Reading B1/B2. Model 3. Summarise every text

🟦 B1 Reading – Gapped Text (Exam Practice)

Topic: “The Alcázar of Seville – A Place Full of History” Suggested time: 10 minutes

Instructions

Six paragraphs have been removed. Choose from A–G the one that fits each gap (1–6). There is ONE extra paragraph.

TEXT (B1)

The Alcázar of Seville is one of the most famous places in Spain. It is a very old palace, and many different rulers have changed and rebuilt it over the centuries. Because of this, the Alcázar shows a long and interesting history.

1 [ ]

The first version of the palace was built by the Moors, who ruled the south of Spain for many years. They designed beautiful arches, courtyards, and gardens. When Christian kings later took control of the city, they did not destroy the Moorish palace. Instead, they added new rooms and decorations.

2 [ ]

One of the most special parts of the Alcázar is the palace of King Pedro I. He worked with Muslim craftsmen to build it. The design mixes Islamic decorations, like colourful tiles and patterns, with Christian building ideas. This mix of cultures makes the palace different from many others in Europe.

3 [ ]

If you walk through the Alcázar today, you can see many styles next to each other. One room may have Arabic writing on the walls, while another has a ceiling from the Renaissance period. In the gardens, you can smell orange trees and hear the sound of fountains.

4 [ ]

The Alcázar is not only an old building for tourists. It is still used by Spain’s royal family when they visit Seville. Because of this, it feels like a place where the past and the present live together.

5 [ ]

Movies and TV shows have used the Alcázar as a filming location, and this has made the palace even more popular. Many people now visit it every year. This is good for the city, but too many tourists can cause damage to the old stone and decorations.

6 [ ]

For many people around the world, the Alcázar is a symbol of Seville. It shows that different cultures can live together and create something beautiful. Every part of the palace tells a story from a different time.

Paragraphs (A–G) for B1

A. The city now needs to protect the palace while still allowing visitors to enjoy it.B. Some visitors find this mix surprising, but it is what makes the palace special.C. Many kings and rulers changed the palace by adding their own ideas and styles.D. This makes the palace feel both old and modern at the same time.E. Like this, Islamic and Christian traditions were brought together in one building.F. Because of all these different parts, it can feel like you are walking through time.G. For this reason, the palace attracts tourists, students, and history lovers.

🟦 🧠 B1 Tips for Gapped Text

1. Look for simple linking words

Words like: this, because, also, but, so→ They tell you what kind of paragraph (contrast, result, example) should follow.

2. Match topic words

If the text talks about tourists, the next paragraph should continue with tourists or problems caused by them.

3. Check verb tense

B1 texts are normally chronological:Past → Present → ResultDon’t put a modern paragraph too early.

4. Identify the extra paragraph

One paragraph usually:

• repeats something said earlier, or

• doesn’t match the topic at all.

5. Use the “first sentence test”

Read the sentence before the gap + first sentence of the option. the If they fit naturally → good candidate.

🟩 B2 Reading – Gapped Text (Exam Practice)

Topic: “The Alcázar of Seville – A Palace with Many Stories”Suggested time: 8 minutes

Instructions

Six paragraphs have been removed. Choose from A–G the one that fits each gap (1–6). There is ONE extra paragraph.

TEXT (B2)

In the centre of Seville stands one of Spain’s most beautiful monuments: the Real Alcázar, a royal palace that has changed many times during its long life. Different rulers have rebuilt and extended it over more than a thousand years. Today, it shows how history can stay alive in stone, and how different cultures can leave their marks on the same place.

1 [ ]

The Alcázar was first built as a fortress during the time of the Moors in the early Middle Ages. Later, it became the home of Muslim rulers, who decorated it with fine arches, detailed plaster work and peaceful courtyards. When Christian kings took control of Seville in the thirteenth century, they did not destroy the palace. Instead, they kept many of its Islamic elements and added their own style.

2 [ ]

One of the most famous parts of the palace is the residence of King Pedro I, built in the fourteenth century. It is often called a Mudéjar palace, because it mixes Islamic decoration with Christian architecture. Craftsmen with Muslim background designed many details: colourful tiles, wooden ceilings and walls covered in patterns. At the same time, the basic structure followed Christian ideas.

3 [ ]

Visitors who walk through the Alcázar today can see many different historical periods at the same time. A Renaissance ceiling may stand above Arabic writing; a Gothic doorway may open onto a garden full of orange trees. In just a few steps, you can travel through several centuries of Spanish history.

4 [ ]

The Alcázar is not only important for its buildings. It is still an official royal residence and is sometimes used by the Spanish royal family when they visit Seville. Because of this, the palace feels both old and modern at the same time: a place of history that is still part of today’s world.

5 [ ]

In the last few decades, the Alcázar has also become famous as a film location and a popular tourist attraction. Thousands of people from many countries come to see it every year. This brings money and jobs to the city, but it also creates problems. Large numbers of visitors can damage old walls and decorations if they are not careful.

6 [ ]

For many people, the Alcázar is more than just a beautiful building. It shows that different cultures can meet, mix and create something new. Like the city of Seville itself, the palace has changed again and again, keeping parts of each period and turning them into a single, rich story.

Paragraphs (A–G) for B2

A. In this way, the Alcázar became a place where both Islamic and Christian traditions could exist side by side. B. Nowadays, the city must find ways to welcome visitors while also protecting the palace for future generations. C. Because of this, the palace can sometimes seem confusing, but this mix of styles is exactly what makes it so special.D. Over the centuries, new kings and queens continued to add their own tastes: Gothic, Renaissance and later even Baroque elements. E. For this reason, the Alcázar attracts not only tourists, but also students, historians and architects who want to understand Spain’s past. F. This combination of old and new rulers, ideas and designs explains why the Alcázar is such a fascinating place to explore. G. It is easy to see why so many people want to visit: every corner of the palace seems to tell a different story.

🟩 🧠 B2 Tips for Gapped Text

1. Follow logical flow

B2 texts move:

• general → detailed

• historical → architectural → cultural → modern → reflective

Don’t break the progression.

2. Watch for semantic cohesion

Look for ideas like:

• “mixing cultures”

• “layers of history”

• “past + present”

• “tourism vs preservation”

Paragraphs must support the theme.

3. Use reference chains

Words like:

• this, these styles, such problems, in this way, because of this→ They MUST connect to the previous sentence.

  
  

4. Notice tone shifts

B2 texts change tone:

• factual → descriptive → analytical → reflective. Choose paragraphs that match the tone around the gap.

5. Reject paragraphs that don't fit the abstract level

If the text is reflective, don’t insert a factual paragraph, and vice versa.