Dracula • Lesson 3 C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency ⏱ 20 Mins

Lesson 3: The Shipwreck at Whitby

Master reporting passives (is believed to have..., It was observed that..., is thought to have been...) through the newspaper report of the ghost ship Demeter in Chapter 7 of Dracula.

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Chapter 7 • 8 AugustThe Grounding of the Demeter at Whitby
What You'll Learn in This Lesson

Reporting Passives for Objective Writing

1. It + passive reporting verb + thatFor unconfirmed reports or observations → "It was observed that no crew remained on deck."
2. Subject + passive + to-infinitiveFor present beliefs → "The ship is thought to be from Varna."
3. Subject + passive + to have V3For past events → "The crew are presumed to have vanished at sea."

1. Read the Scene & Useful Vocabulary

Dracula • Chapter 7 (Newspaper & Ship's Log)

In Chapter 7, Bram Stoker switches from personal diaries to a newspaper report and the captain's logbook as the Russian schooner Demeter crashes onto Whitby beach during a fierce storm:

Original Novel Extract (1897)
"The strange schooner, driven by the fury of the storm, rushed straight onto the Tate Hill Pier. A searchlight was turned upon her, and there was seen lashed to the wheel a corpse, with drooping head, which swung horribly to and fro at each motion of the ship. No other form could be seen on deck at all... Later, in the dead man's pocket was found a bottle, carefully corked, containing a roll of paper which proved to be an addendum to the ship's log: '19 July.—We are progressing well, yet the men are growing unaccountably anxious. Two nights ago, one of the crew vanished from his watch; he is presumed to have fallen overboard in the dark.'" — Bram Stoker, Dracula (1897), Chapter 7: Cutting from The Dailygraph, 8 August Original Text
Specialist / Historical Words (Just for Reading) Sailing Terms
19th-century sailing terms from the ship's logbook. Useful for understanding the scene, but not needed in general essays.
Bulwark [noun, nautical] The wooden side of a ship above the upper deck. (Note: In modern essays, "a bulwark against inflation/corruption" is sometimes used metaphorically to mean a defensive wall.)
Bight [noun, nautical] A wide curve in a coastline, or a loop of rope.
Coxswain [noun, nautical] The person who steers a ship's boat or a racing rowing crew.
Modern C1/C2 Words (Great for Exams) Use in Writing & Speaking
High-value vocabulary for formal reports, essays, and articles.
Unaccountably [adverb] In a way that cannot be explained; strangely or mysteriously. Collocations: unaccountably delayed, unaccountably overlooked.
Derelict [adjective] In a very poor condition because of neglect and disuse; abandoned. Collocations: derelict industrial buildings, derelict land.
Disclose [verb] To make secret or new information known publicly. Collocations: disclose financial details, refuse to disclose information.
Task 1: Vocabulary Check (4 Marks). Classify each word as a Modern C1/C2 Word or an Old-Fashioned / Specialist Word:

2. The Grammar Pattern: Reporting Passives

C1/C2 Objective Tone

In formal essays, news articles, and reports, you often want to report what people believe, claim, or suspect without writing "People think that..." or "Someone said that...". Use these two passive patterns:

1. Pattern A: It + passive + that...

Start with It is/was believed, reported, claimed, or observed that...:

• It was observed that the ship was being steered by no living hand.
• It is widely believed that early intervention reduces costs.

2. Pattern B (Present): Subject + passive + to V

Start with the subject, followed by is/are thought, believed, or known to + verb:

• The cargo is thought to consist of fifty wooden crates.
(= People think the cargo consists of...)

3. Pattern B (Past): Subject + passive + to have V3

When the action happened earlier in the past, use to have + past participle:

• The crew are presumed to have perished during the storm.
(= Authorities presume that the crew perished earlier.)

4. Passive Past: to have been + V3

If the earlier action was also passive, use to have been + past participle:

• ✗ The captain is thought to be tied to the wheel days earlier.
• ✓ The captain is thought to have been tied to the wheel days earlier.

Quick Grammar Check (3 Marks):

5. Which sentence correctly reports an event that happened earlier in the past?
6. Which sentence is grammatically accurate?
7. Why do writers use "It is widely reported that..." or "The policy is thought to have..." in formal essays and articles?

3. Cambridge Use of English Part 4: Key Word Transformations

2 Marks Each (10 Marks Total)

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. Use between 3 and 8 words, including the key word.

8. Most people believed that a sudden squall had blown the ship off course.
BELIEVED
The ship blown off course by a sudden squall.
9. It is highly probable that the crew abandoned the ship before it reached the harbour.
LIKELIHOOD
abandoned the ship before it reached the harbour.
10. The police did not allow anyone to board the derelict ship under any circumstances.
PERMITTED
board the derelict ship.
11. Doctors attributed the captain's death to extreme physical exhaustion.
DOWN
The captain's death physical exhaustion.
12. Coastguard officers observed that the ship had suffered serious damage to its rudder.
OBSERVED
suffered serious damage to its rudder.

4. From Classic Fiction to Modern Exam Writing

Real-World C1/C2 Application

See how reporting passives and vocabulary like derelict and disclose transfer naturally into a modern Cambridge C1/C2 Proposal or Report on urban regeneration:

In Stoker's Newspaper Clipping (1897)
"The derelict vessel was driven ashore during the storm. The crew are presumed to have perished at sea, and the authorities have so far declined to disclose the contents of the captain's logbook."
In a Modern C1/C2 Report on Town Planning
"Several derelict warehouses along the canal have stood empty for over a decade. It is widely believed that converting these buildings into affordable flats and community spaces would revitalise the district, though developers have yet to disclose the full cost of the project."

Modern Exam Writing Practice (Questions 13–15 • 3 Marks)

Choose the most natural, accurate C1/C2 sentence for a modern report or essay:

5. Optional Writing Practice: Put Lessons 1–3 Together

150–220 Words

✍️ Short Writing Task (Book Review or Formal Report)

Choose one of the modern exam topics below and write a short paragraph or two (150–220 words). Try to include: 1 participle opener (Lesson 1), 1 negative inversion (Lesson 2), and at least 2 C1/C2 vocabulary words from Lessons 1–3:

Option A: C1/C2 Book or Film Review

Review a suspenseful book, film, or TV series you have enjoyed. Explain how it builds atmosphere and keeps the audience guessing without giving away spoilers.

Option B: C1/C2 Proposal on Derelict Buildings

Write a short proposal for your local council explaining how a derelict building or neglected park in your town could be turned into a useful space for local residents.

0 Words
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Target 1: Negative Inversion or Reporting Passive
Try using: Little did, Seldom has, Scarcely had, Under no circumstances, or is believed to have.
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Target 2: Participle Clause Opener
Try using: Having watched, Set in, Hemmed in by, or Neglected for years.
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Target 3: Modern C1/C2 Vocabulary (at least 2 words)
Words: apprehensive, impenetrable, hemmed, sinister, formidable, trepidation, unaccountably, derelict, disclose.

Sample C1/C2 Model Answer (Option A: Book/Film Review)

Natural C1/C2 Example
Set in a remote coastal town in winter, the novel builds a sinister atmosphere from its very first pages. Hemmed in by steep cliffs and impenetrable sea mist, the villagers are immediately apprehensive when an abandoned cargo ship washes ashore during a storm.

What makes the story so effective is the author's restraint. Seldom has a modern thriller created such genuine tension without relying on cheap shock tactics. Little do the local investigators suspect that the town's most respected family is hiding a secret they have refused to disclose for thirty years. Even readers who normally view horror stories with trepidation will find this a gripping, formidable piece of storytelling.