The last queen of Egypt — clever, powerful, and remembered for the wrong reasons.
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Before we read, let's learn the important words. Match each word (1–8) to its meaning (A–H). Say your answers out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.
1 = D (a queen) · 2 = B (the throne) · 3 = F (clever) · 4 = H (an alliance)
5 = E (a rival) · 6 = A (propaganda) · 7 = C (a battle) · 8 = G (to defeat)
Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one.
Cleopatra was the last queen of ancient Egypt. She was born about 69 BC. Her family came from Greece, but they had ruled Egypt for almost three hundred years.
Cleopatra was very clever. She could speak many languages, and she understood people and politics very well. She was not just a beautiful face — she was a strong, intelligent ruler.
When her father died, Cleopatra and her younger brother shared the throne. But they did not agree, and her brother pushed her away. To get her power back, Cleopatra made an alliance with a powerful Roman: Julius Caesar. With his help, she became queen again. She and Caesar also had a son.
1. Where did Cleopatra's family come from? How long had they ruled Egypt?
2. How did Cleopatra get her power back?
1. Her family came from Greece, but they had ruled Egypt for almost three hundred years.
2. She made an alliance with a powerful Roman, Julius Caesar, and with his help she became queen again.
Then Julius Caesar was killed in Rome. Cleopatra needed a new friend. She made an alliance with another powerful Roman, Mark Antony. They worked together, and they had children together.
But Antony had a rival in Rome: a young, ambitious man called Octavian. Octavian wanted all the power for himself. He could not attack Antony directly, so he used propaganda. He told the Roman people that Cleopatra was a dangerous foreign woman who controlled Antony. Many Romans believed him.
In 31 BC, there was a big sea battle at a place called Actium. Octavian's ships were smaller and faster. They defeated the ships of Antony and Cleopatra. Antony and Cleopatra escaped, but they had lost the war.
1. Who was Octavian, and what did he do to turn Rome against Cleopatra?
2. What happened at the battle of Actium?
1. He was Antony's rival in Rome. He used propaganda — he told the Romans that Cleopatra was a dangerous foreign woman who controlled Antony.
2. Octavian's smaller, faster ships defeated Antony and Cleopatra's ships. They escaped, but they had lost the war.
One year later, in 30 BC, Octavian's army came to Egypt. Antony thought Cleopatra was already dead, so he killed himself. Soon after, Cleopatra died too. She did not want to be Octavian's prisoner.
How did she die? The famous story says a snake bit her. But many historians think she used poison instead. We are not completely sure.
After Cleopatra died, Egypt became part of Rome. For a long time, people remembered Cleopatra only as a beautiful, dangerous woman — because her enemies wrote the story. But today, historians say she was something different: a clever and strong queen who kept Egypt rich and free for many years.
1. How did Cleopatra die? Are we sure?
2. How do historians today see Cleopatra differently?
1. The famous story says a snake bit her, but many historians think she used poison. We are not completely sure.
2. For a long time people saw her only as a beautiful, dangerous woman; today historians see a clever, strong queen who kept Egypt rich and free for many years.
We use the second conditional to talk about an imaginary situation — something that is not real now, or is not likely.
1. If I (be) a queen, I (need) clever friends.
2. If we (have) Cleopatra's own letters, we (know) her better.
3. If propaganda (not exist), it (be) harder to lie about people.
1. were (or "was") / would need
2. had / would know
3. did not exist / would be
Put the verbs in the second conditional. Then read each sentence out loud.
1. If a leader today (speak) nine languages, people (be) amazed.
2. If you (be) Cleopatra, what (you / do) about Octavian?
3. If history (listen) to Cleopatra's words, the story (look) different.
1. spoke / would be
2. were (or "was") / would you do
3. listened / would look
Remember: if + past simple, then would + base verb. The past tense just means "this is imaginary."
There is a real podcast about Cleopatra. It is for native speakers, so it is fast and quite difficult — that is normal! You do not need to understand every word.
From the Noiser podcast network. Hosted by historians, roughly 50 minutes.
Listen on Spotify →Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.
Tell the story of Cleopatra in your own words. Use these steps to help you: the last queen of Egypt → a clever ruler → an alliance with Caesar → an alliance with Antony → Octavian and propaganda → the battle of Actium → the end → Egypt becomes Roman.
Try to use some of the key words (queen, throne, alliance, rival, propaganda, battle, defeat).
Cleopatra was a clever ruler, but people remembered her for her beauty. Do you think powerful women are sometimes remembered for the wrong things? Do you know a powerful woman — from history, the news, or your own country?
Use the second conditional to imagine Cleopatra now, or yourself in her place. Finish these ideas out loud: "If Cleopatra were alive today, she would…", "If I were in her place, I would…", and "She could / might…". Say two or three sentences for each.
Not sure what to talk about? Choose one: