Conversation 1

Mark: Hi!

Kate: Hi, Janet! Have you been waiting long? 

Janet: Not at all. What did you think of Hero? 

Kate: It was brilliant, thanks for suggesting it. 

Janet: Well, it was nominated for an Oscar, you know.

Kate: That figures. It’s a beautiful film. 

Mark: Yes. The costumes and scenery were amazing.

Kate: I’d love to know more about the emperor, he was cool. Who was he? 

Janet: Qin Shi Huang. It’s said he was the first emperor in the history of China – he unified China. 

Kate: Did he? When?

Janet: Er ... 221BC.

Mark: As long ago as that!

Waitress: Hi guys! What can I get you?

Kate: Yes, I’ll have a coke, thanks.

Mark: Er ... Just a coffee.

Waitress: Sure.

Mark: Tell us more.

Janet: Um ... Well, before that, there were seven big states and they had been fighting each other for many years. 

Mark: Right.

Janet: It’s called the Warring States Period. Anyway – Qin was king of the largest state and he defeated the six other states, one after another. It took him ten years to conquer them, each with a different strategy. 

Mark: What kind of man was he? 

Janet: Well, he was brilliant, obviously. And also wise. He had this huge army – they were very powerful. After his army had attacked the first state, the next state surrendered without much fight. They were so terrified.

Kate: Wow!

Janet: What else? The army leaders were very clever – they used a river to flood a city. 

Mark: That can’t have been easy.

Janet: Yes, anyway, after conquering the last state, Qin made himself Emperor of the whole of China. 

Mark: Was he the emperor who created the Terracotta Warriors?

Janet: That’s right. He was so afraid of death that he wanted them to guard him in the afterlife.

Kate: Fascinating!

Answers: 

Conversation 1

1. Topics mentioned are 2,3,5,6 and 8.

2. Answers:

(1)  I’d love to know more about the emperor; he was cool.

(2)  Before that, there were seven big states and they had been fighting each other for many years.

(3) Qin was king of the largest state and he defeated the six other states, one after another.

(4) After his army he attacked the first state, the next state surrendered without much fight.

(5) The army leaders were very clever- they used a river to flood a city.

(6) After conquering the last state, Qin made himself emperor of the whole of China.

(7)  Was he the emperor who created the Terracotta Warriors?

(8)  He was so afraid of death that he wanted them to guard him in the afterlife.