The key answer of exercise 5
The key to exercise solutions in chapter 12 - History mysteries for the textbook Outcomes Advanced - Student's Book with authors Carol Nuttall and Amanda French from National Geographic Learning
Question
Listen. What are the three main explanations for the plague? Which is put forward as the most likely? Why?
Answer
- The dancers had eaten poisoned wheat, which can cause hallucinations and aches and pains.
- They were cult members of some kind, and pushing their bodies to extremes in pursuit of ecstasy.
- It was a kind of mass hysteria brought about by a long period of disease and famine. The most likely explanation is the last one. This would explain the trance-like states and loss of self-control. Hysterical communal states often happen during extreme situations. Poisoned wheat is unlikely as it’s never been known to cause behaviour like that described. The cult theory is unlikely as they weren’t ecstatic: they seemed unhappy and troubled.
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