Could Stonehenge lose its UNESCO World Heritage status?
Listen to the story (Singaporean accent)
In February, a judge approved plans for a tunnel road under Stonehenge in England. But, many people are not happy.
The government thinks the tunnel will help traffic problems on the A303 road near Stonehenge.
They want to put the main road under the ground and away from Stonehenge. The current road will be for walking and cycling. They think this will make visiting Stonehenge nicer.
But, UNESCO does not like the plan. They say the tunnel will damage the area around Stonehenge. They warn that Stonehenge could lose its World Heritage status.
Only three places have ever lost this status and one place is in the UK.
Archaeologists think many artifacts will be destroyed. Environmental groups worry about animals. For Pagans, Stonehenge is special, and they worry it will be disrespected.
But, people living near Stonehenge are bothered by the traffic on the current road.
This road is important for travel between London, Devon, and Cornwall. So, it also affects people visiting and business in the area.
Vocabulary23 words
- Judge
- A person who decides who is right and who is wrong in a court of law; ?⚖️⚖️
- Approve
- officially agree; accept; to say “yes”; authorize
- Plan
- A detailed idea or strategy to reach a goal; a method, idea or process to achieve a goal;
- Tunnel
- a long passage under or through the earth; ?
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Traffic
- The movement of cars, trucks, and other vehicles on the road; it can also mean too many cars and trucks on the road moving slowly
- Main
- the most important or the biggest;
- Ground
- floor; earth; solid surface
- Current
- now; happening or being used or done now;
- Area
- A place or part of a place; piece of land, or country; a particular part of a place; somewhere
- Warn
- to tell someone about something bad or dangerous that might happen; alert; notify
- Lose
- When you no longer have something you had before; can’t get back or find something you had;
- World Heritage
- A special place in the world that everyone agrees is important to protect
- Status
- rank; classification; position; standing; level in society; The condition or position of something
- Archaeologist
- Someone who studies things that people from long ago left behind (Indiana Jones is an archaeologist in the movies)
- Artifact
- An old object, usually made by people, that tells us about history;
- Destroy
- to “end” something by damaging it or attacking it; wreck; demolish; break
- Environmental group
- An organization/group that works to protect the environment and nature
- Worry
- to be/feel concerned or nervous; to be troubled; to think a lot about a negative situation; a little scared
- Pagan
- A person who believes in many gods or nature spirits; Someone who follows a religion that worships nature gods
- Disrespect
- To not show respect; to be rude;
- Bother
- To annoy or disturb someone; to inconvenience someone
- Affect
- to have an influence on or change something;
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
In _____, a judge approved plans for a tunnel road under Stonehenge in _____. But, many people are not happy.
The government _____ the tunnel will help traffic problems on the A303 _____ near Stonehenge.
They want to put the _____ road under the ground and away from Stonehenge. The _____ road will be for walking and cycling. They think this will make _____ Stonehenge nicer.
But, UNESCO does not like the _____. They say the tunnel will damage the area around Stonehenge. They warn _____ Stonehenge could lose its World Heritage status.
_____ three places have ever lost this status and one place is in the UK.
Archaeologists _____ many artifacts will be destroyed. Environmental groups _____ about animals. For Pagans, Stonehenge is _____, and they worry it will be disrespected.
But, people living _____ Stonehenge are bothered by the traffic on the current road.
_____ road is important for travel between London, Devon, and Cornwall. So, it also _____ people visiting and business in the area.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think UNESCO doesn't like the plan?
- Is it important to have UNESCO World Heritage Status? Why or why not?
- Should UNESCO have control over what happens to important places in other countries? Why or why not?
- Do you think it's possible to build around Stonehenge without damaging it?
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