Read about famous places
key notes :
What Are Famous Places?
- Places known by many people around the world.
- They can be natural (like mountains, rivers) or man-made (like buildings, monuments).
Types of Famous Places:
- Historical Places – Tell us about the past (e.g., Taj Mahal, Pyramids of Egypt).
- Natural Wonders – Beautiful creations of nature (e.g., Niagara Falls, Mount Everest).
- Cultural Places – Show traditions and lifestyles (e.g., temples, castles).
- Modern Attractions – Built for visitors (e.g., Eiffel Tower, Burj Khalifa).
Why Are They Important?
- Teach us about history, geography, and different cultures.
- Show the beauty and diversity of the world.
- Inspire travel and learning.
What to Look For While Reading:
- Location – Where is the place? (country, city)
- Importance – Why is it famous?
- Interesting Facts – Unique features, who built it, when it was built.
- Visitors – How many people visit? What can tourists do there?
Examples of Famous Places Around the World:
- India – Taj Mahal
- France – Eiffel Tower
- USA – Statue of Liberty
- China – Great Wall of China
- Egypt – Pyramids of Giza
- Australia – Sydney Opera House
Vocabulary to Learn:
- Landmark, Monument, Tourist, Architecture, Culture, Ancient, Modern
Learn with an example
Read the text about the city of Oslo,
Norway.
When you picture a capital city in your mind, you probably think of a place with lots of cars and pollution. However, Oslo, the capital of Norway, is different from most large cities. Two-thirds of the city is covered by forests, lakes and parks. In addition, cycle lanes and pavements have replaced hundreds of parking spaces in the centre of Oslo.
Oslo’s city centre sits at the end of a fjord, a narrow strip of sea lying between steep cliffs or hills. Other parts of the city run along the sides of the fjord. Oslo Fjord is a popular place to visit. It stretches for over ninety kilometres between forested slopes. Crowds of people go there to relax at the beach or enjoy the water by kayak, canoe or sailboat.
Oslo has many interesting museums to visit. Because Norway has a long history of exploring the seas, several museums in Oslo show artefacts from these adventures. From the 800s to the 1000s, people from Norway built wooden ships and sailed to many parts of the world. These people were called Vikings. The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo has three wooden Viking ships from that time. The museum also shows ancient handmade tools, tableware and cloth. At the Fram Museum, visitors can walk around one of the most famous wooden ships ever built. This ship, called the Fram, was built in the late 1800s. It was used to explore the icy reaches of both the North Pole and the South Pole.
Based on the text, what are two things that replaced parking spaces in the centre of Oslo?
- bus stops
- pavements
- cycle lanes
- unusual buildings
Look at the text in bold below. It tells you what replaced parking spaces in the centre of Oslo.
When you picture a capital city in your mind, you probably think of a place with lots of cars and pollution. However, Oslo, the capital of Norway, is different from most large cities. Two-thirds of the city is covered by forests, lakes and parks. In addition, cycle lanes and pavements have replaced hundreds of parking spaces in the centre of Oslo.
Read the text about the country of
Botswana.
Every year, thousands of people travel to the African country of Botswana. Many go on a sightseeing safari to see wild animals in their natural habitat. On a safari, people can observe and take pictures of African animals like elephants, giraffes, hippopotamuses, zebras and lions. Visitors drive across the savannah that covers much of Botswana. A savannah is a large grassy plain often scattered with trees. There, giraffes munch on leafy treetops, while shorter animals consume grass and bushes below. Meat-eaters like lions and cheetahs search for meals by following the plant-eating animals.
Another interesting sight in Botswana is the Matsieng Footprints. These are mysterious carvings of human and animal footprints in flat rocks. The rock carvings may have been created thousands of years ago by ancient people, but nobody knows for sure. Some tribes believe this area is where humans first came from. According to legend, a giant named Matsieng led humans and animals out of a large hole in the ground filled with water, leaving these footprints behind.
The Okavango Delta is another famous place in Botswana. A delta is a piece of land created by mud and sand dropped from a moving river. Most deltas flow into an ocean, but the Okavango Delta is a rare inland river delta. This unusual delta is home to many animals in danger of becoming extinct, including the African wild dog and the black rhinoceros. People visit this area by boat, on foot and even on horseback.
Based on the text, which two things can visitors see on a safari in Botswana?
- carved animal statues
- interesting animals
- forests filled with trees
- a grassy savannah
Look at the text in bold below. It tells you two things people can see on a safari in Botswana.
Every year, thousands of people travel to the African country of Botswana. Many go on a sightseeing safari to see wild animals in their natural habitat. On a safari, people can observe and take pictures of African animals like elephants, giraffes, hippopotamuses, zebras and lions. Visitors drive across the savannah that covers much of Botswana. A savannah is a large grassy plain often scattered with trees. There, giraffes munch on leafy treetops, while shorter animals consume grass and bushes below. Meat-eaters like lions and cheetahs search for meals by following the plant-eating animals.
let’s practice!
Read the text about the city of Nara,
Japan.
Some people call the small city of Nara the cradle, or birthplace, of Japan. It has some of Japan’s oldest buildings and was the country’s first capital. Visitors often start by seeing the colossal Todai-ji temple. It is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. It holds a huge statue of the Buddha, who started the Buddhist religion. One of the building’s giant pillars has a hole at its base. The hole is said to be the same size as a nostril in the Buddha statue’s nose. Children and small adults can crawl through it for luck.
Kasuga Taisha shrine is another important place in Nara. The shrine, or holy place, has buildings with white walls and bright red pillars. As on many old Japanese buildings, the wooden roofs are curved, flipping up at the edges. Thousands of stone lanterns stand along the outdoor pathways, and metal lanterns hang from the buildings. During festivals in February and August, all the lanterns glow at once.
There is one sight in Nara more famous than the shrines and temples. Over one thousand wild deer live in the city. Many of them wander in Nara Park alongside the visitors. The animals are quite tame. They are friendly and will often bow their heads when visitors bow to them. They are also used to being fed. Visitors can buy special deer crackers in the park. When visitors offer the crackers, the deer come running!