Part 1 - Option 2 - Question 1 · Inglés PAU Cantabria Extraordinaria 2021

PART 1. Option 2

Pompeii Excavation Reveals ‘Almost Perfect’ Remains of a Master and his Slave

The almost perfectly preserved remains of two men have been unearthed in an extraordinary discovery in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. The victims are believed to have died as they were fleeing the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 AD, and the remains were found during excavations at a villa on the outskirts of the city. Massimo Osanna, Pompeii Archaeological Park’s director, said yesterday that the find was ‒truly exceptional–, while culture minister Dario Franceschini said it underlined the importance of Pompeii as a place for study and research.

The two men, lying close together, are believed to have escaped the initial phase of the eruption when the city was blanketed in volcanic ash and pumice, only to then be killed by a blast that happened the following day. Their remains were discovered in the same location where a stable containing the remains of three harnessed horses were unearthed in 2017. Experts said the younger man, who was probably aged between 18 and 25, had several compressed vertebrae, which led them to believe that he was a manual labourer or slave. He is thought to have been wearing a pleated tunic, possibly made of wool. The elder man, aged between 30 and 40, had a stronger bone structure, particularly around his chest area, and was wearing a tunic which was more typical of a master.

Park officials said that further digging over the coming months might reveal where the men were heading and determine the roles they played in the elegant villa. It is the latest in a series of fascinating discoveries that excavations at Pompeii have yielded in recent years. For instance, the bodies of two women and three children were discovered huddled together in the room of a villa in the Regio V area in October 2018. A week before, the same villa revealed a charcoal inscription that suggested Vesuvius erupted in October 79 AD, and not in August of that year as previously thought.

The latest dig, part of a ‑1m project, is continuing despite the coronavirus pandemic. The park, which is currently closed to tourists, usually attracts four million people a year. The Pompeii ruins were first discovered in the 16th century, with excavations beginning in 1748. Over 1,500 of the estimated 2,000 victims have been found over the centuries.

AD- Anno Domini, which is used in English to refer to ‒After the birth of Christ–

21 Nov 2020, The Guardian (Adapted)

Question 1: [2 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE and write down the sentence or the part of the text that justifies your answer. No points will be given if the evidence is not correct.

a)

The remains of the two men were found in the city centre.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

The men are thought to have died during the very first part of the disaster.

TRUE

FALSE

c)

The charcoal inscription was discovered before the remains of the women and children.

TRUE

FALSE

d)

The coronavirus pandemic has not stopped the most recent excavation.

TRUE

FALSE