Lost World - Arthur Conan Doyle

The Lost World by Sir Sir Arth ur Conan Do yle Retold by Micky Jenkins Introduction

Burlington Books

Chapt er I: A Man of Adve ntu re

P. O. Box 54411 3721 Limassol

Chapter 2: Professor Challenger

Cyprus Burlington Books is an imprint of Danos Books Ltd.

Chapter 3: The Professor's Story

The publisher gratefully acknowledges the following for providing

Chap te r 4: In Search of the Truth

photographs: bvcrctt Collection, Inc.: page 38; © Getty linages: pages 64 (top 2

Chapter 5: The Adventure Begins

pictures), 66 (bottom picture); © Shutterstock, Inc.: pages 64

(bottom picture), 65 (T. rex), 66 (top 2 pictures), 67

Chap te r 6: The Plateau of the Lost Wo r l d

Hie publisher would like to thank the following people:

Chapter 7: Trapped!

( astell ano: i

M' Lourdes Gallifa Boyra 1

nal.i

Maria Esteve Serraviñals

Lusk.ua:

Edurne Azkue Urrestilla

(¡al ego:

Ramón Nicolás Rodríguez

Chapter 8: Dinosaurs!

Chapter 9: The Map

Cha pt er

10: 10: Journey to Lake Glady s

All rights reserved by the publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any

Chapter I I: The Ape-People

form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise - without permission in writing from the publisher.

Chapter 12: The Heroes Return

ISBN 978-9963-47-529-2

Glossary

This simplified version copyright

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2009 Burlington Books

Burlington Reader No. NE3.02 10

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Cross-Curricular Focus

II

10

Sir Arth ur Conan Doylc naii o en Edimb urgo (Es coci a) en 1859 1859 y murió en 1930. 1930. Es muy conoci do por sus sus historias del dete cti ve Sherlock Hol mes y las aventuras del profesor Challeng er. En 1912 escribió El mundo perdido, su obra más importante de ciencia ficción. Edward Malone inicia una misión peligrosa para demostrar que es un héroe y convencer a Gladys, el amor de su vida, para que se case con él. Acompañado de Lord John Roxton y de los profesores Summerlee y Challenger, los cuatro hombres viajan al Amazonas. Allí quedan atrapados en una meseta donde descubren un mundo perdido de animales prehistóricos. Pero no están solos porque allí  también habitan indios y hombres-monos. Estos últimos capturan a los dos profesores y a algunos indios, y a Malone y Lord Roxton les toca rescatarlos. Hay una batalla y los cuatro aventureros ayudan a los indios a triunfar sobre los hombres-monos pero todavía les espera otro reto: encontrar el camino de salida del Mundo Perdido.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Edinburgon (Eskozia) jaio zen 1859an eta 1930ean hil zen. Sherlock Holmes detektibearen ¡storiock eta Challenger irakaslearen abenturek egin zuten ezagun. Mundu galdua idatzi zuen 1912an, zientzia-fikziozko bere lanik garrantzitsuena. Edward Malonek zeregin arriskutsu bati ekin dio, Gladys, bere betiko maitea, liluratu eta czkontzarako bidean jartzeko. Hiru lagunekin batera, Summerlee eta Challenger irakasleak eta Lord John Roxton, Amazonara joan da. Han, goi-lautada batetik irten ezinda daudela, historiaurreko animalien mundu galdu bat aurkitu dute. Ez daude bakarrik, indiarrak eta gizatximinoak ere bizi dirá lautada horretan. Gizatximinoek irakasleak eta indiar batzuk harrapatu dituztelarik, Maloneri eta Lord Roxtoni egokitu zaie erreskatatzea. Borrokan, lau abenturazaleen laguntzarekin, indiarrak gailendu dirá, baina oraindik badute lau hauek beste erronka bat: Mundu Galdutik  irteteko bidea aurkitzea. LlMIAR

Sii Arthur Conan Doylc va néixer a Edimbur g (Esco cia ) el 1859 i va morir el 1930. És molt molt coneg ut per les seves histori es del detectiu Sherlock Holmes i les aventures del professor Challenger. El 1912 va escriure El món perdut, la seva obra mes important de ciéncia-ficció. L'Edward Malone inicia una missió perillosa per demostrar que es un heroi i convencer la Gladys, l'amor de la seva vida, perqué es casi amb ell. Acompanyat d'en Lord John Roxton i deis professors Summerlee i Challenger, els quatre homes viatgen a l'Amazones. Allá es queden atrapáis a un altiplá on descobreixen un món perdut d'animals prehistórics. Pero no hi son sois perqué allá també hi habiten indis i homes mico. Aqucsts últims capturen els dos professors i alguns indis, i a en Malone i a en Lord Roxton els toca rcscatar-los. Hi ha una batalla i els quatre aventurers ajuden els indis a triomfar sobre els homes mico pero encara els espera un altre repte: trobar el camí de surtida del Món Perdut.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle naceu en Edimburgo (Escocia) en 1859 e morreu en 1930. É moi coñecido polas súas historias do detective Sherlock Hol mes e as aventuras do profeso r Chall enger . En 1912 1912 escribiu 0 mundo perdido, a súa obra máis importante de ficción científica. Edward Malone comeza unha misión perigosa para amosar que é un héroe c convencer a Gladys, o amor da súa vida, para que case con el. Acompañado de Lord John Roxton e dos profesores Summerlee e Challenger, os catro homes viaxan ao Amazonas. Alí  fican atrapados nunha meseta onde descobren un mundo perdido de animáis prehistóricos. Mais non están sos pois alí tamén habitan indios e homes-monos. Estes últimos capturan aos dous profesores e a algúns indios, e a Malone e Lord Roxton tócalles rescátalos. Hai unha batalla e os catro aventureiros axudan aos indios a triunfaren sobre os homes-monos mais aínda lies agarda outro reto: atopar o camino de saída do Mundo Perdido.

1 Compl ete et e the sentences with the word s below. prove

sceptical

extinct

journalist

1. Dinosaurs bec ame 2. I' m a

drawing

meeting 

long ago. for a big newspa per.

3. Last year, I wen t to a

at the Zoologi cal Institut e.

4. A famous professor said, "Dinosaurs exist today in South America," but I was

about this.

5. He sho wed me a

and a phot ograp h to it.

2 Write T (true) or F (false) next to each sentence. 1. Journalists sometimes go to dangerous places. 2. The re were no cameras or photograp hs 100 years ago. 3. Dinosaurs disappear ed from the wor ld millio ns of years ago. 4. Travell ers in remot e areas often get help fro m natives of the area. 5. Even in the world of science, peo ple somet imes laugh at strange new ideas.

3 Look at the picture and answer the questions.

Maybe you'l l be famous one day. We' ll talk the n." She opened the door and said, "Goodbye, Edward." And so I left Gladys ' house. I could think of only one thing: " I' m My name is Edward Malone, and I've got a fantastic story to tell.

going to be a great hero. Gladys will be mine!" I didn't know it then, but these words changed my life and took 

You probably won' t belie ve my my story, because it's so incredi ble. But it

me on an incredible adventure.

really happened and it changed my life forever.

From Gladys' house, I went to my office at the Daily Gazette.

It all start ed on a spring day in 1912. I was at the ho me of Gladys Hunger ton, the love of my life. "Gl adys , will you marry me?" I asked her.

I

was

worki ng

there

as

a journalis t.

I

approached

my boss,

Mr McArdle, and announced, "I want to go on a special mission -

Gladys looked at me sadly. "Edward! I'm sorry!" she answered. "You 'r e very sweet, but I' m not in love with you. I wan t to marry a

something with adventure, somewh ere exotic. I f it's a dangerous mission, that will be even better! Then I can write about it in the

 Daily

man of advent ure, a famous man - a great hero !"

Gazett e."

Mr McArdle was very surprised. surprised. "Wh y? " he asked. "You'r e only 23, 23, Edward. Do you want to die you ng? " "N o, " I said. "I want to live - to REALL Y live."

Mr McAr dl e looked at me in silenc e and then said, "I ' ve got an idea. Does the name Professor Challenger sound familiar to you?" "Yes, I think so," I answered. "Isn't he a famous scientist?" "Yes," said McArdle. "He's a zoologist. He's very intelligent, but he's also a little crazy. Everybody is talking about him these days. Maybe you can try to interview him." "Why do people think he's crazy?" I asked. "We ll ," said Mr McArdl e, "t wo years years ago, the professor went to study animals in South America. Alter a year, he returned to England with a fantastic story about dinosaurs in the jungle. He showed people some photos of dinosaurs and tried to convince them of their

"/ want to marry a man

of adventure,"  Gladys answered.

existence! Of course, nobody believed him. They called him a crazy

I'll neve r forget her face at that that moment . I was surprised. I was perplexed. I didn't understand. "Advent ure!" I excla imed. "What "What are

man and a liar." I was curious about the photographs. "Really? I can't imagine why he did that," I said. "O K, I' ll talk to him. It could be a good story for

you talking about? Who has adventures in life?" "Many people," answered Gladys. "Our lives are full of possible adventures, but we have to find them. That's the difference between

the newspaper." "Good," said Mr McArdle. "Oh, one more thing - the professor hates journal ists . Last week, tw o journal ists tri ed to talk to him.

a hero and a normal person." I tried again. "Gla dys, I' ll do anythin g for you if you let me. "

He attac ked them and broke one journa list 's nose. So .. . good luck,

Gladys

Edward. You'll need it!"

smiled

sadly

and

said,

"Now,

Edward,

that's

enough.

Mr McArdlc started to leave. "The professor docs sound crazy! Arc  you мн е you want me to visit him? You obviou sly really like me, sir!"

1 said, sarcastically. "Oh, Hdward," said Mr McArdlc. "This is exactly the mission lor   you - a dange rous one . I' m only answe ring your  request." I

thought

about

that.

Mr

McArdlc

was

right.

"What

On 9.55

is

the

professor's address?" I asked. He gave it to me, and I left the office feeling very positive and optimistic. The next day, I sent this letter to Professor Challenger:

Monday am.

The

morning

I

was

at

professor's

wife

opened

Professor the

Challenger's door

for

house

me.

at

"Good

morning," I said. "I ' m here to talk to Professor Professor Challenger ." She was surprised, but she didn't say anything. She took me to a loom and then she left. I saw a man sitting in a chair. This was Professor Challenge r, lie was smoking a pipe. He had a big head with brown hair, thick  eyebrows and a brown beard. He looked very 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?  Your  Yours s resp respec ectfu tfully lly,, Edward Malone

 A few days later, I recei ved a reply from Professor Chall enger :

D w M r Malone, Malone,

I received your tetter and I Was surprised. Where do yon  study  study scien science? ce? I dovCt dovCt think think,, yonr yonr teach teachers ers are are teach teachin ing  g   yon.  yon. very very well! well! Coyne, Coyne, to my hous house e on Monda onday y at W.00 W.00 avn avn and I'll explain Darwins theory to yon. If you're late, lat e, don't  don' t 

come in. Yours sincerely,

Professor Challenger   / saw a ma n sitti ng in a cha ir. I read the letter again. "He's a very arrogant man," I thought. "Mo nda y is going to be an interesting day."

This was Pro fess or Cha lleng er.

I he professor turned around to look at me. "So, you are the science •indent,

Mr Edward

Malone?"

he asked in a

deep voi ce . 1 nodded.

"I don't like talking to people," said the professor in an arrogant voice, "especially not to journalists. According to them, they want to tell the truth to the world, but that's not their real intention. They only want t o wri wri te a good story. A story about a crazy professor could be very interesting and they could probably get a lot of money for it. It's not i mportant to the m if it's true or not." I was silent. What could I say? The professor suddenly got out of his chair and stood up. I was surprised because he was shorter than I expected. He looked at me with his intelligent eyes and smoked his pipe. Then he said, "But you're not a journalist. You're a science student, so I'll talk to you. I'll give you five minutes. Now, Mr Malo ne, in your letter, you made a strange request: t o clarify my ideas about Darwin's theory. I think it is very simple. Only a stupid man can't understand it. What exactly don't you understand?" "Well, I wasn't sure about the difference between your theory and Darwin's theory," I answered quickly. "I sec," said the professor. "Do you agree evolution is pro subae?"  His words didn't mean anything to me, but I couldn't reveal this fact, so I said, "Urn ... of course!" "And pro subae is never pro lacae, right?" asked the professor. "Right, right!" I said again. Professor Challenger smiled. Then, suddenly, there was a furious expression on his face. "I spoke a lot of  rubbish now. You aren't a science student - you'r e probably a journal ist - and a liar!" he

"What's going on

here?" asked a policeman.

shouted. It was ti me to leave, t hat was sure! I ran to the front door and opened it, with the professor close behind me. I put one foot outside

"No, no," I said. "Hut "Hut he was attac king you!" said the polic eman.

and he jump ed on me. We started to fight i n the street.

I in responsib le for that," I said. "For get about it." Profes sor

I heard a voic e behind us. "What' s going on here? " asked a policeman. The policeman saw the professor's face and said, "Oh, no!

I he poli ceman left us, and I l ooked at the professor's serious face.

Not you again! Are you attacking another  journalist?" "Yes,"

said

the

angry

professor.

"I'll

throw

all

• h.i llengcr looke d at me, me, surprised.

these

stupid

Was he still angry? But suddenly he smiled. I

 journalists out of my house!" The policeman looked at me. "Are you all right, sir? Do you want to make a formal complaint?"

Mi

don't

like

journal ists ,

but but

I

think

you're

different ,

Malone. Now, let's return to my house. I've got something very

interesting to tell you."

1

Match the wor ds in A to their definitions in B. B.

A 1. die 2. approached

3. marry 4. clarify

B a. make something easier to understand

5. forever

b. without ending

6. sincerely

c. stop living d. honestly, genuinely e. came near f. become a husband or a wife

2

Choose the correct word to complete each sentence. 1. The journalist / teacher wrote an article for his newspaper. 2. Edward announced to Mr McArdle, "I want to go on a special mission / eyebrow."

o. Wants to go somewhere exotic.

b.

Doesn't like journalists. journalist s.

3. Gladys' words smoked / changed Edward's life. 4. Nobody 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 was crazy / sweet. 5. The professor fell / attacked a journalist last week. 6. A good newspaper story must tell the f e w / t r u t h .

I Answe r the questions. Wr i te the answer s in your notebook. I

I low does Edward plan to convin ce Gladys to marry him?

'

Why does Edward say he is a science science student in his letter to Challen ger?

Charle s Darwi n lived from 1809-1882. 1809-1882. He was a scientist and and

i

Why doesn't Professor Challen ger like talking to journalists?

he studied plants and animals. He is famous for his theory of 

I

How does the professor know that Edward is not a science student?

'>

Whai was Edwar d's answer to the polic eman after the attack by

evolution. According to Darwin, all living things today came from one original life form.

(lhallenger?

The professor shouted angrily, "MAYBE, MAYBE, MAYBE! That's ihe probl em wit h you journali sts. The truth i s under your nose and you can't see it!" The professor stopped and breathed deeply. I sat with Pr ofessor Challe nger in his study and he began his story. "Two years ago," he said, "I was studying animals in the forests of 

"Anyway, after I found this drawing, I decided to discover the truth. I wen t on a long journey into the forest to find this plateau.

South America. On e day, I found a badly injured man in an Indian

Finally, I f ound it, but but I could n't cli mb up. up. 1 t ook these photos from

vill age. I tried to help him, but he died after a few hours. He was

the area below the plateau - look!" The professor showed me a phot o

European and his name was Mr Maple White. This drawing was in

ol a very lar ge bird sitt ing on top of a tree.

his bag." The professor showed me a drawing of a high plateau. On

"It looks like a pelican," I said.

top of the plateau was a giganti c animal. I t looked like a dinosaur.

"A pelican? You You need glasses!" said Professor Challenger, irritat ed.

"I had

see a

Mr

Whit e

very

good

"This is a pterodactyl - it's a dinosaur and it can fl y." Till sorry," I said. "But I don't bel ieve it. You can't prove it."

imagination," I said. "N o, think

my he

I

lace was very red. "You sec, this ferocious animal tried to attack me,

saw

si >1 shot it dead . I too k part of its wing. Look!" The professor opened

friend.

really

"Oh, but I can!" the profes sor said. He was excit ed now and his

a box and gave me a bone wit h a very unusual for m.

things and then drew them,"

said

Professor

Challenger. 1 opened my

mouth

something,

to

say

but

the

professor stopped me. "Wait!

you

Let

the

rest

me

tell

of

my

story," he said. He took  a big science book and opened it. Ther e was a picture of an enormous, grey very

dinosaur. similar

to

It the

On top of the 

was

plateau was a gigantic animal.

one

in the dead man's drawing. "This is a stegosaurus," said Professor Challenger. "You can see the same animal in Mr White's drawing. Don't

you

understand?

Mr

White

saw

a

stegosaurus

before

he

died!" I was sceptical. "Maybe Mr White saw this picture in a book, and then drew it from his his imagina tio n," I said.

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

Then he showed me a page in the science book. There was a drawing ol l lie bone of a pterodact yl's wing . "N o other animal has got got a bone like this," said the professor. " No w look at the bone. I 'm sure you'l l

 \ Se a r c h of the Trutl I was a few minutes late for the conference at the Zoological

agree it wasn't a pelican. That seems very obvious to me." I lo oked closely at the bone and compared it to the drawin g in the

Institute. I stood because there were no empty chairs in the hall. Professor

book. It was exactly the same. I couldn't beli eve it! "I ' m sorry I thought you were crazy," I said. "You' re a great

Waldron

was

talking

about

the

theory

of

evolution.

Everybody listened quietly, until he started to talk about extinct

scientist and your discovery is fantastic! In my opinion, you're a hero

animals . He said, "Dinosaur "Dinosaur s lived mill ions of years ago and arc now

like Christopher Columbus because you discovered a new world, too!

extinct, but ..." "Wrong!" somebody shouted.

I think that's very admirable." "I discovered something incredible, but it isn't new," said the

"Well, this is enough to prove your story," I said. "Why don't you

the

professor

"I did," answered Professor Challenger, standing up. "No interruptions, please," said Professor Waldron.

tell it to the world?" Suddenly,

Everybody was quiet. Professor Waldron looked around the room. Who said that?" he asked.

professor. "In fact, it's very, very old. It's a lost world."

became

angry

again.

"I

showed

the

 journalists this photo and t he bone," he told me. "According to them, it isn't real. They called me a liar. Idiots!"

"I ' m sorry," said Professor Challenge r. "But I' m a man of science. 11 I hear something wron g, I feel obligat ed to correct it!" "Well, what is 'wrong' with my lecture?" Professor Waldron

I looked at the professor and didn't say a word.

asked. "Yo u say you' re a man of science - but but science is about t he

"Ah, good!" said Professor Challenger. "It's better to be silent than

ic.d world, not about crazy stories and lies!"

to say something stupid." "I don't talk to people if they call me a liar," he continued. "And I don't talk to stupid journalists if they write lies about me. Why am I talk ing to you? You' re probably as bad as the others . If you are, are, I' m the idiot. Now, you should leave." I stood and was ready to leave, but the professor took my arm. "Bef ore you go, I want to invite you to a zoolo gy conferenc e by Professor Waldron, a famous scientist," he said. "It's at the Zoological Institute at 8.00 tonight." "Why do you think it will interest me?" I asked. "You' ll see," said the professor, smiling. "It 's a surprise!" I returned to the Daily Gazette and told Mr McArdle about my meeting with the professor. "You don't believe him, I hope!" said Mr McArdle. "Er ... no, of course not," I answered. But I wasn't telling the truth. What was the truth? I wasn't sure any more.

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

Professor Waldron asked.

"Dinosaurs

aren't

extinct.

They

exist

in

South

America,"

said

Professor Challenger.

to a small town called Mana os, near the Amazo n River. Then he gave lord Roxton a closed envelope and said, "You'll arrive at Manaos,

"Really?" said Professor Waldron. He looked at the people in the hall and smiled. "Well, of course we all believe that, don't we?" he said sarcastically. People started to laugh at Professor Challenger.

and then you must read this letter. It 'll he lp you on your jou rney and direct you to the plateau. You'll see a date and time on the envelope. Don't open it befor e 12.00 noon on 15th July."

"Yes, of course we believe you!" somebody said. "Professor Challenger is crazy!" said another man. "Go home! We don't want to hear your stories," said a young lady. I looked at Professor Challenger. "Will he attack them, too?" I though t. But Professor Challeng er just smiled . "I know it's hard for you to believe," he said. "But this is a Zoological Institute, and if  you're really people of science, it's your responsibility to prove I'm wrong. Let's choose a group of people to go to South America, to see if my story is real. Or are you all afraid?" Professor Chall enge r looke d at the people with fire in his eyes. Nobody moved. Suddenly, Professor

a

tall,

well-dressed

Summerlee,

another

man

stood

well-known

up.

His

scientist.

name

"I'll

go,"

was he

said. "I want to prove t o everybody that you' re a liar, Professor Challenger!" "Good, good!" said Professor Challenger. "Me to o," said another voice . Everybody turned to look at the man. "My name is Lord John Roxton ," he said. "And I believe I can help with the navigation on this journey. I know the forests in the Amazon very well." "Excellent," said the professor. "I think one more person will be enough. Is there another man of adventure i n this room?" There was silence. This moment changed my life. Here was my opportunity to prove to Gladys I was a hero. I didn't think for a

Professor Challenger gave Lord Roxton a closed envelope.

second. My hand went up automatically and my voice said, "I'll go with them." "Very good," said Professor Challenger. "You'll leave for South America in a week!"

Hi e next morn ing, we left on a ship called The Francisca. It was 11H

beginning of May. We sailed out to sea and I watched the land

. 1 . 1 11 1 I < I 1 1 \ -

disappear into the distanc e. Sudde nly, I was afraid. "Oh,

in i What am I doing on a ship on the way to the Amazon?" I thought. 1

A week later, we were ready to embark on our journey to South America. Before we left, Professor Challenger gave us directions to go

Mine were many questions in my mind. "Will we find the plateau? u I I.I i wil l we see see there? Will we really discover dinosaurs?"

3

I

Match each speech bubble to the correct person.

Wr i te each each wor d under under the correct picture. picture. bone

envelope

drawing

afraid 

I /. /  know the fc  brests in the  Amazon

ver) well. very

2. I want to prove to everybody  that you're a liar. Professor Challenger

 \s  \s

What am I doing on a ship on  3.. W

the

way to

the Amazon? 

4.. Tw

Why does Edward offer to join the mission?

enthusiastic about Challenger 's decision to None of us wer e very enthusiastic accompany us, but it was impossible to argue with him. The next day, we left Manaos with enough provisions for a few I won't tell you about our long journey from England over the Atlantic or about our boat ride to Manaos. Instead, I'll tell you about my two companions, Professor Summerlee and Lord John Roxton.

months, and sailed up the Amazon in a boat called The Esmeralda. We paid a native name d Zamba to acco mpany us on our journ ey and help us. After six days, the river became narrow and we had to

Professor Summerlee was 66 years old, but he was healthy and

leave The Esmeralda. We bought some canoes at an Indian village and

strong. He was a serious man and he lov ed scien ce. He was always

continued up the river. The forest was very thick. We couldn't see

in the forest, studying the animals and plants. He was very sceptical

much between the trees but we heard different animals. There were

about our trip because

i rocodiles in the river. Somet imes little monke ys jumped from one

he

didn't

believe

Professor

Challenger's

story.

11

Lord John Roxton was 40 years old. He dressed elegantly and was

ee to another, and once a jaguar looked at us through the trees with

its penetrating eyes.

very different from Summerlee. He believed in our journey and was excited about it. He loved South America and told us many stories about his past past travels there. " I' m sure sure many adventures are waiti ng lor us in this forest," he said. "Not many people know this area, so how can they call Professor Challenger a liar? Maybe there really is a lost world there." We arrived at the town of Manaos on the morning of 15th July. We really wanted to see the contents of Challenger's envelope, but we waite d in our hotel roo m until 12.00. 12.00. Then, Lord Rox ton opened the envelope. It was empty! "It was a trick!" exclaimed Summerlee. "There's no letter here, because there are no dinosaurs! I knew Challenger was a liar!" Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Lord Roxton opened

the door and was shocked. Professor Challenger was standing there. "Professor Challenger!" exclaimed Lord Roxton. "What are you doing here?" "I thought maybe I could help you on your journey," answered the professor. "A pilot flew me here." "You're not coming with us!" said Summerlee, in an angry voice. "Oh yes, I am. You see, you don't know the way to the plateau," sai d the professor. "The envel ope was empty. But But / know the way. 1 know you don't like the idea, but you need me. Now, let's begin our  journey!"

ln »ight  »ight  some canoes  at an  Indian village  and continued  up the  river.

Professor Chall enge r and

Professor

Summerl ee

wanted

to

study

every plant and every animal in the forest. Each professor wanted to prove he knew more than the other one. The two men were very competitive and they couldn't agree on anything. I looked at these

That night, we made a camp and Zamba helped us make a fire. We

two famous scientists and thought, "They're like children competing

were very hungry, so Lord Roxton shot an animal similar to a pig, and

for attention!"

we cooked it on the fire. We were sitting around the fire and eating,

We were going deeper and deeper into the forest in our canoes. On the third day, Su mmerle e started to worr y.

when suddenly we heard a terrible noise. In the dark, we saw many animals with wing s and ferocious red eyes at the end ol long, thin

"Are you sure this is the correct way?" he asked Challenger.

necks. We saw enor mous beaks with very sharp teeth. Su ddenly, on e

The professor didn't answer. He was looking around him. "Here

of these creatures descended on us, took our dinner in its beak, and

it is! Here's the way to the Lost World!" he suddenly exclaimed, pointing plants

Hew towards the plateau with it in its mouth.

to an opening at the side of the river. Many trees and

grew

around

the

opening,

so

it

was

difficult

to

see.

We

pushed our canoes through the plants and found a smaller river. It was like a garden of paradise. There were beautiful plants all around and the water was cool and clear, with many kinds of fish swimming in it. The trees were full of birds of different colours. Our jou rney conti nued for three more days. Soon, the river beca me very narrow, and we hid our canoes under some bushes and walked along the river with our food and clothes on our backs. The

next

few

days weren' t

easy.

Sometimes

the

ground

was

covered with rocks. Other times it was soft and wet, and it was very difficult to walk. On one occasion, we came to an area full of bamboo. We cut the bamboo with our machetes to penetrate it. I started to feel uncert ain about the trip and our mission. "Wi ll we ever find the Lost World?" I thought to myself. Then,

on

the

ninth

day,

we

climbed

a hill, and

there,

in

the

distance, was a big open area with a long line of red cliffs and an

f/ic

creature took our dinner in its beak and flew towards the plateau.

enormous plateau on top. I knew the place immediately. It was the plateau from Mr White's drawing. "This is incredible!" I thought in excitement. "The Lost World is a real place!"

We stood in the dark in silence, completely shocked. Summerlee n as looking at the sky above the plateau. Then, very quietly, he said,

l hose were were pterodact yls." He looked at Professor Challenger. Challenger. " I' m . M i r y I didn't believe you," he said. "You aren't a liar. Now I know

yom story is true. Pleas e forgiv e me. " Then he offe red Professor i h.il lcnger his hand and Professor Chall enge r took it. For the first first

time, the two men were friends. Lord Roxton and I were happy about that. We didn't fall asleep easily that night. We all had a vision of  pterodactyls attacking us, but finally we couldn't keep our eyes open

The next day, our mission was to find a way to the plateau. "Let's walk around the cliffs," said Lord Roxton. "Then we can find the best way to go up." We left Zamba at the camp to guard our things and then we started to walk around the bott om of the enormou s plateau. It was a long and difficult walk. The ground was full of broken rocks. There were many insects and they bit our legs, arms and faces. At one ti me we crossed an area of very wet land,

full of danger ous

snakes. We continued to walk, day after day, trying to find a place to climb up the cliffs. But the cliffs were very high. Even the most

"Ma ybe there isn't a way to go go up," said said Summerl ee.

On the fifth day, Lord Roxton suddenly pointed to a tree. "Look there!" he exclaimed. We saw

some bones. On the tree, we saw an arrow.

way to the Lost World is closed to us." What could we do? We were tired, hungry and very far from our camp. We stood at the bottom of the cave, trying to think about a plan of action, when suddenly, something frightening happened. We heard a loud noise and then an enormous rock fell from above.  \'c looked up, up, but but we couldn't sec anything in the dark. We had a horrible feeling somebody was watching us, and that the incident with t he rock wasn't an accident.

here? Was somebody trying to hurt us - maybe even kill us? If so, who, and why? We felt there was no hope now. "It's very difficult

"No , I' m sure there is," said Challenger. Challenger.

was an empty bottle, an old newspaper and

by a lot lot of large rocks. "Look!" Challenger exclai med. "Mapl e Whit Whit e's

Our minds were full of questions. Were there humans living

experienced climber couldn't climb them.

was the remains of a fire. Ne xt to it there

another arrow. It was pointi ng to a cave. We entered the cave and walked down a dark tunnel. Suddenly, the tunnel ended, obstructed

any more.

somet hing on the groun d, near the tree.

"1 think Maple Whit e was here," said said Challenger. "The arr ow is pointing that way. Let's follow it." We continued east until we found

It

in arrive at the plateau, but if somebody is trying to stop us, it'll be impossi ble," I t hought . We came out of the cave and looke d up at the enormous plateau. We wanted very much to explore it before we i el ti med to Lond on.

I

Find words in the puzzle puzzle to complete the sentences.

.'i Wri t e T (t rue) rue ) or F (false) (fals e) next to each sentence. 1. Lord Roxton belie ved in the jour ney to South Americ a to look for

dinosaurs. 2.

Edward, Lord Roxt on and and Professor Summerlee were happy to sec Professor Challenger in Manaos.

3.

Professor Chall Chall enger knew the way to the plateau.

4.

A pterodact yl took the men's dinner in its beak and fle w towards

the plateau. 5.

After Professor Summerlee saw the pterodactyls, he knew Professor Challenger's story was true.

1. The professor told us to

6.

him int o the forest.

2. I couldn' t sleep because I had a

plateau.

of a frig hteni ng

pterodactyl.

Zamba sho wed the four men an easy wa y to climb up to the

I Answer Answe r the questions. Wri t e the answers in your notebook.

3. The bird has got a long, sharp yellow

I

4. He shot the animal with an 5. If you shoot at a bir d, you can

What was inside Professor Challenger's envelope?

2. Why does Edward compare the two professors professors to children?

it-

2 Complete the sentences with the words below.

l

Why was was it difficult to walk on the ground up the river?

I

What did Lord Roxton and the others see near the tree on the fifth day?

>

What happened to the four men while they wer e standing at the bottom of the cave?

accompany  clear 

The Amazon Amazon River is the second 1. The water in the lake was

and

2. I want ed my frie nd to 3. I saw a baby 4. I fell and

longest river in the world. It

me to South America . in the zoo .

much much wate r into t he Atlantic Ocea n in on e day as the total

my leg .

5. The men wer e 6. I didn' t want hi m to see me so I

is home to more than 2,000 species of fish and it pours as

amount of water used in Ne w

to see a dinosaur.

York City in 12 years. behind a tree.

"But how wil l we we cross the abyss? I don't think . .. " Lord Roxton started to say, but but Challen ger stopped hi m.

"Please don't think, sir. Just do as I say," said the professor. He Six days later, we arrived at our camp. Wc were very tired from

looked very serious.

our journey and we all went to sleep immediately - everybody except

We followed Challenger's instructions, each carrying a rifle on our

Professor Challenger. Late at night, I saw him walking around the

backs. Zamba accompan ied us. It wasn' t an easy climb and in some

camp saying to himself, "I know there's a way to go up! I know

parts it was necessary to use ropes. In the afte rnoon, we arrived at

there's a way to go up!" In the morni morni ng, I saw a very different Professor Challenge r. He

the top of the pinnacle. I looked around at the beautiful panor ama of the Amazon. On one side, I saw our pat h in the forest, al ong the

was jumpi ng up and down, very excite d. "I 'v e got an idea! There' s a

i iver. On the other side I saw the huge plateau. We were n ow only

way to the plateau!" he announced. Then, he point ed to a pinnacle

about 12 metres fr om it. But the huge abyss separ ated us.

opposit e the plateau. " Wc must must climb that pinnacl e," he said. We

"H ow can we cross cross this abyss?" asked Lord Roxton, a gain.

looked up at it. It was quite high, but it was possible to climb it with

Challenge r smiled at us. He was very happy wit h himself and his

ropes. However, there was another problem. There was a huge abyss

plan. "Last night, " he said, "you all thought t hat our probl em had

between the pinnacle and the plateau.

no solution. Well, I didn't. There's a solution to every problem. All you need is deter minat ion and inte lli gence. And I' ve got both, my my friends. My solution is this tree ." He pointed to a tall tree next to us. We looked at the tree. We didn't understand. "And how will this tree help us?" Summerlee asked, angrily. "It "It can't help us if it's standing. But if we cut cut it dow n . .. " t hallcnger started to say. say. "... i t'll make a bridge !" Lord Roxton complete d his his sentence. "Exactl y," said Chall Chall enger with satisfacti on. "This tree is about 18 met met res res tall - long enough t o cross the abyss. No w, our friend Ed ward is young and strong. Wi th your help, he can cut the tree. It wil l fall u loss the abyss abyss and we'l l have a bridge to the plateau!" "A

bridge

to

the

plateau!

That's

a

brilliant

idea!"

exclaimed

Summerlee. "You're a genius, Challenger!" "Ihank you," said Challenger, and his face became red. lor d

Roxton

and

I immedi ate ly

began

to cut

the tree

with

hat che ts . Then we all pushed it towards the plateau and it fell across across l he he abyss wit h a loud crash. We looke d at the long bridge and started lo cross it, with our rifles and some provisions on our backs. Zamba stayed at the pinnacle wi th the rest of our provisions and kept guar d. We

must climb that p innacle," Professor Ch allenger said.

I he huge abyss was just b el ow us.

We tried not to look down and, one by one, we arrived at the plateau on the other side of the bridge . There we were, f our men in the Lost World of Maple White. It was a great moment in my life.

On e

by one, we arrived at the plateau.

We were just starting to walk into the forest of the plateau when a catastrophe happened. We heard a terrible noise behind us and something fell and crashed into the abyss. We ran to the side of the plateau and saw the broken tre e at the botto m of the abyss. That was the end of our bridge! We looked at each other, shocked. Zamba was now our last contact with civilization. There was no way back. We were prisoners in the Lost World!

"Well, we can't return now. We must continue," said Challenger. I looked in front of us into the forest. "What's in there?" I asked

'This footprint  is  recent..."  Lord  Roxton began  to  say.

myself. I was afraid. But I was also excited. There was something mysterious about this plateau and I wanted to discover it, danger or no danger. We made a camp and then decided to explore the plateau. We started to walk along a small river. Suddenly, Lord Roxton pointed to

ii'

• and pulling branches from the trees with their two small hands.

bigger than any bird we knew.

• were fascinated and we could n't move .

"This footprint is recent..." Lord Roxton began to say, but suddenly

trees and we looked in the direction of the noise. We couldn't believe

taller than some of the trees. They looked like giant kangaroos

nil dinosaur heads and long , thick tails. They were standi ng on two

an enor mous footpri nt. It loo ked like a bird's foot , but it was much much

he stopped talking. We all heard a noise. It was coming from the

We saw two enormous creatures. They were dinosaurs and they

• • i«'

i m.illy, the dinosaurs left. I turned to look at my friends. The l v

" professors were standing with their mouths open and a look of 

in

pi ise ise on their faces. Lor d Roxt on held his rifl e, ready for action.

wings up and down and making sounds like snakes. The males sat

"What were they?" he asked. "Iguanodons," answered Challenger.

on rocks, watching with their frightening red eyes. Suddenly, o ne of the males males saw us and fle w into the air with a l oud

"What will people in England say about this?" Summerlee asked. "They'll say you're crazy," said Challenger. "You and the others

cry. Soon, all the males were flying in a circle above us. They flew lower and lower until we could feel the movement from their wings.

said that about me." "But we can take photos to prove we really saw these creatures,"

We started to run, but the pterodactyls attacked us with their beaks. Summerlee shouted and put a hand on his face. There was blood all

said Summerlee. "'False photos, dear professor - all false!' will be their response,"

over it. Suddenly, I felt something sharp on my neck. "Ouch!" I cried in pain. I looked around me, shocked, and saw Challenger falling to

said Challenger. Wc continued walking through the forest until we saw a line of rocks. A strange noise was coming from behind the rocks, and there was a terrible smell. We looked at each other. We knew it was dangerous, but we were curious. Quietly, we climbed the rocks and

i he ground. I tried to lift him but another pterodact yl attacked me .mil I fell.

"Now!" Lord Roxton cried. "Run to the trees!" We

forget it. Below us was an enormous hole in the ground. Inside the

were sitting on enormous yellow eggs. Babies were moving their

then, I heard the sound of  Lord Roxton's rifle and

frightened by the sound.

looked over the top. We saw something very strange there. I'll never

hole was a pool of dirty green water full of pterodactyls. The females

Just

.1 pterodactyl fell from the sky. The other pterodactyls flew higher,

turned

back

and

ran.

The

pterodactyls

couldn't

attack

us

because their wings were too big to fly between the trees. We had protection - for now. We walked to our camp slowly, tired and i

The water was full of pterodactyls.

overed in blood. "Well, things can pjily improve," I thought to myself. But I was

wrong. We returned to our camp and we found it in disorder. Our i' »id wasn't there and our provisions wer e all over the ground. Who, or what, did this?" asked Challenger. "It looks like it was i

very strong creature." Frightened, we looked around us with a

licling that many eyes were watching us - and not human eyes! lli.it night, while we were tidying the camp, Lord Roxton came in i.ilk to me. "Did you notice anything unusual about the ground n mind the pool of pterodactyl s?" he asked me.

"II was a bit blue," I answered. I xactly. A volcanic tube of blue earth," he declared. And what exactly does that mean?" I asked, curiously, i )li, nothing," answered Lord Roxton very casually, and he got up mil went to bed.

1

2 Put the sentences in the order they happened in the story.

Use the words below to complete complete Edward's diary. diary. bridge

prisoners

across

pain

separated

footprint

blood

dangers 

I J

a. Zamba stayed on the pinnacle . b. The four men heard a strange noise and there was a terrible smell.

_J

c. Every body was was surprised surprised to see tw o dinosaurs; they looke d like

Yesterday, We crossed a huge abyss. The

_J

d. Prof essor Challenger th ought of a solution to cross the abyss.

abyss i

J

giant kangaroos.

a high pinnacle pinnacle

e. Lord Roxt on spoke to Edwar d about the blue ground around the

 from a plat plateau eau.. .. I cut down a tree tree to to make make.. 4 2-

We, walked slowly

3

the, tree to the plateau. After 

We

water near the pterodactyls. —I

f.

Edward felt there was something mysterious about the plateau and he wanted to discover it.

reached the plateau, the tree broke bro ke and fell

to the bottom bot tom of the abyss. We had. no way to return. We

Were

on

4

the plateau.

5 Answer Ans wer the questions. Wri te the answers in your notebook. 1. In Professor Challenger's opinion, what do you need in order to find a solution to a problem?

Soon, we saw an enormous 5

2. What catastrophe happened after the men crossed into the Lost World?

in the ground. I Was afraid. I was sure there were

3. How did t he explorers escape from the pterodactyls?

many