The Bermuda Triangle Phenomenon

1. Unit Ten The Bermuda Triangle Phenomenon

2. Background Information Vocabulary Text Analysis Writing

3. Background Information • The "Bermuda Triangle," or "Devil’s Triangle," is a mythical geographic area located off the southeastern coast of the United States that is noted for an apparent high incidence of unexplained losses of ships, small boats and aircraft. It is a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean bordered by a line from Florida to the islands of Bermuda, to Puerto Rico and then back to Florida.

4. Listen and discuss Questions & Answers 1. Have you ever heard of the Bermuda Triangle? What have you heard about it? 2. What is your theory of why things disappear? Where do you think they go and why do they go there?

5. Background Information • The term "Bermuda Triangle" was first used in an article written by Vincent H. Gaddis for Argosy magazine in 1964. In the article Gaddis claimed that in this strange sea a number of ships and planes had disappeared without explanation.

6. Background Information • Countless theories attempting to explain the many disappearances have been offered throughout the history of the area. The most reasonable seem to be citing environmental factors and human errors.

7. Environmental Factors • The majority of disappearances can be attributed to the area's unique features. The Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current flowing from the Gulf of Mexico around the Florida Straits northeastward toward Europe, is extremely swift and turbulent. It can quickly erase any evidence of a disaster. • The unpredictable Caribbean-Atlantic storms that give birth to waves of great size as well as waterspouts often spell disaster for pilots and mariners. The topography of the ocean floor varies from extensive shoals to some of the deepest marine trenches in the world. With the interaction of strong currents over reefs, the topography is in a constant state of flux and breeds development of new navigational hazards.

8. Human Errors • Not to be underestimated is the human factor. A large number of pleasure boats travel the water between Florida's Gold Coast (the most densely populated area in the world) and the Bahamas. All to often, crossings are attempted with too small a boat, insufficient knowledge of the area's hazards and lack of good seamanship.

9. The world’s greatest mysteries also include: The mystery of Noah’s Ark The mystery of Easter Island The mystery of wheat circles The mystery of the rise and fall of Maya The mystery of UFO The mystery of Black Holes The mystery of Pyramid Building The mystery of the 1908 Tunguska Explosion

10. The Triangle • The Triangle is a three part mini-series that explores the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, slowly builds suspense, and then totally loses its focuses at the end.

11. Plot Description • When a series of cargo ships vanish into the open waters of the Bermuda Triangle, a team of determined specialists attempt to uncover the mystery of the planet's most perplexing phenomenon in Storm of the Century and Rose Red director Craig R. Baxley's spooky sci-fi miniseries. Billionaire Eric Benirall's (Sam Neill) ships have gone missing at an alarming rate, and it's high time to find out if there's a human factor behind the strange disappearances. With each surprising revelation the plot surrounding the Bermuda Triangle only seems to deepen, though, and as the bizarre stories about the cursed waters slowly begin adding up to a bigger picture, Benirall and his fearless crew are about to discover that the truth is most certainly always stranger than any work of fiction.

12. Watch the trailerhttp://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/trailer.html?v_id=342053

13. Text Analysis • Main idea of the text More and more mysterious disappearances of ships and planes around Bermuda have given rise to people’s diverse and even fantastic explanations of the Bermuda Triangle phenomenon.

14. Text Analysis Part I (Paras. 1-3) Part II Part III Main idea ? The world-shaking disappearance of the planes has aroused considerable public interest in the Bermuda Triangle, but there are no convincing answers to this mystery. Devices for developing it ? Illustration(例证法)

15. Text Analysis Part I Part II (Paras. 4-8) Part III Main idea ? On the basis of more mysteries recorded about the triangle, several theories are brought forth. Devices for developing it ? Induction (归纳法) (Paras. 4-8) Concession(让步法) Contrast (对比法) Quotation (引言法)

16. Text Analysis Part I Part II Part III (Para. 9) Main idea？ The Bermuda Triangle remains to be a mystery to us and further efforts need to be made. Devices for developing it ? Open-ended conclusion(开放式结尾法) (as confirmed in the last sentence —The researchers hope to make contact with whatever “higher intelligence” may lie under the sea.)

17. Vocabulary • install • place sb. In a new position someone is installed in a new job • put sth. in a place so that it is ready for use I’ll definitely have a gas heater installed in my house before this winter.

18. Vocabulary • installation • putting in a place The installation of the reactor will take two months. • a nearly permanent with people, buildings and equipment which have a particular purpose The building was turned into a secret military installation.

19. Vocabulary • search for • examine or go over carefully in order to find For over 100 years, men have been searching for gold in the hills. Many people spend years searching for peace of mind, often with little success.

20. Vocabulary • streak • n. a long thin mark which is different from what surrounds it I've been dying my hair for years to hide my gray streaks.I noticed a long streak of tear on her cheek. • [C] an often unpleasant characteristic which is very different from other characteristics She has a streak of selfishness in her. Her stubborn streak makes her very difficult to work with sometimes.

21. Vocabulary • patch • a small area which is different in some way from the area that surrounds it wet patches on the wall • a small piece of material used to cover a hole or a damaged place an old pair of jeans with patches on both knees • v. cover with a patch They patched the leaking roof.

22. Vocabulary • go so far as to • make such a strong statement or take such strong action as to I would go so far as to say it's positively neurotic.He went so far as to say that he would give up his life for the poor girl.

23. Vocabulary • turn up • 1. discover The farmer turned up an ancient coin while ploughing the field.Just how do you intend to turn up the necessary proof? • 2. happen without effort on one's part It's no good waiting for something to turn up; you have to take actions. "In case anything turned up" was his favorite expression.

24. Vocabulary • vanish • disappear or stop being present or existing, esp. in a sudden, surprising way The aircraft vanished without trace. • cease to exist; come to an end Many types of insects have now vanished from the earth.

25. Vocabulary • attribute sth. to • regard sth. as belonging to, caused by or produced by sb./sth. She attributed her great age to a carefully planned diet. We attribute Edison's success to intelligence and hard work.

26. Vocabulary • magnetic • 1. with the characteristics of a magnet An iron bar can be made magnetic by wrapping wire around it and passing an electric current through the wire. • 2. having a powerful attraction He is the most magnetic male dancer I've ever seen.

27. Vocabulary • to date • so far; up to now To date, we've received 40 bookings for the holiday, so we're doing quite well. He left three weeks ago and we haven't had one single letter from him to date.

28. Vocabulary • expand on/upon • develop or give more of (a story, an argument, etc.) I'm quite satisfied with your explanation, so there's no need to expand on it. You mentioned the need for extra funding. Would you expand on that?

29. Vocabulary • make contact with • succeed in speaking to or meeting sb./sth. We have succeeded in making radio contact with the ship. The insurance salesman tried to make contact with wealthy people.

30. Writing • Try to write a short composition with special details followed by a general conclusion.