Task 1.

Watch the TED-Ed video about the incredible history of China's terracotta
warriors. Are the following statements true or false? Write T for True or F for False.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP5p4QbvPtc
1.

The terracotta army was discovered by archaeologists in 1974.

2.

The clay soldiers are the same size as real soldiers are.

3.

Ying Zheng became the first emperor of China at the age of 13.

4.

He was an ambitious but merciful ruler.

5.

During his reign he introduced a uniform writing script throughout China.

6.

He ruled over China for 36 years.

7.

He had his best scientists work on finding an elixir of life that would enable him to never die.

8.

He began building the underground necropolis in his last years of life.

9.

130 war chariots and 600 horses were found in one of the underground pits.

10.

The empty pit suggests that the emperor died before he could complete his grand project.

11.

Only statues of warriors were buried along with the emperor.

12.

Despite there being so many statues, no two soldiers are exactly alike.

13.

Most of the statues have retained their original bright colors.

14.

The emperors tomb remains unopened due to concerns about the preservation of its contents.

Task 2. Watch the video again and answer the following questions.
1. When was the terracotta army discovered?
2. How many clay soldiers were found in the underground chambers surrounding the emperor's tomb?
3. How old was Ying Zheng when he came to power?
4. How did he become the first emperor of China?
5. How many years did he reign over China?
6. What were his most important accomplishments?
7. Why did he spend his last years searching for the elixir of life?
8. Besides the terracotta soldiers, what other figurines were found in the underground necropolis?
9. How many laborers worked on the project according to archaeologists?
10. What features make each statue unique?
11. Why hasn't the emperor's tomb been excavated yet?
12. What is the emperor's tomb thought to contain?
http://areti-aroundtheworldinenglish.blogspot.gr/

Task 3. Solve the crossword puzzle with suitable words from the video.

10

11

12

13

EclipseCrossword.com

Across
1.
6.
7.
8.
11.
12.
13.

hard, baked reddish-brown clay (n)

a person who is skilled at making things by hand(n)
something that someone has achieved that continues to exist after they die (n)
the fact that your life will end (n)
a large cemetery especially of an ancient city (n)
a small model of a person kept as a decoration (n)
the period of time during which a king, queen, emperor, etc., is ruler of a country (n)

Down
2.
3.
4.
5.
9.
10.

having no pity, cruel or merciless (adj)

an impressive thing that is done or achieved after a lot of work (n)
to dig in the ground in order to find things from the past (v)
under the ground (adj)
a valuable object, especially a piece of art or a historical object (n)
a person who fights in a battle or war (especially in the past) (n)

http://areti-aroundtheworldinenglish.blogspot.gr/

ANSWER KEY

Task 1. Watch the video about the European Refugee Crisis. Are the following
statements true or false? Write T for True or F for False.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvOnXh3NN9w

1.

The terracotta army was discovered by archaeologists in 1974.

2.

The clay soldiers are the same size as real soldiers are.

3.

Ying Zheng became the first emperor of China at the age of 13.

4.

He was an ambitious but merciful ruler.

5.

During his reign he introduced a uniform writing script throughout China.

6.

He ruled over China for 36 years.

7.

He had his best scientists work on finding an elixir of life that would enable him to never die.

8.

He began building the underground necropolis in his last years of life.

9.

130 war chariots and 600 horses were found in one of the underground pits.

10.

The empty pit suggests that the emperor died before he could complete his grand project.

11.

Only statues of warriors were buried along with the emperor.

12.

Despite there being so many statues, no two soldiers are exactly alike.

13.

Most of the statues have retained their original bright colors.

14.

The emperors tomb remains unopened due to concerns about the preservation of its contents.

http://areti-aroundtheworldinenglish.blogspot.gr/

Task 2. Watch the video again and answer the following questions.

1. When was the terracotta army discovered?

It was discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well near their small village.
2. How many clay soldiers were found in the underground chambers surrounding the emperor's tomb?
More than 8,000.
3. How old was Ying Zheng when he came to power?
He was 13 years old.
4. How did he become the first emperor of China?
He became the first emperor of China after uniting its seven warring kingdoms.
5. How many years did he reign over China?
He reigned over China for 36 years.
6. What were his most important accomplishments?
A universal system of weights and measures, a single standardized writing script for all of
China, and a defensive barrier that would later come to be known as the Great Wall.
7. Why did he spend his last years searching for the elixir of life?
Because he did not want to die. He wanted to achieve immortality.
8. Besides the terracotta soldiers, what other figurines were found in the underground necropolis?
Figures of musicians and acrobats, workers and government officials, and various exotic
animals.
9. How many laborers worked on the project according to archaeologists?
Over 720,000 laborers.
10. What features make each statue unique?
They stand according to rank and feature different weapons and uniforms, distinct hairstyles
and expressions, and even unique ears.
11. Why hasn't the emperor's tomb been excavated yet?
Because there hasnt been found a way yet to expose it without damaging the treasures
inside.
12. What is the emperor's tomb thought to contain?
Palaces, precious stones and artifacts, and even rivers of mercury flowing through
mountains of bronze.

http://areti-aroundtheworldinenglish.blogspot.gr/

Task 3. Solve the crossword puzzle with suitable words from the video.

T E R R A C O T T A
U
5

A R T

S A N

H
7

E G A C Y
8

M O R T A

T Y
E

10

11

N E C R O P O L
E

12

A
N

G U R

N E
T

13

R E

G N

EclipseCrossword.com

Across
1.
6.
7.
8.
11.
12.
13.

hard, baked reddish-brown clay (n)

a person who is skilled at making things by hand(n)
something that someone has achieved that continues to exist after they die (n)
the fact that your life will end (n)
a large cemetery especially of an ancient city (n)
a small model of a person kept as a decoration (n)
the period of time during which a king, queen, emperor, etc., is ruler of a country (n)

Down
2.
3.
4.
5.
9.
10.

having no pity, cruel or merciless (adj)

an impressive thing that is done or achieved after a lot of work (n)
to dig in the ground in order to find things from the past (v)
under the ground (adj)
a valuable object, especially a piece of art or a historical object (n)
a person who fights in a battle or war (especially in the past) (n)

http://areti-aroundtheworldinenglish.blogspot.gr/