زمان حال استمراری

SINKING SHIPS AND BREAKING WOKS

Present Continuous

The strategies and weapons of the Spanish are giving them big advantages, but not enough to conquer an empire of 20,000,000. The Aztec empire is growing in power, but they are not completely united. Politics and infighting within the Aztec empire are also making them weak.

What is making the Aztecs weak? Politics and infighting are making them weak.

Some Aztec tribes are fighting each other.

Who are they fighting? They are fighting each other.

Some neighbors of the Aztecs are also fighting with them. Cortez is using this to divide and conquer. He is making many deals with different Aztec tribes and neighbors of the Aztecs to support him against the Aztec rulers. In addition to modern weapons and political skills, Cortez is also winning by luck.

What three things are helping Cortez win? Modern weapons, political skills, and luck are helping Cortez win.

One of his African slaves is feeling sick with small pox. This slave

is now giving the disease to the Aztecs and it is quickly spreading.

Is the disease slowly spreading? No, it’s not slowly spreading. It’s quickly spreading.

The Europeans have immunity and are feeling fine, but the disease is killing the Aztecs. The sickness is spreading across the Aztec empire and killing 40 percent of the population in some cities.

Is the sickness killing the Europeans? No, it’s not killing the Europeans. It’s killing the Aztecs.

Modern weapons, political fighting within the Aztec empire, and disease are all helping Cortez defeat the Aztecs. His soldiers are feeling respect for his passion and belief in success. Of course, not everyone is feeling the same passion and belief.

Is everyone feeling the same passion and belief? No, not everyone is feeling the same passion and belief.

When he arrives in Mexico, some of his soldiers are already thinking about running away.

What are they thinking about? They are thinking about running away.

They are a very small army facing an empire of millions, so of course some of the soldiers are feeling afraid. Cortez is thinking that fear is the biggest enemy.

Who is thinking that fear is the biggest enemy? Cortez is thinking that fear is the biggest enemy.

He is also thinking that belief and passion are necessary for success. Now, he’s doing something crazy. He is ordering his men to put holes in the ships. As the soldiers are watching the ships sink beneath the water, they know that they cannot run away.

Without ships there is nowhere to go. Cortez is making sure that his soldiers have no other options. It is working.

Is it working? Yes, it is working.

The empire of the Aztecs is dividing, but the minds of the Spanish are uniting. They are focusing on success.

What are the Spanish focusing on? They are focusing on success.