Shadowing Practice: Reading Explorer 1, Unit-10 City in the Clouds - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Machu Picchu is an ancient city hidden away in the mountains in South America.
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Located northwest of Cusco, Peru, Machu Picchu was constructed by the Inca people over 500 years ago.
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At its most powerful, the Inca Empire stretched about 2,500 miles along South America's Pacific coast,
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from modern-day Ecuador down to Chile.
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This distance is nearly the horizontal width of the United States.
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Machu Picchu once stood at the center of this empire,
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and today, it is one of Peru's best preserved archaeological sites.
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It is also an impressive example of Incan engineering.
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In Machu Picchu, the Inca built grand palaces, plazas and temples out of stone.
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And they did this without using wheels or metal tools.
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One special aspect of its construction is the way the Inca built walls.
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They did not use any sticky substance to make the blocks of stone stick together.
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Instead, the stones were cut so precisely that they fit together tightly.
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Machu Picchu is located on two fault lines, so there are often earthquakes there.
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But because of the way the stones were cut,
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during an earthquake, the stones in the walls move slightly and then fall back into position again.
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This is perhaps why the ruins are so well preserved.
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Although local communities knew about Machu Picchu, it remained unknown to the outside world for hundreds of years.
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Even the Spanish who invaded the Incas' lands in the 16th century never came across the site.
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It wasn't until 1911 when Melkor Arteaga,
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a local farmer, showed the site to Yale University professor Hiram Bingham
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that the ruins of Machu Picchu became known to the public.
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Bingham and other explorers after him spent much of their lives studying Machu Picchu and learning more about the Inca Empire.
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In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
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Today, visitors from around the world come here to walk in the footsteps of the amazing Inca people.
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Boost Your Speaking Fluency with This Engaging Clip

Ready to level up your English speaking? This video is perfect for hitting that fluency milestone: describing historical sites with confidence, a key skill for IELTS speaking practice and everyday conversations. You’ll learn to share fascinating facts smoothly, making your speech sound more natural and engaging—quick wins that show progress fast!

Phrase Bank: Reusable Expressions to Sound Like a Pro

  • "hidden away in the mountains" – great for setting a scene
  • "stretched about 2,500 miles along" – describe large areas clearly
  • "an impressive example of" – highlight key features
  • "remained unknown to the outside world" – explain historical secrecy
  • "voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World" – share notable achievements

These phrases work in travel stories, essays, or even IELTS speaking practice—keep them handy for instant impact!

Fix Your Weak Spots: Master Pronunciation and Rhythm

Struggling with improve English pronunciation? This video is a goldmine for practicing stress and intonation in longer sentences. Notice how words like "archaeological" and "engineering" are stressed—copying this rhythm will make your speech flow. Try shadowing: repeat the narrator’s lines immediately after, mimicking their pace and tone. It’s a proven technique for "shadow speech" that trains your mouth and brain to work together. Use this as your go-to shadowing site—pause, repeat, and watch your pronunciation sharpen. Whether you’re prepping for IELTS or just want to sound clearer, "shadowspeaks" practice here will make a visible difference. You’ve got this—every repeat brings you closer to sounding like a pro!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →