Two cities, two mornings in 1945 — and a question the world still asks.
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These are the new words for this story. 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 war) · 2 = F (a bomb) · 3 = G (to surrender) · 4 = A (a target)
5 = C (to destroy) · 6 = H (civilians) · 7 = B (peace) · 8 = E (a survivor)
This is a sad and serious history, and we will treat it with care. Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one.
By the summer of 1945, the Second World War was nearly over in Europe. But in the Pacific, the war went on. The United States was fighting Japan, and Japan would not surrender. American leaders were afraid that the fighting would go on for a long time, and that very many soldiers would die on both sides.
For years, in secret, the United States had built a new and terrible weapon: the atomic bomb. It was much more powerful than any bomb before. In July 1945, they tested it in the desert, and it worked.
On 26 July 1945, the Allies sent Japan a last warning. They said: surrender now, or face complete destruction. Japan's government did not accept the warning. So the order was given to use the new bomb.
1. What new weapon did the United States build in secret?
2. What was the last warning to Japan, and how did Japan answer it?
1. A new and very powerful weapon called the atomic bomb. They tested it in the desert in July 1945, and it worked.
2. The warning said: surrender now, or face complete destruction. Japan's government did not accept it.
On the morning of 6 August 1945, one American plane flew high over the city of Hiroshima. Below, it was a normal day. People were going to work. Children were outside. It was a busy city of about 350,000 people.
At 8:15, the plane dropped one atomic bomb on the city. In a single moment, a huge explosion destroyed the centre of Hiroshima. Tens of thousands of people died at once. Many more died in the hours and days after. Most of them were civilians — ordinary people, not soldiers.
It was something new and terrible in the world: one bomb, from one plane, had destroyed a whole city.
1. What happened in Hiroshima at 8:15 in the morning?
2. Who were most of the people who died, and why is this important?
1. An American plane dropped one atomic bomb. A huge explosion destroyed the centre of the city and killed tens of thousands of people.
2. Most were civilians — ordinary people, not soldiers. This is one big reason people still argue about whether the bombs were right.
Three days later, on 9 August 1945, a second plane dropped a second atomic bomb. This time the target was the city of Nagasaki. Again, the bomb destroyed much of the city, and tens of thousands of people died.
Now the world had seen two cities destroyed in three days. On 15 August 1945, Japan said it would surrender. The Second World War, the deadliest war in history, was finally over.
But for the people of the two cities, the suffering did not stop. The bombs left behind an invisible danger called radiation. People who lived through the explosion became sick weeks, months, and even years later. The survivors had to build their cities again from nothing.
Today, Hiroshima and Nagasaki are busy, living cities again. Each year, they hold a ceremony for peace, and they hope that such weapons will never be used again. Almost eighty years later, people still ask one hard question: was it right to use the bombs? Some people say yes — the bombs ended the war quickly and saved lives in the end. Other people say no — Japan was already close to losing, and so many civilians should not have been killed. There is no easy answer. The world has carried the question ever since.
1. What happened in Nagasaki, and what did Japan do after it?
2. Why did the suffering continue after the war ended?
1. On 9 August 1945, a second bomb destroyed much of Nagasaki. On 15 August, Japan said it would surrender, and the war ended.
2. The bombs left radiation, an invisible danger. People became sick for years afterwards, and the cities had to be rebuilt from nothing.
This story ends with a hard question: was it right or wrong? To talk about a past action and say we think it was right or wrong, English uses should have + the past participle. We use it for an opinion or a regret about the past.
Use should have or should not have + the past participle. Write the full form.
1. Some people think the leaders (give) Japan more time.
2. Many people feel that so many civilians (die).
3. Some say the second bomb (use). They think it was wrong.
4. Other people say the warning (be) clearer.
1. should have given (the right thing, but it did not happen)
2. should not have died (it happened, but we think it was wrong)
3. should not have been used (it happened, but they think it was wrong)
4. should have been clearer (the right thing, but it did not happen)
Finish each sentence with should have or should not have and your own idea. Then read it out loud. There is no single right answer — reveal to compare.
1. I think the leaders ...
2. In my opinion, the second bomb ...
3. Whatever we think, such weapons ...
1. …should have looked for another way to end the war.
2. …should not have been dropped on a second city.
3. …should never have been used on civilians.
Remember: "should have" = the right thing that did not happen. "should not have" = it happened, but we think it was wrong.
Keep these forms ready — you will use them in the Speak tab to say, with care, what you think should or should not have been done.
There is a real podcast about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 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. About 50 minutes. It plays on the Noiser site, or search "Short History Of Hiroshima and Nagasaki" on Spotify.
Play on Noiser →Prefer Spotify? Open the show and find the Hiroshima and Nagasaki episode.
Do all three tasks out loud. It is a serious subject, so speak with care. Use the timer to keep talking.
Tell the story in your own words, with care. Use these steps to help you: the secret bomb → the last warning to Japan → Hiroshima on 6 August → Nagasaki on 9 August → Japan surrenders → the survivors and the cities today.
Try to use some of the key words (war, bomb, target, surrender, destroy, civilians, peace, survivor).
Was it right or wrong to use the bombs? First, say the strongest point for each side: why some people say yes, and why some people say no. Then say what you think. Use should have and should not have ("the war should have ended another way", "the second bomb should not have been used"). Try to be fair before you decide.
Tell about a hard decision — a time when there was no clearly "right" choice. Look back on it and use should have and should not have to say what you think now.
Not sure what to talk about? Choose one: