COURSE 8

Can You Believe It?

THE IMPRINT OF ATLANTIS1 Legend has it that Atlantis was an advanced civilisation existing around 5000 years ago, which suddenly sank without trace into the Atlantic Ocean. But what if Atlantis had truly existed and its inhabitants had had time to leave before the final cataclysm? Where would they have gone? David Furlong, author of The Keys to the Temple, believes passionately in Atlantis and argues that its people ended up in Britain and Egypt. He offers his evidence in the following article. 2 Check you understand the words in a-e below before reading the article. Match each set to an overall definition, choosing from 1-5. a lasting b circumference c architecturally d cataclysm e sacred legacy geometric construction catastrophic spiritual legend proportional monument doomed ratio surveying upheaval

1 to do with an unavoidable event, usually harmful 2 to do with building work 3 relating to beliefs 4 mathematical terms 5 of historical significance 3 Read the first two paragraphs of the article. Then look at paragraphs A-F and decide what each one is about. Finally, sort these paragraphs into the correct order. Remember to check that each paragraph links with the one before and after it. 4 Find examples of the following in the text and decide why they have been used. a present perfect (paragraph 1) b past perfect (paragraph A) c past perfect continuous (paragraph 2) d simple past (paragraph C)
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Kindred Spirit magazine, apud Tricia Aspinall, Anette Capel, Advanced Masterclasss CAE Workbook, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 16

e modal with perfect infinitive (paragraph E) f modal referring to the past (paragraph F) In 1975 I made the dramatic discovery that there is a massive geometric pattern of two overlapping circles in the landscape of Wiltshire. This stretches for over 27km and within the two circles lies a clue to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Egypt. It has taken me 25 years of research, with the help of a desktop computer, to be able to prove beyond doubt that this pattern exists. The two circles are of identical size, around 9.5 km across. A cross-section of the Great Pyramid fits exactly within their overlapping area. Both have a number of ancient sites sitting precisely on their circumferences. Most incredibly of all, my computer calculations have shown that these circles are exactly proportional to the equatorial circumference of the earth, in the ratio of 1:666. The peoples of Britain in the late Neolithic period seem to have been highly intelligent, possessing great skills in surveying, engineering, mathematics and astronomy. Architecturally, they had been building long, straight earthworks for some time, but quite suddenly, 5100 years ago, they started to construct circular patterns, such as stone circles. It is believed that the earliest phase of Stonehenge was around 3100BC and the most important circular sites in Britain were all started within 100 years or so of this date. A The Maydan people had therefore been exactly right in maintaining that their calendar marked a catastrophic date. Could their belief that their ancestors came form lands that were overwhelmed in some way also have been true? Despite the research in the Atlantic sea bed, no clear evidence has emerged; no undersea kingdom has been discovered and scientists say that nothing of this sort exist on the Atlantic floor. But perhaps Atlantis was so thoroughly destroyed that nothing now remains? B What scientific evidence is there to support such a cataclysmic event? Surprisingly, there is a great deal, in the area of climatic change. Ice-core samples from Greenland show a significant sulphate deposit, dated at approximately 3100BC. Around the world, at the same time, there is further evidence of serious geological upheavals, for example, a dramatic rise and fall in sea level along the coast of Brittany in France and flooding in the Navajo country of the American Southwest. C Research in America and elsewhere has similarly shown that the pyramid shape affects the energy fields of the human body and can be used to speed up the healing process when injuries occur. I believe that the energy to be found in Wiltshire is a power that is infinitely liberating. The people from 2

Atlantis, forced to take their knowledge into the world around them, left us this huge legacy, and their sites are once more communicating their messages to us. We only have to stop and listen. D This is my own belief. So let us assume that a group of Atlantean migrs, fleeing from their doomed homeland, set foot on the shores of Britain and Egypt, bringing with them their advanced knowledge and skills in surveying and the like. In Egypt, this eventually led to the building of the Great Pyramid, while in Britain, the same expertise was used to create a vast geometric pattern in the landscape. Yet why set out these sites in geometric patterns? What was so special about the pyramid shape that it occurs both in the British landscape and as a lasting monument in Egypt? E This historical period is highly significant in at least two other parts of the world. The civilisation of ancient Egypt bloomed at around this time, so quickly that Egyptologists have concluded that there must have been some additional cultural influence entering Egypt. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Mayan civilisation, despite being much later (600AD), actually observed 3114BC as the starting date of their calendar. They maintained that this exact year had seen the catastrophic end of their original culture, in which their first homelands, lying somewhere to the east, had been completely destroyed . F During more than 25 years researching sacred sites, and through my experiences as a spiritual healer, I have been aware of a healing presence at such places. Certain sites stimulated a clear bodily sensation in me, where I would get a tingling feeling in my head and arms. For many years I could not prove that this was not a purely subjective phenomenon. However, I am now sure that something much deeper is at work. It is my belief that the ancient Atlanteans brought with them a form of healing energy, which they wove into the landscape through the geometric patterns that they established. Structure2

idem, p. 18

1 Read the text below quickly to understand the time period involved. Then fill in the spaces using the verbs in brackets in a suitable tense. I (1) ___________ (never, believe) in ghosts until I (2) ___________ (spend) a weekend in my friend's remote cottage in Scotland. It (3) ___________ (be abandoned) by an old sheep farmer many years before this friend of mine (4) ___________ (buy) it for next to nothing in 1991. He (5) ___________ (promise) to invite me up there for ages, so when he finally (6) ___________ (get) round to asking me, I (7) ___________ in a (accept) his offer willingly. We (8) ___________ (set) off on that fateful Friday downpour and the rain (9) ___________ (continue) throughout our six-hour drive. By the time

we (10) ___________ (reach) the cottage it (11) ___________ (get) dark and we only just (12) ___________ (manage) to make it out in the gloom. Relieved that we (13) ___________(finally, get) there, we (14) ___________ (start) to make a fire and generally make ourselves comfortable. There (15) ___________ (be) no electricity of course, but we (16) ___________ (bring) one of those camping lamps with us, as well as some candles. Eventually we (17) ___________ (settled down) and (18) ___________ (enjoy) a relaxing chat by the fire when the floorboards in the room above suddenly (19) ___________ (begin) to creak. At first, we (20) ___________ (take) no notice, but the noise (21) ___________ (become) more and more distracting and we (22) ___________ (get) very anxious. In the end, I (23) ___________ (decide) to go up and have a look, so I (24) ___________ (light) a candle and (25) ___________ (creep) up the stairs. As I (26) ___________ (turn) the corner at the top, the candle (27) ___________ (blow) out. I (28) ___________ (feel) this inexplicable icy coldness and an unnatural presence close beside me. I (29) ___________ (must, scream) because my friend (30) ___________ (come) rushing up the stairs noisily,. Then I (31) ___________ (realize) that whatever I (32) ___________ (witness) (33) ___________ (be) over. At the time, my friend (34) ___________ (claim) he (35) ___________ (never, experience) such a phenomenon and, despite visiting the cottage frequently since, he (36) ___________ (find) nothing out of the ordinary. Personally, I (37)____________ (never, want) foot there again and I (38) ___________ (do) my best to forget the entire incident, although I am still very perplexed by it. 2 Decide which alternative is correct in these sentences. a As a young child, Kaspar Hauser used to/got used to see nobody for weeks on end. b After she got her own TV show, she became quite a celebrity and would/was used to be recognised everywhere she went. c If you had spent more time with David, I'm sure you'd get used to/ be used to his eccentric behaviour by now. 4

d Now that Judy's gone away to university, her room will be used for / used to visitors. e So keen on creature comforts am I that I have never been used to/ got used to sleeping in a tent. GRAMMAR Past Time3 Explanations Basic contrasts: past simple and past continuous Past simple generally refers to: I got up, switched off the radio, and sat down again. Habits Every day I went to the park. States In those days, I didn't like reading. Past continuous (progressive) generally refers to: I was drinking my coffee at the time. While I was opening the letter, the phone rang. Background description in narrative I entered the office and looked around. Most people were working at their desks, but Jane was staring out of the window and pretending to write something at the same time. Changing states The car was getting worse all the time. One of the headlights was gradually falling off, and the engine was making more and more funny noises. Repeated actions - criticism With a frequency adverb, this use is similar to the use of present continuous to express annoyance. When Jane was at school, she was always losing things. Past continuous is not used to describe general habitual actions, without the sense of criticism mentioned above. Past simple is used for this meaning. When I lived in London, I walked through the park every day.
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Completed actions

Actions in progress (often interrupted by events)

Michael Vince, Peter Sunderland, Advanced Language Practice, Oxford, Macmillan Press, 2003, p. 14-16

Past perfect simple and continuous We use the past perfect when we are already talking about the past, and we want to go back to an earlier past time ('double past'). By the time I got to the station, the train had left. Compare this with: The train left five minutes before I got to the station. When we talk about a sequence of past events in the order that they happened, we more commonly use the past simple, especially with quick, short actions. Past perfect continuous (progressive)

The same contrasts between past simple and past continuous (see previous section) can be made in past perfect verb forms for events further back in the past. I had been living in a bed-sitter up to then. While I had been talking on the phone, Jimmy had escaped. The whole place was deserted, but it was obvious that someone had been living there. Theyd been cooking in the kitchen for a start, and they hadn't bothered to clear up the mess. Past perfect is also common in reported speech Past perfect is not used simply to describe an event in the distant past.

Used to and would Used to

This often contrasts with the present. The contrast may be stated or understood. I used to go swimming a lot (but I don't now). The negative form is either: I didn't use to or I used not to (rare for some speakers). The form I didnt used to may also be found. This is usually considered incorrect, unless we consider used to as an unchanging semi-modal form. There is no present time reference possible.

Would

This is used to describe repeated actions, not states. It describes a habitual 6

activity which was typical of a person. Every week he'd buy his mother a bunch of flowers. Used to would also be possible here. Compare: I used to like cowboy films. Would is not possible here. Would is more common in written language and often occurs in reminiscences. Unfulfilled past events These describe events intended; to take place, but which did not happen. I was going to phone you, but I forgot. \ I was thinking of going to Italy this year, but I haven't decided. I was about to do it, but I started doing something else. Jack was to have taken part, but he fell ill. The contrasting past event is often understood, but not stated. How are you? I was going to phone you ... (but I didn't). Polite forms These are common with wonder. I was wondering if you wanted to come to the cinema. Practice 1 Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence. e.g. When you passed the town hall clock, did you notice/were you noticing what time it was? a) Last night my neighbours were shouting/would shout for hours and I couldn't get to sleep. b) When you lived in London, did you use to travel/were you travelling by bus? c) Everyone was having a good time, although not many people danced/were dancing. d) Jill was really hungry because she didn't eat/hadn't eaten all day. e) Before we went to the theatre, we called in/had called in at George's cafe for a pizza. f) It took a while for me to notice, but then I did. Everyone stared/was staring at me. What had I done wrong? g) Nobody bothered to tell me that the school decided/had decided to have a special holiday on Friday. h) I was trying/tried to get in touch with you all day yesterday. Where were you? i) A: Excuse me, but this seat is mine. 7

B: I'm sorry, I didn't realise/hadn't realised that you were sitting here.

2 Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence. a) Once/Afterwards I'd read the manual, I found I could use the computer easily. b) It was more than a month before/until I realised what had happened. c) I managed to talk to Carol just as/while she was leaving. d) It wasn't until/up to 1983 that Nigel could afford to take holidays abroad. e) George always let me know by the time/whenever he was going to be late. f) I was having a bath at the time/that time, so I didn't hear the doorbell. g) We bought our tickets and five minutes after/later the train arrived. h) According to Grandpa, people used to dress formally those days/in his day. i) Everyone was talking but stopped at that time/the moment Mr Smith arrived. j) The letter still hadn't arrived by/until the end of the week. 3 Decide if the verb form underlined is correct or not. If it is correct, write a tick. If not, correct it. Text 1: The train (1) ground to a halt at a small station miles from London, and it (2) became apparent that the engine (3) had broken down. Everyone (4) was getting their cases down from the luggage racks, and we (5) were waiting on the platform in the freezing wind for hours until the next train (6) was turning up. 1 ........... .......... 3 ........................5 ..................... 2 .............................4 ...........................6 .......................

Text 2: The mysterious disappearance of Professor Dawson (1) was on Inspector Gorse's mind. Six months before the Professor's disappearance, he (2) was receiving a letter from Jean Dawson, the Professor's wife. In the letter, Jean 8

(3) accused her husband of plotting to murder her. Gorse (4) considered what his next step should be when the phone rang. It was Sergeant Adams from the Thames Valley police force. A fisherman (5) discovered a body in the River Thames, and it (6) fitted the description of the Professor. 1 ..........................3 ..........................5 .................... 2 ............................4 ............................6 ...................... 4 Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb form. This time last year I (1) was cycling (cycle) in the rain along a country road in France with a friend of mine. We (2) ......................(decide) to go on a cycling holiday in Normandy. Neither of us (3) ..........................................(be) to France before, but we (4) (know) some French from our time at school and we (5) ..(manage) to brush up on the basics. Now we (6) ..........................................(wonder) if we (7) .. (make) the right decision. We (8) ..........................................(plan) our route carefully in advance, but we (9) .(forget) one important thing, the weather. It (10) (rain) solidly since our arrival and that night we (11)..(end up) sleeping in the waiting room at a railway station. Then the next morning as we (12) .. (ride) down a steep hill my bike (13) .. (skid) on the wet road and I (14) .. (fall off). I (15) .. (realise) immediately that I (16) .. (break) my arm, and after a visit to .............................................................the local hospital I (17) Calais for the ferry home. Unfortunately my parents (18) (catch) the next train to me home for a (not/expect)

fortnight, and (19) .. (go) away on holiday. So I (20) .. (spend) a miserable couple of weeks alone, reading 'Teach Yourself French'. 5 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. a) I intended to call you yesterday, but I forgot. going I was going to call you yesterday, but I forgot. b) Sylvia asked if I wanted more pudding, but I said I couldn't eat any more. had When Sylvia offered enough. c) Owing to illness, Sally was unable to sing the solo, as arranged. have Sally was but she fell ill. 9

d) Diana wasn't always as rude as that. be Diana rude. e) We've changed our minds about going to Rome, as originally intended. intending We we've changed our minds. f) When I lived in London cycling to work was part of my daily routine. used When I lived in London I day. g) I might possibly go to the theatre tonight. wondering I going to the theatre tonight. h) I had to go past your house so I decided to drop in. passing I so I decided to drop in. i) About 100 people were waiting for the late bus. arrived By about 100 people waiting. j) What were you doing at the moment of the explosion? occurred When what were you doing?

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