Установите соответствие между текстами А-G и заголовками 1-8. Запишите свой ответ последовательностью цифр, где первая цифра - заголовок к тексту A, а последняя - заголовок к тексту G. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании один заголовок лишний. 

1. A royal fortress
2. Similar but different
3. A new epoch in construction
4. Higher and stronger
5. Various activities to do
6. The choice of the material matters
7. From protection into fun
8. Going up and coming down

A. Castles and palaces may seem alike. However, there are some distinctions between them. A castle is a strong and fortified building made of stone. It has tall walls and sometimes even a surrounding water-filled ditch, called a moat. Castles were built to protect people from enemies and attacks. On the other hand, a palace is a luxurious residence designed primarily for comfort and elegance. Palaces were not built for defense like castles, so they usually didn’t have thick walls, towers, or other fortification features.

B. During the early days, castles were constructed using wood. Recognizing this weakness, lords and castle builders began using stone as the main material for constructing castles. Stone castles provided greater protection and durability against attacks. In terms of attacking these stone castles, the primary weapons used were battering rams and catapults. Battering rams were large, heavy objects used to forcefully strike castle gates, while catapults were siege engines designed to launch projectiles, such as rocks or flaming objects.

C. During the medieval period, specifically between the 11th and 13th centuries, castles were commonly constructed on elevated, man-made hills known as mottes. The primary purpose of building castles on mottes was to enhance their defensive capabilities. Mottes were typically large, artificial hills that provided strategic advantages. By elevating the castle above the surrounding area, defenders had a better point to observe and protect the surrounding lands. The height of the mottes allowed soldiers to have a broader range to defend against potential attackers.

D. In the past, castles used moats as a defense. Moats were ditches dug around the castle to guard it from enemies. They were often filled with water to make it difficult for attackers to tunnel into the castle. However, in some castles, people came up with more unique ideas. For example, at Český Krumlov Castle in the Czech Republic, the moat has been filled with bears since 1707. Nowadays, the bears have someone to take care of them, and they even have birthday parties and festivals organized for them.

E. One interesting detail about castles is their spiral stairwells. These staircases are designed to spiral in a specific direction, usually clockwise. The reason for this clever design was to put invaders at a disadvantage during a battle. Most people, including swordsmen, were right-handed and held their swords in their right hand. When invaders climbed the spiral stairs, they were not be able to use their dominant sword arm effectively, because the narrow space of the staircase restricted their movement during battles.

F. The Norman Conquest of 1066 was a significant event in British history. It marked the invasion and successful takeover of England by William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy. After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror and his successors built numerous castles throughout England. These castles served as strategic fortifications and symbols of their power and control over the newly-conquered lands. They were used as defensive structures, residences for the nobility, and centres of administration.

G. Today Great Britain has a rich tradition of castle sites, which show the best examples of the legacy of medieval times. Windsor Castle, the home of the Kings and Queens’ families of the English Commonwealth, is both the oldest and largest continuously-inhabited castle in the world. It was built in the 11th century, after the Norman Invasion, and has been used by reigning monarchs since the reign of Henry I. The castle also houses the famous St. George’s Chapel, which is designed in Gothic style, and houses the Order of the Garter.