Warm-up
Answer a few quick questions before today’s lesson about Climate issues.
Listening
Listen to the recording and answer the questions in each part. You can replay the audio as many times as you need — click anywhere on the progress bar to jump to a specific moment. Read the questions in each part first, then submit when you are ready; your answers will be marked together at the end of each part.
Listening — The Future of Energy: What Happens When Oil Runs Out?
This listening task is split into parts. The audio player stays at the top of the page so you can replay it freely — click anywhere on the progress bar to jump to a specific moment. For each part, read the questions first, then listen and answer. You can change your answers until you click Submit; feedback appears once you submit each part.
Reading
Read the passage on the left, then work through the questions on the right.
Reading — The Energy Crisis: What Happens Next?
Read the passage on the left, then answer the questions one by one.
The Energy Crisis: What Happens Next?
The world uses approximately 100 million barrels of oil every single day. At this rate, scientists predict that our oil reserves will run out within the next 50 years. When this happens, society will face serious challenges. Governments, businesses, and individuals must start preparing now by developing renewable energy sources and changing how we use energy.
Renewable energy from wind, solar, and hydroelectric power already exists, but it currently provides only 12% of global energy. If we invest more money in these technologies now, we will be able to replace fossil fuels before oil becomes scarce. Countries like Denmark and Costa Rica have already shown this is possible. Denmark generates 80% of its electricity from wind turbines, while Costa Rica produces almost all of its energy from renewable sources.
However, the transition will not be easy or cheap. Building new power plants, installing solar panels, and upgrading electrical grids will cost trillions of dollars. If governments do not act quickly, the economic shock when oil runs out will be catastrophic. Some experts warn that energy prices will rise dramatically, industries will struggle, and millions of jobs will disappear. On the other hand, if we act now, new “green” jobs in renewable energy will be created. The choice is clear: invest in renewable energy today, or face an energy crisis tomorrow.
Vocabulary Practice
Practise the 12 key vocabulary items from this lesson through three exercises.
Vocabulary Practice — Unit 2: What will we do when the oil runs out?
Work through all three parts. Each part uses the same vocabulary in a different way.
Writing Task
Your friend Maya has sent you an email asking what you think will happen to energy in the future. She’s worried about climate change and wants to know your predictions. She asks: ‘Do you think we’ll find enough renewable energy? What will happen if we don’t change things?’
You should address:
- Make at least one prediction about renewable energy using ‘will’
- Discuss one consequence using ‘if…will’ conditional
- Give your opinion about what society should do
Speaking
Speaking task. Read the instructions, then complete the task.
After the Lesson
Reflect on what you learned and how confident you feel now.
Teacher Guide
Practise with
- atmospherenoun
The layer of gases that surrounds the Earth.
- carbon footprintnoun
The amount of carbon dioxide that a person or activity produces.
- emissionnoun
Gas or another substance that is released into the air.
- environmentnoun
The natural world of land water and air around us.
- global warmingnoun
The slow rise in the temperature of the Earth.
- greenhouse gasnoun
A gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and warms the planet.
- pollutionnoun
Harmful substances that damage the air water or land.
- renewableadjective
Describing energy from sources that do not run out such as wind and sun.
- sustainableadjective
Using resources in a way that does not harm the environment for the future.
- wastenoun
Materials that people throw away because they are no longer wanted.