Page 94 - Grasp English C1+ (Workbook)

9 Cosmology

C. Read the text and answer the questions.

Although for many years conspiracy theorists have been putting forward reasons which supposedly
prove the lunar landing was faked, each one has been met with conclusive evidence to prove otherwise.
It is high time they stopped undermining the brave astronauts and highly-educated scientists who
have devoted their lives to space exploration.
For example, the idea that the whole lunar landing could have been filmed in a studio has been
proven to be impossible, in large part due to the length of the shadows and the way they fall on the
moon’s surface. Had the light source been anything other than the sun, the shadows would have been
shorter and would not have been as straight and parallel as they were.
Another argument regarding light is the lack of stars in a picture taken on the moon. However, given that
at the time the photos were taken, the astronauts were on the sunny side of the moon, it is unsurprising
that stars were not visible in their pictures. Have you ever tried photographing a star in the midday sun?
Moreover, the fact that Russia, the US’s space race rival at the time, was able to track the shuttle on its
journey to the moon further proves that the landing really happened. Russia would have been unlikely
to support a falsified claim of a lunar landing when they were also attempting to put a man on the
moon.
In conclusion, if you are ever faced with someone spouting conspiracy theories about the lunar landing,
tell them to double- and triple-check their sources and read up on the evidence against their case.

1. Which of the ideas from exercise A are addressed in the text?
2. What evidence does the author provide for each?
3. How does the use of supposedly in the first sentence show the author’s position?
4. To what extent has the author persuaded you of the authenticity of the lunar landing?

D. Find the following in the text.
a. the thesis statement d. language related to giving proof
b. linking devices to introduce ideas e. a question to engage the reader
c. emotional language f. a call to action

E. Complete the table with at least two more arguments in each column.

Space exploration is a waste of the national budget Space exploration is essential for our future

A shuttle costs around $450 million to launch. The earth’s population is continuing to grow.

F. Now choose one of the following topics and write
your persuasive essay (180–220 words). Use your
ideas from the table.
• Space exploration is a waste of the national budget.
• Space exploration is essential for our future.

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