The YHA in England and Wales – answers
1 It is a(n) ‘historic building’ and the guide mentions having found a 12th century piece of stone in the building when they were renovating it.
2 The ruins of Whitby Abbey
3 Monks – it was the ‘former home of (the) monks’.
4 It was uncovered during restoration work.
5 Between the timbers
6 He calls it an amazing feature and said that they didn’t want to cover it up so people could see it.
7 The history and development of the building.
8 In 1930.
9 ‘There was a high demand for ….. accommodation’
10 Cyclists and hikers
11 Yes – it is ‘still going strong’.
12 No, ‘expectations have moved on’ = this means people expect something more comfortable than over 75 years ago!
13 Luxury or excessive service – over the top service.
14 ‘Over the top’, informal, sometimes shortened to OTT in conversation – ‘he was a bit OTT at the staff meeting, we thought.’
15 Good, clean, comfortable, friendly accommodation.
16 ‘It opened my eyes to a whole new world’.
17 The fact that he can take cheap holidays – (cheap vacations) and get out and enjoy himself.
18 15
19 A week
20 In dormitories
21 Abseiling, climbing, orientiering
22 That they are really cheap and always in beautiful places.
23 Grasmere is a favourite means she has some other favourites too, and this is one of them. ‘My favourite‘ would mean it is the youth hostel she likes the most, rather than among several she likes most.
24 None – she says they are all brilliant, different, excellent and interesting.
25 As one of the most beautiful areas of protected wilderness anywhere in Europe
26 Two hundred years ago (2 centuries ago) to house the manager of a nearby slatemine.
27 Tens of thousands have used it as a base to explore Snowdonia
28 In 2001
29 Sheep’s wool insulation, recycling, composting
30 Because she suggests ‘a walk in our back garden‘ and it is clear from the subsequent conversation that they are walking steeply uphill up steps along a mountain-path to a lake above Idwal Cottage and a set of rocks called The Devil’s Kitchen – so the ‘back garden’ is the wide open countryside!