Listening

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Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. unobstructed
    • ex. We had an unobstructed view of the city from the top of the hill.
  2. scaffolding
    • ex. Workers stood on the scaffolding to repair the old building.
  3. breathtaking
    • ex. The view from the top of the mountain was breathtaking.
  4. restoration
    • ex. The city started the restoration of its historic buildings to attract more visitors.
  5. a conservator
    • ex. A conservator works in a museum to protect and repair old artworks and objects.

Article

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For the first time in many years, visitors in Athens temporarily enjoyed an unobstructed view of the Parthenon without the scaffolding. The metal structure that surrounded the ancient temple for repairs was removed in late September for four weeks. Because of this, people could see the famous building on the Acropolis in its full beauty. Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said the view was breathtaking, adding that the white marble looked almost new.

The Parthenon was built nearly 2,500 years ago to honor the goddess Athena. It took 15 years to complete and remains an important symbol of ancient Greece. However, its restoration has taken much longer. The current phase of the project began in 1975 and involves 161 experts, including engineers, designers, marble workers, and conservators, who carefully clean and repair the stones.

The Parthenon has had scaffolding around it for at least 20 years now. However, restoration could soon be over. According to Mendoni, the current work should finish in 2026, marking “the last phase before the Parthenon is completely freed from scaffolding.”

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Restoration of Cultural Sites

  • Name one cultural or historical site in your country that you want to be repaired. Discuss.
  • Do you think it’s better to keep ancient and cultural buildings and sites exactly as they are or to repair them to look new? Why? Discuss.
  • How do you think future generations will benefit from the restoration of cultural sites? Discuss.

Important Symbols of a Country

  • The Parthenon remains an important symbol of ancient Greece. What is an important and famous symbol of your country? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, should children learn about important symbols of their country in school? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • If you could create a new symbol for your country today, what would it be? Discuss.