Why do people

believe in conspiracy
theories?

1
Watch a video on:

The truth behind conspiracy

theories
Watch the video and answer the questions.

A. What type of books does the

novelist Gayle Lynds write?
B. What’s the one rule her books
must follow?
C. What’s the stereotypical image of
a conspiracy theorist?
D. What’s the interdimensional lizard
conspiracy theory about?
E. What’s the positive effect of
conspiracy-thinking?

4
Let’s check the answers.

A. What type of books does the novelist Gayle Lynds write?

Espionage books (i.e. spy novels)
B. What’s the one rule her books must follow?
The conspiracy they include has to be believable.
C. What’s the stereotypical image of a conspiracy theorist?
White middle-aged male who lives in his mother’s basement and uses a ham radio.
D. What’s the interdimensional lizard conspiracy theory about?
All the rich and influential families are in fact lizards from another dimension.
E. What’s the positive effect of conspiracy-thinking?
Conspiracy theorists push for release of information and they question power structures.

5
Watch the video again and list all the conspiracy theories mentioned.

6
The video included the following conspiracy theories:

● cover-up of JFK’s assassination

● 9/11 conspiracy
● Moon landings were faked
● CIA created lesbianism
● Elvis is alive
● real Paul McCartney is dead
● world is ruled by interdimensional lizards

7
It’s grammar time!
 Study the sentences in the table.

PRESENT REFERENCE

He is thought to be a good president.

Some people think that he is a good president.
It is thought that he is a good president.

PAST REFERENCE

He is said to have escaped from prison.

They say that he escaped from prison.
It is said that he escaped from prison.

VERBS TO USE: say, think, believe, know, consider, report, etc.

9
10
Rewrite each sentence so that it begins with the underlined words.

EXAMPLE:

Some people believe that Michael Jackson is alive.

Michael Jackson is believed to be alive.

11
Rewrite each sentence so that it begins with the underlined words.

A. His followers think that the blogger earns a lot of money.

B. They know that the boss worked for the competition a few years ago.

C. People say that Melania Trump has a double who does most of her appearances.

D. The police report that two young people were killed.

E. Some people believe dinosaurs helped build the pyramids in Ancient Egypt!

12
Let’s check the answers.

A. His followers think that the blogger earns a lot of money.

The blogger is thought to earn a lot of money.
B. They know that the boss worked for the competition a few years ago.
The boss is known to have worked for the competition a few years ago.
C. People say that Melania Trump has a double who does most of her appearances.
Melania Trump is said to have a double who does most of her appearances.
D. The police report that two young people were killed.
Two young people are reported to have been killed.
E. Some people believe dinosaurs helped build the pyramids in Ancient Egypt!
Dinosaurs are believed to have helped build the pyramids in Ancient Egypt!
13
Homework:
1) Study these slides to learn more about the impersonal passive:
click here.
2) Study the rules on slides 9 and 10, analyse the sentences on slide
13.
3) Watch these 2 videos about conspiracy theories for fun, and to hear
some proper, unfiltered English: click here and click here.

14
Rewrite these sentences so that each sentence begins with it.

A. Barack Obama is said to have been born outside the USA.

It
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…….

B. He is known to love Italian food and wine.

C. Earth is considered to be the only planet in the universe with lifeform.
D. Aliens are believed to be responsible for making crop circles.
E. Adolf Hitler is thought not to have been killed during WW2.

15
Let’s check the answers.

A. Barack Obama is said to have been born outside the USA.

It is said that Barack Obama was born outside the USA.
B. He is known to love Italian food and wine.
It is known that he loves Italian food and wine.
C. Earth is considered to be the only planet in the universe with lifeform.
It is considered that Earth is the only planet in the universe with lifeform.
D. Aliens are believed to be responsible for making crop circles.
It is believed that aliens are responsible for making crop circles.
E. Adolf Hitler is thought not to have been killed during WW2.
It is thought that Adolf Hitler wasn’t killed during WW2.
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Let’s learn some vocabulary
Look at the words below and choose the odd one out.

debunk disprove delete

A
discredit
B trick fact
hoax sham

C reveal fake falsify

deceive
disappoint fall for dupe
D
be deceived by
E evidence hypothesis proof
confirmation

19
Let’s check your answers.

debunk disprove delete

A
discredit
B trick fact
hoax sham

C reveal fake falsify

deceive
disappoint fall for dupe
D
be deceived by
E evidence hypothesis proof
confirmation

20
Let’s talk!
 Discuss the questions.

➔ In your opinion, what kind of people fall for conspiracy theories?

➔ What conspiracy theories do you know? Is there any evidence for them?
➔ What’s the most believable conspiracy theory that you’ve heard?
➔ Why do some people still think that some conspiracy theories are true, even
though they’ve been debunked?
➔ How much can we trust the government? Do you think governments keep a
lot of secrets and don’t reveal them to the public? Why/Why not?

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Now, we’ll put it into practice!
You will get some information about a conspiracy theory. Read the
text and summarise it for your partner using the passive voice.
Then, discuss what you think about the theory.

Well, it is believed that...

Michael Jackson is said to have...

It’s thought that...

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Conspiracy theories to read:
(copy the link or click to open a conspiracy theory)

1. Conspiracy theory #1
2. Conspiracy theory #2
3. Conspiracy theory #3
4. Conspiracy theory #4
5. Conspiracy theory #5
6. Conspiracy theory #6
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Thanks!