Complete the sentence with the past simple form of the verb in brackets. Then decide if each sentence...

1. Spartan children took baths only two or three times a year. (True)
2. The philosopher Socrates drank poison and died. (True)
3. Alexander the Great's army went as far as China. (False)
4. Heron of Alexandria made a kind of jet engine. (True)
5. The Roman Emperor Caligula's name meant “Happy Soldier”. (False)
6. Roman mathematics had no zero. (False)
7. Most Roman girls got married at the age of 18. (False)
8. Roman soldiers paid for their own equipment and food. (True)
9. The Romans knew how to make soap and cement. (True)

Complete the sentence with the past simple form of the verb in brackets. Then decide if each sentence is True or False. Check the factual answers after the exercise.

1. Greek actors (wear) wore masks and special boots. True. Greek actors indeed wore masks and special boots as part of their theatrical costumes to enhance their appearance and voice projection on stage.

2. Spartan children (take) took baths only two or three times a year. True. Spartan society was known for its austere and disciplined lifestyle, and this extended to hygiene practices.

3. The philosopher Socrates (drink) drank poison and died. True. Socrates was sentenced to death by drinking a mixture containing hemlock, a poisonous plant.

4. Alexander the Great's army (go) went as far as China. False. Alexander the Great's army went as far as India, not China. His campaigns extended into the northwestern regions of India before his troops insisted on returning home.

5. Heron of Alexandria (make) made a kind of jet engine. True. Heron of Alexandria, an ancient Greek engineer, is credited with inventing the aeolipile, an early steam engine that operated on principles similar to a jet engine.

6. The Roman Emperor Caligula's name (mean) meant “Happy Soldier”. False. Caligula's name meant “Little Boot.” He was nicknamed Caligula, which translates to "Little Boot," because as a child he wore miniature military boots (caligae) while accompanying his father on campaigns.

7. Roman mathematics (have) had no zero. True. Roman numerals did not include the concept of zero. The symbol for zero and its use in mathematics were later developments introduced by Indian mathematicians and spread through the work of Arab scholars.

8. Most Roman girls (get) got married at the age of 18. False. Most Roman girls got married much younger, typically around the age of 14.

9. Roman soldiers (pay) paid for their own equipment and food. True. Roman soldiers were required to pay for their own equipment and food, although they received a stipend to cover these costs.

10. The Romans (know) knew how to make soap and cement. True. The Romans had knowledge of making soap, using animal fats and ashes, and they also developed a form of cement known as pozzolana, which was crucial in their architectural achievements.

11. All true except: d the army went as far as India; f Caligula meant “Little Boot”; h girls married at 14. This summary confirms the factual inaccuracies identified in the exercise.