INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL, AL-MAJMAAH TERM-1, YEAR: 2015-2016 SAUDI HISTORY CULTURE NOTES GRADE: VII I. Fill in the blanks: 1. The Governor of Riyadh Province chairs the Riyadh Development Authority whereas the Mayor of Riyadh heads Riyadh Municipality. 2. Known for its fine architecture, Diplomatic Quarter(DQ) in Riyadh is home to foreign embassies and international organization. 3. Riyadh is considered as the capital of financial and business center of the Middle East. 4. Al-Faisaliyah tower was the first skyscraper constructed in Saudi Arabia. 5. The Royal Saudi Air Force Museum contains a collection of aircraft and aviation related items used by the Royal Saudi air force and Saudia. 6. King Faisal was born in the year 1906. 7. King Faisal participated in politics for 40 years. 8. King Faisal’s father was King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud. 9. In 1934, King Faisal successfully fought off Yemeni claims over Saudi Arabia’s southern provinces. 10. The architecture of Saudi Arabia is ancient and renowned. 11. The modern day architects create a unique blend of traditional Islamic designs and modern architectural patterns. 12. Minarets are the most common forms of Saudi Arabian architecture. 13. Western, central and southern are the three architectural styles in the Arabian Peninsula. II .Answer the following: 1. Where is Riyadh situated? www.iismajmaah.com Page 1 Answer: Riyadh is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau. 2. Mention the Olaya District’s most prominent landmark. Answer: Olaya District’s prominent landmarks are the Al Faisaliyah Center and Al-Tahlya Street. 3. What is the significance of Qasr Al Hukm (Palace of Justice)? Answer: The significance of the Qasr Al Hukm is that here the Governor of Riyadh province meets citizens, listens to their grievances and problems, and stays abreast of all aspects of the region’s life. 4. Why has the King Fahd Road in Riyadh become a popular tourist attraction? Mention a few landmarks located on this road. Answer: The King Fahd Road in Riyadh has become a popular tourist attraction because of huge malls, business towers and skyscrapers. It is also known as one of the most beautiful streets of Saudi Arabia. Famous landmarks such as Kingdom Centre, Al Faisaliyah Center, Al Anoud Tower and the Ministry of interior building are also located on King Fahd Road. 5. Write a brief note on King Abdul Aziz’s Murabba palace, Riyadh. Answer: Murabba Palace was constructed in 1936 and was completed in 1937 and a house hold of 800 people moved into it in 1938. The palace was big enough to be mistaken as the city of Riyadh by travelers approaching it from the north. It was constructed in the style of Najd architecture of mud-bricks and marked a level of architectural maturity. The palace is now a part of a bigger complex called “The King Abdul Aziz Historical Centre”. 6. Which award did the Kingdom Center in Riyadh win in 2002?Why? Answer: The Kingdom Centre won the 2002 Emporis Skyscraper Award because; it was selected as the “best new skyscraper of the year for design and functionality”. 7. When was King Faisal declared as the King? Answer: King Faisal was declared as the King in 1964. 8. Mention any three of his important achievements. Answer: a.)King Faisal led the Kingdom’s delegation to the 1939 London conference on the Palestinian issue. b.)He also represented at the signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco in 1945. www.iismajmaah.com Page 2 c.)King Faisal led the Saudi forces to claim a tense situation in Asir in 1922. 9. When did King Faisal become the minister of foreign affairs? Answer: King Faisal became the minister of foreign affairs in 1932. 10. Whom did King Faisal appoint as the Crown Prince? Answer: He appointed his brother, Prince Khalid, as Crown Prince. 11. How is Saudi Arabian architecture categorized? Answer: The Saudi Arabian architecture is categorized by intricate patterns and an abundant use of vibrant colours. 12. What influenced the architecture of Saudi Arabia in its initial days? Answer: It was influenced by the geography, climatic conditions and availability of resources in the nearby areas. 13. What are the four distinct schools under which the Arab architecture falls? Answer: It falls under four distinct schools. They are a.)The central Najd Plateau b.)The Arabian Gulf Coast region c.)The Hijaz region along the Red Sea coast d.) The Asir. 14. Name the two most remarkable pieces of Saudi Arabian architecture which combine tradition with modernity. Answer: King Khalid International Airport and King Saud University are the two most remarkable pieces of Saudi Arabian architecture. III. Match the following 1. Floating Mosque Jeddah 2. Wind Towers King Abdullah Economic City 3. National Commercial Bank Al Ahli Bank 4. King Fahd Stadium Riyadh 5. Burj Al Mamlakah Kingdom Center 6. Royal Saudi Air Force museum Saqr Al-Jazira 7. Al-Faisaliyah Tower Norman Foster 8. Breakwater Beacon KAUST IV. Tick the correct answer: www.iismajmaah.com Page 3 1. The Riyadh city is divided into …..Districts managed by Riyadh Municipality. a. 13 b. 12 c. 15 d. none 2. It is home to foreign embassies and International organizations. a. Kingdom center b. Diplomatic Quarter c. Al-Faisaliyah Center d. none 3. The tallest skyscraper in Riyadh is a. Burj al Faisaliyah b. Burj al Mamlakah c. none 4. King Faisal was declared King in a. 1934 b. 1944 c. 1964 d. none 5. Al-Mamlakah Tower is owned by a. King Saud b. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal c. Prince Khalid d. none 6. KAUST, a world-class research institution is located at a. Jeddah b. Riyadh c. Thuwal Point d. none 7. KAPSARC has been designed by the world famous architect a. Zaha Hadid b. Norman Foster c. Prince Khalid d. none www.iismajmaah.com Page 4 .