7. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words:

1. The Seven ____ of the Ancient World is the first known list of the most remarkable creations of classical antiquity.

2. A ____ is a place (such as a forest, mountain, lake, island, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical

significance.

3. They wore ____ costumes.

4. If you walk into a ____ person's house the first thing you're going to see is a big library.

5. ____ is not allowed in national parks.

6. But as the Earth turns on its ____ and through its orbit, the sky that you see keeps changing.

7. Dominican ____ opened the first perfume factory in Florence, Italy, in 1608.

8. Eggs are sold by the ____.

9. You can have a competition to see who can grow the tallest ____.

(dozen, axis, wealthy, sunflower, World Heritage Site, hunting, wonders, elaborate, monks)

8. Read Text a and answer the question:

– When did gardens become available to the middle class?

Text a From the History of Gardening

Gardening for food goes far back into prehistory. The earliest forms of gardens emerged from the people's need to grow herbs and vegetables, while rich people eventually began to create gardens for purely decorative purposes. Ornamental gardens were known in ancient times, a famous example being the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, while ancient Rome had dozens of gardens. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are a World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Elaborate ornamental gardens existed since ancient Egypt, when rich people used them as a means to relax in the shade of the trees. Egyptians associated trees and gardens with gods as they believed that gods liked gardens. Commonly, the gardens in ancient Egypt were surrounded by walls with trees planted in rows. Among the most popular species that used to be planted were date palms, sycamores, fig trees, nut trees, and willows. Rich people also grew vineyards, as wine was the beverage for the wealthy. Roses, poppies, daisies and irises did not miss from the gardens of the Egyptians.

The Assyrians were also popular for their beautiful gardens. These were situated in what we know today as Iraq and they tended to be wide and large, some of them used for hunting and others as leisure gardens. Cypresses and palms were some of the most planted types of trees.

The ancient Roman gardens are known by their statues and sculptures. These gardens were laid out with hedges and vines and they contained a wide variety of flowers, including acanthus, cornflowers and crocus, cyclamen, iris and ivy, lavender, lilies, myrtle, narcissus, poppy, rosemary and violet. The beds of flowers were popular in the courtyards of the rich Romans.

The Middle Age represented a period of decline in gardening. After the fall of Rome gardening was only done with the purpose of growing medicinal herbs and decorating church altars.

By the late 13th century, rich Europeans began to grow gardens for leisure and for medicinal herbs and vegetables. They surrounded the gardens by walls to protect them from animals and to provide seclusion. During the next two centuries, Europeans started planting lawns and raising flowerbeds and trellises of roses. Fruit trees were common in these gardens. At the same time, the gardens in the monasteries were a place to grow flowers and medicinal herbs but they were also a space where the monks could enjoy nature and relax.

The gardens in the 16th and 17th century were symmetric, proportioned and balanced with a more classical appearance. Most of these gardens were built around a central axis and they were divided into different parts by hedges. Commonly, gardens had flowerbeds laid out in squares and separated by gravel paths.

Gardens in Renaissance were adorned with sculptures, and fountains which often contained water jokes. In the 17th century Europeans started planting new flowers such as tulips, marigolds and sunflowers.

In the 18th century, gardens remained a privilege reserved for the upper class. By the next century, gardens became available to the middle class as well. Rock gardens increased in popularity in the 19th century.