Reading F Read the text and mark the sentences T (true), F (false) or NS (not stated).
Pandora's Box
In ancient Greece there were two brothers named Epimetheus and Prometheus. They upset the gods and annoyed the most powerful of all Gods, Zeus. He came up with a very cunning plan to punish the two brothers. He created a woman from clay, called her Pandora and sent her as a gift to Epimetheus.
His brother Prometheus warned him not to accept any gifts from the gods but Epimetheus thought Pandora was so beautiful that she could never cause any harm, so he agreed to marry her.
Zeus, pleased that his trap was working, gave Pandora a wedding gift of a beautiful box. Unfortunately, she could never open the box. Pandora was very curious about the contents of the box but she promised not to open it. Time passed and all Pandora could think about was to unlock the box and to find out its secrets.
Finally, Pandora could stand it no longer. When she knew Epimetheus was out of sight, she took the huge key off the high shelf, fitted it carefully into the lock and turned it. But, at the last moment, she felt a pang of guilt, and quickly locked the box again without opening the lid. Three more times she did this until, at last, she knew she had to look inside or she would go completely mad!
So, she unlocked the box and looked into it. But there was no gleam of gold or treasure. The look of excitement on her face quickly turned to one of disappointment and then horror. For Zeus had packed the box full of all the terrible evils he could think of. Out of the box poured disease and poverty. Out came misery, death, sadness - all shaped like tiny buzzing moths.
The creatures stung Pandora over and over again and she shut the lid. Her husband ran into the room to see why she was crying in pain. Pandora could still hear a voice calling to her from the box, asking her to be let out. Epimetheus agreed that nothing inside the box could be worse than the released horrors, so they opened the lid once more.
All that remained in the box was Hope. It fluttered from the box like a beautiful dragonfly, touching the wounds created by the evil creatures, and healing them. Even though Pandora had released pain and suffering upon the world, she had also allowed Hope to follow them.
1 Epimetheus and Prometheus were relatives.
2 Zeus was angry with the brothers.
3 Zeus forgave the brothers’ sins.
4 Pandora was a kind woman.
5 Pandora fell in love with Prometheus.
6 Pandora wanted to see the contents of the box.
7 Pandora didn’t keep her promise.
8 Zeus put only all the terrible evils into the box.
9 Epimetheus helped Pandora to open the box twice.
10 The evil creatures were very cruel with Pandora.
2) T (true) - The text states that Zeus was angry with the brothers, Epimetheus and Prometheus, as they upset the gods.
3) F (false) - The text does not mention that Zeus forgave the brothers' sins. It only states that he came up with a plan to punish them.
4) F (false) - The text does not provide information about Pandora's personality. It only states that Epimetheus found her beautiful.
5) F (false) - The text does not mention Pandora falling in love with Prometheus. It only states that Epimetheus agreed to marry her.
6) T (true) - The text states that Pandora was very curious about the contents of the box and wanted to see its secrets.
7) T (true) - The text states that Pandora promised not to open the box but eventually gave in to her curiosity.
8) F (false) - The text states that Zeus packed the box with all the terrible evils he could think of, not just the evils.
9) T (true) - The text states that Epimetheus agreed to open the box with Pandora, believing that nothing inside could be worse than the released horrors.
10) T (true) - The text states that the evil creatures stung Pandora over and over again, causing her pain.