SURVIVAL ENGINEERING
9.2
89
GRAMMAR
THE PASSIVE
6
a
The passive is often used for the following reasons.
1
When the person doing the action is not important, not known or
is obvious.
2
When we want to start a sentence with information that is known
or has been mentioned before.
3
When we want to include the person who does the action, we
introduce them with the preposition
by.
Look at the highlighted phrases in the article, and match them to the
statements above.
GRAMMAR TIP
We form the passive with a form of
be
followed by the past
participle of the main verb:
The Earth
has been
struck …
6
b
Look at the article and find all the other examples of the passive
and underline them. Then match all the examples of the passive
with these tenses.
a
the present simple passive
b
the past simple passive
c
the present perfect passive
d
the passive in the future
e
the passive with a modal verb
Ê
Language reference and extra practice pages 142–143
7
Complete the text using either the passive or the active form of
the verbs in brackets.
30 million people
1
(kill) by the global flu epidemic of 1918. In
recent years, people
2
(shock) by the arrival of ‘new’ infectious
diseases. These
3
(call) superbugs. Many superbugs
4
(live)
harmlessly on or in the body and only
5
(cause) problems when
people become sick with other illnesses. These bugs are particularly
dangerous to people who
6
(weaken) by surgery, childbirth or old
age. The bugs also
7
(cause) problems for babies. Scientists say
vaccines capable of beating deadly superbugs like MRSA
8
(find)
within ten years. However, some people think that with the rise of
genetic engineering, the world
9
(wipe out) by a GM superbug.
8
a
Work with a partner to do a passives quiz. Make passive
sentences using the table on page 157. Write as many sentences as
you can in ten minutes.
8
b
Compare your sentences with another pair.
What have you got for number 1?
The ballpoint pen was invented by …
8
c
Now close all your books. In your groups of four, how many
passive sentences can you remember from the quiz? The team with the
most correct sentences wins.
SPEAKING
9
In groups, look at the following global threats. Choose the three
most serious. Then discuss and rank them 1–3 (1 = most serious).
overpopulation asteroids drought famine earthquakes tsunamis
hurricanes superbugs alien invasion genetic engineering volcanoes
60
Scientists worldwide are concerned about
the threat from asteroids striking the Earth.
They agree that action should be taken to
prevent an asteroid or comet colliding with
our planet.
65
Some space researchers are particularly
worried about asteroids. They want to
send a probe to an asteroid which could
be a threat to the Earth in the near
future. They want to deflect Asteroid
70
2012 TC4, an asteroid that will fly close
to the Earth two decades from now. This
asteroid is about 40 metres wide The
threat from 2012 TC4 is considered by
some scientists to be the most serious
75
now facing our planet.
These scientists believe there is still time to
change the path of the asteroid before it
approaches the Earth.
Several methods have been proposed by
80
engineers to avoid collisions with asteroids.
One idea is that a spacecraft could land
on the asteroid. It would then use electric
motors to change the path of the asteroid.
Other methods include hitting it with
85
missiles or using a satellite to change its
direction. Further research will be carried
out in the future.
The threat of 2012 TC4 has focused
people’s minds on protecting our planet
90
against asteroids and other objects from
outer space. Recently, Rusty Schweickart,
a former Apollo astronaut, called for
action to defend the planet. He wrote in
the New York Times, ‘By preventing
95
dangerous asteroid strikes, we can
save millions of people, or even our
entire species.’
