BITTER ORANGES FROM SEVILLE FOR THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND

A box of bitter oranges from the trees of the Real Alcázar of Seville, the oldest palace in use in Europe, will arrive in the form of jam at Buckingham, London, thus recovering a tradition that had been lost at the beginning of the 20th century. The transformation of citrus into jam will take place in Madrid, at the residence of the British ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliot, who last February wrote a letter to the director of the Alcázar Isabel Rodríguez, to thank her for the gift: “I am very happy that this tradition from the beginning of the 20th century that had been lost, fortunately has now been recovered”, says the handwritten letter. 

“When Manuel del Valle was appointed warden of the Alcázar told me that there used to be a tradition of sending bitter oranges to British monarchs and that it would be nice to be able to get it back. Last year we contacted the honorary consul in Seville, Joe Cooper, and prepared a box of oranges, about 20 kilos, for him from our trees. He sent it by diplomatic bag to the ambassador, who was in charge of preparing the jam and delivering it to the Queen of England ", explained this Wednesday Isabel Rodríguez.

"This year, however, it was the Seville consul who visited us last week to collect them directly and, again, send them to Madrid, as has been done”, added Rodríguez. The Alcázar is surrounded by some 7,000 square meters of gardens in which 1,053 orange trees grow. Its fruits have to be harvested every year to favour the new flowering, a task that is done by hand. Without the harvest of ripe oranges, the city would lose part of the characteristic smell of orange blossom that surrounds it every spring.

One legend, of the many that circulates around this palace, says that it was Pedro I El Cruel (1334 -1369) who planted a bitter orange tree in the Alcázar and which according to experts is the oldest in Spain. However, some sources disagree and date this tree to the 16th century. Those who support this second theory assure that the orange tree was planted in March 1526 when the wedding of Carlos V and Isabel de Portugal was celebrated in the palace. What is documented is that these citrus fruits were brought by the Almohads in the 12th century.

All the bitter oranges that are collected each year in Seville, those of the Alcázar and those of the 48,000 trees that adorn city streets and gardens, are used to make compost and cosmetics, as feed for goats in livestock farms or as fuel to generate electricity. However, very little of its production is destined for the food industry, which requires strict quality controls.

From https://thetimeshub.in/bitter-oranges-from-seville-for-the-queen-of-england/14966/

 

Question 1: (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE OR FALSE and write down the sentence or the part of the text that justifies your answer. No points will be given if the evidence is not correct.

a) The Consul visits the Alcázar every year to pick up the oranges.

b) Last year, the jam was sent directly to the Queen.

c) There is a theory that dates bitter oranges in Seville in the 12th century.

d) Oranges follow rigorous checks when they are going to be eaten.

Question 2: (2 points) Choose and answer f the following questions in your own words according to the text.

a) What are the two theories about the arrival of the bitter oranges to Seville?b) 

b) What are Seville oranges used for?

Question 3: (1,5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given. You only need to have five correct answers to get 1,5.

a) Therefore (par.1)

b) To employ (par.2)

c) To recover (par.2)

d) To help (par.3)

e) Acknowledged (par.4)

f) To demand (par.5)

Question 4: (1,5 points) Choose the correct option- a, b, c or d- for each question and COPY both the letter and the sentence that follows onto your answer sheet.

1) For a better harvest…

a) …oranges have to be collected yearly.

b) …oranges should be left on the tree.

c) …oranges should be harvested by hand.

d) …oranges should be covered.

2) The jam…

a) …might be made at the ambassador residence.

b) …must be made at the ambassador residence.

c) …will be made at the ambassador residence.

d) …has to be made at the ambassador residence.

3) The ambassador…

…emailed the director of the Alcázar to thank her.

…sent the director of the Alzázar a gift to thank her.

…wrote a message to the director of the Alzázar himself.

…sent an automatic message to the director of the Alzázar.

Question 5: (3 points) Written production

Choose ONE of the two options below and write a short essay (120-150 words). Essays up to 200 won´t be penalized.

a) Do you think traditions must be preserved?

b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of bio-food?

 

KEY

Question 1

a) FALSE “This year, however, it was the Seville consul who visited us last week to collect them directly”

b) FALSE “…the ambassador, who was in charge of preparing the jam and delivering it to the Queen of England”

c) FALSE “What is documented is that these citrus fruits were brought by the Almohads in the 12th century”

d) TRUE “…the food industry, which requires strict quality controls”

Question 2

a) One of the theories says that it was Pedro I El Grande who brought the first tree to Seville in the 14th century whereas those who disagree state that it was sowed to celebrate the wedding of Carlos V 200 hundred years later.

b) -As fertiliser

-For beauty products

-To feed animals

-As fuel to produce electricity

Question 3

thus

(to) appoint(ed)

(to) get back

(to) favour

documented

(to) require(s)

Question 4

1.- a

2.- c

3.- c