Historically, France as a nation has been predominantlyRoman Catholic. These days, however, France is largely secularin terms ofits culture, with many of its citizens having long turned their backs ontraditional forms of religion. With this reality in mind, we may wonder why a church—specifically Notre-Dame de Paris sitting on the small island in the middle of the river Seine—remains so deeply rooted in the hearts of Parisians. When a fire caused great damage to Notre-Dame on April 15th, 2019, Parisians were horrified and shocked to see the destruction of their beloved“lady” (notre-dame being the French word for “our lady”). Sure enough, from the moment the fire was eventually put out, the French government began making plans for its reconstruction. So, given France’s secularism, what is it that makes Notre-Dame, a religious building, so beloved?
Notre-Dame’s popularity partially arises from the publication of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo in the 19th century. However, construction on the Notre- Dame de Paris began back in 1163 and took more than 100 years to complete. Since its completion, the Gothiccathedral has been forced to move with the times on several occasions, including two World Wars. Despite being attacked during times of political and religious upheaval, it has continued to stand tall throughout the centuries. The fact that it was effectively turned into a food storage space for a few years during the French Revolutionshows the incredible ability of the cathedral to adapt toany situation in order to ensure its survival.
It is clear that for the people of Paris, Notre-Dame is so much more than just a church. It is part of the fabricof the French capital and, therefore, an important backdropin a city they believe to be the cultural center of the world. Though consumed by flames just a few years ago, Notre-Dame will undoubtedly recover and live on.
1. What is the main purpose of the passage?
(A) To criticize French attitudes towards religious traditions.
(B) To explain how popular The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is.
(C) To investigate what caused the fire that destroyed Notre-Dame de Paris.
(D) To detail some background on Notre-Dame de Paris and its current status.
2. Which of the following is closest in meaning to “secular” in the first paragraph?
(A) Closely related to France and French culture.
(B) Associated with the French’s ancient tradition.
(C) Not directly connected to religious values or practices.
(D) Strongly influenced by political beliefs and standards.
3. According to the passage, which of the following about Notre-Dame de Paris is true?
(A) It is located on a platform along Seine River.
(B) Its construction was finished in the 1200s.
(C) Its religious importance is admired by all the French.
(D) It served as the most important religious site during the French Revolution.
4. Which of the following questions about Notre- Dame de Paris CANNOT be answered?
(A) What does the church’s name imply in French?
(B) When will the renovationof the church be done?
(C) Why does the church play a major part in France?
(D) How did the church survive difficult times in history?
