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课件网) get ready for our class hands write ears eyes listen watch heads think mouths communicate Unit 5 Into the unknown The mysteries of the Maya If you were a tour guide, what aspect would you introduce to your visitors Self-directed questioning Time: Location: around 1800 BC to 1100 AD from Mexico to Central America achievements palaces and temples Writing system Mathematics and astronomy step pyraimds characters & signs the Maya calendar achievements The Maya built impressive palaces and temples, including their representative step pyramids. What is most extraordinary about these complex structures is how they were built without the use of wheels, metal tools or even animal power. The Maya's understanding of mathematics and astronomy was also quite amazing. They applied this understanding to the Maya calendar, which was accurate to within 30 seconds per year. On top of all this was an achievement unique in the Americas at that time: a true writing system. It contained more than 800 characters,with some signs representing animals, people and objects and others representing syllables. It was a writing system so complicated that, so far, no one has been able to interpret it completely. adjectives (形容词): impressive extraordinary complicated accurate amazing complex true than 800 more read the lines incredible mysterious unique without the use of wheels, metal tools or even animal power technologically primitive read the lines They had turned wetlands into fields for growing grains, and had dug huge canal systems. As their population expanded, yet more land was needed for agriculture and more trees for construction. By changing the landscape in this way, it is possible that the Maya people unknowingly reduced their ability to deal with natural disasters. What did they do Result turned into changing growing dug expanded reduced deal with read the lines read between the lines Choose the topic sentences and write them back to the passage. a Maya civilisation has been surrounded by mystery since its rediscovery in the 19th century. b But the greatest mystery of all is what caused the Maya to abandon most of their great cities. c Although his theory has been dismissed by scholars, it shows how powerful the secrets of Ancient Maya civilisation are among people. d Research also suggests that those natural disasters may have led to the decline of the Maya. e Meanwhile, the rise and fall of this civilisation must also leave us thinking about our own past, present and future. f Some research seems to indicate that the Maya people themselves may have played a part in their downfall. Check your answers: c a b f d e What is William Gadoury’s new discovery about the Maya civilisation What is the scholars’ attitude towards William Gadoury’s discovery A. Incredible. B. Disapproving. C. Favorable. D. Shocked. read para.1 He believes the locations of the Maya cities correspond to the positions of the s ... ...
