English Reading Practice
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a country in Central Asia.
It borders four countries including Iran in the west and Pakistan in the south and east. "Borders" means sits next to and is used for countries or places.
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There are many mountains in Afghanistan but there is also some desert.
Afghanistan is divided into five regions (areas). The regions are north, east, south, west, and central. In each of these regions, there are different tribes (groups of people) who speak different languages and have different cultures.
The people who live in eastern and southern Afghanistan have more similar cultures to people in Pakistan. The people who live in northern, western, and central Afghanistan have more similar cultures to people who live in Iran.
One thing that unites (brings together) all the people of Afghanistan is the country's tradition of art, especially poetry.
Poetry in Afghanistan
Poetry is an important part of the culture of Afghanistan. People all
over Afghanistan and the world know the words to many poems written by
Afghan poets. The poetry of Afghanistan is often used in schools and as a form of education for Afghan children.
Afghan poetry talks about the culture of Afghanistan, the people of Afghanistan, and the landscape of Afghanistan. "Landscape" means what the country looks like.
The poems also talk about love and humanity (being kind to other people).
While there are some modern poets from Afghanistan, most of the poetry that has been important to Afghan culture is from the 10th to 15th centuries. There were many poets who wrote in this time and whose poems are still read and loved today.
One of the most famous Afghan poets is named Rumi. Rumi lived from 1207 to 1273. He wrote many poems and prose during his life. "Prose" means books or stories.
Most of Rumi's poems are religious and talk about religious beliefs and love.
His poems were originally written in Persian. "Persian" is the language spoken today in Iran. It used to be spoken in many parts of Central Asia, including Afghanistan.
Today, Rumi's poems have been translated (written in another language) into many other languages including English.
One of Rumi's most important ideas was that every person wants love. He wrote in his poetry that there should be peace and happiness in the world because all people are equal and want the same thing.
Today, his poetry is used as an example of how everyone around the world can be happy with themselves and with everyone else. This message is why Rumi's poems are still read, performed (acted in the theater) and talked about all over the world.
And now, practice:
Afghanistan - Exercises
Vocabulary Questions
1. What does "prose" mean?a) poetry
b) songs
c) books and stories
d) movies
b) songs
c) books and stories
d) movies
2. What does "humanity" mean?
a) being
a person
b) being kind to other people
c) talking to other people
d) listening to other people
b) being kind to other people
c) talking to other people
d) listening to other people
3. What does "performed" mean?
a) written
b) talked about
a) read
b) acted in a theater
b) talked about
a) read
b) acted in a theater
Grammar Questions
1. There ________ many mountains in Afghanistan.a) is
b) are
c) were
d) be
b) are
c) were
d) be
2. Poetry is an important part of ________ culture of Afghanistan.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) that
b) an
c) the
d) that
3. Rumi ________ from 1207 to 1273.
a) lives
b) lived
a) will live
b) is living
b) lived
a) will live
b) is living
Comprehension Questions
1. How many regions of Afghanistan are there?_______________________________________________________________
2. What form of art is especially important in Afghanistan?
_______________________________________________________________
3. What was Rumi's most important idea?
_______________________________________________________________
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