St. Basil's Cathedral

St. Basil's Cathedral

Sagrada Família

Sagrada Família

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica

Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer

Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame

Kaaba

Kaaba

Western Wall

Western Wall

Karnak

Karnak

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

Sensō-ji

Sensō-ji

Pantheon

Pantheon

Borobudur

Borobudur

Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral

Lalibela

Lalibela

Lotus Temple

Lotus Temple

Milan Cathedral

Milan Cathedral

Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque

Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel

Religious Landmarks

Religious Landmarks

St. Basil's Cathedral - Landmarks

40 chapters
levelbeginner

Explore our quick readings on religious landmarks to find out what makes them special and easily improve your language skills!

Vocabulary
1.
famous
[adj]
/ˈfeɪməs/
2.
building
[n]
/ˈbɪldɪŋ/
3.
moscow
[n]
/ˈmɑˌskoʊ/, /ˈmɔˌskaʊ/
4.
Russia
[n]
/ˈɹəʃə/
5.
bright
[adj]
/braɪt/
6.
special
[adj]
/ˈspɛʃəl/
7.
design
[n]
/dɪˈzaɪn/
8.
cathedral
[n]
/kəˈθiːdrəl/
9.
important
[adj]
/ɪmˈpɔrtənt/
10.
finish
[v]
/ˈfɪnɪʃ/
11.
Russian
[adj]
/ˈrʌʃən/
12.
leader
[n]
/ˈlidər/
13.
ask
[v]
/æsk/
14.
celebrate
[v]
/ˈsɛləˌbreɪt/
15.
win
[v]
/wɪn/
16.
war
[n]
/wɑr/
17.
tower
[n]
/ˈtaʊɚ/
18.
dome
[n]
/doʊm/
19.
shape
[v]
/ʃeɪp/
20.
onion
[n]
/ˈʌnjən/
21.
church
[n]
/ʧɝʧ/
22.
Saint
[n]
/seɪnt/
23.
painting
[n]
/ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
24.
symbol
[n]
/ˈsɪmbəl/
25.
all over the (world|globe)
[phrase]
/ˈɔːl ˌoʊvɚ ðə wˈɜːld ɔːɹ ɡlˈoʊb/
26.
UNESCO
[n]
/juˈnɛsˌkoʊ/
27.
protect
[v]
/prəˈtɛkt/
28.
culture
[n]
/ˈkʌltʃɚ/
29.
regular
[adj]
/ˈrɛɡjʊlər/
30.
church service
[n]
/tʃˈɜːtʃ sˈɜːvɪs/
31.
museum
[n]
/mjuˈziːəm/
32.
visit
[v]
/ˈvɪzɪt/
33.
official
[adj]
/əˈfɪʃəl/
34.
holy
[adj]
/ˈhoʊli/
35.
name after
[v]
/nˈeɪm ˈæftɚ/
Practice
1.
famous
[adj]
/ˈfeɪməs/
2.
building
[n]
/ˈbɪldɪŋ/
3.
moscow
[n]
/ˈmɑˌskoʊ/, /ˈmɔˌskaʊ/
4.
Russia
[n]
/ˈɹəʃə/
5.
bright
[adj]
/braɪt/
6.
special
[adj]
/ˈspɛʃəl/
7.
design
[n]
/dɪˈzaɪn/
8.
cathedral
[n]
/kəˈθiːdrəl/
9.
important
[adj]
/ɪmˈpɔrtənt/
10.
finish
[v]
/ˈfɪnɪʃ/
11.
Russian
[adj]
/ˈrʌʃən/
12.
leader
[n]
/ˈlidər/
13.
ask
[v]
/æsk/
14.
celebrate
[v]
/ˈsɛləˌbreɪt/
15.
win
[v]
/wɪn/
16.
war
[n]
/wɑr/
17.
tower
[n]
/ˈtaʊɚ/
18.
dome
[n]
/doʊm/
19.
shape
[v]
/ʃeɪp/
20.
onion
[n]
/ˈʌnjən/
21.
church
[n]
/ʧɝʧ/
22.
Saint
[n]
/seɪnt/
23.
painting
[n]
/ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
24.
symbol
[n]
/ˈsɪmbəl/
25.
all over the (world|globe)
[phrase]
/ˈɔːl ˌoʊvɚ ðə wˈɜːld ɔːɹ ɡlˈoʊb/
26.
UNESCO
[n]
/juˈnɛsˌkoʊ/
27.
protect
[v]
/prəˈtɛkt/
28.
culture
[n]
/ˈkʌltʃɚ/
29.
regular
[adj]
/ˈrɛɡjʊlər/
30.
church service
[n]
/tʃˈɜːtʃ sˈɜːvɪs/
31.
museum
[n]
/mjuˈziːəm/
32.
visit
[v]
/ˈvɪzɪt/
33.
official
[adj]
/əˈfɪʃəl/
34.
holy
[adj]
/ˈhoʊli/
35.
name after
[v]
/nˈeɪm ˈæftɚ/
1.
famous
[adj]
/ˈfeɪməs/
beroemd
2.
building
[n]
/ˈbɪldɪŋ/
gebouw
3.
moscow
[n]
/ˈmɑˌskoʊ/, /ˈmɔˌskaʊ/
Moskou
4.
Russia
[n]
/ˈɹəʃə/
Rusland
5.
bright
[adj]
/braɪt/
helder
6.
special
[adj]
/ˈspɛʃəl/
speciaal
7.
design
[n]
/dɪˈzaɪn/
ontwerp
8.
cathedral
[n]
/kəˈθiːdrəl/
kathedraal
9.
important
[adj]
/ɪmˈpɔrtənt/
belangrijk
10.
finish
[v]
/ˈfɪnɪʃ/
voltooien
11.
Russian
[adj]
/ˈrʌʃən/
Russisch
12.
leader
[n]
/ˈlidər/
leider
13.
ask
[v]
/æsk/
vragen
14.
celebrate
[v]
/ˈsɛləˌbreɪt/
vieren
15.
win
[v]
/wɪn/
winnen
16.
war
[n]
/wɑr/
oorlog
17.
tower
[n]
/ˈtaʊɚ/
toren
18.
dome
[n]
/doʊm/
koepel
19.
shape
[v]
/ʃeɪp/
vormen
20.
onion
[n]
/ˈʌnjən/
ui
21.
church
[n]
/ʧɝʧ/
kerk
22.
Saint
[n]
/seɪnt/
heilige
23.
painting
[n]
/ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
schilderij
24.
symbol
[n]
/ˈsɪmbəl/
symbool
25.
all over the (world|globe)
[phrase]
/ˈɔːl ˌoʊvɚ ðə wˈɜːld ɔːɹ ɡlˈoʊb/
in every part of the world
26.
UNESCO
[n]
/juˈnɛsˌkoʊ/
een agentschap van de Verenigde Naties dat onderwijs
27.
protect
[v]
/prəˈtɛkt/
beschermen
28.
culture
[n]
/ˈkʌltʃɚ/
cultuur
29.
regular
[adj]
/ˈrɛɡjʊlər/
gewoon
30.
church service
[n]
/tʃˈɜːtʃ sˈɜːvɪs/
kerkdienst
31.
museum
[n]
/mjuˈziːəm/
museum
32.
visit
[v]
/ˈvɪzɪt/
bezoeken
33.
official
[adj]
/əˈfɪʃəl/
officieel
34.
holy
[adj]
/ˈhoʊli/
heilig
35.
name after
[v]
/nˈeɪm ˈæftɚ/
vernoemen naar

1

hoofdstuk

star
St. Basil's Cathedral 
Read a short passage about a colorful church with onion-shaped domes in the center of Moscow. 
1.1
St. Basil's Cathedral is a very famous building in Moscow, Russia.  It is known for its bright colors and special design.  The cathedral is in Red Square, a very important place in Moscow. 

De Sint-Basiliuskathedraal is een heel bekend gebouw in Moskou, Rusland. Het is bekend om zijn felle kleuren en speciale ontwerp. De kathedraal staat op het Rode Plein, een heel belangrijke plek in Moskou.

1.2
St. Basil's Cathedral was built a long time ago.  It was finished in the year 1561.  A Russian leader named Ivan the Terrible asked for the cathedral to be built.  He wanted to celebrate winning a war. 

De Sint-Basiliuskathedraal werd lang geleden gebouwd. Het werd voltooid in het jaar 1561. Een Russische leider genaamd Ivan de Verschrikkelijke vroeg om de kathedraal te bouwen. Hij wilde een oorlogsoverwinning vieren.

1.3
The cathedral has many tall towers.  These towers are called domes.  Each dome is shaped like an onion.  They are painted in many different colors, like red, green, blue, and yellow.  This makes the cathedral look very special and beautiful. 

De kathedraal heeft veel hoge torens. Deze torens worden koepels genoemd. Elke koepel heeft de vorm van een ui. Ze zijn geschilderd in veel verschillende kleuren, zoals rood, groen, blauw en geel. Dit maakt de kathedraal heel bijzonder en mooi.

ThumbnailPhoto
1.4
Inside the cathedral, there are many small churches.  There are ten churches in total.  Each church is for a different saint or special event.  The walls inside have many colorful paintings and designs. 

In de kathedraal zijn er veel kleine kerken. Er zijn in totaal tien kerken. Elke kerk is voor een andere heilige of speciale gebeurtenis. De muren binnenin hebben veel kleurrijke schilderijen en ontwerpen.

1.5
St. Basil's Cathedral is an important symbol of Russia.  Many people from all over the world come to see it.  It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  This means it is protected because it is very important to the history and culture of the world. 

De Sint-Basiliuskathedraal is een belangrijk symbool van Rusland. Veel mensen van over de hele wereld komen hem bekijken. Het is ook een UNESCO-werelderfgoed. Dit betekent dat het beschermd is omdat het erg belangrijk is voor de geschiedenis en cultuur van de wereld.

1.6
The cathedral is not used for regular church services anymore.  It is now a museum.  People can visit it to learn about its history and see its beautiful art and design. 

De kathedraal wordt niet meer gebruikt voor reguliere kerkdiensten. Het is nu een museum. Mensen kunnen het bezoeken om over de geschiedenis te leren en de prachtige kunst en het ontwerp te zien.

1.7
Fun fact: Its real name is not St. Basil's.  Its official name is "The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat."  But, it is called St. Basil's because there was a holy man named Basil who lived in the area at the same time it was built.  People thought he was very special, so they named the cathedral after him. 

Leuk weetje: De echte naam is niet St. Basil. De officiële naam is "De Kathedraal van de Voorspraak van de Allerheiligste Theotokos op de Gracht". Maar het wordt St. Basil genoemd omdat er ten tijde van de bouw een heilige man genaamd Basil in het gebied woonde. Mensen dachten dat hij heel bijzonder was, dus noemden ze de kathedraal naar hem.

1. St. Basil's Cathedral

1. St. Basil's Cathedral

Religious Landmarks

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100%
QuizSkip the quiz
1.

Where is St. Basil’s Cathedral located?

A

Paris, France

B

Moscow, Russia

C

Rome, Italy

D

London, England

2.

Who ordered St. Basil’s Cathedral to be built?

A

Peter the Great

B

Napoleon

C

Ivan the Terrible

D

Catherine the Great

3.

Put these events in the correct order:

the cathedral was turned into a museum.
st. basil’s cathedral was finished.
the cathedral became a unesco world heritage site.
ivan the terrible ordered the cathedral to be built.
4.

Match each word with its meaning from the text:

Domes
Red Square
Museum
UNESCO
Towers shaped like onions
An organization that protects important places
A place where people learn about history
A famous place in Moscow
5.

Complete the sentences with the correct words (two words are extra):

St. Basil’s Cathedral was finished in

.

The domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral are shaped like

.

The cathedral is now a

where people can learn about its history.

1561
onions
museum
1200
stars
6.

Check if these statements are true or false.

StatementsTrue/False

St. Basil’s Cathedral is in Red Square.

The cathedral was built in the 1900s.

The cathedral has ten small churches inside.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is still used for church services.

True
False
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