He 20th Century technology time line

noun
verb
adjective
catastrophe
catastrophic
confinement
confine
confined
abundance
abundant
seizure
seize
resource
resourceful
hazard
hazardous
isolation
isolate
isolated
United States government would invoke security measures to protect its land 
and mineral resources from seizure by other countries.
Because of its natural isolation, surrounded by freezing waters and 
hazardous currents, Alcatraz would soon be considered by the U.S. Army as an 
ideal location for holding captives. In 1861 the island began receiving Civil War 
prisoners, and in 1898 the Spanish-American War would bring the prison 
population from a mere twenty-six to over four hundred and ifty. Then in 1906, 
following the catastrophic San Francisco earthquake, hundreds of civilian 
prisoners were transferred to the island for safe coninement. By 1912 a large 
cell house had been constructed on the island’s central crest, and by the late 
1920s, the three-story structure was nearly at full capacity.
Source: http://www.alcatrazhistory.com/rs1.htm

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San Francisco | 65
1. 
a. 
The earthquake was a terrible _______________.
b. 
The earthquake had _______________ results for San Francisco.
2.
a. 
The prisoners were _______________ in small cells.
b. 
Sometimes their _______________ lasted for many years.
c. 
The military _______________ prisoners of war at Alcatraz.
3.
a. 
People thought that gold was _______________ in California.
b. 
There was always an _______________ of sea birds on the island.
4.
a. 
The government _______________ the property of the prisoners.
b. 
Wars often start with the _______________ of land.
5.
a. 
Gold is a valuable _______________.
b. 
A _______________ person knows how to use the things that are 
available to him or her.
6. 
a. 
Mining was a _______________ occupation.
b. 
The currents around the island were a _______________ for any prisoner 
who tried to escape.
7.
a. 
Prisoners who broke the rules were _______________ for a while.
b. 
_______________ is very frightening for most people.
c. 
Sometimes they _______________ a prisoner so he won’t hurt other 
prisoners.
V. UNDERSTANDING GRAMMAR
A.
Read about would
Would is sometimes used to indicated “future in the past.” When the story is a 
past tense narrative, would can show that one event was future to another.
Read these examples based on the story about Alcatraz:
As word spread around the globe of wealth in California, the United States 
government would invoke security measures to protect its land. (First, the word 
spread. Then the government invoked security measures.)
Alcatraz would soon be considered by the U.S. Army as an ideal location 
for holding captives. (First, Alcatraz was discovered. Then it was considered an 
ideal place for captives.)
In 1898 the Spanish-American War would bring the prison population from 
a mere twenty-six to over four hundred and ifty. (First, there were 26 prisoners. 
Then the Spanish-American War brought the population to 450.)

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66 | Better Reading English
B.
Use the grammar
Complete these sentences with an appropriate verb. Use would + verb to show 
future-in-the-past.
1. When the prisoners came to the island, they knew they _________________ 
there for many years.
2. The family moved to San Francisco without knowing that an immense 
earthquake _________________ the next year.
3. After the 1930s, as many as 300 prisoners _________________ at Alcatraz.
4. At that time, they didn’t know the prison _________________ in 1963.
VI. READ IT AGAIN
Read the article again. Answer the questions.
1. Why was Alcatraz a good place for a prison?
2. Which wars caused prisoners to be sent to Alcatraz?

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