تمرین مکالمه

Waiting For The War To End

The people of Vietnam suffered through war from 1955-1975, but for one man, the war took much longer to end.

In what years did the people of Vietnam suffer through war? The people of Vietnam suffered through war from 1955-1975.

Ho Van Thanh was a soldier for more than 15 years.

Who was a soldier for more than 15 years? Ho Van Thanh was a soldier for more than 15 years.

One terrible day, a mine exploded and killed his wife and two of his sons, and completely destroyed his home.

What exploded and killed his wife and two of his sons? A mine exploded and killed his wife and two of his sons. Did it also destroy his home? Yes, it also destroyed his home.

In a panic, Thanh grabbed his two-year-old son, Ho Van Lang, and fled deep into the jungle where he planned to live until the war ended.

Who did Thanh grab when he fled deep into the jungle? Thanh grabbed his two- year-old son, Ho Van Lang, and fled deep into the jungle.

Just two years later, the war did end, but Ho and his son had no way of hearing the news.

How many years later did the war end? Just two years later, the war ended.

The two of them ended up living in the jungle for more than forty years, believing for many years that the war was still raging on.

Where did the two of them end up living for more than forty years? The two of them ended up living in the jungle for more than forty years.

Thanh entered the jungle when he was just 42, and his son was two.

How old was Thanh when he entered the jungle? Thanh was 42 when he entered the jungle. How old was his son when they entered the jungle? His son was two.

By the time they were found, he was an 82-year-old man and his son was middle- aged.

How old was he by the time they were found? He was an 82-year-old man by the time they were found. How old was his son by the time they were found? His son was middle-aged by the time they were found.

Local people searching for wood deep in the forest found Thanh and his son living in a tree house twenty feet in the air.

Where were Thanh and his son living when the local people found them? Thanh and his son were living in a tree house twenty feet in the air when the local people found them.

Thanh, who had been a well-known blacksmith in his village, had made several arrows and other hunting tools.

What did Thanh make several of? Thanh made several arrows and other hunting tools.

When they were found, they were wearing loincloths made of tree bark.

When they were found, what were they wearing? When they were found, they were wearing loincloths made of tree bark.

They survived by hunting, growing forest vegetables, and planting corn.

How did they survive? They survived by hunting, growing forest vegetables, and planting corn.

Even though neither of the men remembered much of the local language, they kept a few mementos of their old lives in their treehouse.

Did either of the men remember much of their local language? No, neither of the men remembered much of their local language.

The father’s military pants were neatly folded and beside them sat the little red coat his son was wearing when they fled.

What sat beside the father’s neatly folded military pants? Beside the father’s neatly folded military pants sat the little red coat his son was wearing when they fled.

Because Thanh was in poor health, he was carried out of the jungle on a stretcher with his son Lang at his side.

Why was Thanh carried out of the jungle on a stretcher? He was carried out on a stretcher because he was in poor health.

Their arrival shocked the townspeople because many thought they had died years ago.

Why did their arrival shock the townspeople? Their arrival shocked the townspeople because many thought they had died years ago.

Once they were in the town, Thanh and Lang suffered from reverse culture shock.

Did Thanh and Lang suffer from reverse culture shock once they were in the town?

Yes, once they were in the town, Thanh and Lang suffered from reverse culture shock.

Thanh refused to eat, and both men tried to escape back into the jungle.

Who refused to eat? Thanh refused to eat. Who tried to escape back into the jungle? Both men tried to escape back into the jungle.

Relatives tried to keep them in town, because they were worried about Thanh’s health.

Why did relatives try to keep them in town? Relatives tried to keep them in town, because they were worried about Thanh’s health.

“We know he wants to escape my house to go back to the forest, so we have to keep an eye on him now,” says his nephew.

Fast forward a year-and-a-half to 2015, and Lang is adjusting.

Is Lang adjusting in 2015? Yes, Lang is adjusting in 2015.

Having lived alone for so long with a father who rarely talked, he still has trouble communicating.

Does he still have trouble communicating? Yes, he still has trouble communicating.

But modern comforts and vices such as TV, cell phones and cigarettes have won him over.

What modern comforts and vices have won him over? Modern comforts and vices such as TV, cell phones and cigarettes have won him over.

His father on the other hand still wants to return to the forest.

Does his father still want to return to the forest? Yes, his father still wants to return to the forest.