The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Tower of Pisa is a bell tower of the cathedral in Pisa

Italy. The top of the tower is home to seven large bells.
The tower has 8 storeys and is 58 metres tall.
Construction on the Leaning Tower of Pisa began in 1178
and it has been leaning ever since! Because it is built on
unstable soil, the tower began sinking by the time
construction began on the third floor of the tower. Because
of the tilt of the building, the upper floors were built with
one side taller than the other. If you look carefully at the
picture of the tower, you will see that the tower is curved.
Although the tower was slowly sinking for a very long time,
it never leaned too far over. It never fell over.
Starting in 1990 a lot of work was done on the tower and
the ground around it. The work was done to stop the tower
from sinking any more. In 2008 it was announced that the
Tower was stabilized. Although it still leans, the tower has
stopped moving.

Vocabulary help:

announce (verb) -

bell (noun)

cathedral (noun) -

construction (noun)

curved (adjective) -.

lean (verb)

sinking (verb) gerund of to sink -.

soil (noun) -

stabilize (verb) -

tall (adjective)

tilt (noun) -

unstable (adjective) -

upper (adjective) -

Comprehension Check:
1. The Tower of Pisa doesn't lean any more. Yes or no?
2. In 2008 it was announced that the Tower of Pisa has been
stabilized. Yes or no?
3. Building start on the Tower of Pisa in 1178. Yes or no?
4. The Tower of Pisa fell over in 1990. Yes or no?

Fill in the Blanks:

5. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a ____________ tower.
6. Starting in 1990 a lot of work was done and the tower and the
____________ around it.
7. The _____________ floors were built with one side taller than the
other.
8. The Tower is leaning because one of the tower was
________________.
9. Pisa is a city in ______________.
10. The soil that the tower is built on is ___________________.