Listening

(CD 1, Track 4)
1 1. was born 4. was killed
A: I’ve just finished my history report about a famous 2. got married 5. died
queen. 3. began his reign
B: Who did you write about? 2 1. Italy
A: Catherine de Medici. 2. His older brother died.
B: She was queen of Italy, wasn’t she? . 3. ten
A: No, but you’re close. She was born in Florence, 4. Philip II of Spain
Italy, in 1519, but she became queen of France. 5. Some of her decisions completely changed the
B: How did that happen?
history of France.
A: Her mother, who was a French aristocrat, was a
distant relative of the king of France. Her father
was an Italian duke. When she was only 14 years Speaking
old, she married Henry, the second son of the king Accept all logical and grammatically correct answers.
of France, in 1533.
B: So her husband was the second son of the king.
How did Catherine eventually become queen of
France?
A: Her husband’s older brother died and then Henry,
her husband, became heir to the throne. In 1547,
when Henry began his reign, Catherine became
queen of France. Henry and Catherine had ten
children, although only seven lived to become
adults.
B: Did her husband have a long reign?
A: No, he didn’t. Their daughter, Elizabeth, married
Philip II of Spain in 1559. During the wedding
celebrations, there were fighting competitions and
Henry was killed by accident when he received a
serious eye injury. That was when Catherine’s
reign as queen of France officially ended.
B: What do you mean officially ended?
A: Well, three of her sons became kings of France,
one after the other. Each son died at a young age.
Catherine had a lot of influence over her sons, and
she basically ruled with them. In 1589, she became
ill while dancing at her granddaughter’s wedding
and died shortly after that.
B: What would you say Catherine de Medici was most
known for?
A: There were many religious wars in Europe at this
time, and some of her decisions completely
changed the history of France. Many people think
Catherine was responsible for a famous massacre
of Protestants which took place on Saint
Bartholomew’s Day in 1572. Today, she is
considered one of the most influential women in
16th century Europe.
B: I can see why!

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