{{B}} A
Part Ⅰ{{/B}}
1. Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey with 8. 8 million inhabitants (1996 estimate, within municipal borders), is situated on both sides of the Bosporus, making it a city of two continents, Europe and Asia. It is the capital of Istanbul province with 10 million inhabitants (2004 estimate ).
2. The name "Istanbul" comes from the Greek phrase "eis ten polin" used by Constantinople's inhabitants, and which meant "in the city". The Arabs adopted it and used it as a name for the city, Istinbolin. There are 3 major parts of Istanbul. Larger Istanbul is 45 km wide and 35 long from south to north. The city continues all along the strait of Bosporus, which connects-the Black Sea to Sea of Marmara and the Mediterranean further south.
3. The original Constantinople was surrounded by seven hills, just like Rome. 6 crests lies along the Golden Horn, while the 7th lies alone about a km south. The hills have plat summits, and steep slopes.
4. This, the original part of the city, now Corresponds to Stamboul, which is the main focus of tourism, with the many sights from the city's long history. Beyoglu is the modem part of today's Istanbul, housing many theatres, government offices and businesses. The waters from the Black Sea thrust south through the Bosporus. Underneath there is strong undercurrent coming from the Mediterranean Sea. The currents change 7 times through the strait, often making it difficult to pass for smaller vessels. Istanbul is connected to Europe and the rest of Turkey with highways and railroads.
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Part Ⅱ{{/B}}
5. The bridges crossing the Bosporus are among the longest highway suspension bridges in the world. Istanbul's airport is called Yesilk International Airport, and located 27 west of the city. The largest and culturally and historically most important part lies in Europe, while the richest part lies in Asia.
6. About 35% of Turkey's manufacturing plants are located to the area around Istanbul. The city is the chief seaport as well as the commercial and financial centre of Turkey. A large scale of industries are found here: automobile and truck assembly, shipbuilding and ship repairing; cement production, cigarettes; food products, fruit, olive oil, silk; glass, cotton, leather, pottery and more. Istanbul is also an important centre for banking and insurance. Another important source of income for the city is tourism.
7. Constantinople was for centuries one of the most important cities in the world. With the decline of Rome, Constantinople took over as the leading city. It allowed for a fusion of several cultures, in customs, art and architecture. The coin of Constantinople, solidus, was the dominating monetary standard of its time.
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Part Ⅲ{{/B}}
8. Istanbul has a wide range of sights of great historical and cultural interest. There are many churches preserved in the city, many have been converted into mosques.
9. The Hagia Sophia was originally a church, but was converted into a mosque in 1453, and in 1932 into a museum. It is now known as Aya Sophia, and lies near the Sea of Marmara in the Stamboul quarters. The church was erected in the 6th century by the architects Arthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus. The dome, 33 metre wide, was among the most ambitious building projects of pre-Medieval times. The dome was completed within a period of 5 years. It would take 10 centuries before any architects dared to challenge its size, but then without full success.
10. But it would take only 20 years after its completion before serious weaknesses with the construction became evident. An earthquake made central parts of the dome collapse, and a nephew of Isidore of Miletus, called Isidorus the Younger, made changes. Among the changes were to close several of the windows, resulting in the dim half-light that characterizes the building even today.
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Part IV{{/B}}
11. While the conversion of the church to a mosque in the 15th century was hard enough, it was Crusaders in 1203, who made themselves guilty of the worst case of desecration Hagia Sophia ever saw. They tore up the altar, all valuables were taken away and a prostitute was placed on the patriarch's chair, while the hymns and processions of the eastern church were ridiculed.
12. The palace, situated on the tip of old Constantinople, was the political centre of the Ottoman Empire for 4 centuries. Large parts of the palace were devoted to offices and state institutions as well as a palace school. Only about half was the residence of the sultan and his harem. The harem women counted as many as 809 during the reign of Sultan Abdaziz in the late 19th century.
13. The palace was built between 1459 and 1465, but was in the beginning not the residence of the sultan. He stayed in his palace where the Istanbul University now is located, together with his harem. Later on all this moved into the Topkapi, but in the middle of the 19th century, a new palace was constructed a few kilometres further up the Bosporus.
·there is a palace situated on the tip of old Constantinople? 71. ______.
·Constantinople was another important city in the world? 72. ______.
·Istanbul is connected to Europe and the rest of Turkey with Highways
and railroads, including the bridges crossing the Bosporus? 73. ______.
74. ______.
·Aya Sophia experienced an earthquake which made central parts of
the dome collapse? 75. ______.
·Stamboul is the main focus of tourism with many sights from the city's
long history? 76. ______.
·Tourism generates an important source of income? 77. ______.
·Istanbul is a city of two continents? 78. ______.
·The Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque in 14537 79. ______.
80. ______.