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Shipwrecks in the Bermuda Triangle
For a long time, the Bermuda Triangle was a place of danger and mystery. Today, it is a place of
exploration and learning. Located in the Atlantic Ocean between the three points of Bermuda
Island, Florida, and Puerto Rico, the Bermuda Triangle is famous for its shipwrecks. Over 300 ships
have sunk there. Some of the sunken ships are more than one-hundred years old. This makes
scuba diving a very popular sport in the area. People enjoy seeing the ships and finding clues about
history.
In the past, sailors feared the Bermuda Triangle. Strange things happened there. Ships got lost and
no one saw them again. With today's science and technology, people are learning the secret
behind the mystery. Many ships crashed in the Bermuda Triangle because of its natural conditions.
The Gulf Stream, a very strong flow of water, pushed ships into shallow waters. Sailors lost control
of their ships, and the ships struck against a coral reef (hard structure built up over time by small
sea creatures) and sank to the bottom of the ocean floor. Years passed, and now scuba divers see
broken parts of the ships and think about what must have happened to them.
Choose the best answers to the questions.
What is not a natural condition of the Bermuda Triangle? How many shipwrecks are in the
Bermuda Triangle?
Pam’s room is very dirty, but she _____________________________her room right now. She’s watching TV.
This is terrible! I ______________________________ the train coming, and we are late!
I heard music at a subway station last night. Three people _____________ the violin and a woman was singing.
My sister works in the _____ section of a large department store.
I had two exercises to do for English homework. One was easy, but ______ was difficult.
The restaurant is celebrating _______ second year in business.
I graduate in a few years, and then I _____________ a doctor.
Her flight left ______five o’clock in the evening.
My husband and I _____________ a vacation next weekend.
New Ways of Staying Connected
How do we stay connected with friends and family? There are always emails, of course, or the
telephone. These days, smart phones and apps are giving us new ways to connect with other
people. We easily communicate with people on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and other social
networking sites . Is this a good thing? Maybe it is. Maybe it’s not. Social networking has both pros
and cons.
Pros
Social networking is wonderful for friendships. We use it to connect with people anywhere in the
world. We socialize with family and old friends. We make new friends. With social networking, it’s
easy to invite friends to a party or to other social events. Also, shy people (people who have difficulty
communicating in person) are often comfortable in a virtual (computer generated, not real) friendship.
They don’t feel alone. Social networking sites help with important life issues such as finding a job,
finding a doctor or choosing a school. The sites give us ideas and advice from experts , or people
with a lot of information on a subject. Also, friends can help each other. For example, if one person
needs a new apartment and another person is moving out of one, a friend of both people can
connect them.
Cons
Sometimes, social networking can be bad for friendships. Some people spend a lot of time on their
smartphones. They stare at (look at) the screen for hours every day. They have virtual friendships, but
they don’t spend much face-to-face time with friends. For many reasons, social networking can also
be dangerous. First, we don’t always know the real identity of the people who are online with us. We
don’t always know who they are. For example, a teenager might think that she is chatting with
another teenage girl, but the person could really be a 40 year old man. Is this really her “friend?”
Second, information about us on a social networking site is public. Many, many people can see it. A
very serious problem is identity theft. Bad people can use public information to steal another
person’s identity. They can pretend to be another person and steal money or get a fake passport.
Conclusion
Social networking is changing the way we communicate with each other. It’s now possible to
communicate with almost anyone, almost anywhere. However, it’s important to be careful. If we’re
careful, there are more pros than cons with this modern way of communicating.
Complete the statement. Choose the best answer.
The main idea is that ________________.
Learning grammar rules ________ not always easy.
Bill didn’t go to class yesterday, and Sam didn’t _________________.
Max enjoyed _______ to the artist’s lecture yesterday.
Rome is one city ______ I have always wanted to visit.
We hired a translator ______ Spanish and English.
Countries ________________ athletes have won gold medals at the Olympics often have celebrations for the athletes when they return home.
I ____________ sleep last night.
The reading about computers of the future gave us a lot to think ________.
That ancient site ______________________________ in the eighteenth century.
The archaeologists made an ______________________________________ discovery.
Leila forgot _________ a doctor’s appointment today.
My Spanish class __________________ at 7:30 p.m. every day, so I can meet you for dinner tonight.
Many people ______________________ self-driving cars when they become available.
Did you remember _____________ the library books? They’re due today.
We were disappointed ______________ the beginning of the concert. We got there late.
The homework ______________________ done by next week.
You ________________ me that you didn’t want to go on this trip.
Max was really cold during his trip to Alaska last week. He ______________ warmer clothes with him.
The Paranormal
Do you believe in the ghosts, spirits and people who can see the past or the future, or are you
a skeptic? In the dictionary, skeptic means “a person who questions, or doubts, the truth an idea or
belief.” Some people are skeptics about the paranormal. In fact, there is a group called the Skeptics
Society, which is an organization of scientists, scholars, and other professionals who question the
existence, or reality, of the paranormal. For example, they don’t believe in psychics or near-death
experiences. They don’t believe in ghosts, djinns, or spirits. Writers for their publication, Skeptic
Magazine, give scientific reasons for “extraordinary claims and revolutionary ideas.” Contributors to
the magazine also write about meditation and other uncommon states of mind. The goal of the society
is to show how science can explain paranormal events and experiences.
The editors describe their magazine as an educational tool. Their goal is to teach the public
about the differences between true science and what they call “junk science.” Many of the articles
provide scientific explanations for things that appear to be supernatural, such as telekinesis and
visions. The scholars and scientists think that if more people read the articles, fewer people will
believe in “junk” like paranormal activity.
Which of these statements is true?
The tourist ______________ his shoes ______________ by a shoeshine boy.
France, ________ three years ago, is a beautiful country
The job which ______ will require long working hours.
New York City is building a new subway line ____________________ people can get around more easily.
I’ll continue to rent this apartment ____________________ I live in the city, but I’ll buy a house when I move to the suburbs.
If you __________ a good job on this project, your boss will be upset.
If I ___________ all the class assignments, the teacher would have given me a better grade
I wish I ______________ how to play the piano.
____________ to the party if they had invited you?
Is it true ____________________________ on your grammar test?
“Is the supermarket closed?”
Kyoko asked _______________________ closed.
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