Choose the most appropriate alternative in the text. Sometimes both alternatives are correct.

When we read that the Quinghai-Tibet line was open, we knew we 1) weren’t able to / had to go on it. We were so busy before we left London that we didn’t 2) manage / succeed to organize the train journey. Once we were in China, we didn’t have much access to the Internet and 3) weren’t able to / didn’t have to get much information. Still, we found a good travel agency and 4) could / managed to get tickets. We travelled first to Colmud and stopped there – for one day only, but we 5) managed to / were able to pack a lot into it.

The train journey from Colmud to Lhasa takes a day. Although most of it is really high, we didn’t have any altitude problems and we 6) were able to / had to enjoy the fabulous scenery. Our train attendant was very helpful. Her English wasn’t great, but she still 7) had to / succeeded in getting her message across and pointing out interesting sights to us, such as herds of wild Tibetan antelopes.

Before 2006, you 8) could / were able to travel to Lhasa from Colmud, but you 9) couldn’t / didn’t have to get there in comfort – you 10) could / had to take a slow, uncomfortable bus. Not any more – Lhasa is officially open to tourists!

3. Read these extracts from guidebooks about famous sights. For questions 1-15, choose from the description A – G. About which sight are the following mentioned? You can choose each description more than once:

the source of the wealth used to create it 1 …… 2 ……;

its relevance to modern life 3 ……;

its role in becoming a recognizable symbol of its location 4 ……;

the achievements of its designers 5…… 6 ……;

the reason the wonder was survived 7 ……;

the uncertainty about its purpose 8 ……;

the fact that it was probably at the centre of rich farming community 9 ……;

the human effort required to create it 10 ……;

its geographical situation being an attraction to visitors 11 …… 12 …… 13 ……;

the religious nature of the site 14 ……;

the fact that it is unrivaled 15 …….

A Petra, Jordan

Petra, nestled away in the mountains south of the Dead Sea, was once the glittering capital of the huge empire. It has been preserved because many of its buildings were carved out solid rock walls, making it acclaimed for its engineering. Its ornamental carvings are also impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture. Once a fortress city, Petra is one of the earliest known settlements in the area, and control of key trade routes made it commercial hub while also producing the funding for its monumental temples and tombs. The city may have housed 20,000 -30,000 people in its heyday but by AD 700 its once-gracious buildings were in ruins. Tourists are lured by its spectacular setting on the edge off Wadi Araba and the beautiful rose colours of the rock.

B Machu Picchu, Peru

The ancient city of Machu Picchu is an extraordinary settlement 2,350 metres above sea level, deep in the Amazon jungle. The settlement had been abandoned following the Spanish invasion by 1532 had become a ghost town. It was brought to the world’s attention in 1911 and several different theories were then developed as to what the settlement was. Some believed it could have been a luxurious mausoleum but a more popular belief was that it might have been built o control the economy of conquered regions and protect the Inca nobility. Certainly it had a large agricultural area bringing wealth and sophistication to this remote region. Today it is seen as a perfect example of a complete community and travelers to the site are enchanted by its elevated and isolated position.