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ACADEMIC LISTENING TEST PRACTICE
THE ROSWELL INCIDENT
For Students Preparing for Academic Tests / IELTS and TOEFL
Listen as you read the script.
Playing Time: 2 minutes 7 seconds
​In the summer of 1947 a mysterious incident in Roswell New Mexico captured the attention of the world. While many have attempted to uncover the truth behind the events of that summer, the official story remains shrouded in secrecy and speculation. In this lecture, we will explore the alleged Roswell cover-up, and the various theories surrounding it.

On July 8, 1947, an object was said to have crashed on a ranch in Roswell New Mexico. The following day, the United States military, announced that the object was a weather balloon, and the story soon faded from public attention. For decades, conspiracy theorists have maintained that the official story was a cover-up. Here are three of the most popular theories, surrounding the incident.

Theory #1: The object was a UFO, and the US government covered it up.
Those who believe this theory argue that the US government is hiding the truth about the existence of extraterrestrial life. They believe that the object that crashed in Roswell was in fact a spacecraft from another planet and that the US military covered it up to avoid a panic. Some have even suggested that the US government recovered extraterrestrial bodies from the crash site. 

Theory #2: The object was a top-secret military project.
Some believe that the object that crashed in Roswell was a top-secret military project, possibly related to the development of nuclear weapons. According to this theory, the US government covered it up to protect their military secrets.

Theory #3: The object was a weather balloon but the government covered it up to avoid embarrassment.
Some argue that the object that crashed in Roswell was in fact a weather balloon as the US military initially claimed. 

Despite numerous investigations and eyewitness testimonies over the years, the truth behind the Roswell incident remains a mystery. Some have even suggested that the US government has actively suppressed information and discredited witnesses to maintain the official story.

In 1994, the US Air Force released a report, that concluded that the object was a top-secret balloon used for monitoring nuclear weapons tests. This report, however, has not satisfied those who believe in the UFO cover-up.

The Roswell incident has become one of the most famous and enduring UFO legends of all time. While the truth may never be known, it continues to capture the imaginations of people around the world. Regardless of whether the official story is a cover-up or not, the Roswell incident has become an international cultural phenomenon, inspiring books, movies, and even an annual festival in Roswell.
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Note: For more cool ESL resources about animals, visit my All Things Topics site.
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