Question

Pompeii(龐培)

In AD 79, Pompeii was a large city by the sea about 150 kilometres south of Rome. Ten kilometres to the north of Pompeii there was the beautiful and peaceful mountain, Mount Vesuvius(維蘇威火山)。24 August was a holiday . At noon, happy crowds filled the streets. Markets and restaurants are full. Suddenly, there are a huge explosion. Fire was coming out of Mount Vesuvius. The peaceful green mountain had become a terrible volcano. A huge cloud of ash, small stones,rocks and thick smoke rose high into the sky. A strong wind blew the night. People towards Pompei. Day became night. People were very scare. Not many of them could escape. Thousands of people were killed as they could not breathe because of all the smoke and ash. The eruption continued for days. The whole town was buried in ash over 17metres deep.

It was not until the eighteenth century that people began to dig down and discover what was left of this once great city. Because the explosion was so sudden, we can still see a lot of the old town of Pompeii. We have a very good picture of daily life was like in a Roman city nearly two thousand years ago. We can now see houses and streets, Public bath house and outside theatres just the way they were. We can also examine in museums many everyday objects-shoes, jewellery, bowls, and even food-kept safe in the hard ash. On the walls of many houses we can not only see beautiful paintings, but also read many personal messages written by ordinary people. One message says, ‘Publius(普布利烏斯)gives us good bread’. A schoolboy complains about fighting at school. A girl says the man who wants to marry her is too ugly. One humorous writer says,’Everyone writes on walls, except me.’ A poet, speaking of human life,wrote,’ nothing lasts forever. Though the Sun shines gold, it must sink into the sea…’. These sad words seem to talk about the sudden end-of Pompeii. But stone and ash have protected the city from people and from the weather. The city is alive again for everyone to see.

Question:

1.Mount Vesuvius was an active volcano to the north of Pompeii before the eruption, wasn’t it?

______________________________________________________________

2.What was Pompeii?

______________________________________________________________

3.Was Pompeii always a place dangerous place or a safe and peaceful city to live in?

______________________________________________________________

4.What really caused thousands of people’s death before they were buried in ash?

______________________________________________________________

5.What can we find on the walls of many houses in the once great city-Pompeii?

______________________________________________________________

6.Do you agree with the last sentence “The city is alive again for everyone to see”? Why or why not?(Explain your idea in 2 sentences.)

______________________________________________________________

Answer 1