📖 A Summer in London

Read the story carefully and then answer the questions below.

Maya couldn't believe her luck when her parents announced they would be spending the entire summer in London. As their plane descended over the sprawling city, she pressed her nose against the window, spotting the winding Thames and the iconic London Eye.

Their first week was a whirlwind of famous landmarks. Maya marvelled at the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London, where a cheerful Beefeater told fascinating stories about the ravens. At Buckingham Palace, she waited patiently with crowds of tourists, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family. The changing of the guard ceremony left her speechless with its precision and pageantry.

Hyde Park became Maya's favourite escape from the bustling city streets. She spent countless afternoons feeding ducks at the Serpentine Lake and watching street performers near Speaker's Corner. Her younger brother Tom preferred the Diana Memorial Playground, where he could climb the enormous pirate ship whilst Maya read beneath the shade of ancient oak trees.

The highlight of their summer came during the final week when they attended a performance at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Maya had been studying Romeo and Juliet at school, and seeing it performed under the open sky made the words come alive. As the actors delivered their lines, she felt transported back to Elizabethan times.

On their last day, Maya climbed the 528 steps to the top of St Paul's Cathedral. Looking out over London's magnificent skyline, she realised this summer had changed her forever. She was no longer just a girl from Manchester – she was someone who had truly experienced the heart of Britain's capital city.

🤔 Part 1: Multiple Choice Questions

✏️ Part 2: Understanding and Vocabulary

Maya climbed _______ steps to reach the top of St Paul's Cathedral. The ceremony at Buckingham Palace left her _______ with its precision and _______.