EnglishClub

Pre-listening vocabulary

• assassination: the murder of a political leader
• senator: a politician who makes laws
• elect: to vote someone into a governing position
• tyranny: the absolute power of one person
• debt: a payment that someone owes to someone else
• oracle: someone who is believed to see the future
• superstition: a belief that a random event or action will bring good or bad luck

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

On March 15, 44 BCE, Roman ruler Julius Caesar was stabbed in a meeting hall called the Curia of Pompey. Over 60 people participated in the assassination. Many of them were senators in Caesar’s own . Caesar was originally an elected of the Roman Republic. Before his assassination, Caesar had given himself the power to rule for life. His government believed that killing him would Rome from tyranny. However, the incident actually caused Caesar’s adopted son, Augustus, to come to power as the first Roman emperor. March 15, the “Ides” or the middle of March, was important to the Romans because it was a deadline for debt payments. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, an oracle tells Caesar to “beware the Ides of March.” This line has led to the superstition that March 15 is an day.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. On March 15, 44 BCE, Julius Caesar
   a. was elected ruler of the Roman Republic
   b. gave himself absolute power
   c. was assassinated by his own senators
   
2. To the Romans, the “Ides of March” was
   a. a religious holiday
   b. a festival for the arts
   c. a deadline for debts
   
3. In Shakespeare’s play, the character who says “beware the Ides of March” is
   a. a Roman senator
   b. an oracle
   c. Caesar himself

Discussion/essay questions

1. Some other common superstitions include crossing fingers, knocking on wood, and avoiding 13th floors. Do you believe or practise any superstitions? Why or why not?

Transcript

On March 15, 44 BCE, Roman ruler Julius Caesar was stabbed in a meeting hall called the Curia of Pompey. Over 60 people participated in the assassination. Many of them were senators in Caesar’s own government. Caesar was originally an elected leader of the Roman Republic. Before his assassination, Caesar had given himself the power to rule for life. His government believed that killing him would protect Rome from tyranny. However, the incident actually caused Caesar’s adopted son, Augustus, to come to power as the first Roman emperor. March 15, the “Ides” or the middle of March, was important to the Romans because it was a deadline for debt payments. In Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, an oracle tells Caesar to “beware the Ides of March.” This line has led to the superstition that March 15 is an unlucky day.

Answers to comprehension questions

1c 2c 3b

Pre-listening vocabulary

• reign: to lead a country as a monarch
• seductress: a woman who tempts men with her beauty
• fabrication: a lie, a myth
• delegitimize: to make someone seem incompetent or unimportant
• ruthless: cruel, merciless
• persona: a personality that someone is known for, but is not necessarily real
• iconic: famous and recognizable

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:20 — 1.2MB)

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Gapfill exercise

Cleopatra VII, or simply Cleopatra, was the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt. She reigned from 51–30 BCE. There are conflicting stories about Cleopatra’s life. Her body was never found, and most accounts of her are secondhand. Although she is often depicted as a seductress, some historians have claimed that this was a Roman fabrication meant to delegitimize her as a leader. Records suggest that Cleopatra was known for her intelligence rather than her beauty. She spoke several , and was ruthless in protecting her throne. Still, she is remembered for her involvement with Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The “seductress” persona has made her an iconic figure in popular culture, and it is now difficult to separate history from .

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. Cleopatra’s body was
   a. mummified
   b. destroyed
   c. never found
   
2. Some historians have suggested
   a. that Cleopatra never really existed
   b. that Cleopatra’s beauty was a myth
   c. that Cleopatra was actually multiple people
   
3. Aside from her beauty, Cleopatra was known for her
   a. intelligence
   b. kindness
   c. physical strength

Discussion/essay questions

1. Do you know of any other people who have been mischaracterized by history?
2. Why is history difficult to agree on?

Transcript

Cleopatra VII, or simply Cleopatra, was the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt. She reigned from 51–30 BCE. There are conflicting stories about Cleopatra’s life. Her body was never found, and most surviving accounts of her are secondhand. Although she is often depicted as a beautiful seductress, some historians have claimed that this was a Roman fabrication meant to delegitimize her as a leader. Records suggest that Cleopatra was known for her intelligence rather than her beauty. She spoke several languages, and was ruthless in protecting her throne. Still, she is remembered for her romantic involvement with Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The “seductress” persona has made her an iconic figure in popular culture, and it is now difficult to separate history from myth.

Answers to comprehension questions

1c 2b 3a