tourists.

A sample dialogue:

(T=Tourists; G=Guide)

T: Stonehenge is surely Britain's greatest national icon. When was it built?

G: It was built 4,000 years ago.

T: Who built it?

G: I can only tell you that it was the people in the Neolithic period built it.

T: Why was it built?

G: Its original purpose is unclear to us, but some have thought that it was a temple made for the worship of ancient gods. It has been called an astronomical observatory for marking significant events on the prehistoric calendar. Others claim that it was a sacred site for the burial of high-ranking citizens from the societies of long ago.

T: What did the astronomers do?

G: They clocked the time and predicted the seasons.

T: Where did all these stones come from?

G: Some of the stones were brought from a long way away. The stones used in that first circle are believed to be from the Prescelly Mountains, located roughly 240 miles away, at the southwestern tip of Wales. The bluestones weigh up to 4 tons each and about 80 stones were used in all.

T: What about those stones over there?

G: Many of the original stones have fallen or been removed by previous generations for home construction or road repair. There has been serious damage to some of the smaller bluestones resulting from close visitor contact (prohibited since 1978) and the prehistoric carvings on the larger sarsen stones show signs of significant wear.

T: The construction of Stonehenge was really amazing!

Step IV Speaking

Ask the students to read the words for hello and guess which languages they are.

Sample answers: