Viewp ints
6 The Gold Rush
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A Before you watch
Work in groups. Look at the picture and discuss the questions.
1 Where do you think this man is?
2 What year do you think it is?
3 What do you think he is doing?
B While you watch
1 Watch the video. Match the years and numbers 1–7 with the correct description a–g.
1 1848
a the number of cattle John Sutter had
2 1839
b the year gold was discovered in California
3 12,000
c the year a lot of men left home to look for gold in California
4 20
d the year John Sutter left California
5 49ers
e the name given to the men who left home in 1849
6 1849
f the year John Sutter arrived in California
7 1850
g the number of men that Sutter sent with James Marshall to the American River
2 Read the sentences. Circle True or False.
1 John Sutter was an Italian immigrant. True False
2 When Sutter arrived in California, he built a gold mine. True False
3 In 1848, Sutter sent James Marshall to build a sawmill alone near the American River. True False
4 James Marshall found the first piece of gold. True False
5 The president of the United States, James Polk, announced that the gold discovery was true. True False
6 Sutter wanted a gold empire. True False
7 Sutter left the state of California feeling disappointed. True False
C After you watch
1 Explain the links between the items in each group.
1
2
3
4
John Sutter  an agricultural empire  gold fever  disillusioned
James Marshall  American River  something shiny
U.S. President James Polk  California gold rush  “the 49ers”
The 49ers  the collapse of Sutter’s empire  Sutter’s departure
John Sutter went to California to build an agricultural empire. However, …
Photocopiable D.R. © Macmillan Publishers, S.A. de C.V. 2010
Viewp ints
6 The Gold Rush
2 Rewrite these active sentences in the passive voice.
1 James Marshall discovered gold in 1848.
2 President Polk announced the discovery in Congress.
3 Telegraphs sent the news to every village and town.
4 People called the miners “49ers.”
5 Miners destroyed Sutter’s fort.
D Language Points
Read the sentences. Circle the correct meaning of the underlined expressions.
1 Only a handful of Americans had seen California in 1848.
a a large number
b a small number
2 He had no idea that the trickle would become a flood.
a really did not know
b had no imagination
3 The 49ers left home in 1849, but when they would return was another matter entirely.
a a completely different thing
b known with certainty
4 In the new California, John Sutter was in the way of the miners.
a was using the space needed or wanted by
b shared the same vision as
E Your Viewpoint
Work in groups and discuss these questions.
1 Do you think Sutter was right to refuse to change his plans and join the gold rush?
2 Would you be prepared to leave your native town or city, and travel a long way to take advantage of an
opportunity like the gold rush?
3 Can you think of an example of a modern day gold rush (something that lots of people have tried in order
to get rich quickly)?
4 Does money bring happiness? Think of examples to support your answers.
Photocopiable D.R. © Macmillan Publishers, S.A. de C.V. 2010
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