Welcome to Astorga

Astorga is a walled town in the north of Spain and it's well worth a ____________1. As you
_______________2 from the regional capital, Leon, you cross a broad plain and see
Astorga rising in front of you like a small mountain. Nearer the town, the road leads
across a medieval bridge and winds steeply upwards towards the main square. There
you can take a _______3 in one of the many cafés, perhaps with a hot chocolate and a
plate of churros - a sort of twisted doughnut which you can dip into your hot chocolate.
Astorga has been important for a long time: in Roman times, it was a major route for
taking silver from mines further north to the trading ports in the south of the country.
There is still evidence of the Romans, mainly in the museum. This includes the original
Roman prison, known as an ergastulum in Latin (the language of the Romans); the
prison was long and thin, measuring 49 metres long by 5 metres wide. There are also
beautiful Roman mosaics to see.
Later, during the Middle Ages, Astorga was involved in battles when troops were fighting
for control of Spain. Once the battles were over, Astorga became a stopping place on
the road to Santiago de Compostela; many people from all over Europe walked this
route. Both the route and Astorga itself are now UNESCO World Heritage sites, so there
are many interesting sites to see, including the Bishop's palace designed by a famous
Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudi.
Perhaps more interesting to younger visitors, the town also has a chocolate museum
which shows the history of chocolate production - how the cocoa beans from South
America were roasted and refined to produce delicious sweets and drinks - such as the
ones you can have in the main square.

1. Astorga is a walled town in the north of Spain and it's well worth a ____________1.
• visit
• wish
• road
• capital
• sight

2. As you _______________2 from the regional capital, Leon, you cross a broad plain
and see Astorga rising in front of you like a small mountain.

• approach
• see
• lead
• appear
• reach
3. The you can take a _______3 in one of the many cafés, perhaps with a hot
chocolate and a plate of churros - a sort of twisted doughnut which you can dip
into your hot chocolate.
• nap
• break
• holiday
• walk
• bus

4. Where in the town should you have a cup of hot chocolate?

• beside the medieval bridge
• in the steep streets
• on the mountain
• in the main square
• in the museum

5. Why is the word churros followed by a dash?

• because the word is difficult to say
• because the word is followed by an explanation
• because the writer wants you to read the next part quickly
• because it is an informal text
• because the writer has not organised the text

6. Why was Astorga important in Roman Times?

• It had a big prison.
• The Romans had many mosaics there.
• It was involved in many battles.
• It was on the route to Santiago de Compostela.
• It was a stopping point on the silver route.

7. How does the final paragraph link to the first paragraph?

• It mentions ‘younger visitors.’
• It links to different places.
• It talks about museums.
• It refers to chocolate drinks.
• It tells the history of chocolate.
Answer Key
1. visit
2. approach
3. break
4. in the main square
5. because the word is followed by an explanation
6. It was stopping point on the silver route.
7. It refers to the chocolate drinks.