Improve your English listening skills with this free B2–C1 video listening exercise about the famous ravens of the Tower of London.
At the Tower of London, eight ravens are cared for as part of a centuries-old royal tradition. According to legend, if the ravens ever leave, the Tower will fall and the monarchy will disappear.
In this CBS Sunday Morning report, meet the current and former Ravenmasters and discover how British history, folklore, superstition and everyday animal care come together at one of London’s most famous landmarks.
This lesson includes listening comprehension questions, useful phrases, vocabulary exercises and discussion activities, as well as a free downloadable PDF worksheet with a full answer key.
4 November 2026
Level: B2–C1 (Upper-intermediate to Advanced)
Focus: Listening comprehension, vocabulary, useful phrases and discussion
Video: CBS Sunday Morning — Meet the Tower of London’s Ravenmaster (approx. 4:50)
Format: Free online listening exercises and downloadable PDF worksheet with answers
Watch the Video
Watch the CBS Sunday Morning report before completing the exercises.
The report features an American correspondent and British Ravenmasters, with natural humour and some specialist historical vocabulary.
Try watching once without subtitles, then replay difficult sections and listen for specific details about the ravens, their history and the people who care for them.
Listening Comprehension
Answer in your own words. Some questions ask you to connect two details or explain a contrast.
- Which two purposes did the Tower of London serve in the past, and what important attraction does it house today besides the ravens?
- According to the legend, what would happen to both the Tower and the monarchy if the ravens disappeared?
- What military experience did Barney need before qualifying for his role, and when does he sometimes bring his work home?
- How do Barney and his mother view the ravens differently, and why does he think these birds have acquired a sinister reputation?
- Why did the royal astronomer reportedly want to remove the ravens, and what did Charles II decide to do instead?
- What mistake does the reporter make while looking at a bird, and what does Chris warn him about ravens?
- What reveals Chris’s connection to the ravens, and how does he react when the reporter calls him famous?
- What two reasons does Chris give for retiring as Ravenmaster?
- What measures help keep the ravens at the Tower, and which routine duty contrasts with Barney’s impressive uniform?
- What two kinds of pressure does Barney describe, and what surprising comparison does he make between the ravens and the Crown Jewels?
Phrase Match
Match each exact expression from the video (1–10) to its contextual meaning (A–J).
| Expressions | Meanings |
|---|---|
| 1. carry the weight of the entire kingdom on their feathers | A. completely tired of or irritated by something |
| 2. if legend is to be believed | B. be widely regarded in an unfavourable way |
| 3. fly by on the tour | C. be symbolically responsible for something extremely important |
| 4. bring his work home with him | D. watch or monitor something carefully |
| 5. got a bad reputation | E. through an official order from a monarch |
| 6. stretching back | F. be mentioned very briefly without much attention |
| 7. by royal decree | G. originating or beginning a long time ago |
| 8. fed up with | H. continue dealing with job responsibilities at home |
| 9. keep an eye on | I. open to disagreement rather than definitely settled |
| 10. up for debate | J. according to a traditional story that may not be true |
Synonym Match
Match each word heard in the video (1–10) to its closest contextual synonym (A–J).
| Words | Synonyms |
|---|---|
| 1. intriguing | A. blasted |
| 2. fortress | B. upkeep |
| 3. inhabitants | C. remains |
| 4. predominantly | D. posted |
| 5. carcasses | E. fascinating |
| 6. confounded | F. novice |
| 7. amateur | G. mainly |
| 8. stationed | H. stronghold |
| 9. maintenance | I. appropriate |
| 10. fitting | J. residents |
Use the New Language
Choose 5 expressions or words from this lesson and write one original sentence with each.
Try to use each item naturally in a sentence connected to your own experiences, opinions or knowledge.
Discussion Questions
Use the video as a starting point. Explain your reasoning, respond to each other and support your opinions with examples.
Student A — Personal Experience
- Have you ever visited a historic building with an unusual legend attached to it?
- Would the ravens or the Crown Jewels interest you more on a visit to the Tower? Why?
- What superstition did you hear when you were growing up? Does anyone still believe it?
- Have you ever met someone with a particularly unusual job? What did you ask them?
- Do you prefer discovering a place with a guide or exploring on your own?
- Have you ever changed your opinion about an animal or creature you initially disliked?
- Would you enjoy a tour led by someone with Chris’s first-hand experience?
- What local custom or tradition would you recommend that visitors experience?
Student B — Opinions and Analysis
- Can a legend have cultural value even if there is no evidence that it is true?
- Should tour guides distinguish folklore clearly from documented history, or is storytelling part of the appeal?
- Is it ethically acceptable to trim birds’ feathers and keep them in cages overnight to preserve a tradition?
- Should governments spend public money preserving royal traditions that attract large numbers of tourists?
- Why do societies attach national identity and political stability to animals, buildings or rituals?
- When, if ever, should animal welfare take priority over an established cultural tradition?
- Do ceremonial uniforms and prestigious titles hide the less glamorous realities of some jobs?
- If the last ravens freely left the Tower, how should the authorities respond to public concern and pressure?
60-Second Argument Challenge
Should the Tower of London keep ravens as part of its royal tradition?
Choose a position, use two details from the report, acknowledge one counterargument and include at least two phrases from the matching exercise.
Access the Video Transcript
The report features an American correspondent and British Ravenmasters, with natural humour and some specialist historical vocabulary.
After completing the activities, use YouTube captions or select Show transcript to check difficult passages.
Captions may contain errors in names and historical terms, so use them as a listening aid rather than assuming every word is accurate.
Download the Free PDF Worksheet
Prefer working on paper or using the lesson with a student?
Download the complete B2–C1 English Listening Worksheet PDF, including the listening questions, vocabulary activities, discussion questions, argument challenge and full answer key.
Answer Key
Show Answers
Listening Comprehension
- [0:20–0:32] It was once a prison and sometimes a place for executions; today it houses the Crown Jewels, as well as the eight ravens.
- [0:41–0:56] According to the legend, the Tower would crumble into dust and the monarchy would disappear if the ravens left.
- [1:20–1:35] Barney had to complete 22 years in the military. He sometimes takes his work home when helping to raise the next generation of ravens.
- [1:35–2:05] Barney loves the ravens and calls them “fabulous creatures”, whereas his mother thinks they are “horrible”. He links their bad reputation to feeding on carcasses and prey, and therefore to death.
- [2:28–2:53] The ravens were interfering with the royal astronomer’s work. After hearing the warning about the kingdom, Charles II reportedly ordered that six ravens should remain “by royal decree”.
- [2:54–3:06] The reporter mistakes a crow for a raven. Chris says that if you upset a raven, it will remember.
- [3:06–3:27] Chris cared for the ravens for 17 years, spent 11 of those years as Ravenmaster and wrote a book. When called famous, he replies that the ravens are famous.
- [3:25–3:37] He wanted to spend more time with his wife and was “fed up with” continually smelling of bird poo.
- [3:38–4:10] They are fed, their feathers are trimmed and they are kept in cages overnight; the birds are also territorial. Barney cleans or “mucks out” the cages despite wearing an elaborate uniform.
- [4:11–4:31] He feels pressure from caring for living creatures and from the legend surrounding them. He says that, for many visitors, the ravens are the main attraction and the Crown Jewels come second.
Phrase Match
1 = C
2 = J
3 = F
4 = H
5 = B
6 = G
7 = E
8 = A
9 = D
10 = I
Synonym Match
1 = E
2 = H
3 = J
4 = G
5 = C
6 = A
7 = F
8 = D
9 = B
10 = I
Example Sentences With the Phrases
- In local folklore, the ancient tree carries the weight of the entire kingdom on its branches.
- If legend is to be believed, a hidden tunnel runs beneath the castle.
- The most controversial part of the story seemed to fly by on the tour.
- The museum curator sometimes has to bring his work home with him.
- Ravens have got a bad reputation in some traditional stories.
- The village celebrates a custom stretching back several centuries.
- The protection order was issued by royal decree.
- After fifteen years, she was fed up with working every weekend.
- The conservation team will keep an eye on the birds during the nesting season.
- Whether tourist attractions should use animals is still up for debate.
Note: Accept accurate paraphrases supported by the report. Model answers retain the speaker’s recognisable wording; timestamps are approximate. The legend is presented as folklore, not established fact. Discussion and original-sentence tasks are open-ended.
More Free English Practice
Continue practising with more free resources from Britfluency:
English Listening Exercises – Video-based listening lessons with online activities and free PDF worksheets.
A2–B2 English Worksheets – Free reading, vocabulary and discussion worksheets for elementary to upper-intermediate learners.
B2–C2 English Worksheets – Reading, vocabulary, useful phrases and discussion activities for upper-intermediate and advanced learners.
English Grammar Worksheets – Free grammar practice for different English levels.
IELTS Practice Materials – Free IELTS reading, writing and speaking resources.
