A. Pair work. Read the words in the box. Which of the words are related to energy?
1. fuel
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2. desert
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3. fossil
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4. sun
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oil
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forest
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relic
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wind
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gas
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valley
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remnant
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water
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soil
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waterfall
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sign
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coal
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Now underline the odd word in each column that doesn't belong to the group. Then compare with your partner. Check the meanings of the new words in a dictionary.
B. Read the text and answer the following questions.
In a speech at the 90* Science Congress, internationally acknowledged scientist and former Indian president Mr APJ Abdul Kalam mentioned a very important aspect of mankind's future energy crisis. He pointed out that the era of wood and bio mass has almost come to an end.
The age of oil and natural gas would soon be over within the next few decades. Massive burning of world's coal reserves may lead to a worldwide ecological disaster because coal burning emits the highest amount of carbon in the atmosphere Ukraine's (former Soviet Union) Chernobyl disaster in 1986 has exposed that nuclear energy can be potentially dangerous too. So according to Kalam, the only solution feat mankind can look to is the massive use of solar energy in future because it has some advantages over other forms of renewable energies.
Now, why has Kalam put so much importance to the issue of energy? The energy sources have always been a major factor of change throughout history. The world's petroleum consumption has increased from 3 billion barrels annually in 1930 to 50 billion barrels annually today. In the next quarter century, the world's population is expected to be about 8 billion which is 30 percent higher than today. Developing countries will grow their economies about two times faster than industrialised countries. Global economic growth is expected to continue at 3 percent per year.
Consequently, the global demand for energy will grow at about 1.7 percent per year on an average. It indicates a 50-percent rise of energy consumption by 2030. If fee world's daily petroleum consumption is 220 million barrels now, it will rise to 335 million barrels by that time. The presort reserve of hydro carbon energy resources is limited and it will not be sufficient to meet the future energy challenges of fee world. And hence, leading industrial countries have taken initiatives to tap alternative energy sources mainly known as green or renewable energy sources. The bottom line of Kalam's speech indicates the concern of mankind in the 21st century.
Questions
1 What is the scientist Kalam concerned about?
2 Why do you think the massive burning of coal may lead to an ecological disaster?
3 What do you mean by the potential danger of nuclear energy?
4 What according to Mr Kalam is the solution of future energy crisis?
5 Why does Mr Kalam put so much importance on the issue of energy?
6 Why does Mr Kalam put much importance on solar energy?
C. Make sentences using the substitution table.
Chernobyl disaster
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the use of renewable energy
|
||
The energy industries
The global petroleum
consumption
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have has
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taken been
emphasized increased
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sources.
the
potential danger of nuclear energy.
a major factor for change
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Major industrial economies
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exposed
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throughout history.
to three billion barrels per year.
initiatives to tap alternative
|
|
Scientists
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energy sources.
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D. Complete the following passage with words from the box. There are more words than necessary.
suggested radiates would effective conducted either energy affected crisis tap were
To answer the energy......... in the world, scientist, professor, and former Indian president Mr APJ Abdul Kalam has......... that solar energy can be harnessed by establishing space stations in outer space in order to......... solar power round the clock. Mr Kalam said that the sun......... about 10 trillion times the energy which humans consume across the world today. If we......... able to extract even a small portion of this energy from the sun, it......... be sufficient to secure the energy demands of our future. Pointing out that space based solar power plants do not get......... by weather, the scientist said that it would thus be far more......... in efficiency and power generation than the surface based systems. Professor Kalam suggested that the energy should be transmitted from space back to earth......... through microwave or any other technology like laser. Careful research of the impact and safety concerns would have to be......... in this regard.
E. 'Massive burning of world's coal reserves may lead to a worldwide ecological disaster ...'-— Do you support this view? Explain why/why not.
F. In Sohan's village, some people headed by Mr Asadul Islam came from an organisation to hold a meeting at the local Union Parishad (UP) Office. Their objective was to introduce alternative power supply systems in rural households. Read the dialogue between the UP Chairman and Mr Islam.
Chairman : What's your alternative power supply system?
Mr Islam : Well, it's solar power and we are going to use solar power units in rural areas.
Chairman : What is it? Is it something new?
Mr Islam : Not exactly. It's already familiar in many parts of the world. We've introduced it in our country too. But yes, in this locality it's something new.
Chairman : I see. Why do you call it 'alternative power supply system'?
Mr Islam : Because solar power is a substitute for conventional electricity. It's actually a renewable energy source. Our solar units can be installed on open roof tops or at any open place where sunlight is available.
Chairman : Sounds good. How much electricity can they give? Can they run my irrigation pump?
Mr Islam : I'm afraid Mr Chairman, they can't. Our solar panels are small and are designed for domestic purposes only. They can produce enough electricity to run say, two or three tube lights, two fans, a TV set and the like. But larger units can run...
Chairman : Sorry to interrupt Mr Asad. I've to go to the bus stand now to receive a sick friend. Anyway, several villages in our Union are still without electricity. I hope people will welcome your 'alternative power supply system'.
Mr Islam : Thank you, Mr Chairman. Goodbye.
Chairman : Goodbye, Mr Islam. See you again.
G. True or false? If false, write the correct answer.
1 Alternative power supply system is a completely new system in our country.
2 A renewable energy source can be a substitute for conventional electricity.
3 Solar power units of Mr Islam are for commercial use only.
H. What questions would you like to ask Mr Islam about solar panel, solar unit, energy sources, 'alternative power supply system', its capacity, its advantages and disadvantages, etc? Make a list of your probable questions.
I. Role play. Work in pairs. You take the role of the Chairman and your partner the role of Mr Islam. Rewrite the dialogue and act it out.
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