Free levelled English reading practice. Read for meaning first, then use the full Speed Reading tool to time yourself and track your progress.
Machu Picchu is an Inca site high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. It was built in the fifteenth century, during the time of the Inca Empire. The site contains stone buildings, terraces, paths and open spaces. Its builders shaped large stones carefully so that many fitted together without mortar. Historians still debate exactly why Machu Picchu was built, but it may have been a royal estate and a place with religious importance. After the Spanish conquest, the site was not widely known outside the local region. In 1911, American historian Hiram Bingham brought international attention to it, although local people already knew it was there. Today Machu Picchu is one of Peru's most famous places. Large numbers of visitors come to see its dramatic mountain setting and learn about Inca engineering and culture.
Comprehension questions
Where is Machu Picchu?
Which people built it?
When was it built?
What are the stones famous for?
Who brought international attention to the site in 1911?
