The Bermudas Triangle

Judy Flores Materials

Copyright by Judy Flores

BEFORE READING Discuss these questions: Look at the map. What countries form the Bermudas Triangle? What do you know about the Bermudas Triangle?

www.markrobsonauthor.com/200908/26/whats-next/ (1) The Bermuda Triangle has been a topic of hot discussion and interest for many years because so many strange occurrences have taken place in this area of the world that lies between the southern eastern coast of the United States and the islands of the West Indies. Basically, if you draw a line from Miami to Puerto Rico and Puerto Rico to Bermuda and then Bermuda back to Miami you would have the area that is known as the Bermuda Triangle. Many boats, airplanes, and ships have mysteriously disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle with no explanation for what happened to the crafts or the individuals on board. In the past 100 years, more than 1000 lives have vanished in the Bermuda Triangle. For many years individuals attributed the disappearances and strange events to extraterrestrials or aliens because there simply was no other explanation for what was happening in this area of the world. In fact, in 1974 Charles Berlitz wrote about the mysterious Bermuda Triangle in a book that sold almost 20 million copies in more than



30 languages. This is because the entire world is intrigued by the unknown that is the Bermuda Triangle. (2)However, the unknown of the Bermuda Triangle does have some explanations other than extraterrestrials or aliens flying down and snatching up boats, ships and airplanes. Some simply say that accidents happen and while some of those accidents occurred in what is known as the Bermuda Triangle, many more have occurred outside of it. Then, there are those looking for something more substantial to answer the questions of the Bermuda Triangle. One such result is that methane gas hydrate is the explanation for the disappearances of boats and planes over the years. (3)In 1981 a geochemist by the name of Richard McIver introduced his theory of the role methane gas hydrate plays in the disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle. His theory was that to the North of the Bermuda Triangle huge landslides occur on the continental shelf, which results in large stones and sludge falling rapidly to the sea floor and ultimately rupturing the sea floor which covers a layer of gas hydrate. When the seafloor is ruptured the hydrate is released rapidly as well as methane within the hydrate causing a huge surge of gas which erupts from the surface of the water with no warning. When this happens any ship, airplane, or boat within the vicinity will be in immediate peril because the water and air no longer have the same density, causing the vessels to sink rapidly and lie to rest covered by sludge on the floor of the ocean. (4)While this is a somewhat viable theory, most people prefer to believe in something more extraordinary that happens in the Bermuda Triangle. Because of its triangular shape and strange events many individuals believe it is a portal to another world, outer space, or even the Lost City of Atlantis. Also, people claim to have an unusual feeling when they are in the Bermuda Triangle, as if something is calling to them from another place and time. Many claim there is something strange about the Triangle because it is the only place on earth where the compass points true north. There are no definitive answers as to which theory is the truth behind the Bermuda Triangle, or if the extraordinary Bermuda Triangle is simply a myth that has been created over the years. However, no matter whether you choose to believe in one myth or other, or a combination, or simply believe the Bermuda Triangle is nothing more than a lot of hype, you will probably still be apprehensive when traveling in the area simply because of the question, “What if.” So, until more concrete information is found that points to one solid answer behind the disappearances of boats, ships, planes and people in the Atlantic’s Bermuda Triangle it is up to you to decide if the Bermuda Triangle’s disappearances are simply accidents played up into something dramatic or whether there truly is something otherworldly about the Bermuda Triangle. So, what do you think? Are the Bermuda Triangle myths fact or fiction? http://thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com/trivia11.html

AFTER READING A. Answer the following questions 1. Why is the Bermudas Triangle a topic of interest for many people? 2. Where is the area known as the Bermudas Triangle?



3. To whom is attributed the disappearances and strange events that occurs in the Bermudas Triangle? 4. What was Richard McIver explanation of the frequent disappearances and strange events of the Bermudas Triangle? 5. What do most people prefer to believe and why? 6. Is there a concrete answer to the mysterious things that occur in the Bermudas Triangle? 7. What do you think? Is the Bermuda Triangle a myth, real fact or fiction? B. Finding the Main Idea Write a sentence from the first paragraph that states the main idea of the story __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ C. Vocabulary Check: Look back at the text where the word is written Match the words to the definition. Write the correct letter on the lines. Use a dictionary if necessary. ____1. occurrences(1) a. grab, take ____2. crafts(1) b. considerable ____3. vanished(1) c. the downward sliding of a relatively dry

mass of earth and rock. ____4. intrigued(1) d. incidences, happening ____5. snatching(2) e. the chemistry of the composition and

alterations of the solid matter of the earth. ____6. substantial(2) f. a projecting ledge of rock or a balcony ____7. geochemist(3) g. a vehicle intended to be launched into space ____8. landslides(3) h. mud ____9. shelf(3) i. fascinated, interested ____10. sludge(3) j. disappear D. Vocabulary Building Read the word that is in bold or expression in its context and match it with the correct meaning. The paragraph number is in the parenthesis. Use a dictionary if necessary ___1. rupturing(3) a. a device used to determine geographic

direction ___2. vicinity(3) b. publicity, propaganda ___3. peril(3) c. anxious or fearful about the future;

uneasy ___4. vessels(3) d. characteristic of another world,

especially a mystical or transcendental world

___5. viable (4). e boat ___6. compass(4) f. practical ___7. hype(4) g. exposure to risk of harm, danger ___8. apprehensive(4) h. surrounding area ___9. otherworldly(4) i. to break



Details are facts and small bits of information about the topic. Details answer the questions Who? What? When? Why? and How?

E. READ FOR DETAILS Reread the selection and answer WH questions about the Bermudas Triangle WHO?

WHAT?

WHEN?

WHERE?

WHY?

HOW?

A conjunction is a word that connects other words or groups of words. Conjunctions are: for and, but, or, yet, so

F. Underline the conjunction in each sentence. The first one is done as an example. 1. The sea that covers the Bermuda was dirty, and the bottom floor of the sea was hard to see. 2. The Bermuda Triangle has been a topic of hot discussion and interest for many years 3. For many years individuals attributed the disappearances and strange events to extraterrestrials 4. When the gas blow up the surface of the water, any ship, airplane, or boat within the surrounding area will be in immediate danger. 5. His theory was that to the North of the Bermuda Triangle huge landslides occur on the continental shelf, which results in large stones and sludge falling rapidly to the sea floor and ultimately rupturing the sea floor



6. Because of its triangular shape and strange events many individuals believe it is a portal to another world 7. There are no definitive answers as to which theory is the truth behind the Bermuda Triangle, or if the extraordinary Bermuda Triangle is simply a myth that has been created over the years 8. Is the Bermuda Triangle’s disappearances simply accidents played up into something dramatic or something otherworldly about the Bermuda Triangle.

Synonyms are words that have the same meaning or close to the meaning

G. Synonyms Read each sentence. Then circle the word in parenthesis ( ) that is a synonym for the underlined word. 1. Ronald and Rose were ecstatic when they went to the Bermudas Triangle. (smart, happy) 2. With cellular phones people can communicate with people around the world. (talk, live) 3. Martha felt confident that she could do almost anything. (sure, surprised) 4. Before Martha made friends in Hawaii, she felt secluded. (alone, unsure) 5. Because they understand each other so well, many twins develop a special intimacy. (connection, language)

The main verb shows the main action or a state of being in a sentence. A helping verb such as am, is, be, are, has, have, had, did, was, or will works with the main verb to show when the action or state of being occurs.

H. Main and helping verbs: Read each sentence. Underline the main verb and write the helping verb on the line. The first one is done as an example. 1. She had seen most of the crime. __________had_________ 2. Joan is going to travel to the Bermudas this weekend. __________________ 3. Joan boyfriend will ask her about the trip. ______________________ 4. Louis has attended many trials like this before.________________________ 5. This is the first time I am traveling to the Bermudas. ___________________ 6. I am learning to use a dictionary _________________________________ 7. The winner of the trip to Bermuda is determined by a drawing.______________ 8. The children were beginning to fall asleep when the phone rang. _____________ 9. I will be finished in about an hour. ____________________ 10. They have been gone a long time. ____________________ Complete each sentence with a helping verb from the box below. has is was am have are be did will had 1. I ________ reading The Bermudas Triangle. 2. The story _____________ written by a survivor of The Bermudas Triangle. 3. I ___________ never read anything like that.



4. It __________ motivated me to travel to the Bermudas to see its validity. 5. The story____________ changing the way I see the Bermudas Triangle. 6. The story __________ an impact on everyone who reads it. 7. Martha wishes she __________ read the story of The Bermudas Triangle before traveling to the Bermudas. 8. I _______ go to Bermudas next summer. 9. The boats ________arriving at eight o’clock. 10. What ________________delivered this afternoon? 11. I will ___________ finished in about an hour. 12. I hope you really ___________finish your homework. 13. Jeremy ___________not like mathematics, but he __________like English.

Think of a time you spoke up for something you believed in, even though it was hard to do. Write three sentences about it. Use helping verbs. _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________



The Bermudas Triangle H Cross Word Puzzle Words: Use only 10 words: occurrences, crafts, vanished, intrigued, snatching, substantial, geochemist, landslides, shelf, sludge, rupturing, vicinity, peril, vessels, compass, otherworldly

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ACROSS

1. happening 4. when something disappears 6. The chemistry of the composition and alterations of the solid matter of the earth or a celestial body. 8. Mud, mire, or ooze covering the ground 9. The downward sliding of a relatively dry mass of earth and rock. 10. considerable, significant

DOWN

2. a space ship 3. when someone grabs or takes away 5. something interesting or fascinating 7. Something, such as a projecting ledge of rock or a balcony, that resembles such a structure.



The Bermudas Triangle Find and circle the following words:

apprehensive occurrences compass otherworldly snatching

crafts peril substantial geochemist ruptured vanished

hype rupturing vessels intrigued shelf vicinity landslides sludge

G C S N A T C H I N G G L G C X J K V G A C I L Y K D U S L U D G E . S A V Z V C T X H Y Z G T P B L R E M N I J L E V I S N E H E R P P A K T I C N K X Z S B R U P T U R E D J O S I H S U B S T A N T I A L H W K R H N O I E S E D I L S D N A L J K U E I L I R E P G Z X S P A Y B G H P D T C H Z K V J G E O C H E M I S T I Y S D F E I U Z Y P Q F F A Y F U L J L D L S S A P M O C N Y E Q D R W A E J E Y L D L R O W R E H T O I R W S T H O F D Y O Z C D Y H V Z N T X S A S T S L U D G E G V V D H G C Y E H Y P E S M S N T O S W W Q I Q T V S W S D Y I N T R I G U E D T X J E S T F A R C S X W E Q Z J G L H X D X Z Q S O C C U R R E N C E S

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The Bermudas Triangle