Vocabulary
'tell of' in Para. 1 means ...
to mention or to talk about something
Re-read paragraph 1.
Give two reasons why locals believe an ancient race of giants once existed, according to the text.
1. legends
2. tribes recollect their existence
think of 3 synonyms for the word 'thriving' in the line 3
prosperous
booming
flourishing
Give two reasons why it might be assumed that the giants worked hard
• pyramids: size / height / steep incline
• tools: existence of (many) tools / (heavy) tools
• boulders (as building materials): stones really heavy / (lots of) huge stones
What is another way of saying 'ancient structures' in line 5?
historical architectures
old constructions
antique buildings
Identify two pieces of evidence that the Ecuadorian authorities did not want to believe the findings.
• ignored the researchers’ evidence
• own inspection was brief / inspection lacked thoroughness
• flawed conclusion / ignored evidence they found themselves /ignored the regular size of the blocks they had found as evidence / concluded natural formation despite regular size of blocks
Think of 3 words that share the same word root 'habit' (live) 'inhabited'.
habitat
inhabitant
habitable
Re-read Para. 4.
Explain why researchers believe that these are man-made pyramids.
• regular blocks / shape of blocks does not look natural
• precisely cut
• assembled / put together / positioned
Identify the synonym of the word 'dig' in the text.
excavate
Re-read Para. 5.
Using your own words, explain why it is possible that the researchers are wrong in their theories.
• over enthusiastic / misleading themselves
• nothing there / (mound) shape could be no more than mud and foliage
• real shape hidden / true shape (of ground) is distorted (by mud and foliage)
• no precedent in that country / not found in that country yet / only in other countries so far
• further evidence yet to consider / the sites have not been excavated yet