13 Which part of the windmill is currently awaiting repair?
A the wooden sails
B the grinding wheel
C the main gear
14 What safety warning does the guide give to visitors?
A watch out for low ceilings
B hold onto the handrails on the stairs
C avoid walking on slippery floors
15 What special item can visitors buy at the gift shop today?
A local cheese
B stone sculptures
C traditional clothing
Questions 16 to 20
What feature is associated with the following places on the tour?
Choose FIVE answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-G, next to Questions 16-20.
Features
A is currently closed for maintenance
B provides the best photo opportunity
C features interactive displays
D is ideal for playing games
E requires an additional ticket
F is only open in the afternoon
G contains historic furniture
Places on the tour
16 The Miller’s House
17 The Storage Barn
18 The River Walk
19 The Viewing Platform
20 The Picnic Area
Keys
11 B
12 A
13 C
14 B
15 B
16 G
17 C
18 F
19 B
20 D
Transcript
Part 2: You will hear a tour guide giving a talk about a historic windmill.
TOUR GUIDE:
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Dalton Historic Windmill Tour. My name’s Oliver Vance, and I’ll be your guide. We’ve got a lot of fascinating history to cover.
Now, looking up at this magnificent structure, most people assume that when it was built in 1820, it was used for grinding grain into flour. However, that didn’t happen until fifty years later. Initially, it was constructed specifically for sawing timber from the nearby forests, which was a booming industry. Pumping liquid off the land was another common use for mills, but not this one.
You might wonder how it looks so new. Well, by the 1980s, the entire building had fallen into ruin. A private business wanted to turn it into a hotel, but the regional council refused permission. Instead, a dedicated group of community volunteers stepped up in the 1990s, raising funds and doing the hard physical labour to restore it.
Before we head inside, I should mention its current working condition. The wooden sails were completely replaced last year, so they turn beautifully in the breeze. And the heavy grinding wheel’s in perfect shape. However, we can’t actually produce flour today because the main gear is cracked and currently awaiting repair.
Right, as we enter the doorway, please listen carefully to this safety warning. You’ll notice the floors are made of smooth stone, but they’re kept completely dry, so slipping isn’t an issue. The ceilings are surprisingly high, so you won’t bump your head. But you must hold onto the handrails on the stairs at all times, as the steps are incredibly steep and narrow.
After the tour, you can visit our gift shop. Usually, we sell delicious local cheese, but the supplier hasn’t delivered this week. We do have some amazing traditional clothing on display, but that’s just an exhibition and not for sale. What you can actually buy today are some beautiful little stone sculptures made by a nearby artist.
Now, let me tell you about a few other places on the site you might want to visit later.
First is The Miller’s House, located just past the garden. While you can’t touch anything inside, you’ll be amazed because it contains historic furniture that actually belonged to the original family who lived there in the nineteenth century.
Next is The Storage Barn. We converted this space last year, and it now features interactive displays where you can push buttons and see exactly how different mills operate.
If you want a quiet stroll, The River Walk is lovely. Just be aware that we keep the gate locked all morning while the gardeners work, so it’s only open in the afternoon from 1 PM onwards.
For those of you with cameras, you’ll definitely want to head up to The Viewing Platform. It’s situated on the hill behind the mill, and everyone agrees it provides the best photo opportunity of the entire valley.
Finally, we have The Picnic Area. Some folks think they need to pay extra to use it, but it’s completely free. Because it’s so spacious and away from the road, it’s ideal for playing games with your kids.
