I. Practice the pronunciation of the following proper names:

Cardiff, Glamorgan, the Millennium Stadium, Pierhead, Cathays Park, Castell Coch, Saint Fagans Castle, Treoda, the Centenary Walk

II. Answer the following questions:

1.What city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for Wales?

2. Was Cardiff ranked second or sixth in the world in National Geographic's alternative tourist destinations?

3. What did Cardiff’s prominence as a major port for the transport of coal following the arrival of industry in the region contribute to?

4. When was Cardiff proclaimed the capital of Wales?

5. What city is the largest media centre in the UK outside of London?

6. Can the fort's original walls still be seen highlighted around the base of Cardiff Castle's walls?

7. When was the town destroyed by the last great Welsh Prince Owain Glyndwr?

8. What price was determined at Cardiff's Coal Exchange at its peak?

9. Who transformed Cardiff castle into a fairytale gothic palace?

10. Was Cardiff’s city center heavily bombed like other industrial cities during WWII?

11. What was handed over to the people of Cardiff, and is now a major tourist, corporate and cultural attraction, an indication of where the city's future lies?

12.What city plays host to most Welsh sporting events, especially since the opening of the Millennium Stadium in the city center?

13. How do they sometimes call Cardiff Bay?

14. What landmarks does Cardiff have?

15. What castle is a major tourist attraction in the city?

16.What does the Victorian castle stand on?

17.What does Cardiff claim to have?

18. When was the New Theatre founded and refurbished?

19. What city was listed as one of the top 10 destinations in the UK on the official British tourist boards website Visit Britain?

20. What streets are the major pedestrian shopping streets in Cardiff?

III. Complete the following sentences:

1. Cardiff is a significant tourist centre and …….

2. Since the 1990s Cardiff has seen significant development with…….

3. Current developments include the continuation of the redevelopment of the Cardiff Bay and city centre areas with projects such as …….

4. Sporting venues in the city include …….

5. In Medieval times the castle grew, and a small town …….

6. Successive owners fortified the castle and the town timidly grew, until …….

7. Combined with the later arrival of the railways, Cardiff's population …….

8. It may surprise people that Wales (Cymru) did not have a de jure capital until …….

9. However, with the post-War decline of coal, the city's docks became …….

10. The Bay today is a mixture of apartments, sport, leisure and culture and its success has also seen …….

11. In the past it was quite a gritty city with the port and …….

12. Notable milestones were when Cardiff Bay was the first area of modern Britain…….

13. In the past few decades however, the city has moved away from its industrial past and has been transformed by developments such as Cardiff Bay, which now hosts…….

14. Sporting venues in the city include …….

15. The National History Museum at St Fagans in Cardiff is …….

16. The Civic Centre in Cathays Park comprises a collection of Edwardian buildings such as…….

17. Situated on the narrowest part of the south Wales coastal plain, Cardiff …….

18. Other major tourist attractions are the Cardiff Bay regeneration sites which include …….

19. Other venues which are popular for concerts and sporting events include  …….

20. Cardiff has walks of special interest for tourists and ramblers alike, such as …….