2. A newspaper was left on the bedside table

Icono IDevice Reading activity
 
It is common that in newspapers lots and lots of pieces of news about the diamond mines in different parts of Africa are published. After switching off the TV, Paco takes a newspaper which was left on the bedside table and, among other news, reads the following:
 
By adambowie. C. Commons
Sierra Gold Corporation Announces Property Acquisition in Region Known for Coloured Diamonds and Gold

Sierra Gold Corporation announced the acquisition of a 12 mile long concession on the Manu river in the Zimmi region with an option to expand down to the Atlantic ocean. The company has investigated the property and has discovered small coloured and clear diamonds. Also discovered was coarse gold. Coarse gold indicates proximity to the original source of the gold vein. The property is now being cleared to allow equipment to be deployed on site.

Sierra Leone is a major exporter of diamonds and is recognized internationally for the size and quality of its diamonds. The country’s major source of hard currency has come from the sale of diamonds. Sierra Leone’s production is characterized by a high proportion of gem quality diamonds. The country became famous world-wide after the discovery of the Star of Sierra Leone, a magnificent 969 carat diamond. In 2002, a 1440 carat, gem quality diamond was discovered in the Kono district, which was later sold in Belgium for approximately US$75 million. Sierra Leone has produced many of the largest alluvial diamonds ever discovered.


The gold mining operation has been delayed by the unusually long rainy season. The rivers are still swollen and the ground very muddy. The transport of the two 10 ton processing plants has been delayed until the conditions become more favourable.

Sierra Gold is engaged in the exploration and development of gold and diamond properties in West Africa. The Birimian greenstone belt of West Africa has had a long history of gold mining and prospecting. The region has been one of the fastest growing gold producing areas worldwide.

1 Taken from Mining Top News.


Read and listen to the passage carefully, paying attention to the tenses used. Try to guess which tenses are in the active voice and which ones in the passive.


Self-Assessment

Before studying the passive voice deeply, let's see if you have understood the passage. Remember that to understand a passage does not mean to know every single word in it!

By ToOliver2. C. Commons

According to the passage, are the following statements true or false?



1. Everything needed to exploit the Manu river is being placed in the property.

Verdadero Falso


2. A great amount of gold has been found in the property.

Verdadero Falso


3. It is common that the rainy season lasts a long time in Sierra Leona.

Verdadero Falso


4. It is the first time the area in West Africa is being prospected for gold.

Verdadero Falso
Now, let's talk about the active and passive voice! The first thing we should know is that the passive voice is far more-frequently used in English than in Spanish. So, it is very important that you perfectly know what the passive voice is, when it is used and how it is formed.
Icono IDevice Important
Active vs. passive
When we say what people and things do, we use active verb forms like indicates, announced, or has discovered. When we say what happens to people and things —what is done to them— we often use passive verb forms like is/are indicated, was/were announced, or has/have been discovered.

Just to become used to the passive voice, you can begin by reading some general aspects about it by clicking here. It would also be an excellent idea that you watch this presentation so that you may begin to understand the differences between the active and the passive voice and how the latter is formed. Begin to take notes if necessary!


Icono IDevice Further knowledge

As in news it is more important what happens to people and things than what people and things do, the passive voice is used quite frequently in newspapers and magazines. Below you can find two links to the main British and American newspapers online. Try them if you want to keep informed!

Icono IDevice Curiosity
Newspapers

By Pollinator. GNU License

By angus mcdiarmid. C. Commo
Which was the first newspaper in the world? There is some debate over which publication was the first newspaper because the definition of a newspaper has always been quite flexible. In ancient Rome, Acta Diurna, or government announcement bulletins, were made public by Julius Caesar. They were carved on stone or metal and posted in public places. In China, early government-produced news sheets, called tipao, circulated among court officials during the late Han dynasty (second and third centuries AD). Between 713 and 734, the Kai Yuan Za Bao of the Chinese Tang Dynasty published government news; it was handwritten on silk and read by government officials. In 1582 there was the first reference to privately-published news sheets in Beijing, during the late Ming Dynasty.

If you want to know more about newspapers, click here!


Now we have introduced the passive voice, let's study it in detail! Move on to next section to learn more about this point!
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