G The Colosseum, Italy

The design concept of this great amphitheatre in the centre of Rome has influenced almost every sports stadium since, including those still built today. Largely made of stone, its innovative design divided the seating into sections to allow maximum viewing. The first level was for the important senators and the emperor, the second for the aristocrats and the third for the citizens, with the poorest at the top. Today the wooden arena floor no longer exists, but the walls and corridors which run underneath are visible in the ruins. Despite its sophisticated design, it could have been very pleasant to work in the conditions of darkness and fear that existed underground. The skeleton exists today as a symbol of the celebration and suffering that took place at the events the building hosted.

The Official New7 Wonders of the World were chosen by the world’s first-ever global election in which more than 100 million votes were cast. They were declared in Lisbon on July 7, 2007. The non-profit New7Wonders Foundation, which organized the campaign, aims to promote and foster international dialogue and mutual appreciation. Please vote in the current campaign at www.enw7wonders.com

Complete these sentences with the words and phrases in the box.

mausoleum settlement temple amphitheatre commercial hub setting site landmark arena fortress icon symbol

1. A …… is a place where people go to worship.

2. The …… of a monument can make it appear more beautiful.

3. A …… was usually built to defend the city or a region.

4.The sports …… was central to many Greek and Roman societies.

5. In Roman times, the public watched plays in an ……

6. An …… used to be a figure of religious worship but nowadays it can be someone who represents an idea or era.

7. Some buildings, such as the Sydney Opera House, are seen as the …… of a city.

8. A …… is a group of houses or buildings, usually where few people have lived before.

9. An archaeological …… can provide many clues to how we used to live.

10. Although a …… contains the body of a dead person, it can be a beautiful building.

11. Cities have grown up on places that were the …… of the region.

12. Sailors in ancient times used the Pillar in Serareum as a …… to guide them

Choose the best adjective in each sentence. Think carefully about the noun which follows the adjective.

1. The Colosseum reflects the architectural / luxurious achievements of the classical Roman Empire.

2. Petra is very well-preserved and provides monumental / impressive evidence of a complex society.

3. The ruins of Machu Picchu are architectural / innovative gem in an isolated region.

4. The Great Wall is a spectacular landmark, which is panoramic / breathtaking in its size.

5. Chichen Itza is now in a tranquil setting very different from its glittering / colossal past

III. VOCABULARY and GRAMMAR PRACTICE

1. Fill in each gap with one word only.

Since its invention in the late 1970’s, the mountain bike (1) ……… become incredibly popular. Its attractions (2) ……… obvious: mountain biking combines the excitement of a fast sport (3) ……… the perfect excuse to get (4) ……… and really enjoy the countryside.

Mountain biking (5) ……… invented in California in the 1970’s by people looking (6) ……… a new thrill. They took traditional bicycles and started trying to find ways of making them strong (7) ……… to take off the roads and into the countryside. At (8) …….., mountain biking was only a downhill sport, but (9) ……… the sport developed, people began making the bikes lighter and fitting them with more gears, allowing them to ridden uphill as (10) ……….

Some environmentalists claim that careless cyclists (11) ……… destroying the countryside, and want to see the sport banned. This could (12) ……… avoided by creating marked tracks for the cyclists to use, and making (13) ……… that they do not just cycle anywhere. Then perhaps the sport could continue to grow (14) ……… affecting the numerous others (15) ……… enjoy the outdoors as well.