what it offers modern-day visitors

 

The history:

•        the ancient port of Rome / originally a sea port

 

•        increased in importance 2400 years ago

•        a major naval and trading base (2400 years ago) / held commercial significance

•        expanded in size and grandeur

•        1700 years ago, its place was taken by a new port (at Fiumicino)

•        the Tiber was no longer navigable / silted up / the port began to decline / roads overgrown / muddy oblivion.

 

What it offers modern-day visitors:

 

•        twenty-minute train journey / not far from Rome

 

•        Ostia station is very close to the site

•        visitors can wander and explore freely

•        major sites / lots to see there (or two examples – the Roman theatre / the impressive Forum / a large baths complex / temples)

•        many of the buildings are preserved up to the second storey

•        impressive mosaics and columns (or two examples – fishmonger’s slab / the bar / the public toilets / the residential villas or courtyards)

•        old village of Ostia / papal fortress

•        powerful sense of the past / good for those interested in archaeology.