The End of the World

Before you watch the video

1. What do you think of this theory?

2. What would you do if you knew that the world was going to end?

II. Read this text from an English newspaper. (2009)

A tidal wave engulfs the Himalayas. A tsunami scoops up a warship and dumps it on the White House. The Great Wall of China crumbles and thousands of screeming tourists plummet to their death.

Those who survive the initial onslaught flee in terror, but to run is futile for this is the ultimate catastrophe – the end of the world – as predicted by Hollywood disaster movie 2012.

Is it nonsence or are we really on the brink of  Doomsday? This belief is  based on a calendar produced by the ancient Mayan civilisation, which  lasted for around 2,000 years until it's mysterious collapse in AD900.

With neither telescopes or other equipment at their disposal, the Mayans managed to calculate that a lunar month lasted 29,5305 days, just 34 seconds away from what we know to be its actual length. They also accurately forecast the movements of planets including Jupiter and Mars, and the occurance of both solar and lunar eclipses for many centuries to come.

Given these very precise predictions, Doomsday theorists are alarmed that the “Long Count” Calendar, as it is known, appears to end abruptly  on a date they recorded as 13.0.0.0 or the date we know as December 21, 2012.

The only clue at to what the Mayans thought might happen on that day comes from an ancient stone tablet, discovered during roadworks in Mexico  in the 1960's. Carved upon it are hieroglyphics that refer to the year 2012  and an event that involves Bolon Yokte, the Mayan god of war and creation. Weathering and a crack in the stone have made the last part of the inscription illegible, but Mexican archaeologists have interpreted it as saying “He will descend from the sky”.

Scientists don't agree with this idea but say that the world will come to an end eventually. The good news is that it is unlikely to happen for another 4 billion years. So since the aforementioned fate isn't likely to happen for a long time, if at all, we are probably safe to get on with our plans for Christmas 2012.

What do these words mean?

To engulf something

To scoop something up

To crumble

To plummet

Onslaught

futile

To be on the brink of something

To be at someone's disposal

To weather

illegible

aforementioned

III. After you watch the video

Answer these questions.

1.   Do the scientists agree with the end of the world?

2.   Did a Tidal Wave really engulf the Himalayas?

3.   Why do some people believe in the Mayan calendar?

4.   According to the Mayans, what may happen on 21^st December 2012?

5.   What do you think?

IV part Complete the charts

WATCH THIS VIDEO AND MAKE NOTES ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS. IF YOU HAVE TO STOP THE VIDEO, YOU CAN.

The Mayan Calendar

Niburu

Nasa Astronomers

Solar storm

Planetary Alignments

Earth Axis shift

In groups, discuss the different theories about the end of the world?

Video www.youtube.com

NASA JPL: 21 Dec 2012 Just Another Day