AI English Translation, Pages 476-500
( 7 )
CITIES OF ANTIQUITY .
U R or O U R is the homeland of Abraham and enters into history
around 2,700 B.C. .
Ur becomes with its first dynasty the great Sumerian
metropolis . Five kings having reigned 171 years succeed each other .
After a troubled period where all the neighboring kings dispute
the land of Sumer, the Akkadians under the impulse of
Sargon of Akkad unify these regions . But the kings continue
nevertheless to exercise their power .
Ur is destroyed in 2,015 B.C. by the Elamites .
B A B Y L O N : Simple Sumerian village before the
Semites, Babylon is mentioned by a sovereign of the Akkadian
dynasty , who in the 14th century before our era built a
temple there to the great goddess Ishtar .
After the collapse of the 3rd dynasty of Ur , a new
wave of Semites establish their capital at Babylon.
The city knew moments of incomparable splendor
under Hammurabi , true founder of the first empire of
Babylon .
In the 12th century B.C. the Babylonians were subjected
to Assyrian princes . In 689 B.C. the city was ravaged by
Sennacherib who declares: "I treated it worse than a flood"
During the second empire of Babylon , the Jews are
led into captivity there by Nebuchadnezzar who had seized
Jerusalem . This captivity ended when Cyrus seized
Babylon after having diverted the course of the Euphrates .
But Cyrus did not destroy the city and its temples remained
inviolate .
Alexander occupied it in his turn in 331 and died there in 323 .
The definitive ruin of Babylon was consummated under the reign
of the Seleucids .
R
A S S U R or A S S O U R was the first capital of the
Assyrian kingdom .
in the 13th century B.C. Ninurta I to commemorate his
victory over Babylon dedicated a temple and a ziggurat ( tiered
pyramidal tower ) to the god Assur .
N I N E V E H : Around 2,230 B.C. the son of Sargon I
had built a temple there . Around 1,280 an earthquake
ravages the temples and the palaces of the city . Shalmaneser I
proceeds with their reconstruction . It seems that Nineveh had been
promoted to the rank of capital towards the end of the 11th century before our
era . Neglected by Sargon II , his successor undertook
a vast reconstruction program and endowed the city with powerful
ramparts .
Ashurbanipal built a sumptuous palace there .
In 612 B.C. , end of the Assyrian empire , the city
was pillied and razed to such an extent that two centuries later Xenophon
passed near the site without noticing it .
K H O R S A B A D ( near Nineveh ) . Sargon II desirous
of attributing to himself the honor of having founded a capital abandoned
Nineveh and undertook to build a palace not far from the Tigris .
He took possession of this palace two years before his death and his
successor Sennacherib transported the seat of the empire again
to Nineveh .
Khorsabad was originally called Dur-Sharrukin, the city
of Sargon .
( 8 )
THE ⟦DOMINATION⟧ AND INFLUENCE OF HELLENISM
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<u>ALEXANDRE THE GREAT</u> of Macedonia after having completed the submis-
sion of Greece launched into the conquest of the Persian Empire.
Against the numerous and uncohesive army of the great king, he op-
poses a small, admirably organized army. He conquers
the Mediterranean provinces, from the straits to Egypt. He
then headed towards Mesopotamia, defeated Darius at Arbela
in 331 BC, and seized all of Persia. He then descends
into the plains of India, then returns to Mesopotamia.
He makes Babylon the capital of Asia. He had trees planted
and wanted to unify the East and make it benefit
from Greek civilization. He was in Babylon, which he was restoring
and embellishing, when a crisis of malaria, adding to his
intemperance, struck him down. He died in 323 BC after
a reign of 13 years.
<u>SELEUCUS</u>. After the death of Alexander the Great, one of his
generals Seleucus acquired the part of his conquests that covered
Mesopotamia. He built a new capital Seleucia
on the Tigris (about forty kilometers from present-day Baghdad).
The Greek house of Seleucus lasted barely two centuries,
but its civilization and the development accomplished by the
Seleucids continued to influence the country for several
centuries.
THE PARTHIANS.
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The Parthians coming from Persia invaded Babylonia and took
the place of the Seleucids around 247 BC. They built
a new capital, CTESIPHON, on the Tigris just opposite
Seleucia. The Parthians had a great respect for
Greek culture which remained dominant throughout this period
of the history of Babylonia.
It was at this time that Emperor Trajan (Rome) attacked
the Parthians and occupied northern Mesopotamia. He finds Baby-
lon in ruins. Two years later the Parthians retake
Mesopotamia from the Romans.
THE SASSANIDS.
Another dynasty from Persia, that of the Sassanids, overthrew
the Parthians in 226 AD. It was at this time that the great
Arch of Ctesiphon was built. It is the remains of an immense
palace that the Sassanid kings had built for themselves to spend
the winter.
This era was very flourishing. Some of the canals
that can still be seen today in the desert
date from this period. Never in history was a system of
dams and canals more perfect than that of
Mesopotamia fifteen centuries ago, under the Sassanid kings.
King CHOSROES gave his name to a gigantic canal
today in ruins, but whose fame still lasts and which they
are working to restore.
In 637, the Muslims seized Ctesiphon.
( 9 )
THE CONQUEST OF MESOPOTAMIA BY THE ARABS .
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Muhammad , founder of Islam was born in Mecca in 570 .
Before him, Arabia had only played an insignificant role in
the history of the East . It was a poor , desert country .
However its geographical situation allowed it to play a
commercial role between Asian countries and those of the
Mediterranean , so that its main city, Mecca ,
was both an economic and religious center .
In 622 Muhammad fled to Medina . This is the Hijra , the starting
point of the Muslim calendar , based on the lunar year of
354 days .
In the aftermath of the death of Muhammad , in 632 the ARABS
began the conquest of a great empire .
In 637 , the Muslims reached Mesopotamia ,
took Ctesiphon , then the capital, and established
strongholds at Basra , Kufa and various other points . There
was immediately a great influx of Muslim Arabs onto the soil
of Mesopotamia .
The 4th caliph Ali , cousin of the prophet , found himself the
head of a vast empire that stretched from Tunis to Afghanistan .
But Ali had rivals and he moved his capital from
Medina , in Arabia to Kufa . He was assassinated there 5 years later
while he was praying in the mosque .
The partisans of Ali formed the sect of the Shiites . The same
year , a descendant of Umayya was proclaimed caliph and established his
capital in Damascus . Mesopotamia then passed under the govern-
ment of the Umayyads .
However the Umayyad usurper was hated in Mesopotamia .
Nineteen years later Hussein, son of Ali who lived in
Medina was invited by the population of Kufa to come and
settle there to be proclaimed caliph . He could not enter
the city and was massacred by Umayyad troops at the
battle of Karbala .
The resentment of the Shiites increased and they united
their forces with those of the Abbasids ( descendants of Abbas,
uncle of the prophet ) to drive out the Umayyads .
The Shiites however did not regain power which
passed into the hands of the ABBASIDS . The capital was transferred
from Damascus to Ambar ,(near present-day Fallujah ,) on the Euphrates.
( 10 )
THE ABBASID CALIPHS .
MANSOUR
In 762 the second Abbasid caliph, el-Mansour
transferred his capital from Ambar, on the Euphrates to Baghdad, on
the Tigre .
He chose this place for its location , a meeting point
of the routes followed by caravans , for its healthy climate and
the ease of having water for his irrigation projects .
BAGHDAD, whose name means city of peace, comprised
three concentric enclosures pierced by four gates ( N.E.-
S.E.- N.W.- S.W.). In the central enclosure rose the
palace of the caliph .He built a mosque , the Mansour
mosque , on the left bank of the river .
Mansour was a wonderful organizer . He centralized the
different powers, created the Post and the Bank . Very intel-
ligent , devoted to the government of his states, he had a
firm will and much patience . He was very thrifty
and at his death the Treasury was very flourishing . Friend of letters
and arts and sciences, he favored their development .
He organized an army to defend the caliphate against
incursions from outside .
MOHAMED-el-MAHADI
After the death of Mansour, the Romans tried to make
an incursion into the caliphate of Baghdad, but his son
Mohamed-el-Mahadi fortified his army and succeeded in keeping them
away .
Mohamed-el-mahadi continued the work of Mansour, developed
the sciences and facilitated pilgrimages to Mecca .
HARUN AL RASHID ( 786-809)
The fifth Abbasid caliph Harun-el-Rashid is
famous in the tales of the "One Thousand and One Nights " . But his
true glory is the development he gave to his
caliphate . Under his reign the glory of Baghdad reached its
zenith .
Harun-el-Rashid was brave, he loved justice and
monitored the merchants himself to realize
their honesty . He developed freedom and established secu-
rity in his states and in his capital . Very educated
himself , he encouraged scholars , writers ,
artists and he gave a great impetus to education .
Baghdad extended over the two banks of the river Karkh and
al-Rasafa .
Internally , he subdues the discontented . Externally
Harun-el-Rashid wages war against the Barmakids who,
out of personal interest , wanted to establish a Persian
government . Then he fights against peoples coming from the north and
who after having defeated the Umayyads of Damascus had
invaded the ⟦caliphate of the⟧ Abbasids from the north . Harun-el-Rashid
reinforced his army and defeated them on the Khabur river ,
tributary of the Tigris .
He keeps Byzantium and Rome in respect who , constantly threat-
en the peace of the caliphate . But Harun-el-Rashid maintains
friendly relations with the emperor of the Franks , Charlemagne
He sends him an embassy laden with magnificent gifts ,
among which were cereals unknown in Europe and a clock,
the first introduced in the West .
After having designated his successors , Mahamed-el-Amine
and Abdalah-el-mahamoun . he leaves for Iran where he is killed in a
( 11 )
riot, in Tus. He is buried in that city.
The reign of Harun al-Rashid is the golden reign of the
Abbasid period.
MU'TASIM
The third successor of Harun al-Rashid, one of
his sons, born to a Turkish mother, the Caliph Mu'tasim has
much admiration for the courage and discipline of the
Turkish soldiers. He surrounds himself with Turkish generals, but these
latter are hated in the capital and peace is threatened.
Mu'tasim sends them away and gives them Samarra as a base.
He himself settles in this city which as a result takes the
title of capital. Mu'tasim has a beautiful mosque built,
the Friday Mosque with a helical minaret.
He builds a monumental palace where he gives his audiences
and an immense avenue. The glory of Samarra was only
temporary and from 892 Baghdad regains its rank as capital.
The first three Abbasid periods are particularly
brilliant. The works of the Greeks: Aristotle, Plato, Euclid
are translated into Arabic. The Arabs study algebra,
astronomy, alchemy. Baghdad attracts poets,
scholars, musicians. It possesses an academy.
It is from this era that the reputation of Baghdad dates,
"The Pearl of the Orient".
The fourth and fifth Abbasid periods are on the
contrary periods of decadence.
From 966 to 1079 approximately the Buyids, a people come from the
Caspian Sea, settle in the Abbasid caliphate and while
preserving its organization, usurp the caliph's
power.
Around 1079 the Seljuks settled in Turkey invade
in their turn the Abbasid caliphate, convert to Isla-
mism and take power with the title of "Sultan". The
caliph is no more than a religious leader.
It is during this period that the "Crusades" begin.
This holy war awakens in the caliph the sense of his
rights, he overthrows the Seljuks and the Abbasids re-
gain power.
THE MONGOLS
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During the fifth Abbasid period the Tartars or
Mongols commanded by "Hulagu Khan" invade in their turn the
Muslim countries. Around 1258 Baghdad falls to the hands of the invaders.
The caliph's family is exterminated, the population massacred
and the city burned. For several days the waters of the
Tigris were blackened by the ashes of the manuscripts that the
Mongols burned.
The devastating hordes of horsemen, enemies of the tree
and of water destroyed the delicate agricultural balance of
Mesopotamia. The dams were opened, the river beds
left dry and the canals in ruins.
From this moment the irrigation system was more
and more neglected and soon the country became a desert and Baghdad
continued just barely to exist.
( 12 )
THE ABBASID CITIES .
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BAGHDAD .
It was in 762 that the second Abbasid caliph
al-Mansur undertook the construction of his new capital,
Baghdad , surrounded by three concentric walls . In the center
stood the caliph's palace .
In 1258 the Mongols invaded Mesopotamia . The family
of the caliph was exterminated, the population massacred and the city
burned .
Baghdad was again ruined by a Turkic sultan : Timur-
Lenk in 1400 . It was again taken and sacked by another
sultan : Murat .
Baghdad is currently the capital of the Republic
of Iraq . The city stretches for about twenty kilometers
mostly along the left bank of the Tigris . It has
almost a million inhabitants .
Basra :
This city was founded during the reign of Caliph
Omar in 638 on the right bank of the Shatt-al-Arab , shortly after
the conquest of Mesopotamia by the Arabs .
In 658 , Ali , son-in-law of Muhammad, won a
victory over the party responsible for the assassination of Caliph
Uthman . The combat known as the Battle of the Camel
took place at the gates of the city .
Basra has preserved none of the monuments that made
its fame during the time of the Abbasid caliphs .
Basra remains the gateway to Iraq . It is a major
maritime port , thanks to the wide estuary formed by the Shatt-al-Arab .
Samarra :
In 637 Samarra was a small Christian village
built on the Tigris .
In 836 the caliph al-Mu'tasim , son of Harun al-
Rashid , left Baghdad and established his caliphate there . He
had a royal residence built, a mosque, the Friday
Mosque , with a helical minaret , and a monumental
avenue .
As early as 892 the caliphate returned to Baghdad and Samarra immediately
lost its fleeting glory .
( 13 )
TURKISH DOMINATION
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Around 1400 Baghdad was ruined for the second time by
a Turkish sultan: Tamerlane, this time.
Tamerlane treats the capital as cruelly as
Hulagu Khan. Later another Turkish sultan: Murad, sacks
the city. Finally around 1534 Mesopotamia became a Turkish
possession with Sultan SULEIMAN-el-CANOUNI, but Turkish authority
had little vigor because of the uncertainty of the means
of communication. Until the First World War in 1914
Mesopotamia vegetates.
The Turks divide Mesopotamia into three districts:
Basra, in the south; Baghdad, in the center and Mosul in the
north.
Four periods are distinguished.
1- Power is entrusted to "Wallis" or governors.
These Ottoman governors have little authority. The tribes are
not subject to them and remain independent. Agriculture
is neglected and most Abbasid monuments are destroyed.
2- During the second period the power of the sultan is
strengthened. The "wallis" intensify the purchase of Mamluk
slaves to whom they grant a lot of freedom.
3- The Mamluks hold an increasingly considerable
place and end up seizing power. It is
then that Europeans begin to penetrate Mesopotamia.
The first English consul is appointed in Baghdad.
This third period ends under the government
of Daoud-Pasha who, having wanted to make a reform and establish
an independent government, was defeated by the sultan.
4- The power of the sultan increases more and more and the
"wallis" weaken. However, among these, stands out
a reformer, MIDHAT-PASHA, governor of Baghdad
from 1869 to 1872. Under his government great progress
was accomplished and living conditions were greatly
improved.
Midhat-Pasha is both a military and civil
organizer. He imposes military service, creates hospitals,
the land registry, installs the printing press and publishes the
first newspaper.
It is under his government that the cities of Nasiriyah and
Ramadi were born.
After him the governors who succeed each other until 1914
make no progress in the country.
- P. 6 -
III Third Week
I Vocabulary
Learn the spelling of these words very perfectly.
Search for a synonym or Know the meaning perfectly using the dictionary.
the dike (fem. noun).
the torrent (masc. noun)
the pastures ( " " )
to resemble (1st group verb)
to notch ( " " " )
the precipice ( masc. noun )
dizziness ( " " )
the fir tree ( " " )
the larch ( " " )
to wash one's face (1st group verb)
the siesta (fem. noun).
an excursion ( " " )
the fern ( " " )
a strawberry ( " " )
a cyclamen (masc. noun)
to foam (1st group verb)
inaccessible (masc. or fem. adj.)
thick ( " " " " )
an ice axe (masc. noun)
the gentian (fem. noun)
the rhododendron (masc. noun.)
Know the gender of nouns and adjectives very well.
the group of verbs.
II Sentence construction with given words.
Make a short and clear sentence with each of the following words:
the rock
the peak
the waterfall
the small bells
the ascent-
III-IV Grammar. Application Exercises.
Ses - Ces.
Ses has the meaning of, his, hers, its.
Ces points out an object.
Example: Each of these tourists takes his skis.
C'est. C'était-S'est-S'était.
C'est, and c'était are written with a C in the sense of that is, that was.
s'est, and s'était are written with an s when the verb can be conjugated I had, you had, he had etc...
Example: It is to make the ascent that François got up early.
- P. 7 -
Peu and Peut
Peu has the meaning of: not much.
Peut, is the verb to be able to (can) and can be replaced by could.
Exercises
On.........steep slopes, the shepherd leads.....sheep
Because.........a place where the grass is abundant and tasty
One can........hardly make the ascent of Mont Blanc without
Guide. It'....in autumn that the herds leave the mountain pasture.
There is ..... snow on the ridge; one....wait for it without difficulty.
Yesterday,....... the departure of the herd towards distant Provence;
one.........approached to say "goodbye" to the shepherd and to....
dogs.
Words starting with:
ec, almost all take only one c (école, écarter etc...)
ef, all take two f's. Ex: effacer, effort, effrayer.
il, take two l's, except: île and îlot. Ex: illisible, illustre.
im, take two m's, except: image, imiter and their derivatives.
Exercise: Conjugate in the future tense:
Take photos.
Climb a slope.
Be a tireless walker
Have a beautiful panorama before one's eyes.
Make a perilous ascent.
Go pick green gentians.
Come to wash up in a trough.
All these grammar rules must be learned by heart.
Take the time to review the grammar rules from
last week.
V Reading.
Book "Le Français par le Français"
Reading No.3
Read each paragraph slowly twice, and the entire reading
in turn twice.
The reading must be done out loud.
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- P.8 -
IV Fourth Week.
I Vocabulary.
Learn the spelling of these words very perfectly.
Look for a <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> synonym or Know the meaning perfectly using the dictionary.
To protect oneself (verb, 1st group)
the bad weather (fem. noun).
to lodge, to house oneself (verb, 1st group)
the stable (fem. noun.)
the cowshed ( " " )
the sheepfold ( " " )
the chicken coop (masc. noun.)
the dovecote ( " " )
the bees (fem. noun.)
the hive ( " " )
the hare (masc. noun.)
the wild boar ( " " )
the mouse (fem. noun.)
the lizard (masc. noun.)
the owl ( " " )
the squirrel ( " " )
the lion ( " " )
the claws (fem. noun.)
the fox (masc. noun.)
the mole (fem. noun.)
the beaver (masc. noun.)
Know very well the gender of nouns and adjectives and the group of verbs.
II Sentence construction with given words.
Make a short and clear sentence with each of the following words:
An insect
An anthill
the finches
the turkey
the chicks.
III-IV Grammar-Application Exercises.
Words that begin with:
Suf and Souf take two f's except: sulfur, to sulfur.
Sup take two p's, except supreme and words beginning with super.
Par take only one r, except godfather and parricide.
Exercise:
Classify into three columns: past, present, future-the following verbs.
I protect the swallows.
We will house our rabbits.
The dog had its kennel.
A cushion sufficed for the cat.
The lizard slips into the crack in the wall
The beavers will repair their dam.
(cont'd.)
- p.9 -
The rabbit managed to escape.
The magpie leaves its nest.
The wild boar was in its wallow.
The pigeons return to the dovecote.
The bee will not find its hive.
Words starting with.
<u>in</u> only take one n, except innocence, innumerable,
innovate ⟦innate⟧.
<u>ir</u> take 2r except: iris, irony.
<u>of</u> all take 2f;
<u>or</u> only take one r.
<u>Exercises:</u>
<u>in</u> the price of this house is.....affordable.
this building is.....finished.
<u>ir</u> Buying a villa is an.....alizable dream.
What a beautiful border of.....ris
This meadow is easily.....rigable.
<u>of</u> At the housing.....ice, I was.....ered a beautiful building,
but so expensive. It will be made into a mess for .....icers.
<u>or</u> the chalet stands at the.....rance of the woods, the facade.....
iented to the east.
All these grammar rules must be learned by
heart. Take the time to review the grammar rules
from last week.
V. <u>Reading.</u>
Book "French through French".
Reading No.4
Read each paragraph slowly twice, and the entire
reading in turn twice.
The reading must be done out loud.
⟦line⟧
- p. 10 -
V Fifth Week.
I Vocabulary
Learn the spelling of these words very perfectly.
Search for a synonym or Know the meaning perfectly
using the dictionary.
mash (fem.)
grain (masc.)
the barn (fem.)
alfalfa ( " )
the yard ( " )
poultry ( " )
to jostle each other (1st group verb)
to rush ( " " " )
familiar (adj.masc.fem.)
oats (masc.)
barley ( " )
to peck (1st group verb)
beaten (adj.masc.fem. or past participle)
to bicker (1st group verb)
the rooster (masc.)
proud (adj.masc. or fem.)
the fray (fem.)
to swell (1st group verb)
hatched (adj.masc. or fem. or past participle)
to waddle (1st group verb)
to groan ( " 2nd " )
a bowl (fem.)
Know very well the gender of nouns and adjectives,
the group of verbs.
II Sentence construction with given words.
Make a short and clear sentence with each of the following
words:
the niche
the hutch
to tease
the sparrows
cheeky.
III-IV Grammar-Application Exercises.
Do not take the feminine mark, e:
1-Feminine nouns in eur except: an hour, a dwelling.
2-Feminine nouns in té, indicating quality: goodness,
clarity etc...
3-The following nouns: daughter-in-law, glue, tribe, virtue, faith, law,
wall, mouse, ewe, partridge, ant, night.
( p.11. )
- 11 -
Exercise.
Complete the unfinished words:
In the clear freshn.... of the morning, a bright rum....
soars above the farm. The majestic gander lets out
a hoarse clam.... .
As soon as the farmer's wife appears, the whole winged trib.... throws itself
with greedin.... onto the grain. In his vanit.... the turkey
struts to have his beaut.... admired. A rooster scratches the ground
with vig.... . In the stable with the strong smell...., the oxen,
tied to the wall.... , feel the hour.... of the meal and bellow
with authorit....
All these grammar rules must be learned by heart.
Take the time to review last week's grammar
rules.
V Reading.
Book "French by the French"
Reading No.5
Read each paragraph slowly twice, and the entire
reading in turn twice.
The reading must be done out loud.
⟦line⟧
p. 12 -
VI Sixth Week
I Vocabulary
Learn the spelling of these words very perfectly.
Search for a synonym or Know the meaning perfectly using the dictionary.
A stall (fem.)
the shoemaker (masc.)
the forge (fem.)
the masons (masc.)
the carpenter ( " )
the resin (fem.)
the sawdust ( " )
the shavings (masc.)
to whistle (1st group verb)
hardly...any (adverb, invariable)
to spit (1st group verb)
the acacia (masc.)
the poplar ( " )
the oak ( " )
to dig (1st group verb)
to make one want ( " 3rd " )
the woodwork (fem.)
brave (adj. masc. fem.)
the workshop (masc.)
the saw (fem.)
Know very well the gender of nouns and adjectives,
the group of verbs.
II Sentence construction with given words.
Make a short and clear sentence with each of the following words:
the parquet floor
to tidy up
to pile up
to amass
to stuff
III-IV Grammar-Application Exercises.
1- When the adjective comes from a noun, it remains invariable.
Ex: Brown eyes.
Rust-colored fabrics.
Exception: pink ribbons.
mauve dresses.
2- Other color adjectives vary:
Ex: Green leaves
Reddish stems.
3- Adjectives formed of two joined words are
invariable:
Ex: Pale yellow corollas.
- P. 13 -
Exercise.
Make the words in parentheses agree, if necessary:
pants (dead leaf)
handkerchiefs (mauve)
dresses (red, green, blue)
suits (dark green)
blouses (black)
frock coats (tobacco) or (flea)
coats (dark red)
ribbons (cherry, pink, purple)
wools (lemon yellow).
All these grammar rules must be learned by heart.
Take the time to review the grammar rules from
last week.
V Reading.
Book "French by the French"
Reading No. 6
Read each paragraph slowly twice, and the entire
reading in turn twice.
The reading must be done out loud.
⟦line⟧
- P. 6 -
III Third Week
I Vocabulary
Learn the spelling of these words very perfectly.
Look for a synonym or Know the meaning perfectly using the dictionary.
the dike (fem. noun).
the torrent (masc. noun)
the pastures ( " " )
to resemble (1st group verb)
to notch ( " " " )
the precipice ( masc. noun )
dizziness ( " " )
the fir tree ( " " )
the larch ( " " )
to wash one's face (1st group verb)
the siesta (fem. noun).
an excursion ( " " )
the fern ( " " )
a strawberry ( " " )
a cyclamen (masc. noun)
to foam (1st group verb)
inaccessible (masc. or fem. adj.)
thick ( " " " )
an ice axe (masc. noun)
the gentian (fem. noun)
the rhododendron (masc. noun.)
Know the gender of nouns and adjectives very well.
the group of verbs.
II Sentence construction with given words.
Make a short and clear sentence with each of the following words:
the rock
the peak
the waterfall
the small bells
the ascent-
III-IV Grammar. Application Exercises.
Ses - Ces.
Ses has the meaning of, his, hers, its.
Ces points out an object.
Example: Each of these tourists takes his skis.
C'est. C'était-S'est-S'était.
C'est, and c'était are written with a C in the sense of that is, that was.
s'est, and s'était are written with an s when the verb can be conjugated I had, you had, he had etc...
Example: It is to make the ascent that François got up early.
⟦illegible⟧
- P. 7 -
Peu and Peut
Peu has the meaning of: not much.
Peut, is the verb to be able to (can) and can be replaced by could.
Exercises
On..........steep slopes, the shepherd leads.....sheep
Because..........a place where the grass is abundant and tasty
One can.........hardly make the ascent of Mont Blanc without
Guide. It'....in autumn that the herds leave the mountain pasture.
There is ..... snow on the ridge; one....reach it without difficulty.
Yesterday,....... the departure of the herd towards distant Provence;
one..........approached to say "goodbye" to the shepherd and to....
dogs.
Words starting with:
ec, almost all take only one c (école, écarter etc...)
ef, all take two f's. Ex: effacer, effort, effrayer.
il, take two l's, except: île and îlot. Ex: illisible, illustre.
im, take two m's, except: image, imiter and their derivatives.
Exercise: Conjugate in the future tense:
Take photos.
Climb a slope.
Be an indefatigable walker
Have a beautiful panorama before one's eyes.
Make a perilous ascent.
Go pick green gentians.
Come to wash up in a trough.
All these grammar rules must be learned by heart.
Take the time to review the grammar rules from
last week.
V Reading.
Book "French through French"
Reading No.3
Read each paragraph slowly twice, and the entire reading
in turn twice.
The reading must be done out loud.
⟦line⟧
- P.8 -
IV Fourth Week.
I Vocabulary.
Learn the spelling of these words very perfectly.
Search for a <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> synonym or Know the meaning perfectly
using the dictionary.
To protect oneself | (verb, 1st group)
the bad weather | (fem. noun).
to lodge, to lodge oneself | (verb, 1st group)
the stable | (fem. noun.)
the cowshed | ( " " )
the sheepfold | ( " " )
the chicken coop | (masc. noun.)
the dovecote | ( " " )
the bees | (fem. noun.)
the hive | ( " " )
the hare | (masc. noun.)
the wild boar | ( " " )
the mouse | (fem. noun.)
the lizard | (masc. noun.)
the owl | ( " " )
the squirrel | ( " " )
the lion | ( " " )
the claws | (fem. noun.)
the fox | (masc. noun.)
the mole | (fem. noun.)
the beaver | (masc. noun.)
Know very well the gender of nouns and adjectives
the group of verbs.
II Sentence constructions with given words.
Make a short and clear sentence with each of the following
words:
An insect
An anthill
the finches
the turkey
the chicks.
III-IV Grammar-Application Exercises.
Words that begin with:
Suf and Souf take two f's except: sulfur, to sulfur.
Sup take two p's, except supreme and words beginning
with super.
Par take only one r, except godfather and parricide.
Exercise.
Classify into three columns: past, present, future-the following
verbs.
I protect the swallows.
We will house our rabbits.
The dog had its kennel.
A cushion sufficed for the cat.
The lizard slips into the crack in the wall
The beavers will repair their dam.
(cont'd.)
- p.9 -
The rabbit managed to escape.
The magpie leaves its nest.
The wild boar was in its wallow.
The pigeons return to the dovecote.
The bee will not find its hive again.
Words starting with.
in only take one n, except innocence, innumerable,
innovate, ⟦innate⟧.
ir take 2r except: iris, irony.
of all take 2f:
or only take one r.
Exercises:
in the price of this house is.....affordable.
this building is.....finished.
ir Buying a villa is an.....alizable dream.
What a beautiful border of....ris
This meadow is easily.....rigable.
of At the housing.....ice, I was.....ered a beautiful building,
but so expensive. It will be made into a mess for .....icers.
or the chalet stands at the....rance of the woods, the facade.....
iented to the east.
All these grammar rules must be learned by
heart. Take the time to review the grammar rules
from last week.
V. Reading.
Book "Le Français par le Français".
Reading No.4
Read each paragraph slowly twice, and the entire
reading in turn twice.
The reading must be done out loud.
⟦line⟧
- p. 10 -
V Fifth Week.
I Vocabulary
Learn the spelling of these words very perfectly.
Search for a synonym or Know the meaning perfectly
using the dictionary.
the mash (fem.)
the grain (masc.)
the barn (fem.)
the alfalfa ( " )
the courtyard ( " )
the poultry ( " )
to jostle each other (1st group verb)
to rush ( " " " )
familiar (adj.masc.fem.)
the oats (masc.)
the barley ( " )
to peck (1st group verb)
beaten (adj.masc.fem.or past participle)
to bicker (1st group verb)
the rooster (masc.)
proud (adj.masc.or fem.)
the fray (fem.)
to inflate (1st group verb)
hatched (adj.masc.or fem. or past participle)
to waddle (1st group verb)
to groan ( " 2nd " )
a bowl (fem.)
Know the gender of nouns and adjectives very well,
the group of verbs.
II Sentence constructions with given words.
Make a short and clear sentence with each of the
following words:
the kennel
the hutch
to tease
the sparrows
cheeky.
III-IV Grammar-Application Exercises.
Do not take the feminine mark, e:
1-Feminine nouns in eur except: an hour, a dwelling.
2-Feminine nouns in té, indicating quality: goodness,
clarity etc...
3-The following nouns: daughter-in-law, glue, tribe, virtue, faith, law,
wall, mouse, ewe, partridge, ant, night.
( p.11. )
- 11 -
Exercise.
Complete the unfinished words:
In the clear freshn.... of the morning, a bright rum....
soars above the farm. The majestic gander lets out
a hoarse clam....
As soon as the farmer's wife appears, the whole winged trib.... throws itself
with greedin.... onto the grain. In his vanit.... the turkey
fans his tail so that people admire his beaut..... A rooster scratches the ground
with vig.... . In the stable with the strong scent...., the oxen,
tied to the wall.... , feel the tim.... of the meal and bellow
with authorit....
All these grammar rules must be learned by heart.
Take the time to review last week's
grammar rules. .
V Reading.
Book "French through French"
Reading No.5
Read each paragraph slowly twice, and the entire
reading in turn twice.
The reading must be done out loud.
⟦line⟧
p. 12 -
VI Sixth Week
I Vocabulary
Learn the spelling of these words very perfectly.
Search for a synonym or Know the meaning perfectly
using the dictionary.
A stall | (fem.)
the shoemaker | (masc.)
the forge | (fem.)
the masons | (masc.)
the carpenter | ( " )
the resin | (fem.)
the sawdust | ( " )
the shavings | (masc.)
to whistle | (1st group verb)
hardly...any | (adverb, invariable)
to spit | (1st group verb)
the acacia | (masc.)
the poplar | ( " )
the oak | ( " )
to dig | (1st group verb)
to make one want to | ( " 3rd " )
the woodwork | (fem.)
brave | (adj.masc.fem.)
the workshop | (masc.)
the saw | (fem.)
Know very well the gender of nouns and adjectives,
the group of verbs.
II Sentence construction with given words.
Make a short and clear sentence with each of the following
words:
the parquet floor
to tidy up
to pile up
to amass
to stuff
III-IV Grammar-Application Exercises.
1- When the adjective comes from a noun, it remains invariable.
Ex: Brown eyes.
Rust-colored fabrics.
Exception: pink ribbons.
mauve dresses.
2- Other color adjectives vary:
Ex: Green leaves
Reddish stems.
3- Adjectives formed of two joined words are
invariable:
Ex: pale yellow Corollas.
- P. 13 -
Exercise.
Make the words in parentheses agree, if necessary:
pants (dead leaf)
handkerchiefs (mauve)
dresses (red, green, blue)
suits (dark green)
blouses (black)
frock coats (tobacco) or (flea)
coats (dark red)
ribbons (cherry, pink, purple)
wools (lemon yellow).
All these grammar rules must be learned by heart.
Take the time to review the grammar rules from
last week.
V Reading.
Book "French through French"
Reading No. 6
Read each paragraph slowly twice, and the entire
reading in turn twice.
The reading must be done out loud.
⟦line⟧
Embassy Certificate Baghdad 1961
Spelling
A storm
The black clouds pushed by a terrible wind,
arrived, following one another, pressing,
jostling, pushing each other like a flock of
frightened sheep and when they were upon us the hail began to
fall with a great noise...
"Poor people: we are lost!" cried the
women; and they began to cry and to lament.
Now the storm was fully over the village; the
hail fell as big as pigeon eggs, and even
more so. The tiles of the houses flew into pieces; the
leaves of the trees fell in masses and disappeared,
carried away by the wind ...
This lasted a quarter of an hour. The broken tiles
let the water pass into the attic and, through the
badly joined floor, it rained on the tables, on the beds,
everywhere, but no one paid attention: everyone thought
of their wheat which was lost.
When it was over, we went out, and all the people of the
village too. In the meadows the grass was under the mud. The
vines and the trees were hacked, the gardens ransacked. And
from all sides one heard the cries of the women and their
exclamations.
According to E. Le Roy.
Q U E S T I O N S
I - "The frightened sheep".
Conjugate the verb "to frighten" in the first person
singular and plural of the present, the imperfect, the
future of the Indicative.
II- Function of the words: "the women"-"pigeons"-"in mass".
III- Identify and analyze the subordinate clauses of
this text.
EMBASSY CERTIFICATE
BAGHDAD 1961
FRENCH COMPOSITION
You are writing to a foreign correspondent to describe to them
some characteristic aspects of your city and to
invite them to come and spend a few days with you.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE WRITING
You were invited by one of your classmates to spend the
day with them.
Relate this day.
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