Human-made wonders spark curiosity and give students a chance to share what they find impressive about human achievement. These questions work well for practicing descriptions, comparing past and present, and discussing cultural pride.
Questions are organized by level from beginner to advanced. A printable PDF of all the questions is available at the bottom of the page.
Beginner (A1-A2)
- Which of the world wonders would you most like to visit? What interests you about it?
- What’s the biggest building you have ever seen? Where was it?
- Is there a famous bridge, tower, or statue near where you live? What does it look like?
- What is the oldest building you have been to? What do you remember about it?
- Do you like looking at photos of famous places around the world? What are some of your favorites?
- Have you ever climbed to the top of a tall building or tower? What did you see?
- When you travel to a new city, what kinds of buildings or places do you want to see first?
- Have you ever visited a place just to see a famous structure? Where did you go?
- What is one famous structure you learned about in school? What do you remember about it?
- If you could visit one famous place in the world, where would you go? Why?
Elementary (A2)
- How many of the seven ancient wonders can you name? How many are left?
- Have you been to any of the world wonders, or do you know someone who has? What was the experience like?
- Pick one of the ancient wonders and describe what you know about it. What makes it special?
- What amazing structures have been built in the last 50 years? What makes them impressive?
- What are some of the human-made wonders of your country? What do you find impressive about them?
- Do you like visiting old castles and palaces? What’s good about them?
- Do you prefer modern buildings or old buildings? What do you like about each?
- Have you ever visited a famous monument or landmark? What did you think of it?
- What’s the tallest building you have been inside? How did it feel to be up there?
- What is a famous structure in another country that many people from your country like to visit? Why is it popular?
- Have you ever seen a building being constructed? What was interesting about watching it?
- What is one structure you have seen that looked very different from buildings in your country? What made it so different?
Intermediate (B1)
- Why do you think people voted for these wonders?
- If you could add one more human-made structure to the list of world wonders, what would it be and why does it deserve to be there?
- If you could build another wonder of the world, what would it be?
- Do you think it is a good idea for governments to fund “wonders” for their countries? Why or why not?
- Which would you prefer to see, human wonders or natural wonders? Why?
- If you could live in any famous building in the world, which one would you choose? Why?
- What famous structures would you show to a visitor from another country? Why would you choose them?
- Do you prefer to see structures from the outside or go inside them? Why?
- What modern structures do you think are amazing? Why do you think they’re impressive?
- Do you like taking photos of famous buildings and monuments? Why or why not?
- Why do you think humans have always built impressive structures throughout history? What motivates people to create them?
- Should countries spend money to preserve old monuments? Why or why not?
- Do you think it’s more impressive when structures are built by hand or with modern technology? How so?
- Should there be limits on how many tourists can visit fragile historical sites? Why or why not?
- If you could go back in time and watch one famous structure being built, which one would you choose and why?
- Some people say the pyramids could not have been built without modern technology. What do you think about that?
- If you could design one public monument for your city, what would it celebrate and what would it look like?
- Do you think modern skyscrapers will be remembered as wonders in the future, like the pyramids are today? How so?
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
- Do you think famous structures bring more benefits or problems to the cities where they’re located? What are the downsides of each?
- Is it more important to build new impressive structures or to maintain the old ones we already have? What are the benefits of each approach?
- How has tourism affected famous landmarks and monuments around the world? What can be done to protect them?
- Compare how ancient civilizations built monuments versus how we build them today. What has changed in terms of materials, methods, and motivations?
- How is the meaning or significance of a monument different for tourists versus local residents? What do you think about those differences?
- Compare the motivations behind building religious structures (like temples and cathedrals) versus secular monuments (like towers and stadiums). How have these motivations changed over time?
- Some countries spend billions on massive building projects like stadiums and skyscrapers while many people lack basic housing. How should governments balance ambition with everyday needs?
- How do modern architects balance making buildings that stand out with making them fit into the city around them? What happens when they get it wrong?
- How do environmental concerns affect the way large structures are designed and built today? What can be done to make major building projects more sustainable?
- When a natural disaster damages a famous structure, should it be rebuilt exactly as it was or redesigned for modern needs? What are the strongest arguments on each side?
- How does the way a country treats its old buildings and historical sites reflect its attitude toward its own history? Can you think of any examples?
- What tensions exist between preserving historical monuments exactly as they are and adapting them for modern use and accessibility?
Advanced (C1)
- What are the ethical implications of removing artifacts or parts of ancient structures and displaying them in museums in other countries?
- How might the global standardization of architecture (glass skyscrapers in every major city) both facilitate international connection and erode local cultural identity?
- How do monumental structures function as both economic assets (attracting tourism revenue) and economic burdens (requiring expensive maintenance)? What does this tension reveal about cultural priorities?
- How might the way different cultures approach monument preservation (exact restoration vs. visible repairs vs. allowing natural decay) reflect fundamentally different philosophies about time, history, and authenticity?
- How do digital replicas and virtual reality experiences of monuments both democratize access to cultural heritage and potentially reduce the perceived value of preserving the physical structures themselves?
- Some countries create artificial islands, indoor ski slopes in the desert, and underwater hotels to attract tourists. At what point does ambitious building become wasteful excess, and who gets to decide where that line is?
- Wealthy individuals and corporations now fund major architectural projects that used to be the work of governments and religions. How does the shift from public to private funding change what gets built, how it is used, and who benefits from it?
- We often judge past civilizations by the structures they left behind like pyramids, temples, aqueducts. What will future generations learn about our civilization from the buildings and infrastructure we are creating today?
- War has destroyed countless historic structures, and some countries rebuild them from scratch while others leave the ruins as memorials. What does each choice say about how a society deals with its painful history?
- Governments often use grand buildings and monuments to tell a particular story about their nation’s history and values. How does architecture shape what people believe about their country, and what happens when that story is challenged or no longer fits?