The statue of liberty

One of the most famous statues in the world stands on the ground in New York Harbor. This statue is, of course, the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty is a woman who holds a torch up high. Visitors can go inside the statue. The statue is so large that as many as twelve people can stand inside the torch. Many more people can stand on other pans of the statue. The statue weighs 225 tons and is 301 feet tall.

The Statue of Liberty was put up in 1886. It was a gift to the United States from the people of France. Over the years France and the United States had a special relationship. In 1776 France helped the American colonies gain in­dependence from England. The French wanted to do something special for the U.S. centennial, its 100th birthday.

Laboulaye was a well-known French­man who admired the United States. One night at a dinner in his house Laboulaye talked about the idea of a gift. Among Laboulaye's guests was the French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. Bartholdi thought of a Statue of Liberty.

He offered to de­sign the statue.

Many people contributed in some way. The French people gave money for the statue. Ameri­cans designed and built the pedestal for the statue to stand on. The American people raised money to pay for the pedes­tal, The French en­gineer Alexander Eiffel, who was famous for his Eiffel Tower in Paris, figured out how to make the heavy statue stand.

In the years after the statue was put up, many immigrants came to the United States through New York. As they en­tered New York Harbor, they saw the Statue of Liberty holding up her torch. She symbolized a welcome to a land of freedom.

Vocabulary

Complete the sentences. Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. The people of France wanted to give the United States a special _______.

1. gift

2. torch

2. France and the United States had a special _______.

1. independence

2. relationship

3. France helped the American colonies _______ independence.

1. build

2. gain

4. A famous Frenchman, Laboulaye, _______ the United States.

1. admired

2. visited

5. Frederic Bartholdi _______ to design the statue.

1. contributed

2. offered

6. The Statue of Liberty stands on a _______.

1. pedestal

2. harbor

Comprehension

A. Looking for Main Ideas

Circle the letter of the best answer.

1. The Statue of Liberty is a famous statue in _______.

1. France

2. the United States

2. The Statue of Liberty was a gift _______.

1. from the people of France to the United States

2. from Laboulaye and Eiffel to the United States

3. The Statue of Liberty symbolizes

1. a woman with a torch

2. a land of freedom

B. Looking for Details

Circle Т if the sentence is true. Circle F if the sentence is false.

1. Twelve people can stand inside the torch of the Statue of Liberty. T F

2. The United States helped France gain its independence in 1776. Т F

3. Alexander Eiffel was among the guests at Labou1aye's"house. Т F

4. Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was a French engineer. Т F

5. Alexander Eiffel figured out how to make the statue stand. Т F

6. Americans designed the pedestal for the statue. Т F