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Chapters 1–2While reading 1 What/Who do the words in italics refer to? Page 2: Quintus shook his head. (a) “He’s been

gone for about two hours,” he said. “Why are (b) they taking so long?” ……………… ………………

Page 3: “Do you think (c) he’s really dying?” Commodus asked Lucilla. ………………

Page 6: “Let the sun always be warm on (d) your back,” (e) he said softly. ……………… ………………

Page 7: “… – (f ) it was not right.” ...………….

2 Use the numbers to complete the chart. Then answer: What had happened?

A1 3 6 7

E2 7 5 10

S3 2 C11 1

M4 2 11 12

O5 3 2 R10 ,T 6 7 2 5

6 7 2 10

4 2 N13 11

5 U14 L12 9

3 2 2 W15

H7 1 6 7

1 9 7 1

P8 8 2 13 2

D9 .

3 Did these events happen in the battlefield (B) or at the camp (C)?

a Maximus daydreams about his life in Spain. …. .

b Commodus and his guards practice sword fighting. …. .

c Marcus Aurelius and Maximus walk along lines of soldiers who raise their swords as they pass. …. .

d Lucilla thinks of having a hot bath. …. . e A bird sits on Maximus’ sword. …. . f Quintus is glad to see Maximus alive. …. .

Chapters 3–44 Write the correct name. When Commodus killed his father … a …………… hit him and then kissed is hand. b …………… decided to speak to the senators. c …………… accepted his orders. d …………… refused to take his hand.

5 Choose the correct ending. a Maximus rode his horse as hard as he could

because …. . 1) he had to get home before it was too late. 2) he had to save his life. 3) he had to arrive in Rome before

Commodus. b Maximus’ wife felt anxious because …. . 1) she knew her husband was coming back. 2) she knew something was not right. 3) she was not prepared to receive the

Royal Guard. c Proximo paid …. . 1) more money for the slaves than for the

animals. 2) more money for the animals than for the

slaves. 3) the same amount for the animals and the

slaves. d When a slave died on the way, the slave-

seller …. . 1) left the body on the way. 2) fed the tigers with him. 3) buried him.

6 In a cryptogram, each letter is changed for another, for example, a is changed for z. What does this cryptogram say? If the underlined words are the verb “to be,” what is the rule to change letters? Who do you think wrote it? Where?

Bmuipvhi Nbxjnvt gspn Tqbjo jt ifsf, Nbxjnvt uif Spnbo Hfofsbm boe Nbxjnvt uif gbsnfs bsf bmsfbez efbe. J epo’u dbsf bcpvu nz pxo mjge.

Chapters 5–67 Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)?

Find reasons for your answers in the book. a Maximus is against fights to death to

entertain people. c b The Greek secretary has a real chance of

becoming free. c

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c The fights between gladiators and Proximo’s “new boys” were fair. c

d The crowd in the arena understood Maximus’ anger when he threw his sword at them. c

e Commodus thinks that Falco paid some people in Rome to welcome him. c

f Commodus sends a spy to watch the senators. c

8 Find 12 words related to the gladiators in the chart.

F I G H A T R S EI B R A K R E W SG L A D I A T O RH O E P L I K R UT O P E L N O D OE D S H I E L D MR M O D I R E N RL U A N A N E R AG E T A I W S A PM U E S S O L O C

9 Complete the sentences with the phrases from the box.

The crowd in the arena The spy The GreekThe trainer The crowd in Rome

a …………………… dies in the arena. b …………………… cuts a man’s hand off. c …………………… has lost one of his eyes. d …………………… cheers at Commodus. e …………………… cheers at Maximus.

Chapters 7–810 What is the meaning of these signs? a For Maximus, touching the sand in the arena:

……………………………………………… b For a gladiator, raising his right hand and

sword: ………………………………………. c For the Romans, reaching out a thumb

pointing up: …………………………………

11 Match the beginning and ending of these sentences. Write the right number.

a Commodus is afraid …. . b Gaius is afraid …. . c Lucilla is afraid …. .

d The Senators and Lucilla are afraid …. . e Lucilla is afraid …. . 1) of what may happen to Lucius. 2) of going out after dark. 3) of darkness. 4) that Quintus will take control if

Commodus dies. 5) that food will not be enough in the future.

12 Writes the names of the people that the words in italics refer to.

Page 41: He (a ……………) turned to Lucilla. “Do you know, there was a time, not very long ago, when I held two children (b ……………, c ……………) on my knee,” he said with a kind smile. “They were the most beautiful children I’d ever seen. And their father (d ……………) was very proud of them. I, too, loved them very much, like my own.”

“And they loved you,” said Lucilla. “I saw one of them (e ……………) grow strong

and good,” Gracchus continued. “The other (f ……………) grew … dark.

Chapters 9–1013 Commodus sometimes speaks indirectly.

Explain what he means when he says the following.

a Page 53: “Maximus will be forgotten much sooner than next moth. It’s been arranged.”

b Page 62: “Emperor Claudius trusted the people closest to him, but they didn’t deserve his trust.”

c Page 62: “One night Claudius said to one of the people near him: Tell me what you have planned, or I shall kill the person you love the most. You will see me wash in their blood.”

Chapters 11–1214 Who said these things? To whom? Under

what circumstances? a “May be you are becoming a good man …” b “Maximus! No! Run away!” c “Don’t think of killing yourself, or your son

will follow you to the other world.” d “As a soldier of Rome, I must obey, or else I die.” e Both of us loved my father, so we are like

brothers, aren’t we? Hug me, then …” f We will meet again, when time comes …

now I am off to see my family.”

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1 Write one word to replace the phrases in italics.a Under his warm traveling coat Commodus was

wearing Roman …………… . (metal or leather clothing worn by fighters)

b Commodus was trained in the program of the …………… (a man who fought other men or animals in public in Rome) school.

c Marcus went into the royal tent with the help of his …………… . (people who were owned by another person and were not free)

d Inside one of the …………… (vehicle with two wheels, pulled by horses) were the emperor’s family – Commodus and Lucilla.

2 Use the letters in the box to form words and complete the sentences.

a a a a a a a a b c c c d d d d e e e e e g g g h h i i J l l M n n o o o o o o p r r r r r r r r r

s s s s s s s t t u w w

1) Maxmus jumped at Quintus in (a) ……………, but one of the guards hit him with the (b) …………… of his sword and Maximus fell to the ground. Quintus told the guard to take him as far as the (c) …………… .

2) Maximus thought it was a nightmare, but it wasn’t. The wild animals he saw in his dream were the (d) ……………, the large African man was (e) ……………, and the desert was (f ) …………… .

3) At the (g) …………… school, heavy doors (h) …………… shut behind Maximus. The guards were carrying (i) ……………, (j) …………… and (k) …………… .

3 Complete the sentences with a word from the box. You’ll need one word twice.

looked see view stared watched

a Proximo …………… his gladiators from a short distance.

b Maximus …………… straight at Haken, and refused to fight.

c Haken…………… from one gladiator to the next until his eyes rested on Maximus.

d The trainers sat so as to have a good …………… of the arena.

e Proximo liked to …………… his new “boys” before they went to the arena..

f When he stood up, Maximus …………… different.

4 Complete the sentences with the correct word from the box.

frightening screaming shiningshouting cheering

a Proximo spoke of his past life as a gladiator with …………… eyes.

b Lucilla felt that Rome was in …………… hands.c In the Colosseum, Maximus saw thousands and

thousands of ……………, (d) …………… people. He was surrounded by and ocean of (e) …………… faces.

5 Complete these sentences with one word.a Maximus bent and …………… up some dirt from

the ground.b The crowds want a hero, not someone who

…………… up meat on the arena.c Proximo had to rush in order to …………… up

with Maximus.d When Maximus won the fight, Proximo

…………… up from his seat and walked out.

6 Circle the correct word or phrase.a Maximus kills one tiger / all tigers at the arena.b Maximus does not kill Tigris because he too is a

gladiator / has fought with honor.c Commodus says he and Maximus are not so

different because both kill when they have to / love Rome.

d Lucilla gives Cicero a message / coin.e Maximus wants to go to Rome with his army and

then leave / stay there with Lucilla.f Gracchus’ servant could / couldn’t give Proximo a

bag with coins.

7 Write the name.Senator Gaius and his family HakenJuba, Haken and the gladiators CommodusCicero the gladiators Quintusa …………………… ran between Maximus and

the guards.b …………………… died at the bottom of the stairs.c ……………………was left hanging from a tree.d …………………… were murdered by the guards.e …………………… chained Maximus to the

elevator.f …………………… cut Maximus with a knife.g …………………… refused to give Commodus a

sword.h …………………… carried Maximus’ body from

the arena.