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In trying to locate Atlantis, historians have often given close
consideration to one particular issue. Plato described the destruction of the
island as taking place 9,000 years before his time, in other words roughly
11,000 years ago. Hovvever, modern archaeologists and historians do not
believe that highly developed civilisations existed so long ago.

Some people believe that Plato may have mistaken his dates and was
actually describing events that happcned 900, not 9,000, years before his
time. This would mean that Atlantis disappeared around the same time that
the Greek island of Thera, now known as Santorini, was partially destroyed
hy a volcanic eruption. So perhaps Atlantis is Santorini? There is some
evidence of a well-devclopcd ancient society on this island, but as yet no
proof that it is the same place that Plato reĩerred to as Atlantis.
If we assume that Plato didn’t get his dates wrong, and that other details
of his story are factually accurate, then Atlantis must be located somewhere
in the Atlantic. But the Atlantic is, of course, a vast ocean, and where do we
begin to look? Plato also relerred to the Pillars of Hercules in his story and said
that Atlantis was “in front of the straits”. Many historians now believe that
these Pillars are in fact the Straits of Gibraltar, in the western Mediterranean.
A number of islands, such as the Axores and the Canaries have been
suggested as possible locations. The most recent expeditions have locused on
a mud bank submerged beneath the sca, known as Spartel Island. But still
no absolute proof has hoen found. Dcspite all of our modern technology and
scientiílc knowledge, Atlantis stubbornly continues to rcmain one of the
great unsolved mysteries of human civilisation.

1. The story of the Lost City of A tlantis______
A. was íĩrst told hy an archaeologist.
B. is set on an island ncar Spain.
c. has led to some disagreement.
D. was in Plato’s ílrst book.

2. According to Plato, the A tlanteans______
A. lived in large buildings.
B. built city deíences.
c. kept detailed records.
D. lost many battles.

3. According to the text, why are there many diíTerent versions of the story
of Atlantis?
A. because it’s such a good story
B. because historians can’t agree
c. because it was forgotten for so long
D. because Plato made up the story
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