IELTS Practice Test: Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha

Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha

Source

Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha, was born in 623 B.C. in the famous gardens of Lumbini, which soon became a place of pilgrimage. Among the pilgrims was the Indian emperor Ashoka, who erected one of his commemorative pillars there. The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha form a central feature.

The Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC in the sacred area of Lumbini located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, testified by the inscription on the pillar erected by the Mauryan Emperor Asoka in 249 BC. Lumbini is one of the holiest places of one of the world’s great religions, and its remains contain important evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage centres from as early as the 3rd century BC.

The complex of structures within the archaeological conservation area includes the Shakya Tank; the remains within the Maya Devi Temple consisting of brick structures in a cross-wall system dating from the 3rd century BC to the present century and the sandstone Ashoka pillar with its Pali inscription in Brahmi script. Additionally, there are the excavated remains of Buddhist viharas (monasteries) of the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD and the remains of Buddhist stupas (memorial shrines) from the 3rd century BC to the 15th century AD. The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha form a central feature.

Activity 1: Match the definitions

Match the definitions below to the words or phrases in the Passage.

In this section, students need to match the definitions provided with the words available in the passage. Correct Phrases are available in the passage. You are prohibited to use words outside of the passage.

A building devoted to the worship, or regarded as the dwelling place, of a god or gods or other objects of religious reverence. 

A journey to a place associated with someone or something well known or respected.

A large area of flat land

A period of one hundred years.

A person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons.

A sovereign ruler of great power and rank, especially one ruling an empire.

Acting as a memorial or mark of an event or person.

An area of notable environmental or historical interest or importance which is protected by law against undesirable changes.

Activity 2: Synonym,

Complete the sentence with the Synonym of the word in the bracket. Synonyms are available at the end of the questions.

In this section, students need to fill in the blanks with a synonym of the word/phrase in the brackets [ ]. Correct Phrases are available in the passage. You are prohibited to use words outside of the passage.

A good road system also made it easier for the to control their empire as messages and orders could be sent quickly. [ruler,  king]

Vietnam has a vibrant literary tradition dating back many . [age, time]

Many of the and sadhus carry plastic sheets and umbrellas over their heads. [worshipper, devotee]

The discussion of prayer and , fasting and forgiveness, is both insightful and enticing. [religious journey, holy expedition]

Over the last century, internal migration has overwhelmingly been from mountains to , inland to coastal areas, and rural to urban settlements. [Flatland, lowland]

Hindus seek to find God on the inside while also worshipping God in the . [holy place, home of god]

Options to select from:

Centuries | Pilgrims | Temple | Plains | Emperors | Pilgrimage

Activity 3: Antonym

Complete the sentence with the antonym of the word in the bracket. Antonyms are available at the end of the questions.

In this section, students need to fill in the blanks with antonym of the word/phrase in the brackets []. Correct Phrases are available in the passage. You are prohibited to use words outside of the passage.

His act of praying transforms the cityscape into a sacred space and ground. [ Unholy, unreligious ]

Residents hope that an extension of the  area would protect the area from inappropriate development. [ Hunting area, poaching area ]

Each attendant will be given a personal certificate and   badge to celebrate the good work of school crossing patrol staff. [ dishonouring, neglecting ]

Belgium is rightly   for its blond beers, and you'll find a bar on every street corner. [unknown, insignificant]

Hindu marriage is solemnised before the   fire. [ profane, unholy ]

Archaeological   suggest this was contemporary with but larger than, the western settlement. [ base, core ]

Options to select from:

Famous | Commemorative | Holy | Remains | Sacred | Conservation Area


 

 

References

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/666/ [Saturday, May 9, 2020]
https://www.lexico.com/
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/
https://www.thesaurus.com/
https://www.synonym.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://www.definitions.net/
https://answers.yahoo.com/
https://www.britannica.com/

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