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Entertainment163 words1 min read

Rare Renaissance Paintings Stolen From Museum in Sicily

people sitting on floor painting
Photo by Ágatha Depiné on Unsplash
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Listen to the story

Thieves stole four paintings from a museum in Sicily, Italy. The museum is in a city called Messina.

The paintings were made by a famous artist named Antonello da Messina. He was an important painter from the 15th century. This time is called the Renaissance.

The theft happened during a national holiday. This is a special day when many people do not work.

The paintings are very rare. This means there are very few of them in the world.

One day before this theft, Italian police found other stolen paintings. Those paintings were by different famous artists. Their names were Cézanne, Renoir, and Matisse.

Police in Italy are now looking for the four stolen paintings. They want to find the thieves too.

The museum in Messina is very sad about the theft. The paintings are part of Italy's history and culture.

People around the world hope police will find the paintings soon. Art like this cannot be replaced.

Vocabulary15 words

thieves
people who steal things
museum
a place where you see old and special things
Renaissance
a time long ago with famous art
national holiday
a special day when people do not work
rare
very few of something exist
culture
art and history of a country
stolen
taken without permission
artist
a person who makes art
police
people who catch criminals
famous
known by many people
important
having big value
found
got back something lost
century
one hundred years
history
things that happened before
world
all the countries and people

Quiz

1. How many paintings were stolen?
2. Who painted the stolen paintings?
3. Did the police find other stolen paintings the day before?

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Thieves stole four _____ from a museum in Sicily, Italy.

The paintings were made by a famous artist named Antonello da _____.

The theft happened during a national _____.

The paintings are very _____.

One day before this theft, Italian _____ found other stolen paintings.

Those paintings were by different famous _____.

Police in Italy are now looking for the four stolen _____.

The museum in Messina is very sad about the _____.

Art like this cannot be _____.

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