10. Read the extract about the Bermuda Triangle. Retell it, using the Objective-with-the Infinitive Construction where possible.

Many planes, ships and people have disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle. Compasses sometimes do not work in the triangle. Radios do not always work there too. Some people go mad. Why do ships, planes and people disappear? There are many explanations both fantastic and scientific. Here are some fantastic explanations:

1. The UFOs have their base within the triangle. They are destroying ships and planes.

2. The lost country of Atlantis is under the sea within the Triangle. People of Atlantis live under the sea. They take our ships and planes, and sometimes people, to their country.

3. At the bottom of the sea there are strange and unknown animals. They are attacking and destroying ships, planes, and people within the Triangle.

And here are some scientific explanations:

1. The Bermuda Triangle area as well as other areas on the earth has very changeable weather. It means that in these areas seamen can get into a typhoon or a giant water whirlwind at any moment of their voyage. The scientists cannot explain the origin of such whirlwinds. Neither can they explain why, how and when these whirlwinds stop their existence. But it is quite clear that the giant whirlwind is able easily to take up a ship or even a plane.

2. But how can we explain cases when the ships remain untouched, and people disappear, die of terror or go mad? There is another hypothesis which lets us give some scientific interpretation to these phenomena. This story is called “the voice of the sea”. It was suggested in the 30s by the Russian academician V.V. Shuleikin. It sounds like this: very powerful infra-sound vibrations can be formed on the surface of water. These vibrations are very dangerous. They may provoke headaches, feeling of terror, blindness, brain disorder, and finally death. Infra-sound waves can capture a crew suddenly in the day-time, when the sun is shining brightly and there is no wind around.

You may use the following:

Some people consider the Bermuda Triangle to be…

Other people believe it to be…

Many scientists think the Bermuda Triangle to be…

10. Read the text. Do the tasks below. A Road Accident

It was raining heavily as I was walking up the hill towards the station at 6 o’clock on a Saturday morning. At this early hour there wasn’t much traffic and there weren’t many people in sight. Just as I was crossing the road near the top of the hill, a car came round the corner. It was travelling very fast and the driver was obviously having difficulty in controlling it. Suddenly it swerved violently, skidded on the wet road, hit a lamp post and turned over.

At once I ran to the car to assist the driver, but he was unconscious and there was a lot of blood on his face. A young woman hurried into the station and phoned for an ambulance while I took care of the driver. A number of other people gathered round the car, but there wasn’t a great deal we could do. A policeman arrived and asked me a lot of questions about the accident. Shortly afterward the man came round and he was groaning quietly when the ambulance arrived at high speed and rushed him away to hospital.

On Monday morning I went to the hospital to enquire about the man. They told me that his injures were not serious after all and that he was rapidly getting over the effects of the accident.

Vocabulary Notes

to swerve – 1. to change direction suddenly

to skid – move or slip sideways

to come round – to come to one’s senses

to rush – go or come, do smth. with violence or speed

to get over smth. – to recover from (e.g. illness, surprise, loss)

1. Tell a friend about the accident. (Try to use the Subjective Infinitive Construction with “seem”, “appear”, “to be likely/sure”, “to be unlikely”, “happen”.)

I happened to be crossing the road when…/to be walking up…

It seemed to be speeding. The driver seemed to be having difficulty in … he wasn’t likely to brake in time on that slippery road.

The driver appeared to be unconscious…

There didn’t seem to be much we could do. He seemed to be in pain.

A young woman who happened to be… hurried into the station.

2. Discuss the accident with a friend, try to explain why it has taken place. (You’ve got some information from the policeman.)

You may use “is supposed to”, “is believed to (be drunk)”, “the transmission/brakes is/ are said to be out of order”, “is known to be a reckless driver anyway”, “was sure to crash sooner or later”, “turn out”, “prove”.

3. You know that the man is in hospital now. You ring up the hospital to ask after his state. You are told he was rather badly hurt but is now out of danger.

Now you talk to your friend about it.

You may use: “He is said to be out of danger”

He is certain/sure to get well.

He is not likely to be out of hospital in a hurry.

I happen to know that … a collar-bone and two ribs proved/turned out to be broken and he seems to have a concussion of the brain, to say nothing of cuts and bruises/scratches.