tpo30 integrate writing

The professor in the listening thinks that the burning mirror is feasible.

Firstly, about the device. There's no need for the Greeks to create so long a device, a single device. Because Greeks have studied the shape, parabola, so well that they could form a large devices by using small pieces which can be easily made by Greeks. 

Secondly, about the time. It's true that it do need ten minutes for the wood to get on fire. But the ship was not only made of wood, there are some part of the ship was made of other materials in order to keep the wood connected to each other and keep the ship floating on the water such as patches. These patches can get on fire in seconds even when the ship is moving.

Thirdly, about flaming arrows. Romans had already known flaming arrows pretty well. So, had the Greeks used this weapon, Romans would just take some measures immediately to put off the fire. However, Romans were quite unfamiliar with a burning mirror, which could make some uneasy find parts get fire. So, using burning mirror is far more efficient than using the flaming arrows.

So, the story is quite believable.