Unit 1: How to Talk about the Past

Competence Topic Vocabulary Content

How to Talk about the Conspiracy Theories: Mainstream media, far The perfect tenses
Past What if they were True? fetched, bizarre, to be
biased, hoax, conspiracy Main and supporting
theory, to foster, to ideas.
deceive, to threaten, to
orchestrate, to tamper,
skeptical.

Sources:
http://thebizzare.com/cool/greatest-conspiracy-theories-in-history/
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/uploadedFiles/news/Conspiracy%20Theories.pdf
http://platum2.unimet.edu.ve/platum
http://www.englishpage.com
http://www.esl-classroom.com
http://wtf.thebizzare.com/bizarre/greatest-conspiracy-theories-in-history/ http://thebizzare.com/cool/greatest-conspiracy-
theories-in-history
Focus on Grammar. High Intermediate. New York: Longman.
Unit 1: How to Talk about the Past

Reading 1: Conspiracy Theories and Hoaxes

Vocabulary before the reading.
To deceive: implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness

Mainstream media: a prevailing current or direction of activity or influence as the Media

Far-fetched: unlikely to be true, highly improbable, very difficult to believe.

Bizarre: strikingly out of the ordinary, odd, extravagant, or eccentric, involving sensational contrasts or
incongruities.

To be biased: prejudiced, favoring one person or side over another.

To threaten: To be a source of danger to; menace

To orchestrate: To arrange or control the elements of something, as to achieve a desired overall effect.

To tamper: to interfere or alter something to cause damage.

To foster: to promote the growth or development of something.

Skeptical: showing doubt, denying or questioning.

 A. Fill in the blanks with a word from the box.

1. He tried ____________________ me about the cost of the car, but I did not believe him.
2. My sister is very ____________________. She doesnt believe anything you tell her unless she
can prove it.
3. Some people defend conspiracy theories no matter what. They ____________________.
4. No way! That Osama bin Laden is working in a Midwest Mc Donalds is too __________________.
5. According to ___________________, the country is characterized by ongoing conflicts and
continuous aggression.
6. The Anti-eating Face Mask, a new and novel device for preventing the consumption of food by an
individual, is a ____________________ invention!
7. The reporter ____________________ with the news about the UFO. Many alterations were made.
8. Jack the Reaper ____________________the lives of many.
9. Schools ____________________ the study of conspiracy theories to eliminate their propagation.
10. The Qaeda (Arabic for "the Base") group ____________________ the terrorist attack in New York
and Washington.

Pre- Reading Activity:

Discuss with the class the following questions.
1. Have you ever heard of a conspiracy theory?
2. What areas do you think conspiracy theories involve (science, politics, etc.)?
3. Can you think of a Venezuelan conspiracy theory?
4. What do you think makes a person believe in conspiracy theories?

Now do the readings and answer the questions that follow.

Reading 1:
Conspiracy Theories and Hoaxes

Have you ever been deceived? Currently, the whole world seems full of conspiracy theories, and
the idea that a powerful group of elitists has manipulated (and still is manipulating) the world population
may not be far-fetched. The terms Conspiracy theory and hoax seem to refer to big lies and to
diversions of the truth.

A conspiracy is a secret plot to carry out some deed against a rival by a few insiders. Unless
someone from the inside leaks the plans, or the plot is somehow discovered, by definition, conspiracies
are not known until after the fact. Hence, they are vulnerable as soon as they are exposed.

A conspiracy theory is a perception of a possible conspiracy. It may be either true or false. A

conspiracy theory remains a theory until it is exposed and proven factual. A hoax, on the other hand, is
just an attempt to trick an audience into believing that something false is real. It has been claimed that
conspirators have orchestrated major events in history, manipulating political happenings from behind
the scenes. Some examples of these beliefs are: that AIDS was created to rid the world of the Black
race; the recent tsunami in Asia was caused by Israel and the U.S. setting off a nuclear bomb on the
ocean floor; the Iraq War was planned at the presidents Crawford Ranch to help his oil buddies; and
that the U.S. government is tampering the weather by shifting the jet streams in Alaska with secret giant
jet fans. These theories are not just being fostered by the unwashed masses, but often by well-placed,
highly-educated men and women.

A common example of a popular conspiracy theory is the Moon Landing. 40 years after the first
moon landing, we still hear that putting a man on the moon in 1969 has been the greatest hoax ever
orchestrated by the American Government in order to win the space war against the Soviet Union. In
other words, the entire human landing program was carefully faked from start to finish. Although NASA
has proven wrong each one of the arguments that support this bizarre allegation, there are still web
pages and documentaries loaded with interesting pieces of evidence that uphold the moon hoax theory.

We have also heard Thierry Meyssan, author of the The Big Lie, who challenges the official
version of the September 11th terrorist attacks to the United States. Meyssan developed his claims in the
TV program The Fifth Estate: Conspiracy Theories broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
(CBC) in 2004. According to Meyssan, the American Airlines Flight 77 did not hit the U.S. Pentagon in
Washington proved by the fact that the size of the hole left in the Pentagon was too small for that plane.
Instead, he concludes that something much smaller, fired by the American government itself, caused the
impact. Furthermore, the attacks on the World Trade Center are thought to have been controlled by
radio beacons from the ground. Behind this September 11th hoax would be George W. Bush, who is
blamed to have been moved by the desire to find a reason to put a hand on the Middle East oil.
(http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/conspiracytheories/index.html).

More recently, it is said that the swine flu was created in the laboratory by the same producers of
the antiviral medication to treat it, Tamiflu. American politicians as Ronald Rumfield have been linked to
the pharmaceutical company that owns the patent of the medication and have been accused of
capitalizing on a virus that just isn't that much of a threat.

According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), conspiracy theories involve wild
allegations, depend on questionable characters and seem like a waste of time. But the CBC also
admits that many of these theories are based, at least in part, on legitimate questions. Moreover, for
The New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, bizarre conspiracy theories have played a disturbingly
large role in the current American political discourse. Why is there an increase in conspiracy theories?
One writer remarked that conspiracies are the new opiate of the masses (Mary Jacobs, writer for the
Dallas Morning News). There are many reasons why multitudes resort to conspiracy theory:

1. The Internet. There are literally hundreds of sites explaining world events by a powerful
conspiracy (or conspiracies).
2. End times Speculation. Some Christians from the Protestant Millennial tradition see history
winding down and the emergence of a one-world government combined with a one-world religion
ultimately ruled by The Antichrist, and thus make predicting events based on their conspiracy
theories the focal point of their ministries.
3. The Complexity of the Times. Epidemics, weather events, wars, catastrophes, political
assassinations, and terrorism are seen nightly on TV. When people live in constant fear,
 conspiracy theories seem to make the complex and seemingly unexplainable world events more
manageable.
4. The Distrust of Modern Government. As the government grows larger and intrudes into every
area of our lives, its easy to attribute this growth and increase in power to conspiracy.
5. Hollywood Movies and Contemporary Fiction. Some recent movies that contribute to endless
speculations about conspiracies are: JFK, Conspiracy, The Firm, and The Matrix. The best-selling
novel, The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown, and his book on Masonry are according to his claim,
based on the truth.

But, why are we so skeptical about them? We may be trained to believe only what mainstream
media says and fanatically close our eyes to other alternatives. That we call them conspiracy theories,
however, points to the fact that we are probably biased.

Adapted from: http://www.rapidresponsereport.com/briefingpapers/Conspiracies68.pdf

http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/conspiracytheories/index.html

READING ACTIVITY

1. What is the main idea in Conspiracy Theories and Hoaxes?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

2. What conspiracy theories are mentioned in the article? Do you believe any of them can be true?
____________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

3. Have you ever investigated a conspiracy theory? Why?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Chronology
1700s-1850s
European-inspired conspiracy
theories evolve into American
style conspiracism.
1776
Bavarian law professor founds
Illuminism movement, a secret
society devoted to creating a world
ruled by reason instead of clerics.
1798
Anti-Illuminati propaganda
reaches U.S., sparking fear that
Thomas Jefferson seeks to destroy
religion.
1830s
Anti-Catholic conspiracy theory
flourishes.
1840s-1850s
Slave Power conspiracists see a
federal takeover by slaveholding
interests.
1940s-1950s
World War II and Cold War
prompt fear of takeover of U.S.
1944
Chicago Tribune alleges President
Franklin D. Roosevelt provoked
1941 Pearl Harbor attack.
1945-46
Congressional hearings conclude
Roosevelt didnt purposely prompt
Pearl Harbor attack.
1951
Sen. Joseph McCarthy, R Wis.,
falsely accuses secretaries of state
and defense of being Soviet
agents.
1958
John Birch Society founded to
promote theory that Illuminati
conspirators have penetrated
government.
1960s-1970s
Kennedy assassination opens
era of disbelief in government
explanations.
1962
Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman
secretly proposes faked Cuban
attacks to create pretext for U.S.
military intervention in Cuba.
1963
Assassination of President John F.
Kennedy provokes conspiracy
theories still in circulation today.
1972
Revelations that government
doctors injected black farmers with
syphilis the Tuskegee
Experiment fuel later suspicion
that government invented AIDS.
1975
Church Committee produces
evidence of secret drug tests on
U.S. citizens.
1980s-1990s
Conspiracy theories based on
actual and imagined
government misdeeds build a
following.
1982
CIA ignores reports that
Nicaraguan guerrillas are
trafficking drugs sparking
conspiracy theory on the origin of
crack cocaine epidemic.
1986
Iran-Contra scandal reveals
secret U.S. plan to sell arms to
Iran.
1987
Soviet-bloc scientists spread rumor
that U.S. military created AIDS.
1991
Televangelist Pat Robertson warns
of global takeover plot.
1993
Suicide of White House aide
Vincent Foster prompts theories
that President Bill Clinton and/or
his wife, Hillary, had Foster
killed. . . .
Branch Davidian confrontation
near Waco, Texas, spurs growth of
conspiracist- influenced militia
movement.
1997
Militia movement leader Linda
Thompson calls black helicopters
a frequent element of
conspiracy theories part of a
CIA-sponsored government
takeover plot.
2000s
Sept. 11 attacks involve
President George W.
Bush in conspiracy theories;
later theories target President
Barack Obama.
2004
Truther conspiracy theorists
demand investigation of
governments deliberate failure to
prevent 9/11 attacks.
2005
Popular Mechanics debunks
conspiracy theories of the attacks.
2007
Poll shows 22 percent of
respondents believe Bush knew
about attack.
2008
Presidential campaign spurs
theories that Obama is Muslim. . . .
Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obamas
former minister, endorses
conspiracy theory on AIDS origin.
2009
Birther activists take their
arguments to federal court. . .
Obama appointee Van Jones
resigns after disclosure he signed
truther petition. . . . Conspiracists
help spur resistance to flu shots.
GRAMMAR:
The Perfect Tenses
The Present Perfect

The present perfect is a verb tense used to talk about:

- Something that happened in the past, but has a connection to the present.
- Repetition in the past.
- An activity that happened in an unspecific time in the past.
- A change that has happened over a period of time in the past.
- An action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect
suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.

Form: Have / has (not) + Past participle of the main verb.

Common signal words: already, yet, so far, never, ever, since, for, recently, just.

Examples:
o I have read the article about hoaxes 5 times.
o Peter has gone to a conference on conspiracy theories.
o Many people havent understood the importance of conspiracy theories yet.
o The army has attacked the city.
o Have you studied conspiracy theories yet?

The Present Perfect Progressive:

The present perfect progressive or continuous is a verb tense used to talk about:

- An action that began in the past, continues in the present, and may continue into
the future.

Form: Have / has (not) + been + verb(ing)

Common signal words: all day, the whole day, how long, since, for.

Examples:
o I have been researching for 5 hours.
o He hasnt been working at all.
o Joanne and Peter have been considering the proposal.
o How long have you been watching that program?

The Past Perfect:

The past perfect is a verb tense used to talk about:

- An action that took place in the past before another action in the past.

Form: had (not) + past participle

 Common signal words: already, just, never, by the time.

Examples:
o By the time John arrived, the exam had ended.
o I had already left when Peter called.

The Past Perfect Progressive:

The past perfect progressive or continuous is a verb tense used to talk about:

- A past, ongoing action that was completed before another action in the past.

Form: had (not) + been + verb(ing)

Common signal words: how long, since, from.

Examples:
o The students had been studying the effects of conspiracy theories before the teacher
asked them to do it.
o I had been working on the paper about Area 51 when there was a news broadcast on
UFOS.

GRAMMAR PRACTICE

A. Delilah wants to write a blog on conspiracy theories, but her parents are against it. Read her
letter and search the text and mark a) the present perfect and b) the past simple. Taken from:
http://www.nubuk.com/english/tenses_booklet.pdf

I have always wanted to become a conspiracy theory blogger. I have often written in the schools
newspaper and in a small newspaper in our town. I have already written my own mini-blogs, and in 2002 I
even won an award. My parents have tolerated this interest as a hobby, but they have never taken it
seriously.

Last year, my parents persuaded me to stay on at school. I have already told them that I dont want
to go to school, I want to become a professional blogger and investigate conspiracy theories, but they say
its a dead-end job with very uncertain prospects. They want me to study law. Im a creative person law
would be the worst thing I can imagine.

We have spoken a lot about my future recently, but they havent changed their views. They have
had no reason to be angry with me. So far I have done reasonably well in school. Up to now my grades
have been average or even better. My grades in English have always been very good.
 Two months ago, I wrote to a specialist on conspiracy theories: Jesse Ventura. I asked for a job as
an intern in his programs. I didnt tell my parents. Last week, I received a reply inviting me to go down for
interview and first audition. I have considered leaving home if I am offered a place. The trouble is, it would
cost a lot of money and my parents wouldnt give it to me. How could I possibly support myself?

I think I am afraid of the future, but I have not made up my mind yet about leaving home. My
parents want whats best for me but do they really know what that is? What shall I do?

B. Write the verb in parentheses in the correct tense (Present Perfect or Present Perfect Progressive) to
complete the following sentences.

1. I ______________________ (always, to believe) that JFK was killed by the CIA.

2. Jennifer ______________________ (to work) in Area 51 for 10 years, and she ______________________
(not, to see) an alien.
3. Those who believe in conspiracy theories ______________________ (to spend) their whole lives trying to
prove that they are right.
4. It is already 10.30 a.m. We ______________________(to wait) here for 30 minutes. If our classmate
doesnt show up soon, we will have to do the oral presentation without him!
5. Did you know that JFKs assassin was killed while in custody? I ______________________ (to think) this
over and over, and I still believe that he didnt do it.

C. Write the verb in parentheses in the correct tense (Present Perfect, Present Perfect Progressive or
Simple Past) to complete the following sentences.

I ______________________ (to see) pictures of what happened on September 11. There

______________________ (to be) a lot of chaos and pain. People cant still understand how that event
______________________ (to change) the U.S.As way of life.

Before the attacks, the U.S.A. ______________________ (to think) they couldnt be hurt, but that attack
______________________ (to prove) them wrong. They ______________________ (to try) to protect
themselves ever since. They ______________________ (to increase) security in airports, they
______________________ (to foster) the law even more than before, but nothing they do can change the fact
that they feel threatened.

D. Write the verb in parentheses in the correct tense (Simple Past, Present Perfect, Present Perfect
Progressive, Past Perfect or Past Perfect Progressive) to complete the following sentences.

1. When the teacher ______________________(to arrive), the students ______________________

(already, to hide) the books.

2. When Sarah ______________________ (to come) to class yesterday, her eyes

______________________ (to be) watery and red. I think that she ______________________ (to cry).
3. I ______________________ (to read) every book on conspiracy theories. I really
______________________ (to enjoy) it.

4. When I ______________________ (to turn) the radio on yesterday morning, I ______________________

(to hear) a popular program on Conspiracy Theories. I ______________________ (to hear) that same
program last week, and it ______________________ (to remind) me of some questions I
______________________ (to want) to ask the person speaking.

5. Last week, I ______________________ (to run) into an old friend of mine. We ______________________
(not, to see) each other in many years, and we ______________________ (to change) a lot. We talked
about our hobbies. I ______________________ (to ask) her come to my speech, so we could continue
talking after it.

6. Carol ______________________(to be) very tired when she ______________________(to leave) the
office because she ______________________(to work) all day.

E. Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentences.

1. Ben has travelled / travelled to Italy last month.

2. How many stories have you written / did you write so far?
3. I am tired because I have been researching / researched / have researched all night.
4. Mike phoned / has phoned/ had been phoning/ had phoned three times by the time I picked / had
picked up the phone.
5. It is still raining. It didnt stop / hasnt stopped / hadnt stopped raining all day long.

F. Look at the sentences. Choose the correct explanation for each. Activity taken from:
http://www.prolinguaassociates.com/Grammar_Review_Book/GRB_Unit_18.pdf.

1. We had a good time at Jims party last weekend.

a) This is correct. It has a main verb (had) for past tense.
b) This is incorrect. With the words last weekend, we need an auxiliary verb (has) and a past participle
(had).

2. So far, they take a trip to the mountains for their vacation.

a) This is correct. It has a main verb (take) in the present tense.
b) This is incorrect. With the expression, so far, we need an auxiliary verb (have) and a main
verb (taken).

3. Tom never saw a zebra.

a) This is correct. It has a main verb (saw) for past tense.
b) This is incorrect. With the word never, we need an auxiliary verb (has) and past participle (seen).

4. I havent spoke to my boss about my pay raise yet.

a) This is correct. With the word yet, we need an auxiliary verb (havent) and a main verb (spoke).
b) This is incorrect. With the word yet, we need an auxiliary verb (havent) and past participle. However,
we need to change spoke to spoken because spoken is the past participle.

5. The waiters clean the tables at the end of the day.

a) This is correct. It has a main verb (clean).
b) This is incorrect. We need an auxiliary verb (have) and a past participle (cleaned).
c) This is incorrect. With the subject waiters, the main verb should be cleans.
 6. She has already wrote her pen pal 18 letters.
a) This is correct. With the word already, we need an auxiliary verb (has) and a main verb (wrote).
b) This is incorrect. With the subject she and time expression already, we need an auxiliary (has) and a
main verb (writes).
c) This is incorrect. Wrote is the past tense. With the auxiliary has, we need the past participle (written).

Research
Investigate on one of the following conspiracy theories. Look for information based on the conspiracy theory vs. the
official version of events.
- September 11
- The death of JFK
- The Moon Landing

Use a graphic organizer with the information found to compare and contrast your findings. At least, you must
include 3 differences and 3 similarities.

Also, you must write the sources used with APA format.

Be ready to hand in the information in class.

Below you will find the criteria used when correcting written activities.

Criteria for Correcting Writing Activities

1
1. Subject-Verb Agreement He have been here since 1998
2
2. Word form I saw a beauty woman
3
3. Word choice She got at the taxi
4
4. Verb tense He is since July
5+
5. Add a word + I want _go to the zoo
5-
5. Omit a word - He called to Mary yesterday
6
6. Word order I saw five times that movie
7
7. Incomplete sentence I went to bed. Because I was tired
8
8. Spelling He is fater than you
9
9. Punctuation What did she say.
10
10. Capitalization I am studying english
11
11. Article They had a accident
12
12. Meaning not clear He borrowed some smoke to buy food