2 . The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is responsible for evaluating and judging whether a place could be titled The World Heritage Site. The group chooses sites based on historical and cultural importance, as well as their beauty.

The World Heritage in Beijing

Constructed from 1406 to 1420, The Temple of Heaven is an imperial complex of religious buildings situated in the central area of Beijing. The Temple of Heaven was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and was described as a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design.

The Temple comprises three main groups of constructions: The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, The Imperial Vault of Heaven and The Circular Mound Altar.

The World Heritage in Luoyang

Situated on the central plain of China, Luoyang is one of the cradles of Chinese civilization.

The Longmen Grottoes, south of the city, were excavated and carved from 493 AD to 1127 AD. It was listed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2000.The images were carved as outside rock reliefs and inside artificial caves. There are as many as 100,000 statues within the 2,345 caves. The area also has over sixty Buddhist pagodas.

The World Heritage in Wiltshire

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in England. It consists of a ring of standing stones, topped by connecting stones. The whole monument, now ruinous, is oriented towards the sunrise on the Summer Solstice.

Stonehenge is regarded as a British cultural icon. The site and its surroundings were added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1986.

Archaeologists believe Stonehenge was constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. It could have been a burial ground from its earliest beginnings.

1. What can we learn about Stonehenge?

A．Stonehenge is a symbol of British culture.

B．Stonehenge has a history of 3000 years.

C．Stonehenge consists of stones and wood.

D．Stonehenge is not oriented towards the sunrise.

2. According to the passage, we can learn that ________.

A．there are 100,000 caves in The Longmen Grottoes

B．The Temple of Heaven has three main groups of buildings

C．only one site in Luoyang is listed in The World Heritage Sites

D．the Temple of Heaven has been titled the World Heritage Site for 30 years

3. What do the three sites in the text have in common?

A．They have caves, halls and statues.

B．They are ancient imperial buildings.

C．They all have historical and cultural value.

D．They are connected with Buddhist culture.