Lost World Arthur Conan Doyle

The Lost World by Sir A r t h u r Conan D o y l e R e t o l d by Micky Jenkins Introduction

Burlington Books

C h a p t e r I: A M a n of A d v e n t u r e

P. O . Box 54411 3721 Limassol

C h a p t e r 2: Professor Challenger

Cyprus Burlington Books is an imprint of Danos Books Ltd.

C h a p t e r 3: T h e Professor's Story

T h e publisher gratefully a c k n o w l e d g e s the f o l l o w i n g for providing

C h a p t e r 4: In S e a r c h of the T r u t h

photographs: bvcrctt Collection, Inc.: page 38; © Getty linages: pages 64 ( t o p

C h a p t e r 5: T h e A d v e n t u r e Begins

2 pictures), 66 ( b o t t o m p i c t u r e ) ; © Shutterstock, Inc.: pages 64 ( b o t t o m picture), 65 (T. r e x ) , 66 ( t o p 2 p i c t u r e s ) , 67

C h a p t e r 6: T h e Plateau of the Lost W o r l d

H i e publisher w o u l d like to thank the f o l l o w i n g people:

C h a p t e r 7: T r a p p e d !

1

( astellano: i

M ' Lourdes Gallifa Boyra

nal.i

C h a p t e r 8: Dinosaurs!

Maria Esteve Serraviñals

Lusk.ua:

Edurne A z k u e Urrestilla

(¡alego:

R a m ó n Nicolás Rodríguez

Chapter 9: T h e M a p

C h a p t e r 10: J o u r n e y t o L a k e G l a d y s A l l rights reserved by the publisher. No part of this publication m a y be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any

C h a p t e r I I: T h e A p e - P e o p l e

form or by any m e a n s - electronic, mechanical, p h o t o c o p y i n g or o t h e r w i s e - w i t h o u t permission in w r i t i n g from the publisher.

C h a p t e r 12: T h e H e r o e s R e t u r n

I S B N 978-9963-47-529-2

Glossary

This simplified version copyright 0 2009 Burlington Books Burlington Reader N o . NE3.02

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Cross-Curricular Focus

II

10

1 Complete the sentences with the words below. prove

sceptical

extinct

journalist

1. Dinosaurs b e c a m e 2. I ' m a

drawing

meeting

long a g o . for a big newspaper.

3. Last year, I w e n t to a

at the Zoological Institute.

4. A famous professor said, "Dinosaurs exist today in South A m e r i c a , " but I was

about this.

5. He s h o w e d me a

and a p h o t o g r a p h to it.

2 W r i t e T (true) or F (false) next to each sentence. 1. Journalists s o m e t i m e s go to dangerous places. 2. T h e r e w e r e no cameras or photographs 100 years a g o . 3. Dinosaurs disappeared from the w o r l d m i l l i o n s of years a g o . 4. Travellers in r e m o t e areas often get help from natives of the area. 5. E v e n in the w o r l d of science, people s o m e t i m e s laugh at strange n e w ideas.

3 Look at the picture and answer the questions.

M a y b e you'll be famous o n e day. W e ' l l talk then." She o p e n e d the door and said, " G o o d b y e , E d w a r d . " A n d so I left G l a d y s ' house. I could think of o n l y o n e thing: " I ' m My n a m e is E d w a r d M a l o n e , and I ' v e got a fantastic story to tell.

g o i n g to be a great hero. Gladys w i l l be m i n e ! " I didn't k n o w it then, but these w o r d s changed my life and took

You probably w o n ' t b e l i e v e my story, because it's so incredible. But it

me on an incredible adventure.

really happened and it c h a n g e d my life forever. It all started on a spring day in 1912. I w a s at the h o m e of Gladys Hungerton, the l o v e of my life. "Gladys, w i l l you marry m e ? " I asked her.

F r o m G l a d y s ' house, I w e n t to my office at the Daily Gazette. I

was

working

there

as

a journalist.

I

approached

my

boss,

Mr M c A r d l e , and a n n o u n c e d , "I w a n t to go on a special mission -

Gladys looked at me sadly. " E d w a r d ! I ' m sorry!" she a n s w e r e d .

s o m e t h i n g w i t h adventure, s o m e w h e r e exotic. If it's a dangerous

" Y o u ' r e very sweet, but I ' m not in love w i t h y o u . I w a n t to marry a

mission, that w i l l be e v e n better! T h e n I can w r i t e about it in the

m a n of adventure, a famous m a n - a great hero!"

Daily Gazette." M r M c A r d l e w a s very surprised. " W h y ? " h e asked. " Y o u ' r e o n l y 23, E d w a r d . Do you w a n t to die y o u n g ? " " N o , " I said. "I w a n t to live - to R E A L L Y l i v e . " Mr M c A r d l e l o o k e d at me in silence and then said, " I ' v e got an idea. Does the n a m e Professor Challenger sound familiar to y o u ? " " Y e s , I think so," I a n s w e r e d . "Isn't he a famous scientist?" " Y e s , " said M c A r d l e . " H e ' s a zoologist. He's very intelligent, but he's also a little crazy. E v e r y b o d y is talking about h i m these days. M a y b e y o u can try to interview h i m . " " W h y do p e o p l e think he's c r a z y ? " I asked. " W e l l , " said M r M c A r d l e , " t w o years a g o , the professor w e n t t o study animals in South A m e r i c a . A l t e r a year, he returned to England w i t h a fantastic story about dinosaurs in the j u n g l e . He s h o w e d p e o p l e s o m e photos of dinosaurs and tried to c o n v i n c e t h e m of their

"/ want to marry a man of adventure," Gladys answered. I'll never forget her face at that m o m e n t . I was surprised. I w a s perplexed. I didn't understand. " A d v e n t u r e ! " I e x c l a i m e d . "What are

existence! Of course, n o b o d y believed h i m . T h e y called h i m a crazy

m a n and a liar." I w a s curious about the photographs. " R e a l l y ? I can't i m a g i n e w h y he did that," I said. " O K , I'll talk to h i m . It could be a g o o d story for

you talking about? W h o has adventures in life?" " M a n y p e o p l e , " a n s w e r e d Gladys. "Our lives are full of possible adventures, but we h a v e to find them. That's the difference b e t w e e n

the n e w s p a p e r . " " G o o d , " said Mr M c A r d l e . " O h , o n e m o r e thing - the professor hates journalists. Last w e e k , t w o journalists tried to talk to h i m .

a hero and a n o r m a l person." I tried again. " G l a d y s , I'll do a n y t h i n g for you if you let m e . "

He attacked t h e m and broke o n e journalist's nose. So . . . g o o d luck,

Gladys smiled sadly and said, " N o w ,

E d w a r d . Y o u ' l l need it!"

Edward,

that's e n o u g h .

M r M c A r d l c started t o l e a v e . " T h e professor d o c s sound crazy! A r c you м н е you w a n t m e t o visit h i m ? Y o u o b v i o u s l y really like m e , sir!" 1 said, sarcastically. " O h , H d w a r d , " said M r M c A r d l c . " T h i s i s e x a c t l y the mission l o r you - a d a n g e r o u s o n e . I ' m o n l y a n s w e r i n g y o u r request." I

thought

about

that.

Mr

McArdlc

was

right.

"What

On 9.55

is

the

professor's a d d r e s s ? " I asked. He g a v e it to m e , and I left the office feeling very positive and o p t i m i s t i c .

Monday morning am.

The

professor's

I

w a s at wife

Professor C h a l l e n g e r ' s

opened

the

door

for

h o u s e at

me.

"Good

m o r n i n g , " I said. " I ' m here to talk to Professor C h a l l e n g e r . " She w a s surprised, but she d i d n ' t say a n y t h i n g . She took me to a l o o m and then she left.

T h e next day, I sent this letter to Professor C h a l l e n g e r :

I

saw a m a n sitting in a chair. This w a s Professor C h a l l e n g e r ,

l i e w a s s m o k i n g a p i p e . He had a big h e a d w i t h b r o w n hair, t h i c k e y e b r o w s and a b r o w n beard. He l o o k e d v e r y strong.

Dear Professor Challenger, I'm a science student and I'm reading your research on zoology. In my opinion, you're a great scientist. But I don't understand some of your ideas about Darwin's theory of evolution. Could we please meet and talk about this? Yours respectfully, Edward Malone

A f e w days later, I received a reply f r o m Professor C h a l l e n g e r :

D w M r Malone, I received your tetter and I Was surprised. Where do yon study science? I dovCt think, yonr teachers are teaching yon. very well! Coyne, to my house on Monday at W.00 avn and I'll explain Darwins theory to yon. If you're late, don't come in. Yours sincerely, Professor Challenger / saw a man sitting in a chair. This was Professor Challenger. I read t h e letter again. " H e ' s a very arrogant m a n , " " M o n d a y is g o i n g to be an interesting d a y . "

I thought.

I he professor turned a r o u n d to l o o k at m e . " S o , you are the science •indent, M r E d w a r d M a l o n e ? " h e asked in a d e e p v o i c e . 1 n o d d e d .

"I don't like talking to p e o p l e , " said the professor in an arrogant v o i c e , "especially not to journalists. A c c o r d i n g to t h e m , they w a n t to tell the truth to the w o r l d , but that's not their real intention. T h e y o n l y w a n t to w r i t e a g o o d story. A story about a crazy professor could be very interesting and they could probably get a lot of m o n e y for it. It's not important to t h e m if it's true or not." I w a s silent. W h a t could I say? T h e professor suddenly got out of his chair and stood up. I w a s surprised because he w a s shorter than I e x p e c t e d . He looked at me w i t h his intelligent eyes and s m o k e d his pipe. T h e n he said, "But y o u ' r e not a journalist. Y o u ' r e a science student, so I'll talk to y o u . I'll g i v e y o u five minutes. N o w , Mr M a l o n e , in your letter, y o u m a d e a strange request: to clarify my ideas about D a r w i n ' s theory. I think it is very simple. O n l y a stupid m a n can't understand it. W h a t exactly don't y o u understand?" " W e l l , I w a s n ' t sure about the difference b e t w e e n y o u r theory and D a r w i n ' s theory," I a n s w e r e d quickly. "I sec," said the professor. " D o you agree e v o l u t i o n is pro subae?" His w o r d s didn't m e a n a n y t h i n g to m e , but I couldn't reveal this fact, so I said, "Urn . . . of course!" " A n d pro subae is never pro lacae, r i g h t ? " asked the professor. " R i g h t , right!" I said again. Professor Challenger smiled. T h e n , suddenly, there w a s a furious expression on his face. "I spoke a lot of r u b b i s h n o w . Y o u aren't a science student - y o u ' r e probably a journalist - and a liar!" he

"What's going on here?" asked a policeman.

shouted. It w a s t i m e to leave, that w a s sure! I ran to the front door and o p e n e d it, w i t h the professor close behind m e . I put o n e foot outside and h e j u m p e d o n m e . W e started t o fight i n the street. I heard a v o i c e b e h i n d us. " W h a t ' s g o i n g on here?" asked a p o l i c e m a n . T h e p o l i c e m a n saw the professor's face and said, " O h , no! N o t you again! A r e y o u attacking another journalist?" "Yes,"

said

the a n g r y professor.

" I ' l l t h r o w all these stupid

journalists out of my house!" T h e p o l i c e m a n l o o k e d at m e . " A r e you all right, sir? Do y o u w a n t to m a k e a formal c o m p l a i n t ? "

" N o , n o , " I said. "Hut he w a s attacking y o u ! " said the p o l i c e m a n . I in responsible for that," I said. " F o r g e t about it." Professor • h.illengcr l o o k e d at m e , surprised. I he policeman left us, and I looked at the professor's serious face. Was he still angry? But suddenly he smiled. I

don't

like

journalists,

but

I

think

you're

different,

M i M a l o n e . N o w , let's return t o m y house. I ' v e got s o m e t h i n g very interesting to tell y o u . "

1

Match the words in A to their definitions in B.

A 1. die 2. approached 3. marry 4. clarify

B a. m a k e s o m e t h i n g easier to understand

5. forever

b. w i t h o u t e n d i n g

6. sincerely

c. stop living d. honestly, g e n u i n e l y e. c a m e near f. b e c o m e a husband or a wife

2

Choose the correct word to complete each sentence. 1. T h e j o u r n a l i s t / t e a c h e r w r o t e an article for his newspaper. 2 . E d w a r d announced t o M r M c A r d l e , " I w a n t t o g o o n a special m i s s i o n / eyebrow."

o. Wants to go somewhere exotic.

b. Doesn't like journalists.

3. G l a d y s ' w o r d s s m o k e d / c h a n g e d Edward's life. 4. N o b o d y believed the professor's fantastic story about dinosaurs. Instead,

c. Wants to marry a hero.

d. Asks, "What's going on here?"

they thought he w a s c r a z y / sweet. 5. T h e professor fell / a t t a c k e d a journalist last w e e k . 6. A g o o d newspaper story must tell the f e w / t r u t h .

Charles Darwin lived from 1809-1882. He was a scientist and he studied plants and animals. He is famous for his t h e o r y of evolution. A c c o r d i n g to Darwin, all living things today came from o n e original life form.

I Answer the questions. W r i t e the answers in your notebook. I

I l o w does E d w a r d plan to c o n v i n c e Gladys to marry h i m ?

'

W h y does E d w a r d say he is a science student in his letter to Challenger?

i

W h y doesn't Professor Challenger like talking to journalists?

I

H o w does the professor k n o w that E d w a r d is not a science student?

'>

W h a i was E d w a r d ' s a n s w e r to the p o l i c e m a n after the attack by (lhallenger?

www.burlingtonbooks.es/actread

T h e professor shouted angrily, " M A Y B E , M A Y B E , M A Y B E ! That's ihe problem w i t h you journalists. T h e truth is under your nose and you can't see it!" T h e professor stopped and breathed deeply. I sat with Professor Challenger in his study and he began his story.

" A n y w a y , after I found this d r a w i n g , I decided to discover the

" T w o years a g o , " h e said, " I w a s studying animals i n the forests o f

truth. I w e n t on a long j o u r n e y into the forest to find this plateau.

South A m e r i c a . O n e day, I found a badly injured man in an Indian

Finally, I found it, but I couldn't c l i m b up. 1 took these photos from

v i l l a g e . I tried to help h i m , but he died after a f e w hours. He w a s

the area b e l o w the plateau - look!" T h e professor s h o w e d me a p h o t o

European and his n a m e w a s M r M a p l e W h i t e . This d r a w i n g w a s i n

ol a very large bird sitting on top of a tree.

his bag." T h e professor s h o w e d me a d r a w i n g of a high p l a t e a u . On top of the plateau w a s a gigantic animal. It looked like a dinosaur. "I had

see a

Mr

White

very

good

Till sorry," I said. "But I don't believe it. You can't prove it."

really

" O h , but I can!" the professor said. He w a s excited n o w and his I

lace w a s very red. " Y o u sec, this ferocious animal tried to attack m e ,

saw

si >1 shot it dead. I took part of its w i n g . L o o k ! " T h e professor o p e n e d

" N o , m y friend. he

a box and g a v e me a bone w i t h a very unusual form.

things and then d r e w them,"

said

"A pelican? Y o u need glasses!" said Professor Challenger, irritated. "This is a pterodactyl - it's a dinosaur and it can f l y . "

i m a g i n a t i o n , " I said.

think

"It looks like a pelican," I said.

Professor

Challenger. 1 opened my

mouth

something,

to

say

but

the

professor stopped me. "Wait! you

the

Let rest

me

tell

of

my

story," he said. He took a big science b o o k and opened it. T h e r e w a s a picture of an e n o r m o u s , grey

dinosaur.

very similar

to

It

On top of the

was

plateau was a gigantic animal.

the one

in the dead m a n ' s d r a w i n g . "This is a stegosaurus," said Professor Challenger. " Y o u can see the same animal in Mr W h i t e ' s d r a w i n g . Don't

you

understand?

Mr W h i t e

saw a

stegosaurus

before

he

died!" I w a s sceptical. " M a y b e Mr W h i t e saw this picture in a book, and then d r e w it from his i m a g i n a t i o n , " I said.

The professor opened a box and gave me a bone with a very unusual form.

17

T h e n he s h o w e d me a p a g e in the science b o o k . T h e r e w a s a d r a w i n g ol llie bone of a pterodactyl's w i n g . " N o other animal has got a b o n e like this," said the professor. " N o w look at the b o n e . I ' m sure y o u ' l l

\ Search of the Trutl I w a s a f e w m i n u t e s late for the conference at the Z o o l o g i c a l

a g r e e it w a s n ' t a pelican. That seems v e r y o b v i o u s to m e . " I looked closely at the b o n e and c o m p a r e d it to the d r a w i n g in the

Institute. I stood because there w e r e no e m p t y chairs in the hall. Professor

book. It w a s exactly the same. I couldn't b e l i e v e it!

Waldron

was

talking

about

the

theory

of evolution.

" I ' m sorry I thought y o u w e r e crazy," I said. " Y o u ' r e a great

Everybody listened quietly, until he started to talk about extinct

scientist and your discovery is fantastic! In my o p i n i o n , y o u ' r e a h e r o

animals. He said, "Dinosaurs lived m i l l i o n s of years a g o and arc n o w

like Christopher C o l u m b u s because you discovered a n e w w o r l d , too!

extinct, but . . . " " W r o n g ! " s o m e b o d y shouted.

I think that's v e r y a d m i r a b l e . " "I discovered s o m e t h i n g incredible, but it isn't n e w , " said the

" W e l l , this is e n o u g h to p r o v e your story," I said. " W h y d o n ' t y o u

the

professor b e c a m e

"I d i d , " a n s w e r e d Professor Challenger, standing up. " N o interruptions, please," said Professor W a l d r o n .

tell it to the w o r l d ? " Suddenly,

Everybody w a s quiet. Professor W a l d r o n l o o k e d around the r o o m . W h o said that?" he asked.

professor. " I n fact, it's very, v e r y o l d . It's a lost w o r l d . "

angry

again.

"I

showed

the

journalists this p h o t o a n d the b o n e , " he told m e . " A c c o r d i n g to t h e m , it isn't real. T h e y called me a liar. Idiots!"

" I ' m sorry," said Professor Challenger. "But I ' m a m a n of science. 11 I hear s o m e t h i n g w r o n g , I feel o b l i g a t e d to correct it!" " W e l l , w h a t i s ' w r o n g ' w i t h m y lecture?" Professor W a l d r o n

I l o o k e d at the professor and didn't say a w o r d .

asked. " Y o u say y o u ' r e a m a n of science - but science is about the

" A h , g o o d ! " said Professor Challenger. "It's better to be silent than

ic.d w o r l d , not about crazy stories and lies!"

to say s o m e t h i n g stupid." "I d o n ' t talk to p e o p l e if they call me a liar," he c o n t i n u e d . " A n d I d o n ' t talk to stupid journalists if they w r i t e lies about m e . W h y am I talking to y o u ? Y o u ' r e probably as bad as the others. If y o u are, I ' m the idiot. N o w , y o u should l e a v e . " I stood and w a s ready to leave, but the professor took my arm. " B e f o r e y o u g o , I w a n t to invite y o u to a z o o l o g y conference by Professor W a l d r o n , a famous scientist," he said. "It's at the Z o o l o g i c a l Institute at 8.00 t o n i g h t . " " W h y do you think it w i l l interest m e ? " I asked. " Y o u ' l l see," said the professor, smiling. "It's a surprise!" I returned to the Daily Gazette and told Mr M c A r d l e about my m e e t i n g w i t h the professor. " Y o u d o n ' t b e l i e v e h i m , I h o p e ! " said M r M c A r d l e . "Er . . . n o , of course not," I a n s w e r e d . But I w a s n ' t telling the truth. W h a t w a s the truth? I w a s n ' t sure any m o r e .

W e l l , what is 'wrong'with my lecture?"

Professor Waldron asked.

"Dinosaurs aren't extinct. T h e y exist

in

South A m e r i c a , "

said

Professor Challenger.

to a small t o w n called M a n a o s , near the A m a z o n River. T h e n he g a v e l o r d R o x t o n a closed e n v e l o p e and said, " Y o u ' l l arrive at M a n a o s ,

" R e a l l y ? " said Professor W a l d r o n . He l o o k e d at the p e o p l e in the

and then you must read this letter. It'll help you on your j o u r n e y and

hall and smiled. " W e l l , o f course w e all believe that, don't w e ? " he

direct you to the plateau. Y o u ' l l see a date and t i m e on the e n v e l o p e .

said sarcastically. People started to laugh at Professor Challenger.

Don't o p e n it before 12.00 n o o n on 15th July."

" Y e s , o f course w e believe y o u ! " s o m e b o d y said. "Professor Challenger is crazy!" said another man. " G o h o m e ! We d o n ' t w a n t to hear your stories," said a y o u n g lady. I looked at Professor Challenger. " W i l l he attack t h e m , t o o ? " I thought. But Professor Challenger just smiled. "I k n o w it's hard for you to b e l i e v e , " he said. "But this is a Zoological Institute, and if y o u ' r e really people of science, it's your responsibility to p r o v e I ' m w r o n g . Let's choose a g r o u p of p e o p l e to go to South A m e r i c a , to see if my story is real. Or are you all afraid?" Professor Challenger l o o k e d at the p e o p l e w i t h fire in his eyes. N o b o d y m o v e d . Suddenly,

a

tall,

well-dressed

man

stood

up.

His

name

was

Professor S u m m e r l e e , another w e l l - k n o w n scientist. " I ' l l g o , " h e said. "I w a n t to p r o v e to e v e r y b o d y that y o u ' r e a liar, Professor Challenger!" " G o o d , g o o d ! " said Professor Challenger. " M e t o o , " said another v o i c e . E v e r y b o d y turned to look at the m a n . " M y n a m e is Lord John R o x t o n , " he said. " A n d I b e l i e v e I can help w i t h the navigation on this journey. I k n o w the forests in the A m a z o n very w e l l . " " E x c e l l e n t , " said the professor. "I think o n e m o r e person w i l l be e n o u g h . Is there another m a n of adventure in this r o o m ? " T h e r e w a s silence. This m o m e n t c h a n g e d m y life. H e r e w a s m y opportunity to prove to Gladys I w a s a hero. I didn't think for a

Professor Challenger gave Lord Roxton a closed envelope.

second. M y hand w e n t u p automatically and m y v o i c e said, " I ' l l g o with them." " V e r y g o o d , " said Professor Challenger. " Y o u ' l l leave for South A m e r i c a in a w e e k ! "

H i e next m o r n i n g , we left on a ship called The Francisca. It was 1 1 H beginning o f M a y . W e sailed out t o sea and I w a t c h e d the land .1.1111I