B. Listening comprehension – Fill in the blanks
Watch this video about three islands in the Hebrides and fill in the blanks with the words you hear.
“The best day out from Oban is the three-island tour and we’ve caught the early
on our way to Mull, Iona and Staffa. Right away, we’re immersed in grand island views. Be on
to make the most of the experience.
After an hour, you approach the Isle of Mull. Everything is coordinated, and a bus is standing by, ready to take us across the island. Enjoying the drive, you’re struck by the pristine
, the sparse population, and how Mull feels hardly touched by civilisation. On the far west of Mull, another ferry makes the short crossing to the Isle of Iona. Iona is
, but with a big history. It’s just one village, three miles long, 150 people, almost no cars. It’s famous as the
of Christianity in Scotland.
The year was 563. A nobleman, who became Saint Columba, fought a battle over in
. He won, but was so sickened by the bloodshed that he left his homeland, vowing never to return. According to
, this was the first piece of land he came to, out of sight from Ireland. He stopped here and built a church, which eventually became this
. Iona became a centre of Celtic Christianity. From here, Saint Columba’s monks spread the gospel throughout Scotland. This
, little island was a centre of art and learning, back when most of Europe was almost illiterate, mired in relative darkness. The exquisitely illustrated Book of Kells, this is a copy on display in Dublin, is
the finest piece of art from Europe’s early Middle Ages. Monks wrote it here, on Iona, in the 8th century. Over the next centuries,Columba’s monastic community grew in
importance. The abbey became the burial place for chiefs and kings. According to legend, dozens of ancient kings, Scottish, Irish, and even Scandinavian, rest here. After many generations, in about the year 800,
raiders were terrorising coastal communities all across western Europe, including Iona. After one terrible massacre, 68
were killed right here on this beach. The survivors packed up their
, including the precious Book of Kells, and returned to Ireland.
Today, a thoughtful calm pervades Scotland’s holiest of islands. After centuries of pillaging, little remains of the original abbey, but if you’re interested in tranquillity and a bit of meditative peace, Iona is a fine place for a
from your busy itinerary.
Next, a fast boat takes us to our third island of the day, Staffa, famous for its birdlife and striking
rock formations. Our captain gives us a dramatic sneak preview of the fabled Fingal’s Cave. He then drops us off, for time to explore. Walking across the uninhabited island, we head for the hidden nests of a
of Atlantic puffins. We wait patiently and quietly, observing the hardworking adults bringing home a fishy breakfast for their chicks. Hiking along the base of the
, using Staffa’s distinctive six-sided basalt columns as stepping stones, we reach Fingal’s Cave. Peering in the geological darkness, so surrounded by nature, I savour the moment. Enjoying the interplay of the sea and the rocks, I think of the
of romantics, who’ve stood right here and been inspired.”
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