Cover of the textbook English File Advanced - Student's Book

The key answer of exercise 1 - Part 1

The key to exercise solutions in chapter Colloquial English 2 & 3 for the textbook English File Advanced - Student's Book with authors Christina Latham-Koenig, Clive Oxenden, Jerry Lambert and Kate Chomacki from Oxford University Press

Chapter

Exercise

Question

Read the biographical information about Mary Beard. What do you think 'Classics' and 'classicist' refer to?
Watch Part 1 of the interview. What does Mary Beard think is the right (and the wrong) way to get people interested in ancient history? What does she think we can learn from history?
Now watch again. Complete sentences 1-5.

Answer

Classics refers to the study of ancient Greek and Roman culture, especially their languages and literature.
A classicist is an expert in ancient Greek and Roman language, literature, art, architecture, or culture.

Professor Beard thinks the right way is to ask people questions about their contemporary culture and geography.
The wrong way is to look at obscure and complicated ancient literature.
She thinks we can learn how to deal with a lot of political issues we have nowadays.

... once had a Roman fort or military camp there.
... the Romans made it the capital.
... assassinate leaders and take over.
... tell the Senate about it and then execute the leading conspirators without trial.
... responses to modern-day terrorism.