CBSE solutions for English Communicative - Main Course Book Interact in English Class 9 chapter 5.1 - Bermuda Triangle [Latest edition]

The following are the dictionary entries for some of the words that appear in 'The Mystery of Bermuda Triangle'. Study the words and their meanings before you read the mystery for better comprehension. 

•  Halloween/halau in/ : the night of 31st October when it was believed in the past that dead people appeared from their graves. This is now celebrated in the US, Canada and Britain by children who dress as ghosts and witches. 
• vector/'vekta/: an insect or animal which carries a disease from one animal or plant to another; a course taken by an aircraft; a quantity, such as velocity, completely specified by a magnitude and direction. 
• crackle/' krak(a)l/: to make short sharp sounds . 
• ascent/ a' sent/: the act of climbing or moving up . 
• roger/' rod3a /: in communication by radio to show that they have understood a message; an expression of agreement. 
• probe/praub/: to ask questions in order to find out some secret or hidden information; an exploratory action; expedition, or device, especially one designed to investigate and obtain information on a remote or unknown region. 

• abduct/ ab' dAkt/ : to take somebody away illegally, by using force. 
• time warp/ taimwarp /: a situation in which it is possible for people or things from the past or the future to move to the present. 
• phenomenon/ fa' nomrnan/: a fact or an event in nature or society, especially one that is not fully understood. 
• erratic/ I' rat.Ik/: not happening at regular times. 
• engulf /In· g /\ If/,/ &n · g /\ If/: to surround or to cover somebody or something completely. 

This is an account of Sir James' flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Complete the following using words from Question 1. 

Captain James was enjoying the (a) ______ party hosted by his neighbour Mr. Samuel. Suddenly, he got a call from his boss who wanted him to fly across the Atlantic with a reputably renowned investigator to (b) _________into the (c) ____ of an heiress. He immediately got ready for the assignment. While intializing the flight he checked the radar controllers. He found that routine traffic was proceeding undisturbed, in their (d)_______ . There was no difficulty in the (e) and he (f) ____. All of a sudden there was a (g)______ and communication was abruptly cut off. He checked the radar screen and it was moving (h)________ . He experienced a strange (i)___________ . He stepped into a mist and claimed to arrive at a time period after the French- Revolution. However, his U) ____ theory was not convincing. He claimed that he just remembered being (k) ____ in a big cloud. Nevertheless, people were happy to see him return after a month. 

Discuss in groups 
(a) Have you heard of the Bermuda Triangle? If so, what have you heard about it? 
(b) Have you ever heard of an airplane or a boat disappearing without a trace? 
(c) Can you think of an explanation for an airplane or a boat that disappeared without a trace? 

The Mystery of Bermuda Triangle. 

The potential of nature, of discovered and undiscovered elements in our world, persuades us to probe into some of her mysteries and what they may tell us. Prepare yourself then for a true odyssey of the Earth around us. 

Bermuda Triangle Theories 
The Bermuda triangle is a stretch over the Atlantic Ocean, measuring less than a thousand miles on any one side. The name 'Bermuda Triangle' remained a colloquial expression throughout the 1950s. By the early 1960s, it acquired the name 'The Devil's Triangle.' Bordered by Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico, the location became famous on account of the strange disappearance of ships, as well as aircrafts in the area. A number of supernatural explanations have been put forward with regard to the mysterious disappearances. 
However, many probable logical explanations for the missing vessels include hurricanes, earthquakes, as well as magnetic fields, which render navigation devices worthless. However, most people do not like to accept such boring explanations and instead opt for more interesting options like alien abduction, giant squids, or getting sucked into another dimension. 

Supernatural theories 

Scientific Explanations 
Magnetic Compass 
According to the scientists in the US Navy, this area is one of the only two in the world, where a magnetic compass points to true north rather than magnetic north. This probably caused some navigators to go off course, which is very dangerous because many of the islands in 'The Triangle' have large areas of shallow water where vessels can run aground. They can also sink a long way down as some of the ocean's deepest trenches, from 19 ,000 to over 27 ,000 feet below sea level, are found here. 

Unpredictable weather 
Since the island is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, the weather is influenced by several factors and can change instantly. That means that at one moment the weather is stable, and at another it becomes extremely turbulent accompanied by strong currents of wind along with the hurricanes. 
Formation of methane in the sea. 
Methane can lower the density of water, leading to the sinking of ships. Similarly, methane can cut out an aircraft engine leading to crashes. 
Bermuda Triangle Survivors 
These witnesses constitute a long list of pilots, sailors and fishermen. 

1. It is interesting to note that Christopher Columbus was one such witness. He wrote in his memoir on how his compass acted strangely while sailing through the Bermuda Triangle. He along with another shipmate witnessed a glowing globe of light that seemed to hover over the sea. 
2. It is said that when clouds or fog enter the Bermuda Triangle, strange things start happening. Such a phenomenon has been witnessed with the Philadelphia Experiment in which the USS Eldridge vanished and reappeared later miles away, with some of the crew men warped into the hull of the ship. 
3. In 1901, Anne Moberly and Eleanor Jourdain stepped into a mist and claimed to arrive at a time period before the French Revolution. It is said, that the mist and the ominous clouds might be the key to time travel or entering into other dimensions. 
4. Even a great pilot like Charles Lindbergh witnessed unusual events while flying in the reaches of the Bermuda Triangle. It is said that when he was making a nonstop flight from Havana to St. Louis, his magnetic compass started rotating. His Earthinductor-compass needle jumped back and forth erratically. This has now all been revealed in his autobiography. 

5. Another eyewitness account is that of Bruce Gernon, who flew his plane, a BonanzaA36, into the Bermuda Triangle and encountered a non-threatening mile and a half long cloud. As he neared, the cloud seemed to come alive. It became huge and engulfed his plane. However, a tunnel opened up in the cloud and he went through this tunnel. It had cloud trails swirling around his plane. He also reported that while going into this tunnel, he experienced zero gravity and the only thing that kept him in the cockpit was his seatbelt. 
Whatever be the actual reason, there is an involvement of more than one fact.or behind the disappearances of ships and aircrafts in the Bermuda triangle region. 
The Bermuda triangle continues to evoke a lot of interest. Most people like to read about it. In fact., in the last few decades, island of Bermuda has emerged as a major tourist destination as well; mainly, due to its close proximity with the Bermuda Triangle. 

Work in pain and complete the table of the supernatural theories and logical explanations as presented in 'The Mystery of Bermuda Triangle'. 

Listen to an interview between a radio jockey and a pilot. 

In groups of four prepare a questionnaire for a pilot who has survived the Bermuda Triangle. Use the hints given below.

• Radar normal
• No disturbances
• Sudden communication failure
• Strange occurrence (use any of the theories or myths you have just read about)

On the basis of the questionnaire, hold a conversation with your partner - one could be a radio jockey and the other could be the pilot. 

In groups of six, work on one of the mysteries given below by surfing the net and through other sources. Make a power point presentation. 

• Yeti , the abominable snowman
• Loch Ness Monster
• UFOs ((Unidentified Flying Objects)
• Lost city of Atlantis 
• Crop circles 
• Nazcalines