Page 98 - Full Solutions 2nd Advanced Student Book_Neat

3 Match sentences a-gwith gaps 1-6 in the text. There is one
sentence that you do not need.
a His organisation now gets 1,000 such stories a week.
b People were more tikety to betieve that there was a
conspiracy behind it if he was kitled than if he was
un in ju red.
And yet, it reatty does exist: members agree not to reveal
TXilffi{}[Ar$Ttt: the contents of their discussions, and the minutes of the
meetings are not published for 50 years.
Observers of the phenomenon, more pronounced in
to you? society.
America than here, say that their increasing prevatence
is destabitising vulnerable individuals and undermining
$?A e That is how conspiracy theories gain momentum, even

though there is no reaI evidence to support them.
psychologist at Royal Holloway College, London, who
f One held that he had been spying for the Chinese, and
has been studying why conspiracy theories are so was spirited away by a Chinese submarine.
appealing, said: 'Conspiracy theories feed into a feeling g A timited understanding of the wortd makes conspiracy
of disconnection with government. People don't like gaps theories seem more ptausibte.
.: in their accounts; they have a need to believe them. They
4 Rephrase the underlined parts ofthese excerpts from the
invent fantastical things that protect them from the real
article in your own words.
world.' ln one experiment, he showed people footage of a
1 A bizarre conspiracy theory was sptashed across the
fictional president who was shot at, and provided fictional
media.
newspaper arlicles. o E l" concluded: 'People think that 2 They ... fueI the stories.
:o a big event must have a big cause, but often things are
3 When it is written down ... it comes packaged as truth.
caused by mistake or accident, not conspiracy.'
4 There are other reasons why conspiracy theories are
Thousands of people die in Europe every year in car
gaining currency.
accidents resulting from fast driving and too much alcohol. 5 Peopte are becoming further removed from seats of
But when Diana, Princess of Wales died, many could not potiticaI and industriaI power.
,s occept that such an impoftant event could have such a 6 When Harold Holt disappeared, conspiracy theories
simple cause. Many believed that she was assassinated ran wild.
by the secret services to stop her marrying a Muslim. ln 7 Such is the pubtic appetite for conspiracy theories, there
Australia there were 161 suspected drownings between is money to be made.
8 There's danger in buying into pat exptanations.
1961 and 1985 in which the bodies were never found.
:c But when Harold Holt, the Prime Minister, disappeared DD VOCRSULARY BUILDER 9.2: LITERAL AND FIGURATIVE
when swimming in 1967, conspiracy theories ran wild. s I LANGUAGE: WORKBOOK PAGE 112 G
Such is the public appetite for conspiracy theories,
ffi Give an example of:
there is money to be made. Baft Sibrel makes money
1 a story that has been sptashed across the media very
selling his video claiming that the first moon landing was a
recentty.
:; fake.
2 something which, in your opinion, is fuetted by
There is no simple way to determine the truth of a
the lnternet.
conspiracy theory. 'The danger lies in buying overarching
3 something which is packaged as truth, but in your
explanations of complex events. That having been said,
opinion is not.
there's danger in being too complacent and buying 4 an idea which is gaining currency in your country.
-: into pat explanations of extraordinary occurrences,' Mr
5 one of the main seats of power in your country.
Alexander said. ln other words, scepticism can go too 6 a rumour which has run witd in your school but which
far. When stories began to circulate about the Bilderberg may not be true.
Group, a secretive grouping of the world's political 7 something which there seems to be a growing public
and business elite, most people dismissed it as just a appetite for in your country.
'5 conspiracy theory. 6 [ 8 something which you personally refuse to buy into.
Mr Alexander says that the growth of conspiracy
6 ffi Discuss the questions with the class.
theories is not something just to laugh at, 'lt's dangerous if
1 Describe any conspiracy theories that are specific to your
your belief system makes you see the world in a way that's
own country.
unreal. Conspiracy theories can affect a whole society and
2 Why do so many conspiracy theories involve the USA?
,r make the society mad,'
3 Are conspiracy theories harmtess or damaging?
Give reasons.
Unit9'Secrets 97