C&C UK-LONDON

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Country & Culture

London

We are going to take a tour of London!!!

Watch the video and answer the questions.

1. What is Big Ben

Big Ben is the name given to the Great Bell of the Clock in the Elizabeth tower that is situated in Westminiter, London.

The official name of Big Ben (Bell) is the Great Bell.

Technically, Big Ben is the name of the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower. However, both the tower and the clock are normally called as the Big Ben.

Its construction was completed in 1859.

Before 2012, the tower was simply called Clock Tower.

In 2012, the official name of the tower was changed to Elizabeth Tower to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Elizabeth II.

2.Why is Big Ben called Big Ben 

The origin of the name “Big Ben” is unknown. Londoners called it “Big Ben” and the name stuck. However, there are two personalities after which the Great Bell might have been named:

Sir Benjamin Hall – First Commissioner of Works, he oversaw the installation of the Great Bell

Benjamin Caunt – Heavyweight Boxing Champion, also known as “Big Ben”.

3. Big Ben Real Name

Technically, Big Ben is the name of the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower.

Normally, Elizabeth Tower and the Great Bell are collectively referred to as Big Ben.

The real and official name of Big Ben (tower) is Elizabeth Tower.

The real and official name of Big Ben (bell in Elizabeth Tower) is the Great Bell.

4. Why is Big Ben Famous

Big Ben is a tower clock in London, which is famous for its accuracy and a huge bell.

There is a theory that it became famous during the Second World War.

Its chimes were aired by the BBC World Service radio all around the world.

After the attacks, people waited for its chimes on the radio.

These chimes meant that the Great Britain had not been defeated.

5. Big Ben Description

The Great Bell

• The Great Bell weighs more than 13 tons (13,760 kg).
• It is 2.28 meters tall and 2.75 meters wide.
• It is so loud, you can feel the vibrations in your whole body if you stand in the belfry.
• It is made of tin and copper.
• Its color is grey, with some green marks on it.

When was Big Ben built?

1. 1859
2. 1959
3. 1059
4. 59

How tall and how wide is Big Ben?

1. 1.28m tall x 1.75m wide
2. 2.28m tall x 2.75m wide
3. 3.28m tall x 3.75m wide
4. 4.28m tall x 4.75m wide

How many steps do you have to climb to get to the top of the Big Ben tower?

1. 134 steps
2. 234 steps
3. 384 steps
4. 334 steps

The London Eye

10 London Eye Facts

Here are some facts about the London Eye, the massive Ferris wheel built on the banks of River Thames in 1999.

1. From the top of the London Eye you can see things about 25 miles away. On a clear day, you can make out Windsor Castle. It is one of the highest viewing platforms in London (the viewing platform of the Shard is higher).

10 London Eye Facts

2. It takes 30 minutes to complete a revolution and doesn’t have to stop for passengers to step on and off.

3. The London Eye took 7 years to construct and was designed by a number of architects including, Mark Sparrowhawk, David Marks and Julia Barfield.

4. More than 3 and a half million people every year go on the London Eye and it can carry 800 people on every revolution.

10 London Eye Facts

5. There are 32 capsules (one for each London borough). 

Each one weighs 10 tonnes and can carry 25 passengers. 

The capsules are air-conditioned and seats are provided, although passengers are able to walk around.

6. At 135m high, the London Eye is one of the tallest buildings in the city.

10 London Eye Facts

7. The London Eye was often called the Millennium Wheel when it was first opened.

8. It has already become an iconic London building. It provides a focal point for London’s New Year’s firework display and was light up in the colours of the Union Jack to celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

10 London Eye Facts

9. The spindle which holds the wheel weighs over 300 tonnes and is 23 metres high.

10. The London Eye is not the first big wheel to be located in London. The Great Wheel was constructed in 1895 for the Empire of India Exhibition. It was demolished in 1907 having being used by over 2 million people.

1. How many capsules does the London Eye have?

1. 25
2. 32
3. 43
4. 56

2. How long does one round in the London Eye last?

1. 10 minutes
2. 20 minutes
3. 30 minutes
4. 40 minutes

3. How tall is the London Eye?

1. 105m
2. 205m
3. 125m
4. 135m

4. How many visitors visit the London Eye every year?

1. + 1 million
2. +2.5 million
3. +3.5 million
4. + 5 million

The Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge facts 

Tower Bridge is in London: it crosses the River Thames near the Tower of London. It is a drawbridge, which allows ships through the bridge deck when the deck is raised in the centre at an angle.

 It is far more visible than London Bridge, which people often mistake it for. Many tourists go to London to see the Tower Bridge. 

It has its own exhibition centre in the horizontal walkway. 

This gives one of the best vantage points in London.

The "bascules" are the surfaces raised to allow tall ships to pass through: this happens about 900 times per year. 

Tower Bridge facts 

History

The City of London Corporation held a competition for the design in 1876. Over 50 designs were entered, and in 1884 Horace Jones and John Wolfe Barry's design was chosen.

Workers began to build the Tower Bridge in April 1886 and the bridge was opened in 30 June 1894.

Tower Bridge facts 

Design

The bridge is 244 m in length with two towers, each 65 m high, built on piers. The bridge is made from more than 11,000 tons of steel, and covered with Cornish granite and Portland stone.

The pedestrian walkways are 44 m above the river at high tide. These walkways allow people to still cross the river, even when the bridge is raised. 

1. When did the building of Tower Bridge start?

1. 1886
2. 1686
3. 1986
4. 1286

2. What’s the name of the river Tower Bridge crosses?

1. The Seine
2. The Rhine
3. The Tyre
4. The Thames

3. What’s the length of Tower Bridge?

1. 165m
2. 244m
3. 289m
4. 356m

The Wembley Stadium

• Wembley Stadium is a football stadium in London.
• It was built from 2003 to 2007 in the same spot that the first Wembley Stadium was built. 
• It holds 90,000 seats. 
• The new stadium features an arch that was designed not to cast a shadow over the stadium while games are played and to help hold part of the roof up. 
• The FA Cup final is played at and both FA Cup semi-finals as well. 
• It also hosts the League Cup final and several other English cup finals. 
• The England national football team play their home matches here.

As well as sports, the new Wembley Stadium, like the first one, is also used for concerts. Metallica, Muse, and George Michael have performed there. Also, the Concert for Diana was held there, and the London Live Earth concert.

The new Wembley also hosts NFL games as part of the NFL International Series. The first NFL game there was the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins. 

1. In what year did they finish building the stadium?

1. 1998
2. 2005
3. 1997
4. 2007

2. How many seats are in the stadium?

1. 90,000
2. 50,000
3. 75,000
4. 125,000

3. Why is there an arch above the stadium?

1. to cast a shadow over the stadium
2. to help hold part of the roof up