Упражнения уровня IELTS по английскому языку. № 1.

I first saw the Mona Lisa about ten years ago. I was on holiday in Paris and I decided to visit the Louvre Museum. I didn't really know much about the painting. I knew that it was painted by Leonardo da Vinci and that the woman was famous for her smile, but I didn't really know anything else. So I decided to read a little more about it the day before I saw it.

I discovered that it was painted in Florence some time between 1503 and 1505 (they're not sure about the exact date). I also learned that it was painted on wood and that the woman was the wife of Francesco del Gioconda, which is why it is sometimes called La Gioconda.

When I actually saw it, I was a little surprised at how small it was. I was also a little disappointed because there was a barrier in front of it and lots of people, so you couldn't really get close to it. I moved on but I came back to it just before the museum closed. There were fewer people then and I was able to look at it more closely.

I stayed there looking at it for ten minutes. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. And, of course, I asked myself the same questions that everybody asks. What is she smiling about? Is it a happy smile or a sad one? Perhaps she is smiling at somebody? It's not me because she seems to be looking over my shoulder. Or perhaps she's thinking about something amusing.

On the way out, I bought a full-size poster of the painting, and when I got back to England, I put it on my bedroom wall. Now I look at it every day. I still don't know what she's smiling about. But that doesn't worry me. In fact, that's why I love it.

(1) The writer knew nothing about the painting before he went on holiday. T / F /
(2) Leonardo da Vinci started painting it in1503 and finished in 1505. T / F /
(3) The writer looked at the painting more carefully the second time. T / F /
(4) Nobody really understands the Mona Lisa's smile. T / F /
(5) The writer needs to know why the Mona Lisa is smiling. T / F /