Name __________________________
Historical Fiction
The Wall that Whispers
In the heart of ancient China, during the reign of
the first emperor, a laborer named Li Ming toiled
under the blistering sun. He was just a simple man
from a small village, but destiny had chosen him to
be a part of something grand—the construction of
the Great Wall of China.
Li Ming had heard legends of the wall since he
was a child. It was said to be a marvel of
engineering, a guardian against invaders, and a
testament to the will of the people. But to him, it
was a massive beast that demanded sweat and
sacrifice.
Day by day, he and countless others dug, carried, and placed enormous stones
into the ground. They worked tirelessly, their backs bowed under the weight of
bricks and mortar. As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Li
Ming grew to appreciate the unity among the laborers. They came from all
corners of the empire, speaking different dialects, but they communicated
through sweat and shared dreams.
The wall seemed endless, stretching across the horizon like a colossal dragon. Li
Ming often wondered if he would ever see the end of it. Still, he found solace in
the stories told around the campfires at night. Tales of bravery and sacrifice
inspired him to push through the hardships.
One night, an old laborer named Wu Chen told a story that left Li Ming in awe.
He spoke of a time when the wall was just a dream, an idea in the emperor's
mind. Wu Chen had been one of the first laborers, working when the wall was
nothing more than a foundation of hope. It was a reminder that the wall had a
beginning, and one day, it would have an end.
As the seasons passed and the years turned, Li Ming continued his labor. He
watched the wall grow taller and stronger, like a giant rising from the earth. He
saw the faces of fellow laborers change, some leaving, others arriving, but the
spirit of unity never wavered.
In the end, Li Ming did not live to see the completion of the Great Wall, but he
knew he had played a vital role in its creation. His story, like the wall itself,
became a part of history—a testament to the determination and resilience of
the people who had built it.
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Name __________________________
Historical Fiction
The Wall that Whispers Multiple Choice Questions
1. What was Li Ming's role in the construction of the Great Wall?
a) Laborer
b) General
c) Architect
d) Emperor
2. How did the laborers communicate despite speaking different dialects?
a) They used sign language.
b) They had interpreters.
c) They communicated through their work and dreams.
d) They didn't communicate with each other.
3. What inspired Li Ming from the stories told around the campfires at night?
a) Stories of riches and treasure.
b) Stories of bravery and sacrifice.
c) Tales of love and romance.
d) Stories of humor and comedy.
4. Who shared the story of the wall's beginnings with Li Ming?
a) Wu Chen, an old laborer
b) Li Ming's father
c) The emperor
d) A historian
5. What is the Great Wall a symbol of in the story?
a) A symbol of division
b) A symbol of war
c) A symbol of isolation
d) A symbol of unity and determination
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