Name: ______Date: ______Class: ______


Pre-Reading Questions
1. Look at the picture of the Taj Mahal below. Describe the structure. What do you think of it?

2. Do you know where the Taj Mahal is located? If not, give an educated guess.

3. When do you think it was built? Give an educated guess.

4. Why do you think it was built? Give an educated guess.

5. What material(s) do you think it was used in the construction of the Taj Mahal?

The Taj Mahal is a beautiful monument that is found in Arga, India. Arga was the home of the Mughal emperors in 1637. Shah Jahan the fifth emperor had the Taj Mahal built as a mausoleum (a tomb) for his beloved second wife Arjumand Banu. She died in 1630 after giving birth to her 14th child. When her remains were moved to the Taj Mahal, she became known as Mamtaz Mahal.

The Taj is apart of a large complex that includes: a gateway, a garden, a mosque, and a guest house. The Persian-style garden is large and elaborate, with large pools of water that reflect the Taj Mahal’s image. The central dome of the Taj is 58ft. high. Mamtaz Mahal is entombed in the lower chamber. After Shah’s death his body was placed next to hers.

Shah Jahan employed Ustad Ahmad, the most famous Persian Architect of the day. Twenty thousand workers and master craftsmen from all over India and Asia were brought to Agra to complete the design. Over 1,000 elephants transported the finest building materials all over India.

The mausoleum is made entirely from white marble, inlaid with precious and semi-precious gems. Light from the sun reflect off the marble during the day, and moonlight reflects off the marble during the night, which adds to its beauty. The Mosque and The Guest House, on the side of the Taj Mahal, were built from red stone. It took 22 years to complete the project.

The Taj Mahal is an excellent example of Islamic art and architecture. Some people think that this is the most beautiful building on earth. In 1883, the United Nations declared it a World Heritage Site. Over the years millions of tourists have visited it.

Comprehension Questions:
Directions: True/False: Read the statements below. If the statement is true, place a T by the sentence. If the statement is false, place a F by the sentence.

1.  _____ The Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century.

2.  _____ Emperor Shah Jahan is buried inside the Taj Mahal.

3.  _____ All the people who worked on the Taj Mahal were from the local area.

4.  _____ All the materials used to build the Taj Mahal are found in Arga.

5.  _____ The entire mosque is made of white marble.


Directions: Read the statements below. Write your answer for each question in a complete sentence.

1.  How were the building materials transported to Arga?

2.  Where is the Taj Mahal located?

3.  Why did Shah Jahan order the Taj Mahal to be built?

4.  Who designed the Taj Mahal and who built it?

5.  Briefly describe the Taj Mahal.

6.  How does the white marble add to the beauty of the Mausoleum?

7.  Why did the United Nations declare the Taj Mahal a world heritage site?


Directions: Vocabulary: Match the words to the left with the correct meaning on the right.

1.  _____ Monument a) A skilled workers who makes things with their hands

2.  _____ Emperor b) Having a great deal of detail, carefully planned

3.  _____ Mausoleum c) A round roof with a circular base

4.  _____ Mosque d) Ruler, leader

5.  _____ Elaborate e) Very special excellent

6.  _____ Reflect f) Very Valuable

7.  _____ Craftsman g) Throw back light or image

8.  _____ Precious h) A building/ statue in dedicated to someone/something

9.  _____ Outstanding i) A very large place to keep a body when a person dies

10. _____ Dome j) A building where Muslims pray

Directions: Choose the correct word from the left column above to complete the sentences.

1.  Women have to cover their heads when they go into a ______to pray.

2.  There is a big ______in Washington, D.C. it is in memory of all the soldiers who lost their lives at war.

3.  He makes beautiful furniture; he is a very talented ______.

4.  They made very ______plans for the wedding reception.

5.  He is a ______high school student. He will do very well at a University.