Opción B - 1 y 2 · Inglés PAU Madrid Modelo 2018

The Legend of the Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle is a mythical section of the Atlantic Ocean where dozens of ships and airplanes have disappeared without explanation. Indeed, this region of the sea certainly has had its share of marine tragedy. Unexplained circumstances surround some of these accidents, including one in which the pilots of a squadron became disoriented while flying over the area; the planes were never found. Nevertheless, other boats and planes have vanished from the area in good weather without even radioing distress messages.

The first report about the mysterious Bermuda Triangle has been assigned to Christopher Columbus when, in 1492, he sailed through the area on his first voyage to the New World. He wrote in his journals that, inside the triangle, the ship's compass stopped working and he saw a fireball in the sky. Other reported compass issues in the region followed, giving rise to the myth. In addition, the weather in this region can also make traveling hazardous. The summer brings hurricanes while the warm waters of the Gulf Stream promote sudden storms enhancing the mysterious aura.

Researchers have attempted to determine the cause of these plane and boat disappearances proposing innumerable theories regarding the Bermuda Triangle. However, none of them prove that mysterious disappearances occur more frequently there than in other well-traveled sections of the ocean. In fact, people navigate the area every day without incident. As a matter of fact, in spite of the navigational challenges this area poses, insurance companies do not consider it as an especially hazardous place.

QUESTIONS

1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

a)

Disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle always occur when there are bad climatic conditions.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

The reputation of the Bermuda Triangle started centuries ago.

TRUE

FALSE

2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

a)

What climatic conditions in the Bermuda Triangle might explain the problems for ships and airplanes?

b)

What do insurance companies and researches on the Bermuda Triangle have in common regarding the mystery of the area?