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Unit 5 Into the unknown
Understanding ideas
新標準《英語》高中選擇性必修第四冊
Activity 1
What do you know about these ancient civilisations
What might be the reasons behind the collapse
What other ancient civilisations do you know of Share what you know with the class.
Look at the pictures and answer the questions. Do further research if necessary.
Activity 2
Read the passage and find out the possible reasons for the disappearance of Maya civilisation.
The way that the Maya people changed the
landscape around them may have been one
of the reasons behind the disappearance of
their civilisation. Turning wetlands into fields
for growing grains, digging huge canal systems
and cutting down more trees for construction
reduced their ability to cope with natural
disasters. When those natural disasters, such as
droughts, struck, the Maya would have faced
food shortages, conflicts and, eventually, the
downfall of their cities.
Activity 3
Choose the topic sentences and write them on the lines to complete the passage.
1-c 2-a 3-b 4-f
a Maya civilisation has been surrounded by mystery since its rediscovery inthe 19th century.
b But the greatest mystery of all is what caused the Maya to abandon mostof their great cities.
c Although his theory has been dismissed by scholars,it shows howpowerful the secrets of Ancient Maya civilisation are among people.
d Research also suggests that those natural disasters may have led to thedecline of the Maya.
e Meanwhile,the rise and fall of this civilisation must also leave us thinkingabout our own past,present and future.
f Some research seems to indicate that the Maya people themselves mayhave played a part in their downfall.
Activity 4
Organise information from the passage and complete the file of Maya civilisation.
1 Mexico
2 Central America
3 natural disasters
4 turning wetlands into fields
5 digging huge canal systems
6 population
7 droughts
8 lasting for a couple of years
Activity 5
Complete the cultural comparison with information
from the passage.
Comparing the highly-sophisticated civilisations of Maya and Ancient China reveals some surprising similarities. They both possessed a detailed understanding of ____1____ and astronomy, which helped them maintain an accurate ____2____ , and a complex ____3____ that used signs to represent sounds and meanings. It can therefore be difficult to explain why, despite their excellent construction skills, the Maya never learnt to use ___4___, while the ancient Chinese did. Facts such as these add to the mystery surrounding Maya civilisation, driving people to find out why it ___5_____ while others, such as Ancient China, survived and thrived.
1 mathematics
2 calendar
3 writing system
4 wheels, metal tools or even animal power
5 disappeared
Think & Share
What is the author’s purpose in starting the passage with the story about William Gadoury
What other things do you think could destroy a civilisation Share an example with the class.
What lessons can you learn from the collapse of Maya civilisation How can this information help the development of today’s society
Which of the arguments in the passage did you find the most convincing Give your reasons.
The story about William Gadoury shows how the secrets of Ancient Maya civilisation have captured people’s imaginations.
Unit 5 Into the unknown
Starting out
新標準《英語》高中選擇性必修第四冊
Activity 1
What natural phenomena are mentioned in the video
How were these explained in the past What are the scientific explanations behind them
Watch the video and answer the questions.
1
The natural phenomena that are mentioned in the video include: the earthquake, the solar eclipse, thunder and lightning, and the mirage.
2
For the earthquake: Native Americans used to believe that earthquakes were caused by a struggle between a large bird, called the Thunderbird, and a whale. An ancient Japanese belief was that earthquakes were caused by the movements of a giant catfish that carried the world on its back. Scientists now know that earthquakes are actually caused by the movement of tectonic plates.
For the solar eclipse: In many cultures, there were ancient beliefs that solar eclipses were caused by a creature eating the Sun. In Vietnam, that creature was a giant frog, in Norway, a wolf, and in China, it was a huge dog. In fact, solar eclipses happen when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking the Sun’s light.
For thunder and lightning: In Medieval Europe, people thought that supernatural forces caused thunder and lightning. It was a sign of bad times ahead. Modern science tells us that lightning is an electric charge moving between clouds, or between clouds and the earth. Thunder is a shock wave of sound caused by lightning.
For the mirage: In Ancient China, people believed that this was actually caused by the breath of a dragon. These days, people know that a “mirage” happens when layers of air with varying temperatures cause light to bend.
Activity 2
What do you know about these mysteries
What other unsolved mysteries do you know of
Which of these do you most want to investigate
Look at the pictures and answer the questions.
Atlantis
Nazca Lines
Tunguska event
black hole
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary city, which is described
in the work of the Greek philosopher Plato. The
story of Atlantis with its fabulously wealthy
and advanced civilisation which was swept
into the sea to be lost for ever has captured the
imagination of readers for over two millennia.
Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are a collection of giant
geometric patterns and animal shapes. Drawn
into the landscapes of southern Peru, the
majority of the lines are believed to be the
work of the Nazca people around 1AD to 700.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
1994, numerous studies and theories have so
far not explained the reason why the lines were
created.
Tunguska event
Tunguska event, enormous explosion that is
estimated to have occurred at 7:14 am plus
or minus one minute on 30 June 1908, at an
altitude of 5–10 kilometres, flattening some
2,000 square kilometres and charring more
than 100 square kilometres of pine forest near
the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in Central
Siberia, Russia.
Black hole
A black hole is a region of space-time exhibiting
gravitational acceleration so strong that nothing,
not even light, can escape from it.
Unit 5 Into the unknown
Project
新標準《英語》高中選擇性必修第四冊
Investigate
Do research online or in the library to find out about unsolved mysteries and make a list.
Plan
what the mystery is
when and how it first caught people’s attention
why it is mysterious
previous attempts to solve the mystery
existing explanations
1. Work in groups. Choose one of the mysteries and do further research. Make notes on:
2. Collect pictures, diagrams, maps and other visuals relating to the mystery.
Create
Write a fact sheet about your chosen mystery.
Add any visuals you have collected.
As a class, prepare a large world map and put it up on the classroom wall.
Collect all the fact sheets and visuals, and attach them to the correct places on the world map.
Present
Present the map of unsolved natural mysteries in class. Decide which of the mysteries you would most like to solve in the future and give your reasons.
Display the map in the school library for students in other classes to enjoy.
THANK YOU

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