Big Ben – Reading Comprehension Worksheet
This reading comprehension worksheet is about Big Ben. It discusses the history of Big Ben in London, who designed it, and its importance as one of London’s most famous landmarks. To complete the worksheet, students are asked to read the passage and then complete five reading comprehension questions on the next page.
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Big Ben
Read the passage and then answer the questions below.
Big Ben is one of the most famous landmarks in London, England. Located at the northern end of the Palace of Westminster, it is a large clock tower standing over 300 feet tall and has become an iconic symbol for both London and Great Britain. Originally named ‘the Clock Tower,’ Big Ben was renamed in honor of Sir Benjamin Hall, who was responsible for overseeing the installation of its clock.
The clock tower was designed by Augustus Pugin and built between 1843 and 1859, with Big Ben itself being cast from a single piece of solid cast iron in Greenwich. Its four clock faces measure 23 feet in diameter and are illuminated at night to help people tell the time even when it is dark outside. The bell housed within Big Ben has been ringing since 1859, when it first began striking the hours with its deep sound. It is one of the most recognizable sounds in London and continues to be heard throughout the city every hour on the hour.
Atop Big Ben sits St Stephen’s Tower, which houses a 10-bell carillon which strikes Westminster Chimes every quarter hour. Big Ben is also a popular tourist destination, with visitors from all over the world eager to climb up inside the tower and admire its intricate architecture.
Despite its age, Big Ben continues to remain in perfect working order and is a reminder of London’s long history as one of Europe’s most important cities. Today it stands as an iconic symbol of London, reminding us of its rich cultural heritage and importance throughout the ages.