The ancient Colosseum or Coliseum also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre is an oval amphitheater in the center of the city of Rome, Italy. The Colosseum is situated just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest of its kind. They started building it in 70 AD under the supervision of emperor Vespasian and was completed in AD 80 under his successor and heir Titus. The site chosen was a flat area on the floor of a low valley between the Caelian, Esquiline and Palatine Hills, through which a canalized stream ran. It took ten years to build. The Colosseum in Rome represents a lifestyle that we today are only able to study but never experience. The Coliseum has been used in many ways. In ancient Rome, men fought each other in it. They fought against lions, tigers, and bears. Oh my! It was dreadful. But most of the people loved It. As many as 80,000 Romans would pack inside to watch. These gruesome events went on until 523. The Coliseum has been damaged many times over the years. It was struck by lightning in the year 217. This started a fire. Much of the Coliseum is made of Travertine, limestone, concrete and volcanic stone. But the fire damaged the upper levels which were made of wood. This damage took many years to repair. It was not finished until the year 240. The worst damage happened in 1349. A mighty earthquake shook Rome and the Coliseum. The south side of the building collapsed. Pieces of the arena were all over the ground. Many people took the fallen stones. Others took stones from the seating areas. They used them to repay houses and churches. The Romans of those days were not connected to the Coliseum. It had last been used as a castle. Before that it was a graveyard. It has been hundreds of years since the games. The damage to the Coliseum was never repaired. It's good thing the outer wall of it still stands strong. Today the Coliseum is one of Rome's most popular attractions. People from all over the world come to Italy to see it. It has even appeared on the back of a coin. I guess that makes it a symbol that many people want too. Which statement would the author most likely agree with?
Correct answer: C. The Colosseum is very old and has been used for many purposes
- A. The Coliseum should be replaced with a building that is not damaged
- B. The Colosseum has its place in history but it is not useful today
- C. The Colosseum is very old and has been used for many purposes
- D. The Colosseum should be used for fighting once again
Explanation
This is correct. The passage details the Colosseum's long history, including its various uses and significant historical events, highlighting its age and varied functions.
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