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Page 74 - Exercise 6

Listening - Who built them?

Listen to three tour guides describe some very old monuments. Take notes to answer the questions below. Then compare with a partner.

1 - The pyramids. Who built them? Why were they built?

The pyramids were built more than 4000 years ago by the Egyptians. The most famous ones are on the west bank of the river Nile. Outside of Cairo. They were built as burial places for the Egyptian kings. After a King’s death, his body was turned into what is called a mummy. This preserved it. The king’s mummy was placed inside the pyramid, along with treasures.

2 - Machu Picchu. How big is the city? When was it discovered?

Machu Picchu is an Inca city in Peru. Construction of the city started in 1450. The ruins are about 2400 m above sea level. The city covers about 13 km². For centuries the city was buried in the jungle and wasn’t discovered again until 1911. Today Machu Picchu is one of the most famous tourist attractions in all of South America.

3 - The Great Wall of China. Why was it built? How long is it?

The Great Wall of China is the longest structure ever built. It was built to protect one of the Chinese kingdoms. Much of what exists of the wall today was built during the Ming Dynasty in the late 1400s. Although some parts of the wall are much older. The wall is about 11 m high stone roadway runs along the top of it. The main part of the wall stretches for about 3400 km.