#182. Christmas Truce

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "#182. Christmas Truce"

Melissa Alexander
5 years ago
Views:

You don t have to be perfect. Just speak quickly and have fun.

1 SPEAKING FLUENCY #182 Here are the questions with answers. Pause the recording and speak out loud. You don t have to be perfect. Just speak quickly and have fun. Remember, if you want to improve your speaking, you have to speak a lot. w w w. d e e p e n g l i s h. c o m

2 During WWI, many of the British, French and German soldiers lived, fought and died in trenches that snaked thousands of miles through the countryside. Did these soldiers live in trenches? Yes, these soldiers lived in trenches. Did they fight in trenches? Yes, they fought in trenches. What else did they do in trenches? Sadly, they died in trenches. Were these trenches hundreds of miles or thousands of miles long? These trenches were thousands of miles long. These trenches were grim, dark places. What kind of places were they? They were grim, dark places. They averaged 7 feet deep and 6 feet wide. How big were the trenches? They averaged 7 feet deep and 6 feet wide. On the Allied side, they were often full of mud, rats, and disease. What were the trenches full of? They were often full of mud, rats, and disease. The men lived in these trenches, struggling to keep dry, stay sane and not get shot. Did they struggle to keep dry and stay sane? Yes, they struggled to keep dry and stay sane. What else did they struggle to do? They also struggled not to get shot. The trenches of the enemy were sometimes just 30 meters away, and sticking your head above the trench could easily get you killed. How far away were the trenches of the enemy? The trenches of the enemy were sometimes just 30 meters away. What could get you killed? Sticking your head above the trenches could get you killed. After five months of horrific fighting, suddenly peace broke out between the trenches. What broke out after five months of fighting? After five months of fighting, peace broke out. It was Christmas Eve, It was a beautiful moonlit night, frost on the ground, white almost everywhere, said Pvt. Albert Moren. What day was it? It was Christmas Eve, Was it a beautiful moonlit night or a dark and grim night? It was a beautiful moonlit night. Deep English,

The Germans sang out from the trenches the song, Silent Night. What song did the Germans sing? The Germans sang Silent Night. When they finished, their enemies in the neighboring trench cheered.

3 The Germans sang out from the trenches the song, Silent Night. What song did the Germans sing? The Germans sang Silent Night. When they finished, their enemies in the neighboring trench cheered. The Allied soldiers then replied with the English version. Who cheered? The allied soldiers cheered. Did they reply with the English version? Yes, they replied with the English version. No shots were fired that night and in the morning they wondered if the peace would last. What did they wonder in the morning? In the morning, they wondered if the peace would last. At one point along the trenches, a German soldier held up a sign saying, You no shoot, we no shoot. Who held up a sign? A German soldier held up a sign. What did the sign say? The sign said, You no shoot, we no shoot. Slowly heads popped up above the trenches, and Christmas greetings were offered from both sides in English. What popped up slowly above the trenches? Heads popped up slowly above the trenches. What was offered? Christmas greetings were offered. Nervously the soldiers came out from their protective trenches. Deep English,

4 Did the soldiers nervously go into their trenches? No, the soldiers didn t nervously go into their trenches. The soldiers nervously came out from their trenches. Leaving their guns and safety behind, they approached each other. What did they leave behind? They left behind their guns and safety. With hearts likely filled with a mixture of fear and hope, they shook hands. What were their hearts likely filled with? Their hearts were likely filled with a mixture of fear and hope. Some soldiers exchanged small gifts of tobacco or buttons. What did the soldiers exchange? Some soldiers exchanged small gifts of tobacco or buttons. Others played soccer upon the battlefield. What did they play upon the battlefield? They played soccer upon the battlefield. A pig was roasted by the British and shared with the Germans at one place. What did the British roast? The British roasted a pig. Who did they share it with? They shared it with the Germans. The Germans rolled over a barrel of beer to the British in exchange. What did the Germans share with the British? The Germans shared a barrel of beer with the British. In another place a German juggler performed. And at yet another, a British soldier got his hair cut by a German barber. Who performed? A German juggler performed. What did the British soldier get from the German? The British soldier got a haircut from the German. Not all of the soldiers were at peace that day, but 100,000 soldiers did take part in the truce. How many soldiers took part in the truce? One hundred thousand soldiers took part in the truce. Deep English,

5 At some points along the trenches, the truce lasted only part of the day, and in others, it lasted until New Year s Day. Did the truce last until New Year s Day? Yes, at some points along the trenches the truce lasted until New Year s Day. For one brief moment in a horrific war, the soldiers resisted the insanity of war and came together in celebration and peace. What did the soldiers resist? The soldiers resisted the insanity of war. Did they come together in celebration and peace? Yes, they came together in celebration and peace. Photos / Credits: Photo #1 (cover) by Fe Ilya: Deep English,

Station 1: The Schlieffen Plan: Germany s Plan for Success

Station 1: The Schlieffen Plan: Germany s Plan for Success Assumptions! Russia would take at least 8 weeks to mobilize.! France would be easily defeated in a few weeks.! Belgium would not resist any German