Unit 9 Reading to learn
A tourist brochure
1 Read the brochure. What do you think
the Greek word ‘Petra’ means?
A World Wonder
a rock b tomb c trader T he ancient city of Petra is the most popular tourist
site in Jordan, attracting more than 600,000
visitors per year. Cut into the rose-red rock of
2 Read the brochure again. Choose the the surrounding mountains, it was built by the
correct answers. Nabataeans around 2,000 years ago as their capital
1 Petra is Jordan’s top tourist . city. The architecture is breathtaking: cityscapes
a destination b capital c city don’t get more dramatic than this.
2 At its peak, traders visited Petra.
a sometimes b often c rarely
A natural fortress, surrounded on three sides by red rock, the city
3 Earthquakes destroyed in Petra. had its own water supply that it controlled using dams, cisterns
a homes b the Treasury and waterways, creating an artificial oasis. The city was busy and
c the Monastery popular, and an important crossroads for traders of silk, spices and
4 The sides of the gorge are very . incense. Its people became rich, and at the peak of its success it is
believed to have had a population of around 20,000.
a enormous b narrow c tall
But by the 3rd century CE things had changed. Traders started
5 The theatre is near a mountain.
travelling by sea instead of by land. When they stopped visiting, the
a viewed b seated c located city lost much of its wealth and popularity. During the same period, a
number of earthquakes destroyed many homes and Petra went into
3 Answer the questions about the text. decline. The abandoned and forgotten city remained hidden away
1 What is special about the architecture from the Western world for hundreds of years until it was discovered
of Petra? by a Swiss explorer in 1812.
2 What type of engineering were the people of
Petra good at? ♦ Siq – the narrow gorge that leads to
3 Why did it take a long time before Petra was the city entrance. Towering cliffs rise up
discovered again? on either side reaching heights of 80 km.
4 Is there a connection between the English ♦ Al Khazneh – at the end of the gorge,
names ‘treasury’ and ‘monastery’ and the carved into the sandstone rock, is the
function of these buildings? magnificent Al Khazneh. Although its
name means ‘the treasury’, it was probably
5 What recommendations are given for tourists?
used as a tomb.
4 Answer the questions with your ♦ Ad-Dayr – or the ‘monastery’, was most
likely used as a temple. It’s an enormous
own ideas.
structure: the doorway alone stands
1 What is the oldest building in your town / city several stories high. Visit in the afternoon
or country? Can you describe it? when the sun sets on the facade.
♦ En-Nejr – a massive theatre seating
3000 people at the foot of the
mountain of En-Nejr. It was cut into the
2 What is the newest building? In what ways hillside as a place to view the rock tombs
are the buildings similar to or different from around it.
each other? (Think about the style and design,
building materials, etc.) Top Tips!
◆◆ You’ll be walking quite a bit during this trip, so make sure you
wear a sunhat and comfortable shoes, and you carry plenty
of drinking water. If you get tired hiking to the monastery,
there are donkeys for hire.
3 What is your favourite tourist attraction (old or
◆◆ Good times to visit are during mid-morning and late
new) in your town / city or country? Why?
afternoon, as the sun strikes the buildings to create some
amazing colours. You can take some great photographs.
◆◆ Or for something a little different, why not book a night visit?
Thousands of candles light the way through the Siq to the
Treasury. It’s a magical experience!
◆◆ If you’re looking for some souvenirs to take home, or just want
to stop for a moment in the shade, there are Bedouin tents on
site offering refreshments and local handicrafts for sale.
© PHOTOCOPIABLE
