ACADEMIC LISTENING TEST PRACTICE
LEONARDO DA VINCI
LEONARDO DA VINCI
For Students Preparing for Academic Tests / IELTS and TOEFL
Listen as you read the script.
Playing Time: 2 minutes 59 seconds
Leonardo da Vinci was a true Renaissance man. He was an artist, scientist, inventor, and engineer who lived in the 15th and 16th centuries. He is best known for his painting of the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, but his talents and interests spanned far beyond just art.
Da Vinci was born in 1452 in the small town of Vinci, in the region of Tuscany, Italy. As a child, he showed a great interest in the natural world and a talent for drawing. He was apprenticed to Andrea del Verrocchio, a master artist and engineer, at the age of 14. Under Verrocchio's tutelage, da Vinci learned about art and mechanics, and he quickly surpassed his master in skill.
Da Vinci's art was characterized by its realism and attention to detail. He was known for his ability to capture the subtle expressions and emotions of his subjects. The Mona Lisa, which is considered one of the greatest works of art of all time, is a prime example of this. The painting depicts a woman, believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, with a subtle smile and a distant gaze. The painting's fame rests on the enigmatic expression of the subject, which is said to be a representation of the sitter's "sfumato" (smoke or vapor) smile, that creates the illusion of movement and is one of the hallmarks of da Vinci's style.
But da Vinci was not just an artist; he was also a scientist and inventor. He made detailed drawings and notes on a wide range of topics, including human anatomy, botany, geology, and optics. He was also a pioneer in the study of flight, designing plans for flying machines that were centuries ahead of their time.
Da Vinci's inventions were not only ahead of their time, but also many of them were never built during his lifetime. His drawings include designs for a helicopter, a tank, a flying machine, and a submarine. He also studied the mechanics of the human body and made detailed drawings of the muscles and bones. He also anticipated many of the inventions and technological developments of the modern era, such as the parachute, helicopter and the use of solar power.
Da Vinci's curiosity and thirst for knowledge extended to every aspect of life, and this is what made him such a unique and remarkable individual. He was a true polymath, excelling in multiple fields, and his work continues to inspire and fascinate people to this day.
Da Vinci was born in 1452 in the small town of Vinci, in the region of Tuscany, Italy. As a child, he showed a great interest in the natural world and a talent for drawing. He was apprenticed to Andrea del Verrocchio, a master artist and engineer, at the age of 14. Under Verrocchio's tutelage, da Vinci learned about art and mechanics, and he quickly surpassed his master in skill.
Da Vinci's art was characterized by its realism and attention to detail. He was known for his ability to capture the subtle expressions and emotions of his subjects. The Mona Lisa, which is considered one of the greatest works of art of all time, is a prime example of this. The painting depicts a woman, believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, with a subtle smile and a distant gaze. The painting's fame rests on the enigmatic expression of the subject, which is said to be a representation of the sitter's "sfumato" (smoke or vapor) smile, that creates the illusion of movement and is one of the hallmarks of da Vinci's style.
But da Vinci was not just an artist; he was also a scientist and inventor. He made detailed drawings and notes on a wide range of topics, including human anatomy, botany, geology, and optics. He was also a pioneer in the study of flight, designing plans for flying machines that were centuries ahead of their time.
Da Vinci's inventions were not only ahead of their time, but also many of them were never built during his lifetime. His drawings include designs for a helicopter, a tank, a flying machine, and a submarine. He also studied the mechanics of the human body and made detailed drawings of the muscles and bones. He also anticipated many of the inventions and technological developments of the modern era, such as the parachute, helicopter and the use of solar power.
Da Vinci's curiosity and thirst for knowledge extended to every aspect of life, and this is what made him such a unique and remarkable individual. He was a true polymath, excelling in multiple fields, and his work continues to inspire and fascinate people to this day.
Leonardo da Vinci helicopter sketch
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