full transcript

From the Ted Talk by Fiona Radford: From slave to rebel gladiator The life of Spartacus

Unscramble the Blue Letters


Meanwhile, Marcus luniciis Crassus had assumed control of the war. As Rome’s wlihesatet citizen, he pursued Spartacus with eight new legions, eventually tnrippag the rebels in the toe of Italy. After failed attempts to build rafts, and a stinging betrayal by local pirates, the rebels made a desperate run to break through Crassus’s lines– but it was no use. Roman reinforcements were returning from the Pontic wars, and the rebels’ ranks and spirits were broken. In 71 BCE, they made their last stand. stcaaurps nearly managed to reach carusss before being cut down by centurions. His army was dyseeortd, and 6000 captives were crucified along the aaippn Way– a haunting demonstration of roamn authority.

Open Cloze


Meanwhile, Marcus ________ Crassus had assumed control of the war. As Rome’s __________ citizen, he pursued Spartacus with eight new legions, eventually ________ the rebels in the toe of Italy. After failed attempts to build rafts, and a stinging betrayal by local pirates, the rebels made a desperate run to break through Crassus’s lines– but it was no use. Roman reinforcements were returning from the Pontic wars, and the rebels’ ranks and spirits were broken. In 71 BCE, they made their last stand. _________ nearly managed to reach _______ before being cut down by centurions. His army was _________, and 6000 captives were crucified along the ______ Way– a haunting demonstration of _____ authority.

Solution


  1. licinius
  2. trapping
  3. roman
  4. appian
  5. destroyed
  6. crassus
  7. spartacus
  8. wealthiest

Original Text


Meanwhile, Marcus Licinius Crassus had assumed control of the war. As Rome’s wealthiest citizen, he pursued Spartacus with eight new legions, eventually trapping the rebels in the toe of Italy. After failed attempts to build rafts, and a stinging betrayal by local pirates, the rebels made a desperate run to break through Crassus’s lines– but it was no use. Roman reinforcements were returning from the Pontic wars, and the rebels’ ranks and spirits were broken. In 71 BCE, they made their last stand. Spartacus nearly managed to reach Crassus before being cut down by centurions. His army was destroyed, and 6000 captives were crucified along the Appian Way– a haunting demonstration of Roman authority.

Frequently Occurring Word Combinations




Important Words


  1. appian
  2. army
  3. assumed
  4. attempts
  5. authority
  6. bce
  7. betrayal
  8. break
  9. broken
  10. build
  11. captives
  12. centurions
  13. citizen
  14. control
  15. crassus
  16. crucified
  17. cut
  18. demonstration
  19. desperate
  20. destroyed
  21. eventually
  22. failed
  23. haunting
  24. italy
  25. legions
  26. licinius
  27. local
  28. managed
  29. marcus
  30. pirates
  31. pontic
  32. pursued
  33. rafts
  34. ranks
  35. reach
  36. rebels
  37. reinforcements
  38. returning
  39. roman
  40. run
  41. spartacus
  42. spirits
  43. stand
  44. stinging
  45. toe
  46. trapping
  47. war
  48. wars
  49. wealthiest