LESSON

Scientists find pyramid’s secret tunnel

B1 learning English in real life with authentic language

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 Transcript
Hidden corridor in Great Pyramid - 24th March 2023
Scientists have discovered a secret tunnel inside Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, and it's created plenty of
excitement. Nine metres in length and two metres in width, experts are hoping it will provide important
information about King Khufu's tomb. Mystery surrounds this Egyptian Pharaoh.
Zahi Hawass is an expert in ancient Egypt. He's in charge of checking the project.
Zahi Hawass: "Today, major important secrets have been revealed by technology for the first time, the discovery
of a nine metres tunnel, and two metres and 10 centimetres wide, found behind the main entrance of the Great
Pyramid, and this discovery will reveal to us many important facts about Khufu and his Pyramid."
This new find avoided causing any damage to the Pyramid itself, which makes it different from historical
discoveries. The hidden tunnel was found by a special project, 'ScanPyramids', which combines experts from Egypt
with university scientists from abroad. The team made clever use of different technologies – thermography,
radiography and the building of 3D computer models.
4,500 years old, the Great Pyramid is the largest in the country, and rises to 146 metres in height. Of the seven
wonders of the ancient world, it's the only one still with us today.
Zahi Hawass is hoping this recent discovery could help locate where King Khufu was buried inside the pyramid. A
stone sarcophagus was discovered centuries ago, but the Pharaoh's body was missing.
Zahi Hawass: "I've always thought that the burial chamber of King Khufu hasn't been discovered yet. And I believe
that there is a great possibility, and that's certain, that the tunnel is protecting something. In my opinion, it is
protecting the actual burial chamber of King Khufu."
2 The mystery may soon be solved.
 Before you watch
1. Do you like to read or watch mysteries? Why?
2. Have you ever solved a mystery in your own life? What was it?
3. What is the most interesting mystery you have heard of? Why did it
interest you?
4. Have you ever visited a place with a mysterious history? What was it
like?

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 Vocabulary matching
Fill the following gaps with the words on the left in the correct form.
1. pharaoh A. the act of working together to achieve a common goal
The ScanPyramids project was a __________ between different universities and experts from
different countries.
2. thermography B. a stone coffin, often elaborately decorated and inscribed
King Khufu's empty __________ was found in the pyramid centuries ago.
3. radiography C. a feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness
The discovery of the secret tunnel inside the Great Pyramid has caused a lot of __________
among archaeologists and historians.
4. sarcophagus D. a type of light that is longer than the light we can see but shorter than radio waves. It is
often used for detecting or measuring things, such as temperature
The firefighters used __________ cameras to locate the hot spots in the burning building.
5. collaboration E. The use of X-rays or gamma rays to produce an image of the interior of an object
The scientists used __________ to create an image of the pyramid's interior.
6. excitement F. the use of infrared imaging to detect heat patterns and temperature changes in an object
The scientists used __________ to see if there were any hidden chambers inside the pyramid.
7. infrared G. a ruler of ancient Egypt
4 King Khufu was an Egyptian __________ who built the Great Pyramid.
 Video lesson

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 After you watch (True/False)
1. Scientists have discovered a secret tunnel inside the Great T/F
Pyramid of Giza.

2. The tunnel is 20 meters in length and 3 meters in width. T/F

3. Zahi Hawass is an expert in modern Egypt. T/F
4. The discovery of the tunnel caused damage to the Pyramid. T/F
5. The ScanPyramids project includes only scientists from Egypt. T/F
6. King Khufu's body was found in the stone sarcophagus T/F
discovered centuries ago.
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 Grammar Point
Used to vs Be/Get used to something
"Used to" is used to talk about something that happened regularly in the
past but doesn't happen anymore.
For example, "I used to play soccer every Saturday, but now I don't."
"Get used to" means to become familiar or comfortable with something
that was unfamiliar or uncomfortable before.
For example, "I moved to a new city and it took me a while to get used to the
new surroundings."
"Be used to" means to be familiar or accustomed to something.
For example, "I'm used to waking up early because I have to go to work."
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 Grammar Point
Part 1: Complete the sentences with 'used to' + infinitive or 'be'/'get used to' + '-
ing':
1. When I was a child, I _______ play with dolls all the time. (used to)
2. She _______ afraid of spiders, but she's not anymore. (used to)
3. I need to _______ waking up early because of my new job. (get used to)
4. He's been living in Japan for a year, so he should _______ speaking Japanese by
now. (be used to)
5. They _______ go to the beach every summer when they were kids. (used to)
Part 2: Write your own sentences using 'used to' + infinitive or 'be'/'get used to' +
'-ing':
1. __________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________
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 Questions for discussion
1. Are you used to living in a big city or a small town?

2. Did you use to play sports when you were younger?

3. How long did it take for you to get used to your new job?

4. Are you used to eating spicy food, or is it too much for you?

5. Did you use to watch a lot of TV when you were a child?

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 Recommendation
We recommend doing the interactive exercises related to the lesson:
What’s the word you hear?
Prepositions
Construct sentences
Read at 3 different speeds
Verbs
Sentence muddle

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