“PREPARATE PARA LA UNIVERSIDAD”

CURSO: Inglés – Modals II

Modals to Express Degrees of Certainty

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Who really discovered America? Brendan and his companions could really have
accomplished this voyage. Using the
A well-known school rhyme goes like this: “In specifications described in the St. Brendan text,
fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus they built a curragh, an Irish leather boat, and
sailed the ocean blue”-and then discovered attempted the journey. On the way, they passed
America. However, Columbus may not have been Greenland and wintered in Iceland, where they
the first non-Native American to visit the Western saw whales, a volcano, and icebergs. They
Hemisphere. So many other potential discoverers theorized that Brendan’s sea monsters might
have been nominated that the question might have been whales, the ice crystals icebergs, and
almost be rephrased as “Who didn’t discovered the bad-smelling rocks volcanic debris. Severin’s
America?” What does history show? Who really group did eventually get to Newfoundland,
discovered the New World? Those suggested proving that a curragh could have made the
include the Vikings, the Japanese, the Chinese, journey to North America. Religious artifacts and
the Egyptians, the Hebrews, the Portuguese, and stone carvings bearing vocabulary and
some Irish monks. grammatical constructions from Old Irish have
been found in Virginia. This suggests that other
The Vikings are the best-known contenders. missionaries could have gone to the New World
Evidence suggests that Leif Erickson and cohorts after Brendan’s return. Thus the story may be
visited the New World about the year 1000, true.
almost 500 years before Columbus. Viking
records and New World artifacts indicate they But back to the original question: Who really
arrived at a place they named “Vinland the “discovered” the New World? Future research
Good”-the land of grapes. Scholars originally should get us closer to an answer. Columbus did
thought Vinland must have been Newfoundland, not, of course, really discover America. The real
but today it is believed Vinland couldn’t have finders were the Native Americans who migrated
been that island since it is too far north for grapes across the Bering Strait more than 10,000 years
to grow. Could the climate have been warmer in ago.
Erickson’s day? Perhaps. However, current
thought is that Vinland may have been the New The claim about Columbus really means that
England coast. he started two-way communication between the
Old World and the New. In that sense Columbus’s
The Japanese are more recent candidates. reputation is still safe.
Pottery fragments discovered in 1956 on the
coast of Ecuador date back about 5,000 years.
These fragments resemble Japanese pottery of Questions:
the same era, but it has been stablished that
there was no native pottery in Ecuador in 3000 1. What is the main idea the passage?
B.C.E. Could the Japanese have introduced it?
Smithsonian Institute scholars conclude that A) Let us know more about a placed named
individuals may have sailed from Japan across the “Vinland the Good”.
Pacific to Ecuador, or Japanese fishermen might
have been swept out to sea and carried 10,000 B) Explain why Columbus’s reputation is known
miles across the ocean. This theory may sound around the world.
unlikely and may eventually be disproved, but the
pottery evidence must mean something. C) Try to solve the question: Who really
discovered the New World?
One interesting theory stems from the story
of St. Brendan, a sixth-century Irish monk who D) Let us know how many artifacts have been
made many voyages to establish monasteries. A found in Virginia.
sixth-century document suggests that Brendan
made a journey far out into the Atlantic, reports 2. What is the opposite of the word SAFE?
of which may have influenced Columbus to
believe that there really was a New World. A) Protected
Brendan and his fellow monks saw “sea
monsters,” “crystals rising up into the sky,” and “a B) Vulnerable
rain of bad-smelling rocks”. In 1976, British
navigation scholar Tim Severin decided to see if
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C) Careful
……………. 1. So many other potential discoverers
D) Secure have been nominated . . .
……………. 2. Those suggested include the
3. According to the author, which of the Vikings, the Japanese . . . and some Irish monks.
following sentences is true? ……………. 3. The Vikings are the best-known
contenders.
A) Pottery fragments found in Ecuador date ……………. 4. Leif Erickson and cohorts visited the
from the year 6000 B.C.E. New World about the year 1000.
……………. 5. New World artifacts indicate the
B) The ice crystals seen by Brendan and his Vikings arrived at a place they name Vinland the
companions must have been icebergs. Good.
……………. 6. One interesting theory stems from
C) The story of St. Brendan almost certainly the story of St. Brendan.
caused Columbus to believe that there was a New ……………. 7. Brendan made many voyages to
World. establish monasteries.
……………. 8. The bad-smelling rocks many have
D) Schoolchildren are often taught that been volcanic debris.
Columbus discovered America.

4. What can be implied from the passage? a. originates with

b. remains of an explosion
A) Columbus didn’t discover America, but he had
a great deal to do with promoting contact c. religious residences
between the Old World and the New. d. possible
e. likely candidates
B) It is a fact that Columbus discovered America f. human- made objects
and there’s no evidence that can prove the g. companions
opposite. h. members of an all-male
religious group
C) The Vikings are the best-known contenders
about the discovery of the New World.

D) Scholars currently believe that Vinland

couldn’t have been Newfoundland because that
island is too far south for grapes to grow.

5. If there weren’t any evidence or theory that

makes us doubt about who discovered the New
World, people could be sure about …

A) More theories could appear to refuse the

actual discoverer of America.

B) The Japanese, the Egyptians or the Chinese

could have been the discoverers.

C) Columbus could have been the person who

discovered the New World.

D) Some evidence could show us that Irish

monks were the discoverers of America

Exercises:
Match the bold words and phrases with their
meanings from the box.
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INTERVIEWER: What was the purpose of the

lines?

TEXT: Dr. Reyes: Good question. We still can’t

figure out why the Nazca people drew these
MYSTERIOUS ARTWORK large pictures on the ground – images you
INTERVIEWER: The Nazca Desert in Peru is can really only see from the sky. Many
home to one of the most unusual sites in scientists think the images might be
the world. In this issue, we talk with Dr. religious symbols. Others believe the lines
Gabriel Reyes about the Nazca Lines and may be a large map; perhaps the Nazca
why they are one of history’s greatest people used the lines to find water in the
mysteries. desert. Still others think the lines were a
special type of calendar. As I say, scientists
So, Dr. Reyes, tell us: What exactly are the are still investigating.
Nazca Lines?
Dr. Reyes: On the ground for almost 60
Kilometers (37 miles) in the Peruvian desert
are hundreds of line drawings of different
animals, humans, insects, and other
symbols. These drawings, known as the
Nazca Lines, are very large. Some are over
200 meters (600 feet) long and can only be
seen correctly from the sky.
INTERVIEWER: Who created these unusual
ground drawings?
Dr. Reyes: For years, people had different
theories. Some thought visitors from
another planet drew them-maybe because
the lines are best seen from a plane. Today,
though, scientists believe the Nazca people
created the images. They lived in the area
from 200 B.C. to the 7th century A.D. and
probably made the drawings over 1,500 Answer the next questions:
years ago. 1. What is the main idea of the passage?
A) To show us what exactly Nazca Lines are.
INTERVIEWER: 1,500 years ago? How did
B) Tell us what technology was used to draw Nazca
they do it- especially without modern
Lines.
technology? C) Explain why Nazca Lines are one of history’s
Dr. Reyes: Most likely they used simple greatest mysteries.
tools. A team probably planned what they D) Show us who created Nazca Lines.
wanted a certain image to look like. Then
2. In the passage, what does the word figure out
they worked together and made the
mean?
drawings in the desert ground. They didn’t
A) Unscramble
need planes or other modern equipment.
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B) Study C. might be
C) Modify D. isn’t
D) Learn
3. Bob usually drives his car to work, but today he got
on the bus. Something _______________ wrong
3. According to the author, which of the following
with his car.
sentences is false?
A. is
A) Many scientists think the images might be B. must be
religious symbols. C. couldn’t be
B) Scientists are still investigating the purpose of D. might be
the lines.
C) The lines are small and must be looked at closely 4. Glen's wife is Japanese. There is a picture of a
on the ground. Japanese woman on his desk. That ____________
D) Modern technology wasn’t necessary to draw his wife.
Nazca Lines. A. is
B. might be
C. must be
4. What audience would like to read this article
D. could be
more?
A) Researchers 5. Sam is usually very friendly, but he hasn't smiled
B) Archaeologists at all today. He ______________ worried about
C) General public something.
D) University students
A. is
5. What can be implied from the passage? B. must be
A) We already know why Nazca people drew these C. might have been
D. might be
large images.
B) Scientists haven’t already discovered all about Answers:
Nazca Lines.
C) Scientists are still investigating more about 1. B
Nazca Lines. 2. A
D) For years, people had different theories about 3. B
who created these unusual ground drawings. 4. C
5. D
HOMEWORK QUESTIONS:

1. You went to bed at 9:30 last night and got up at

11:00 this morning. You _________________ still
be tired.

A) might
B) can’t
C) must
D) couldn’t be

2. I don't know why Stephanie isn't eating with us.

She _____________ hungry.

A. might not be
B. couldn’t be
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