Unit Seven: People and Occupations

Lesson 1: Pearls! Pearls! Pearls!

Key Words: mythology, ancient, dissolved, status, unparalleled, association, delicate

A. Look at the pictures and discuss in pairs.

B. Read the text and answer the questions that follow.

Thousands of years ago, the first pearl was probably discovered while human beings were searching for food at the sea shore. Throughout history, the pearl, with its shine, has been one of the most highly valued gems.

Pearls have been mentioned many times in religious texts and mythologies from the earliest times.

The ancient Egyptians valued pearls so much that they were buried with them. It is said that the famous queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, would dissolve a pearl in a glass and drink it as a sign of love and respect for the entire nation.

The Greeks thought of pearls as a sign of wealth and social position. The beauty of pearls was associated with love and marriage.

In ancient Rome, pearls were considered the greatest sign of wealth and social status.

At that time, the young women of noble families loved to wear beautiful pearl necklaces. The brave knights used to wear them in battles for good luck.

Questions

1. Do you think ‘pearls’ were discovered by accident? Why?
2. Why do you think pearls were valued so much in the past?
3. What good luck did the knights think pearls would bring them?

C. Read the text in B again and write the information in the table.

| Who | When/Where | |---|---| | The ancient Egyptians | wore pearls | | The Greeks | | | The ancient Romans | | | The brave knights | |