A2 · Elementary · Culture · 99 words · ~2 min read

🏰 A Tour of the Historic Castle

Language focus: Past Simple & passive · history

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Ravenstone Castle. This historic castle was built more than seven hundred years ago, and a famous queen once lived here.

“Follow me, please, and look around the great hall,” says the guide. She points out the old paintings, the heavy armour and the enormous stone fireplace.

“In the past, soldiers defended these thick walls,” she explains. Visitors take photographs and ask many questions about the castle’s long history.

“In the gift shop, you can find out more in our guidebook,” the guide says. “Thank you for visiting, and please enjoy the beautiful gardens.”

Key vocabulary (8 words)

historicadjective
Famous or important in history.
guidenoun
A person who shows visitors around a place.
centurynoun
A period of one hundred years.
armournoun
Metal clothing that protected soldiers long ago.
fireplacenoun
The open space in a wall where a fire is lit.
soldiernoun
A member of an army.
defendverb
To protect a place from attack.
guidebooknoun
A book that gives information for visitors.

Phrasal verbs in this story

  • point out — To point out means to show or mention something.
  • look around — To look around means to explore a place.
  • find out — To find out means to discover information.

Comprehension quiz

  1. Where are the visitors?

    • A castle museum
    • A train station
    • A market
    Show answer

    A castle museum

  2. How old is the castle?

    • About fifty years
    • More than seven hundred years
    • Two years
    Show answer

    More than seven hundred years

  3. Who once lived in the castle?

    • A famous queen
    • A football team
    • A baker
    Show answer

    A famous queen

  4. The guide ___ the old paintings.

    • points out
    • sells
    • hides
    Show answer

    points out

  5. In the past, soldiers ___ the walls.

    • painted
    • defended
    • cleaned
    Show answer

    defended

  6. “Find out” means to…

    • discover information
    • leave the room
    • pay money
    Show answer

    discover information

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