The Reading / Listening - Zero-Carbon Fuels - Level 6

The United Kingdom has said it is playing its part in striving for a cleaner and greener planet. For the first time since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the UK is being powered more by zero-carbon fuels than fossil fuels. In each of the first five months of 2019, fossil fuels have produced less than half of the UK's electricity. Analysts say a "tipping point" has been reached and the trend of zero-carbon energy sources providing more power than fossil fuels will continue. Power from wind, solar, nuclear and hydro sources outstripped coal and gas-fired generation. A decade ago, three quarters (75.6 per cent) of the UK's electricity came from coal and gas, and only 22.3 per cent was zero carbon.

The switch to more zero-carbon power was described by the UK's energy chief executive as a "key milestone on the journey towards net zero". CEO John Pettigrew said the zero-carbon share should increase to 90 per cent by the 2030s. The UK's Prime Minister Theresa May has made a commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This would make the UK the first major economy to do so. Energy analyst Tom Burke told the BBC: "Today's landmark is a real tribute to technologists. We have cracked technical problems of dealing with climate change." He added: "As we move towards net zero, jobs will be lost in fossil fuel industries and created in low-carbon industries."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Zero-Carbon Fuels - Level 4  or  Zero-Carbon Fuels - Level 5

Sources
  • https://metro.co.uk/2019/06/21/2019-first-year-zero-carbon-outstrips-fossil-fuels-10023149/?ito=cbshare
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-48711649
  • https://www.iflscience.com/environment/britain-now-generates-more-power-zero-carbon-sources-fossil-fuels/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. ZERO-CARBON FUELS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about zero-carbon fuels. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       planet / the first time / Industrial Revolution / zero carbon / fossil fuels / coal / zero /
       switch / chief executive / journey / commitment / economy / tribute / climate change
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NET ZERO: Students A strongly believe the whole world will be net zero one day; Students B strongly believe it won't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. RENEWABLES: What do you know about these renewables? What are the good and bad things about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What You Know

Good Things

Bad Things

Solar

 

 

 

Wind

 

 

 

Nuclear

 

 

 

Hydro

 

 

 

Biomass

 

 

 

Tidal

 

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. GREEN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "green". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. CLIMATE CHANGE: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to help to address climate change at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • walk everywhere
  • use less air-con
  • use public transport
  • plant trees
  • eat less meat
  • recycle
  • no bottled water
  • use solar panels

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. striving a. A period of one hundred years.
      2. century b. The time or place at which a series of small changes or incidents becomes significant enough to cause a larger, more important change.
      3. analysts c. A single stage in the development of a type of product.
      4. tipping point d. A person who examines events, facts and figures, typically as a basis for discussion or interpretation.
      5. trend e. Relating to water.
      6. hydro f. Making great efforts to achieve or obtain something.
      7. generation g. A general direction in which something is developing or changing.

    Paragraph 2

      8. switch h. An action or event marking a significant change or stage in development.
      9. milestone i. A long and often difficult process of personal change and development.
      10. journey j. An amount, value, or price remaining after a deduction, such as tax or a discount, has been made.
      11. commitment k. An act, statement, or gift that is intended to show gratitude, respect, or admiration.
      12. tribute l. A promise to do something.
      13. cracked m. An act of choosing one thing or way of life, or choosing one type of item, in place of another.
      14. net n. Found a solution to a problem.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The UK used less coal for the first time since the Industrial Revolution.    T / F
  2. The UK used fewer fossil fuels than renewables for five months in a row.  T / F
  3. Analysts say the UK has reached a tipping point regarding fuel use.     T / F
  4. Nearly a quarter of the UK's power was zero carbon a decade ago.     T / F
  5. An energy executive said net zero was a millstone for the UK.     T / F
  6. An energy executive says the UK will be 90% zero carbon by the 2030s.  T / F
  7. An analyst said the UK has problems with cracks in its technology.     T / F
  8. The analyst said there would be fewer jobs in low-carbon industries.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. part
  2. striving
  3. produced
  4. trend
  5. outstripped
  6. switch
  7. milestone
  8. tribute
  9. cracked
  10. towards
  1. exceeded
  2. tendency
  3. in the direction of
  4. landmark
  5. created
  6. testimony
  7. attempting
  8. solved
  9. role
  10. change

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. striving for a
  2. For the first time since
  3. In each of the first five
  4. the trend
  5. A decade
  6. a key milestone on the journey
  7. reach net zero carbon
  8. the first major economy to
  9. a real tribute
  10. jobs will be lost in fossil fuel
  1. of zero-carbon energy
  2. emissions by 2050
  3. ago
  4. do so
  5. the Industrial Revolution
  6. industries
  7. cleaner and greener planet
  8. to technologists
  9. months of 2019
  10. towards net zero

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
providing
each
centuries
generation
outstripped
tipping
striving
trend

The United Kingdom has said it is playing its part in (1) ____________ for a cleaner and greener planet. For the first time since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th (2) ____________, the UK is being powered more by zero-carbon fuels than fossil fuels. In (3) ____________ of the first five months of 2019, fossil fuels have produced less than half of the UK's electricity. Analysts say a "(4) ____________ point" has been reached and the (5) ____________ of zero-carbon energy sources (6) ____________ more power than fossil fuels will continue. Power from wind, solar, nuclear and hydro sources (7) ____________ coal and gas-fired (8) ____________. A decade ago, three quarters (75.6 per cent) of the UK's electricity came from coal and gas, and only 22.3 per cent was zero carbon.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
emissions
created
major
share
dealing
milestone
tribute
commitment

The switch to more zero-carbon power was described by the UK's energy chief executive as a "key (9) ____________ on the journey towards net zero". CEO John Pettigrew said the zero-carbon (10) ____________ should increase to 90 per cent by the 2030s. The UK's Prime Minister Theresa May has made a (11) ____________ to reach net zero carbon (12) ____________ by 2050. This would make the UK the first (13) ____________ economy to do so. Energy analyst Tom Burke told the BBC: "Today's landmark is a real (14) ____________ to technologists. We have cracked technical problems of (15) ____________ with climate change." He added: "As we move towards net zero, jobs will be lost in fossil fuel industries and (16) ____________ in low-carbon industries."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) it is playing its part in striving for a cleaner and ______
     a.  greener plant
     b.  greener plan it
     c.  greener planetary
     d.  greener planet
2)  the first time since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and ______
     a.  19th century
     b.  19th centurions
     c.  19th centuries
     d.  19th cent unary
3)  In each of the first five months of 2019, fossil fuels have produced ______
     a.  less than half
     b.  less than halve
     c.  less than halved
     d.  less than have
4)  Analysts say a tipping point" has been reached and ______...
     a.  the trends of
     b.  the trend of
     c.  the trendy of
     d.  the trending of
5)  wind, solar, nuclear and hydro sources outstripped coal and ______
     a.  gas-fired generation
     b.  gas-fined generation
     c.  gassed-fired generation
     d.  gassy-fined generation

6)  The switch to more zero-carbon power was described by the UK's energy ______
     a.  chiefdom executive
     b.  chieftain executive
     c.  chiefly executive
     d.  chief executive
7)  Theresa May has made a commitment to reach net zero ______
     a.  carbon emissaries
     b.  carbon emissions
     c.  carbon emits shuns
     d.  carbon omissions
8)  This would make the UK the first major economy ______
     a.  to do some
     b.  to do sow
     c.  to do so
     d.  to does it
9)  a real tribute to technologists. We have cracked ______
     a.  technique problems
     b.  technical problem
     c.  technically problem
     d.  technically problems
10)  As we move towards net zero, jobs will be lost in fossil ______
     a.  feel industries
     b.  fewer industries
     c.  few all industries
     d.  fuel industries

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The United Kingdom has said it is (1) ___________________ in striving for a cleaner and greener planet. For the first time since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the UK is (2) ___________________ by zero-carbon fuels than fossil fuels. In each of the first five months of 2019, fossil fuels have (3) ___________________ half of the UK's electricity. Analysts say a "tipping point" has been reached and the trend of zero-carbon energy sources providing more power than (4) ___________________ continue. Power from wind, solar, nuclear and hydro sources outstripped coal and gas-fired generation. (5) ___________________, three quarters (75.6 per cent) of the UK's electricity came from (6) ___________________, and only 22.3 per cent was zero carbon.

The (7) ___________________ zero-carbon power was described by the UK's energy chief executive as a "key milestone on the journey towards net zero". CEO John Pettigrew said the zero-carbon (8) ___________________ to 90 per cent by the 2030s. The UK's Prime Minister Theresa May has made a commitment to (9) ___________________ carbon emissions by 2050. This would make the UK the first major economy to do so. Energy analyst Tom Burke told the BBC: "Today's landmark is (10) ___________________ to technologists. We have (11) ___________________ of dealing with climate change." He added: "As we move towards net zero, jobs (12) ___________________ in fossil fuel industries and created in low-carbon industries."

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say the UK is striving for?
  2. When did the UK last use more carbon zero fuels than fossil fuels?
  3. What kind of point did analysts say the UK has reached?
  4. What did analysts say would happen to the zero-carbon trend in the UK?
  5. How much of the UK's electricity came from coal and gas a decade ago?
  6. What did a chief executive call the switch to more zero-carbon power?
  7. When will the UK's zero-carbon share increase to 90% in the UK?
  8. When did the UK's leader say the UK would be carbon net zero?
  9. What problems did an analyst say technologists had cracked?
  10. Where will jobs be created in the UK?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say the UK is striving for?
a) to be the world leader in green technology
b) driverless cars
c) a cleaner, greener planet
d) no smoke across Britain
2) When did the UK last use more carbon zero fuels than fossil fuels?
a) the nineteenth century
b) 1932
c) 1391
d) the fourteenth century
3) What kind of point did analysts say the UK has reached?
a) an important point
b) a tipping point
c) a great point
d) a strong point
4) What did analysts say would happen to the zero-carbon trend in the UK?
a) it would stall
b) it would stop
c) it would reverse
d) it would continue
5) How much of the UK's electricity came from coal and gas a decade ago?
a) 60%
b) three fifths
c) three quarters
d) two thirds

6) What did a chief executive call the switch to more zero-carbon power?
a) marvelous
b) a "key milestone"
c) a "significant landmark"
d) a "thing of beauty"
7) When will the UK's zero-carbon share increase to 90% in the UK?
a) by 2020
b) 2025
c) 2030
d) by the 2030s
8) When did the UK's leader say the UK would be carbon net zero?
a) by 2100
b) by 2050
c) by 2030
d) by 2020
9) What problems did an analyst say technologists had cracked?
a) climate protestor problems
b) climate change problems
c) pollution problems
d) nuclear reactor problems
10) Where will jobs be created in the UK?
a) low-carbon industries
b) London
c) on wind farms
d) coastal areas

Role play

Role  A – Plant Trees
You think planting trees is the best way to help the planet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): eating less meat, using public transport or recycling.

Role  B – Eat Less Meat
You think eating less meat is the best way to help the planet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): planting trees, using public transport or recycling.

Role  C – Use Public Transport
You think using public transport is the best way to help the planet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): eating less meat, planting trees or recycling.

Role  D – Recycle
You think recycling is the best way to help the planet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): eating less meat, using public transport or planting trees.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'zero'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'carbon'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • chief
    • share
    • reach
    • major
    • real
    • lost
    • part
    • since
    • each
    • trend
    • hydro
    • ago

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Zero-carbon power bigger than fossil fuels in UK

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'fossil fuel'?
    3. What do you think of fossil fuels?
    4. How important are fossil fuels?
    5. How did the Industrial Revolution change the world?
    6. What is your country doing to move towards a greener planet?
    7. When will your country use mainly zero-carbon energies?
    8. How green is your lifestyle?
    9. What is the best form of renewable energy?
    10. Does the world have time to move to zero-carbon energies?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'zero'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What key milestones has your country reached regarding energy?
    5. How should we change our lives to be greener?
    6. What damage do fossil fuels do?
    7. What technical problems are there in dealing with climate change?
    8. Can coal miners and oil workers find jobs in low-carbon industries?
    9. What will the environment be like in the year 2119?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the energy chief?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The United Kingdom has said it is (1) ____ its part in striving for a cleaner and greener planet. For the first time since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the UK is being (2) ____ more by zero-carbon fuels than fossil fuels. In (3) ____ of the first five months of 2019, fossil fuels have produced less than half of the UK's electricity. Analysts say a "(4) ____ point" has been reached and the trend of zero-carbon energy sources providing more power than fossil fuels will continue. Power from wind, solar, nuclear and (5) ____ sources outstripped coal and gas-fired generation. A decade ago, three (6) ____ (75.6 per cent) of the UK's electricity came from coal and gas, and only 22.3 per cent was zero carbon.

    The (7) ____ to more zero-carbon power was described by the UK's energy chief executive as a "key milestone on the (8) ____ towards net zero". CEO John Pettigrew said the zero-carbon share should increase to 90 per cent by the 2030s. The UK's Prime Minister Theresa May has made a (9) ____ to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This would make the UK the first major economy to do (10) ____. Energy analyst Tom Burke told the BBC: "Today's landmark is a real tribute to technologists. We have cracked technical problems of (11) ____ with climate change." He added: "As we move towards net zero, jobs will be (12) ____ in fossil fuel industries and created in low-carbon industries."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     competing     (b)     enjoying     (c)     playing     (d)     performing    
    2. (a)     powered     (b)     powdered     (c)     plowed     (d)     powwows    
    3. (a)     each     (b)     every     (c)     all     (d)     whole    
    4. (a)     tipping     (b)     tripping     (c)     stripping     (d)     striping    
    5. (a)     hydrant     (b)     hydrate     (c)     hydra     (d)     hydro    
    6. (a)     quartiles     (b)     quarterlies     (c)     quarter     (d)     quarters    
    7. (a)     switch     (b)     stitch     (c)     snitch     (d)     satchel    
    8. (a)     expedition     (b)     trip     (c)     vacation     (d)     journey    
    9. (a)     commitment     (b)     concomitant     (c)     commandment     (d)     committee    
    10. (a)     then     (b)     so     (c)     them     (d)     by    
    11. (a)     healing     (b)     dealing     (c)     pealing     (d)     sealing    
    12. (a)     lost     (b)     agog     (c)     aghast     (d)     mislaid

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. itsvnrig for a cleaner and greener planet
    2. the nlstaIrudi Revolution
    3. a "ptgipin point" has been reached
    4. the trend of zero-carbon energy cosesru
    5. outstripped coal and gas-fired eaintgeorn
    6. A edeacd ago

    Paragraph 2

    1. the UK's energy chief xecvituee
    2. Theresa May has made a momnceitmt
    3. net zero carbon emoinsiss
    4. a real bturiet to technologists
    5. technical problems of eagdnli with climate change
    6. created in low-carbon isrnstiedu

    Put the text back together

    (...)  sources providing more power than fossil fuels will continue. Power from wind, solar, nuclear and
    (...)  journey towards net zero". CEO John Pettigrew said the zero-carbon share should increase to 90 per cent
    (...)  than fossil fuels. In each of the first five months of 2019, fossil fuels have produced less than half
    (...)  Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the UK is being powered more by zero-carbon fuels
    (...)  by the 2030s. The UK's Prime Minister Theresa May has made a commitment to
    (...)  analyst Tom Burke told the BBC: "Today's landmark is a real tribute to technologists. We have cracked
    (...)  technical problems of dealing with climate change." He added: "As we move towards net zero,
    (...)  reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This would make the UK the first major economy to do so. Energy
    (...)  hydro sources outstripped coal and gas-fired generation. A decade ago, three quarters (75.6 per cent)
    (...)  of the UK's electricity. Analysts say a "tipping point" has been reached and the trend of zero-carbon energy
    (  1  ) The United Kingdom has said it is playing its part in striving for a cleaner and greener planet. For the first time since the
    (...)  jobs will be lost in fossil fuel industries and created in low-carbon industries."
    (...)  of the UK's electricity came from coal and gas, and only 22.3 per cent was zero carbon.
    (...)  The switch to more zero-carbon power was described by the UK's energy chief executive as a "key milestone on the

    Put the words in the right order

    1. the   the   Industrial   since   Revolution   .   first   For   time
    2. by   The   zero-carbon   is   powered   more   UK   fuels   .
    3. of   In   five   2019   .   of   each   the   months
    4. reached   .   has   point   a   been   Analysts   say   tipping
    5. sources   generation   .   gas-fired   coal   outstripped   and   Hydro
    6. key   milestone   on   journey   A   towards   net-zero   .   the
    7. do   first   economy   The   major   so   .   to
    8. is   landmark   Today's   to   real   technologists   .   a   tribute
    9. technical   with   of   dealing   problems   climate   The   change   .
    10. be   will   industries   .   fuel   fossil   in   Jobs   lost

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The United Kingdom has said it is praying / playing its part in striving for a cleaner and greener planet / plant. For the first time since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the UK is being powdered / powered more by zero-carbon fuels than fossil fuels. In each / every of the first five months of 2019, fossil fuels have produced fewer / less than half of the UK's electricity. Analysts say a "tipping point" has been reaching / reached and the trend of zero-carbon energy sources provision / providing more power than fossil fuels will continue. Power from wind, solar, nuclear and hydro sauces / sources outstripped coal and gas-fired generation / generational. A decade ago, three quarters (75.6 per cent) of the UK's electricity came from coal and gaseous / gas, and only 22.3 per cent was zero carbon.

    The switch / stitch to more zero-carbon power was description / described by the UK's energy chief executive as a "key milestone / keystone on the journey towards net zero". CEO John Pettigrew said the zero-carbon proportional / share should increase to 90 per cent by the 2030s. The UK's Prime Minister Theresa May has made a commitment / concomitant to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This would make the UK the first major economy to doing / do so. Energy analyst Tom Burke told the BBC: "Today's landmark is a real attribute / tribute to technologists. We have cracked technical problems of dealing / dealt with climate change." He added: "As we shake / move towards net zero, jobs will be losing / lost in fossil fuel industries and created in low-carbon industries."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    T h_ U n_t_d K_n g d_m h_s s__ d _t _s p l_y_n g _t s p_r t _n s t r_v_n g f_r _ c l__ n_r _n d g r__ n_r p l_n_t . F_r t h_ f_r s t t_m_ s_n c_ t h_ I n d_s t r__ l R_v_l_t__ n _n t h_ 1 8 t h _n d 1 9 t h c_n t_r__ s , t h_ U K _s b__ n g p_w_r_d m_r_ b y z_r_- c_r b_n f__ l s t h_n f_s s_l f__ l s . I n __ c h _f t h_ f_r s t f_v_ m_n t h s _f 2 0 1 9 , f_s s_l f__ l s h_v_ p r_d_c_d l_s s t h_n h_l f _f t h_ U K ' s _l_c t r_c_t y . A n_l y s t s s_y _ " t_p p_n g p__ n t " h_s b__ n r__ c h_d _n d t h_ t r_n d _f z_r_- c_r b_n _n_r g y s__ r c_s p r_v_d_n g m_r_ p_w_r t h_n f_s s_l f__ l s w_l l c_n t_n__ . P_w_r f r_m w_n d , s_l_r , n_c l__ r _n d h y d r_ s__ r c_s __ t s t r_p p_d c__ l _n d g_s - f_r_d g_n_r_t__ n . A d_c_d_ _g_, t h r__ q__ r t_r s ( 7 5 . 6 p_r c_n t ) _f t h_ U K ' s _l_c t r_c_t y c_m_ f r_m c__ l _n d g_s , _n d _n l y 2 2 . 3 p_r c_n t w_s z_r_ c_r b_n .

    T h_ s w_t c h t_ m_r_ z_r_- c_r b_n p_w_r w_s d_s c r_b_d b y t h_ U K ' s _n_r g y c h__ f _x_c_t_v_ _s _ " k_y m_l_s t_n_ _n t h_ j__ r n_y t_w_r d s n_t z_r_" . C E O J_h n P_t t_g r_w s__ d t h_ z_r_- c_r b_n s h_r_ s h__ l d _n c r__ s_ t_ 9 0 p_r c_n t b y t h_ 2 0 3 0 s . T h_ U K ' s P r_m_ M_n_s t_r T h_r_s_ M_y h_s m_d_ _ c_m m_t m_n t t_ r__ c h n_t z_r_ c_r b_n _m_s s__ n s b y 2 0 5 0 . T h_s w__ l d m_k_ t h_ U K t h_ f_r s t m_j_r _c_n_m y t_ d_ s_. E n_r g y _n_l y s t T_m B_r k_ t_l d t h_ B B C : " T_d_y ' s l_n d m_r k _s _ r__ l t r_b_t_ t_ t_c h n_l_g_s t s . W_ h_v_ c r_c k_d t_c h n_c_l p r_b l_m s _f d__ l_n g w_t h c l_m_t_ c h_n g_. " H_ _d d_d : " A s w_ m_v_ t_w_r d s n_t z_r_, j_b s w_l l b_ l_s t _n f_s s_l f__ l _n d_s t r__ s _n d c r__ t_d _n l_w - c_r b_n _n d_s t r__ s . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the united kingdom has said it is playing its part in striving for a cleaner and greener planet. for the first time since the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the uk is being powered more by zero-carbon fuels than fossil fuels. in each of the first five months of 2019, fossil fuels have produced less than half of the uk's electricity. analysts say a "tipping point" has been reached and the trend of zero-carbon energy sources providing more power than fossil fuels will continue. power from wind, solar, nuclear and hydro sources outstripped coal and gas-fired generation. a decade ago, three quarters (75.6 per cent) of the uk's electricity came from coal and gas, and only 22.3 per cent was zero carbon.

    the switch to more zero-carbon power was described by the uk's energy chief executive as a "key milestone on the journey towards net zero". ceo john pettigrew said the zero-carbon share should increase to 90 per cent by the 2030s. the uk's prime minister theresa may has made a commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. this would make the uk the first major economy to do so. energy analyst tom burke told the bbc: "today's landmark is a real tribute to technologists. we have cracked technical problems of dealing with climate change." he added: "as we move towards net zero, jobs will be lost in fossil fuel industries and created in low-carbon industries."

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheUnitedKingdomhassaiditisplayingitspartinstrivingforacleaneran
    dgreenerplanet.ForthefirsttimesincetheIndustrialRevolutioninthe1
    8thand19thcenturies,theUKisbeingpoweredmorebyzero-carbonfue
    lsthanfossilfuels.Ineachofthefirstfivemonthsof2019,fossilfuelshave
    producedlessthanhalfoftheUK'selectricity.Analystssaya"tippingpoin
    t"hasbeenreachedandthetrendofzero-carbonenergysourcesprovid
    ingmorepowerthanfossilfuelswillcontinue.Powerfromwind,solar,nuc
    learandhydrosourcesoutstrippedcoalandgas-firedgeneration.Adeca
    deago,threequarters(75.6percent)oftheUK'selectricitycamefromco
    alandgas,andonly22.3percentwaszerocarbon.Theswitchtomorezer
    o-carbonpowerwasdescribedbytheUK'senergychiefexecutiveasa"k
    eymilestoneonthejourneytowardsnetzero".CEOJohnPettigrewsaidt
    hezero-carbonshareshouldincreaseto90percentbythe2030s.TheU
    K'sPrimeMinisterTheresaMayhasmadeacommitmenttoreachnetzero
    carbonemissionsby2050.ThiswouldmaketheUKthefirstmajorecono
    mytodoso.EnergyanalystTomBurketoldtheBBC:"Today'slandmarkis
    arealtributetotechnologists.Wehavecrackedtechnicalproblemsofde
    alingwithclimatechange."Headded:"Aswemovetowardsnetzero,job
    swillbelostinfossilfuelindustriesandcreatedinlow-carbonindustries."

    Free writing

    Write about zero-carbon fuels for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    The world will all be carbon-zero one day. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. ZERO-CARBON FUELS: Make a poster about zero-carbon fuels. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. NET ZERO FINES: Write a magazine article about fining countries for not being carbon net zero by 2050. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on zero-carbon fuels. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how countries can be net zero. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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