Smartmech

Best Commercial Practice è il nuovo corso di inglese rivolto agli studenti degli Istituti Tecnici Economici, indirizzo “Amministrazione, finanza e marketing”.

In linea con i nuovi orientamenti della formazione, il testo si caratterizza per la presentazione chiara e ben articolata dei contenuti, per il percorso fortemente incentrato sullo sviluppo delle abilità e per la ricca varietà dell’offerta didattica, con un’ampia selezione di materiale multimediale (video, film, collegamenti a Internet).

Ulteriori materiali didattici, approfondimenti e attività per la preparazione all’Esame di Stato sono disponibili sul sito www.elilaspigaedizioni.it.

Per lo studente

Per l’insegnante

Coursebook

Teacher’s Pack

• FLIP BOOK • Integrazioni digitali online su www.elilaspigaedizioni.it

• 2 CD audio • Teacher’s FLIP BOOK • CD-ROM Test Maker

e 25,50 ISBN 978-88-536-1537-4

ISBN 978-88-536-1538-1

Quest’opera ha forma mista cartacea e digitale secondo le più recenti disposizioni di legge.

Volume + FLIP BOOK

e tic l. P c -4 .r. ES ra 37 I s n l P 15 EL s o rcia 36cu me -5 Fo m -88 o 78 tC 9 es N B ISB

Questo volume, sprovvisto del talloncino a fronte, è da considerarsi SAGGIO - CAMPIONE GRATUITO: fuori campo applicazione IVA ed esente da Ddt (Art. 2, c. 3, l.d, DPR 633/1972 e Art. 4, n. 6, DPR 627/1978)

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e 25,50

Module

1

Energy Sources FOCUS on THEORY

SOMETHING MORE

• Non-renewable energy sources • Renewable energy sources

• Mind map: Energy sources

FOCUS on LANGUAGE

MOVE to the NET

• Vocabulary • Grammar

• What is global warming?

9

Module

1 FOCUS on THEORY

warm up 1 Do you know any energy sources that will run out?

2

What are fossil fuels in your language?

G lossary peat: torba moisture: umidità seeped: filtrò wells: pozzi waste: scorie shale gas: olio di scisto crude oil : (anche petroleum) petrolio greggio

M ore about...

Activities

Fracking, also called hydro-fracking or, officially, horizontal drilling coupled with multi-stage fracturing, is a relatively new process of natural gas and oil extraction.

Fracking involves drilling wells up to several kilometres underground to extract shale gas. The United States is home to what some estimate to be the largest known shale gas reserves in the world.

_ non renewable energy sources Fossil fuel sources Much of the energy used to power cars, televisions and computers comes from fossil fuels. They burn releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which can cause global warming.

Fossil fuels can be solid, liquid, or gas. The most important solid fuels are coal, wood and peat.

Coal ranks as one of the world’s main forms of fuel. It is also the dirtiest of all fossil fuels, but it is still used in several countries because it is cheap, abundant and available.

The three main types of coal are: • bituminous coal, the most important coal used for generating electricity, making coke and producing heat; • anthracite coal, which has value as a fuel, because it burns slowly, producing a lot of heat and very little smoke; • lignite, which contains a great deal of moisture and produces less heat than anthracite and bituminous coal.

Wood was once man’s main fuel, but coal, petroleum and other fuels have largely replaced it. Peat, like lignite, contains a great deal of moisture and therefore is a poor fuel.

Liquid fuels include crude oil which is found in areas that are, or once were, covered by oceans. Microorganisms that sank to the bottom of the ocean were covered by sediment.

Over millions of years the sediment changed into rock, and the organic matter changed into oil. The oil slowly seeped through cracks in the rocks to form pools, which are the focus of oil exploration.

Gas fuels include natural gas which comes from wells which are drilled deep underground. It makes an ideal fuel. When burned, it gives off almost twice as much heat as the common manufactured gases, and leaves no ash or other waste.

reading comprehension 3 Read the text and match the two parts of the sentences.

1 2 3 4

Fossil fuels…

Natural gas…

Oil derives…

Coal…

10

a b c d

■ ■ ■ ■

is not expensive and can be found in large quantities. from organic matter sunk on the bottom of oceans. doesn’t produce any waste. pollute and damage the natural environment.

Energy sources

| Module 1

How coal was formed 1

2

1

Dense forests and wet lands covered much of the Earth’s surface hundreds of millions of years ago. They were filled with huge, strange-looking trees.

2

When the giant plants died, they fell into the wet lands and formed a mass of decayed vegetable matter.

This brown vegetable matter is called peat, the first material in the formation of coal.

3

New plants grew on top of the old ones. Then they, too, died and became part of the mass of peat. Water sometimes covered the area. Dirt and sand caused different layers.

4

Heat and the pressure of water caused different types of coal to be formed such as bituminous coal (soft) and anthracite (hard).

3

4

1 2 3 4

What What What What

Activities

reading comprehension 4 Look at the pictures and answer the questions. was the Earth’s surface covered with in ancient times? is peat? happened to the new plants which grew on top of the old ones? caused peat to turn into coal?

11

Module 1 | FOCUS on THEORY

Petroleum: black gold

G lossary

Activities

mankind: umanità weights: pesi oil drilling: trivellazione alla ricerca di petrolio barrel: barile impact: impatto, influsso oil spill: perdita di petrolio

Petroleum, or crude oil, is often called black gold because it is so valuable to mankind.

It comes from the Earth as a dark flammable liquid which consists of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth’s surface. A fossil fuel is formed when large quantities of dead organisms, usually zooplankton and algae, are buried underneath sedimentary rock and undergo intense heat and pressure.

Petroleum is derived mostly by drilling for oil. Once refined, it is used in a large number of consumer products, from petrol and kerosene to asphalt and chemical reagents used to make plastics and pharmaceuticals.

Petroleum is used in manufacturing a wide variety of materials, and it is estimated that the world consumes about 88 million barrels each day.

The use of fossil fuels such as petroleum can have a negative impact on the Earth’s biosphere, releasing pollutants and greenhouse gases into the air and damaging ecosystems through events such as oil spills.

reading comprehension 1 PET Read the text again and decide if the statements below are true (T) or false (F).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

2

Petroleum is also called black gold because it is very precious.

It comes from the Earth as a liquid form which burns easily.

It consists of a simple mixture of compounds.

Once refined, petroleum is used in a limited number of products.

The world consumes less than 100 barrels each day.

Petroleum has no negative impact on the Earth’s biosphere.

Oil spills can damage ecosystems.

T ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

PET Read the texts on page 10 and page 12 again and choose the correct option.

1 One of the most important fuels is A wood.

B coal.

C gas.

4 Petroleum is called black gold because A it is black.

B it is worth a lot of money.

C it is as yellow as gold.

2 The most important kind of coal is A lignite.

B anthracite.

C bituminous coal.

5 Petroleum consists of A hydrocarbons.

B liquid organic compounds.

C a variety of hydrocarbons and liquid compounds.

3 Natural gas produces A less heat than other manufactured gases.

B much more heat than other manufactured gases.

C as much heat as other manufactured gases.

12

6 The use of petroleum A leaves no ash or other waste.

B leaves just a small quantity of pollutants.

C damages the ecosystems.

F ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

| Module 1

vocabulary 3 Find the English equivalents for these words and expressions.

1 2 3 4 5

petrolio greggio combustibile fossile benzina raffinato infiammabile

listening 1.01 4

______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

6 7 8 9 10

roccia sedimentaria agenti inquinanti reagente chimico ecosistemi mescolanza

______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

PET Listen to a teacher talking about fossil fuels, then choose the correct option.

1 Most ... used in our daily life need energy to run.

A fuels B machines C energy

3 Petroleum is made ... from decaying plants and animals.

A naturally B artificially C suddenly

2 Fossil fuels are non-renewable ... of energy.

A gases B solar collectors C sources

4 Hydrocarbons are ... that contain 14% hydrogen and 84% carbon.

A electrons B molecules C atoms

5 Gas is found at the top of the pockets of...

A oil B coal C wells

speaking 5 PET Work in pairs. Ask and answer questions about the characteristics of some kinds of fossil fuels, including the advantages and disadvantages connected to their use.

6

Read the text below and choose the correct word.

Crude oil, also (1) called / told / known / named as petroleum, is a fossil fuel, meaning that it was (2) made / used / done / designed naturally from decaying plants and animals living (3) at / from / by / in ancient seas millions of years ago. Crude oil (4) produces / contains / consists / is made hundreds of different types of hydrocarbons (5) each / every / some / all mixed together.

They (6) have / are / can / want be separated by means of a process called oil refining.

Different hydrocarbons have different boiling (7) numbers / types / points / kinds, so they can all be separated (8) by / with / on / from distillation. Petroleum provides man with many of his most useful fuels. Petrol is the (9) very / much / most / best important of these fuels. It powers the cars that families use for daily travel, and (10) much / most / very / many of the lorries that rumble along the motorways.

13

Activities

Energy sources

Module 1 | FOCUS on THEORY

Non-fossil fuel sources

warm up 1 Do you think non-fossil fuels, such as uranium, produce larger or smaller amounts of greenhouse gases? Can you say why?

Uranium is a non-fossil fuel used in nuclear fission reactors to produce heat. Non-fossil fuel energy production usually generates much less pollution.

Nuclear energy is energy in the nucleus (core) of an atom. Atoms are tiny particles that make up every object in the universe. There is enormous energy in the bonds that hold atoms together. Nuclear energy can be used to make electricity, but the energy must be released first. It can be released from atoms in two ways: nuclear fusion or nuclear fission.

In nuclear fusion, energy is released when atoms are combined or fused together to form a larger atom. This is how the sun produces energy.

In nuclear fission, atoms are split apart to form smaller atoms, releasing energy.

Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission to produce electricity.

Nuclear fuel Atoms are made up of three major particles: protons, neutrons and electrons. The most fissionable atom is an isotope of uranium known as uranium 235 (U-235) which is the fuel used in most types of nuclear reactors today. Although uranium is quite common, about 100 times more common than silver, U-235 is relatively rare. Besides’ U-235 the most common non fossil fuel is plutonium 239.

G lossary bonds: legami fission: fissione are split apart: sono separati, scissi fissionable: adatto alla fissione nuclear reactors: reattori nucleari the core: nucleo boiler: caldaia radioactive waste: scorie radioattive highly hazardous: altamente pericoloso

14

Nuclear power plants Most power plants burn fuel to produce electricity. However, nuclear plants use the heat given off during fission as fuel. Fission takes place inside the reactor of a nuclear power plant. At the centre of the reactor is the core, which contains uranium fuel.

Fission generates heat in a reactor just as coal generates heat in a boiler. The heat is used to boil water into steam. The steam turns huge turbine blades. As they turn, they drive generators that make electricity. Afterwards, the steam changes back into water and cools in a separate structure at the power plant called cooling tower. The water can be used again and again.

Nuclear power provides about 6% of the world’s energy and 13-14% of the world’s electricity. The use of nuclear fuel and the radioactive waste the nuclear industry collects is highly hazardous to people and wildlife.

Energy sources

| Module 1

Uranium mining

Mill tailings

Fuel production

Depleted uranium

New fuel Liquid and gaseous radioactive waste

Production of MOX/URE fuel

Power reactors

Low level waste Separated fossils (plutonium, recycled uranium)

Waste from dismanting

Spent fuel Reprocessing

Used MOX

Unreprocessed fuel

Waste from reprocessing

1 2 3 4 5

3

Activities

reading comprehension 2 Read the text and answer the questions.

What is nuclear energy?

How is electricity produced in a nuclear plant?

How does the fission process generate electricity?

What is one of the major non-fossil fuels?

Why is the nuclear fuel cycle highly hazardous?

PET Read the text again and decide if the statements below are true (T) or false (F).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

T ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Uranium generates more pollution than a fossil fuel.

Things all around us are made up of very small constituents called atoms.

Atoms can join together to form a larger one in nuclear fission.

Nuclear fusion is used in nuclear power plants to make electricity.

Protons, neutrons and electrons are larger than atoms.

The reactor is the place where the fission process happens.

Uranium fuel is inside the core of the reactor.

Radioactive waste is very dangerous.

F ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

vocabulary 4 Match the words with their definitions.

1 2 3 4 5 6

to release tiny ash to make up to mine to provide

a b c d e f

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

to supply to dig a hole in the ground with a tool or machine to find coal to let a substance flow out very small soft, grey powder that remains after something has been burnt to form

15

Module 1 | FOCUS on THEORY

renewable energy sources

warm up 1 Look at the pictures in these pages and answer the questions.

Inexhaustible sources

2 Are these types of energy renewable or nonrenewable?

G lossary renewable: rinnovabile exhausted: esaurite exploitation: sfruttamento replenished: rifornite devices: dispositivi concave mirrors: specchi concavi sustainably: in maniera sostenibile mainstream: corrente principale concerns: preoccupazioni peak oil: picco di consumo

Activities

1 How is energy being produced in the three pictures?

Renewable energy sources are not exhausted by their exploitation and theoretically can be used indefinitely. Examples include solar, wind, and water energy, and other resources that may be replenished such as timber or livestock. Using sunlight to produce electricity through special devices such as solar collectors, photovoltaic plants and concave mirrors will not exhaust sunlight coming to Earth. The sun rises every day and its energy may be used – no matter how much of its energy is used one day, it will still be there the next. Over time, and under the right conditions, forests grow again and timber can be sustainably harvested indefinitely.

Renewable sources and energy efficiency are no longer niche sectors that are promoted only by governments and environmentalists.

Increasing levels of investment suggest that sustainable energy has become mainstream and the future of energy production, as non-renewable sources decline.

This is reinforced by climate change concerns, nuclear dangers and accumulating radioactive waste, high oil prices, peak oil and increasing government support for renewable sources.

These factors are commercialising renewable energy and enlarging the market; the demand for renewable energy is increasing, with the consequent adoption of new products to replace obsolete technology and the conversion of existing infrastructure to a higher standard.

M ore about...

Climate change concerns were discussed in the Asian-PaciďŹ c Economic Cooperation summit (APEC) held in China in November 2014. At the end of the APEC trade summit President Obama announced a climate change agreement with the Chinese President that would cut both countries greenhouse gas emissions of about a third over the next two decades. According to this agreement, Obama aims for reduction of a quarter of carbon emissions by 2025, while China sets goals for reduction of carbon emissions and would also increase the use of non-fossil fuels to 20% by 2030.

16

reading comprehension 2 Read the text and complete the following sentences.

1 2 3 4

Solar collectors are _________________________________________________.

Sunlight is a source of energy which ___________________________________.

In the course of time forests _______________ again and timber ___________.

Renewable energy sources are becoming _______________ as the non-renewable ones ______________________________________________________________.

5 Obsolete technology _______________________________________________.

3

PET Read the text again and choose the correct option.

3 Concave mirrors A exploit artificial light.

B exploit sunlight.

C will reduce the amount of sunlight in course of time.

1 Renewable sources come A only from the exploitation of the sun.

B from the exploitation of the sun and natural phenomena such as wind, sea waves, tides.

C only from the exploitation of timber or livestock.

4 Government support for renewable sources A is increasing.

B is decreasing.

C will definitely stop in the near future.

2 Solar energy is produced A by simply using sunlight.

B by using solar collectors only.

C by using special devices of different kinds.

vocabulary 4 Find the English equivalents for these words.

1 2 3 4

5

| Module 1

in teoria legname bestiame per mezzo di

________________ ________________ ________________ ________________

5 6 7 8

raccolto nicchia sostegno antiquato

_____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________

Complete the sentences with the words from the box.

demand • climate • replenished • renewable • produced 1 2 3 4 5

Timber is a resource which can be _________________.

Energy can be _________________ by using sunlight.

More and more people are worried about _________________ change.

The _________________ for nuclear energy is increasing nowadays.

Governments are supporting more and more _________________ energy sources.

17

Activities

Energy sources

Module 1 | FOCUS on THEORY

Solar energy

Activities

The electricity produced from the sun’s rays is called solar energy.

The sun sends out a never-ending stream of radiant energy.

Most of this energy is called sunlight.

The amount of solar energy streaming towards the Earth in only one day equals the energy that is produced by burning 550 tons of coal, but it is not easy to put the sun to work. In order to be used as an effective source of power solar energy has to be collected and, depending on its use, perhaps concentrated and stored.

Solar energy can be produced directly from the sun: • by absorbing the heat and storing it to be used, for example for heating buildings and water; • by converting sunlight to electricity using photovoltaic cells.

This area is constantly being improved by research and development, and production costs are being reduced.

Solar energy is captured by two types of solar panel systems called solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems.

The word photovoltaic comes from ‘photo’ (light) and ‘voltaic’ (electricity). Photovoltaic cells are made of special materials called semiconductors such as silicon. Basically, when light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor; then by a flow of electrons and by metal contacts placed on the top and bottom of the PV cell the energy can be collected for external use.

reading comprehension 1 Read the texts again and answer the questions.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

2

What is the name of the energy which is derived from the sun?

What is solar energy?

Why is the heat of the sun stored?

What do photovoltaic cells do?

What sort of materials are used in photovoltaic cells?

Does hydroelectric power cause pollution?

What are dams?

How can biogas be produced?

Make a list of any biomass fuels.

PET Read the text again and decide if the statements below are true (T) or false (F).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

The energy which comes from the sun is limited.

It is very simple to put the sun to work.

The word voltaic means the same as light.

The solar photovoltaic system is the only way to capture solar energy.

Silicon is a semiconductor material.

The building of hydroelectric dams require a large amount of money.

It’s better not to use biogas for cooking.

Biomass contains energy which comes from the sun.

18

T ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

F ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Energy sources

G lossary streaming toward: che fluisce verso stored: immagazzinato semiconductors: semiconduttore flow: flusso damming: arginare costruendo dighe tides: maree bogs: paludi landfills: interramenti di rifiuti manure: letame, concime

listening 1.02 3

PET Listen to this expert explaining the advantages of energy alternative sources, then choose the correct option.

1 To produce energy, fossil fuels A have been used.

B have been consumed.

C have been sold.

4 Alternative sources of energy are A non-renewable.

B clean.

C renewable and clean.

2 Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide A have a positive effect on the environment.

B have no effect on the environment.

C have a negative effect on the environment.

5 Solar energy can be exploited A in many ways.

B only in summer.

C only when it is necessary.

3 The hole in the ozone layer is a consequence A of the emission of pollutants in the air.

B of the fact that sunlight is weaker.

C of the increase of the world population.

6 Solar energy can heat water by means of A photovoltaic cells.

B solar collectors.

C boilers.

writing 4 PET

You want to advertise the solar photovoltaic systems you produce, in your local newspaper.

Write an ad of about 100 words explaining how solar energy systems work and point out their advantages.

19

Activities

Hydroelectric power is obtained by damming rivers and utilising the potential energy stored in water. Hydroelectric dams are very expensive to build, but, once the station is built, the water comes free of charge, and there is no waste or pollution.

Tidal energy is a form of energy that comes from the ocean and the method is similar to a hydroelectric power plant. When waves come into the shore, they can be trapped in reservoirs behind dams.

Biogas is gas produced by most mammals when they digest their food, but it can be also found in bogs and landfills where decomposed vegetation may accumulate. Biogas can be used instead of natural gas for heating and cooking.

Biomass is organic material which has stored sunlight in the form of chemical energy. Biomass fuels include wood, wood waste, straw, manure, sugar cane, and many other byproducts from a variety of agricultural processes. Biomass is a renewable energy source because the energy it contains comes from the sun.

| Module 1

Module 1 | FOCUS on THEORY

Wind power

warm up 1 What do these

Activities

two pictures have in common?

Man has exploited the wind for thousands of years: the first windmills were built over 5000 years ago by the ancient Persians, and by medieval times there were hundreds of windmills in the UK and Holland. Some were used for turning millstones that crushed grain into flour, and others were used to pump water out of wells. Today, wind power is also used as another renewable energy source using wind turbines (modern windmills). Harnessing the wind is highly dependent upon weather and location. Therefore it is convenient to install wind turbines in very windy places. A wind turbine is a machine made of two or three propellerlike blades called the rotor which is attached to the top of a tall tower.

As the wind blows it spins the rotor. As the rotor spins, the energy of the movement of the propellers gives power to a generator. There are some magnets and copper wire inside the generator that make electricity. As winds are stronger higher up off the ground, wind turbines are also about 30 metres tall to allow the rotor to catch more wind energy. The turbines are built with a device that turns the rotor so that it always faces into the wind.

Just one wind turbine can generate enough electricity for a single house, or the electrical energy to pump water or to power a mill which grinds grain.

The electrical energy can also be stored in batteries. Places where there are a number of wind turbines clustered together are called wind farms. The electricity that is generated at a wind farm is sold to electricity companies which provide the electricity for people who live in cities and towns.

Main advantages of wind energy

Main disadvantages of wind energy

Wind turbines are pollution free. The energy they generate is renewable, because as long as the wind blows there is power to turn the blades of the rotor. Using wind energy means that less fossil fuel needs to be burned to make electricity.

Some people say that they spoil the look of the natural environment. They make a lot of noise.

They kill birds that y into them.

reading comprehension 2 Read the text and answer the questions.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Can wind turbines be placed anywhere? If not, why?

What is a rotor?

What gives power to the wind turbine generator?

What produces electricity inside the generator?

What are some of the advantages of wind turbines?

What are some of the disadvantages of wind turbines?

vocabulary 3 Find synonyms in the text to the following words.

1 2 3 4

to use to put to ďŹ x to permit

_________________ _________________ _________________ _________________

_________________ 5 to create 6 to accumulate _________________ _________________ 7 to damage

G lossary millstones: mole harnessing the wind: l’utilizzo del vento wind turbines: turbine a vento, aerogeneratori blades: pale it spins: ruota, fa girare propellers: propulsori copper wire: cavo di rame

speaking 4 Work in pairs. Ask and answer the following questions.

1 2 3 4

Have you ever seen a wind farm? If so, where?

Are there any wind farms in the area where you live?

Where do you think it would be suitable to install a wind farm in Italy?

Do you think that the advantages offered by a wind farm are greater than the disadvantages?

20

Energy sources

The adjective geothermal originates from the two Greek terms geo, meaning earth, and thermos, meaning hot.

Geothermal energy is generated and stored in the Earth.

It is the energy that determines the temperature of matter.

The Earth’s geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet (20%) and from the radioactive decay of minerals (80%). The geothermal gradient, which is the difference in temperature between the core of the planet and its surface, drives a continuous conduction of thermal energy in the form of heat from the core to the surface.

Geothermal energy has been used in hot springs for bathing since Paleolithic times and for heating buildings since ancient Roman times, but it is now better known for electricity generation.

Geothermal power is cost effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly, but has historically been limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries.

The Earth’s geothermal resources are theoretically more than adequate to supply the energy needs of the population, but only a very small fraction may be exploited profitably. Drilling and exploration for deep resources is very expensive. Forecasts for the future of geothermal power depend on assumptions about technology, energy prices, subsidies, and interest rates.

warm up 1 Can the word ‘geothermal’ help you guess where this kind of energy comes from?

G lossary matter: materiale decay: deterioramento core: nucleo essenziale hot springs: sorgenti termali bathing: balneazione tectonic plate: placca tettonica drilling: perforazione forecasts: previsioni

reading comprehension 2 Read the text and answer the questions.

1 2 3 4

What does geo in the adjective geothermal stand for?

Where does geothermal energy come from?

What do you call the difference in temperature between the nucleus of the planet and its surface?

Why is geothermal energy only partially exploited?

listening 1.03 3

PET Listen to some similarities and differences of renewable sources, then fill in the gaps to complete the passage.

Wind energy and geothermal energy have some (1) _______________________ and just a few differences.

First of all (2) _______________________ of them are renewable sources of (3) _______________________ and using them means that less fossil (4) _______________________ needs to be burned to make (5) _______________________. Then both are sustainable and environmentally (6) _______________________.

Talking about differences, (7) _______________________ resources might supply humanity’s needs if their (8) _______________________ were not so expensive. The exploitation of wind energy, however, is more limited, as wind (9) _______________________ can be installed only in windy places. Some people are against wind turbines because they say that they are noisy, they spoil the (10) _______________________ and they kill birds that fly into them.

exam practice _ oral exam 4 Prepare a short presentation about wind energy. Point out how a wind turbine works to exploit wind power.

21

Activities

Geothermal energy

| Module 1

Module

1

FOCUS on LANGUAGE VOCABULARY 1 Match the words to thee pictures.

1 2 3 4 5

uranium petroleum coal natural gas wood

E

B

D C

A

2

Write the English equivalents for these words.

1 2 3 4

3

______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

5 6 7 8

ceneri reagenti chimici energia delle maree biosfera

______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

Choose the best alternative.

1 2 3 4

4

riscaldamento globale combustibile inquinamento materia organica

Most of our energy is obtained from non-renewable/renewable energy sources.

Oil, natural gas and coal are fossil fuels/non-fossil fuels.

Uranium is another solid/nuclear non-renewable element.

Uranium atoms create heat through a process called nuclear fusion/fission.

Insert the words from the box to complete the passage.

supply • run out • thousands • renewable • evaporates • hydroelectric • fuels • non-renewable • sunlight • energy Non-renewable (1) ___________________ is something that is being depleted, and at some point there will be none left. One kind of (2) ___________________ resource is fossil fuels. Fossil (3) ___________________ such as oil, coal and natural gas which are made from dead animals and vegetation remains from millions of years ago, take hundreds of (4) ___________________ of years to be made. In a short time, fossil fuel will (5) ___________________ because it is being used up too quickly. Oil is already in short (6) ________________________.

(7) _______________________ resources which can be used year after year, such as trees, water and solar (8) _______________________, can renew themselves quickly. It’s just like recycling paper. There is a confusion over the terms renewable resources and renewable sources of energy. All renewable sources of energy are also renewable resources. Water can become an energy called (9) _______________________. Water is a renewable resource as it keeps returning. As long as rain keeps falling on a country, it runs into the dams, into houses and then out again down to the sea, where it is (10) _______________________ up into the rainclouds. A renewable resource is always there and will never run out.

22

Energy sources

| Module 1

GRAMMAR Present simple active and passive Il Present simple si usa per descrivere azioni abituali, ripetute o dati di fatto sempre veri, validi e permanenti. Spesso questo tempo viene usato con avverbi di frequenza (always, never, usually, often, sometimes, etc.).

Crude oil contains hundreds of different types of hydrocarbons.

Renewable resources never run out.

La forma passiva del Present simple si ottiene con il presente dell’ausiliare to be + il participio passato del verbo principale. Il soggetto della frase attiva diventa complemento di agente o di causa efficiente nella nuova frase passiva ed è introdotto dalla preposizione by.

Three major particles make up atoms.

ACTIVE

Atoms are made up by three major particles. PASSIVE

1

Present simple active or passive? Write it next to each sentence.

1 2 3 4 5 6

2

____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________

Underline the correct option, active or passive.

1 2 3 4 5 6

3

Much of our energy is produced by coal.

Electricity comes in our life on wires.

Generators don’t create energy.

A never-ending stream of radiant energy is sent out by the sun.

Renewable energy sources are not exhausted by their exploitation.

Tidal energy comes from the ocean.

Solar energy is produced/produces electricity.

How does the fission process produce/is the fission process produced electricity?

Atoms make up/are made up by protons, neutrons and electrons.

Petroleum is used/uses in a large number of products.

Most power plants burn/is burned fuel to produce energy.

Solar energy is captured/captures by two types of solar panel systems.

Turn these sentences into the passive form.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Geothermal energy determines the temperature of matter.

We find crude oil in areas that are, or once were, covered by oceans.

Large quantities of dead organisms form a fossil fuel.

Nuclear fission reactors use uranium to produce heat.

Coal generates heat in a boiler.

Nuclear power provides about 6% of the world’s energy.

translation 4 Translate these sentences into Italian.

1 Bituminous coal is the most important coal used for generating electricity.

2 Harnessing the wind is highly dependent upon weather and location.

3 Unlike those sources of energy derived from the combustion of fossil fuels, nuclear energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms in a process called fission.

4 Energy can heat or cool homes and offices.

5 Today fossil fuels provide more than 90% of the world energy.

6 Atoms are made up of protons, neutrons and electrons.

23

Module

1

SOMETHING MORE

smok map: mind and mirrors energy sources

NON-RENEWABLE EXHAUSTED BY THEIR USE

FOSSIL FUELS

NON FOSSIL FUELS

solid

liquid

gas

coal wood peat

crude oil

natural gas

24

nuclear energy released in

nuclear fusion

nuclear ďŹ ssion

Energy sources

| Module 1

RENEWABLE NOT EXHAUSTED BY THEIR USE

BIO FUELS

biogas

WATER ENERGY

biomass

hydroelectric

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

WIND ENERGY

captured by wind turbines

SOLAR ENER ENERGY

converted by solar panels

converted by photovoltaic cells

25

tidal

Module

1

Energy sources

MOVE to the NET GLOBAL WARMING LOG IN! 1

Answer the questions.

1 2 3 4 5

2

What is the main disadvantage of burning fossil fuels?

Why is petroleum often called black gold?

Why should we reduce the use of petroleum? maging the ecosystem?

What alternative technologies can be suggested to avoid damaging Can you list some of the consequences of global warming?

Use the passwords to complete the sentences.

P asswords

1 According to APEC agreement, the deadline for reducing greenhouse gas non-renewable (1) ___________________ is 2030. solar 2 The effects of (2) ___________________ change can be irreversible. climate 3 We should find the optimal mix of feasible renewable and (3) __________________ burning means of supplying energy. emissions 4 If the demand of access to modern energy services by developing economies grows, carbon more fossil (4) ___________________ will be burnt. fuels 5 The continued (5) ___________________ of fossil fuels will lead to hotter time in the future.

6 The combustion of fossil fuels leads to the production of greenhouse gases such as (6) ___________________ dioxide.

7 The most common sources of renewable energy are (7) ___________________, wind, hydro and geothermal.

ON THE NET! 3

Watch the video ‘Climate change in sixty seconds’ and write which climate changes can cause these effects.

1 flooding 2 threat to the ecosystem 3 lack of food

www.youtube.com/watch?v=97MCmfhcNlo

LOG OUT! 4

Ask and answer in pairs.

1 Do you agree with the fact that climate changes can be indirect causes of conflict?

If so, why?

2 In your opinion, is this report too alarmist?

3 Do you think it is possible to gradually make some of the negative effects less dangerous?

If so, why?

26

Cultural Background

Dossier 1 Geography

Dossier 2 History

Dossier 3 Society and Identity

Dossier 4 Economy

Dossier 5 Institutions

261

Dossier

1

The UK – Quick facts

warm up 1 Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups.

Geography

1 Have you ever been to the UK? 2 What is the capital city?

What facts do you know about it?

3 What other cities or landmarks/ places can you name? Why are they famous?

4 What do you know about the geography of the country?

Can you think of any mountains or rivers?

The term ‘England’ is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of the UK and the term ‘English’ to refer to the citizens, instead of using ‘British’ or the individual country’s nationality.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly called the United Kingdom or the UK, includes the countries of England , Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Great Britain (or sometimes just Britain) refers to the largest island which includes the countries of England, Scotland and Wales while the expression British Isles refers to this entire group of islands off the north west coast of mainland Europe, including Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, the Orkney Islands and many others.

The UK covers an area of just under 244,000 km2 and has a population of approximately 62.3 million, with 52.3 million people living in England, 5.2 million in Scotland, 3 million in Wales and 1.8 million in Northern Ireland. England is the most densely populated with 395 people per square kilometre and Scotland the least densely populated with 65 people per square kilometre.

The capital city of England and the UK is London, situated in the south east of the country on the River Thames. A famous tourist destination, as well as one of the most important business and financial centres in the world, London has a population of 8,174,100 (2011).

Cardiff, located on the Bristol Channel, is the capital of Wales and with a population of 346,100, it is the largest city in the country. Edinburgh, with a population of 495,000, is the capital of Scotland while the capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast (population 281,000).

The national flag of the UK is the Union Flag (often called the Union Jack) and it is made up of the flags of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.

262

52.3 million

| Dossier 1

reading comprehension 2 Read the text and complete the fact files.

Scotland

Wales

Edinburgh

145 per sq km

Northern Ireland

122 per sq km

Watch the video ‘UK and Great Britain’ 263

Activities

England

Geography

Dossier 1 |

geography of the uk

warm up 1 Which country/

area of the UK do you think…

• has the highest mountain?

• is the flattest?

• has the largest freshwater lake?

• has lots of canals?

The East of England The East of England is the lowest and flattest region of England, with fens and reclaimed marshland, much of it barely above sea level. It is an important agriculture area, mostly for cereals and vegetables. There are also some important fishing ports and Felixstowe is the largest container port in the country.

Cambridge is famous for its world-renowned university and around the city there are a lot of high-tech businesses, particularly in the fields of software, electronics and biotechnology.

Stratford upon Avon

2 Quickly read

Cambridge

Geography

the texts to check if you were correct.

G lossary fens: acquitrini marshland: paludi moors: lande, brughiere quaint: pittoreschi

The Midlands

The Midlands is an area of mostly flat land in central England. Birmingham, the biggest city, was an important centre during the Industrial Revolution, together with other industrial cities such as Coventry, Derby and Leicester. The area is linked to London through a large network of man-made canals which were built to transport goods from this busy industrial area to the capital.

The area also has a lot of agricultural land and there are famous tourist destinations such as Stratford upon Avon (Shakespeare’s birthplace), Nottingham (Robin Hood’s land) and Lincoln (famous for its Gothic cathedral).

The North of England The Pennines run north to south down the centre of this region and there are the Cumbrian mountains in the west, both of which offer spectacular countryside, ranging from lakes to wild open moors, isolated villages and sheep farms. This area is also famous for its factories, coalmines and industrial cities: Sunderland and Newcastle for shipbuilding; Sheffield for steel; Manchester for cotton. These industries went into decline after World War II and many were closed down, resulting in high unemployment and poverty particularly in the 1980s. These cities have undergone economic revival, becoming centres for culture and tourism as well as for new businesses and enterprises.

Manchester

The South of England This area is characterised by gentle hills, fertile farmland, quaint villages and historical cities and landmarks, such as Bath with its Roman origins, the prehistoric monument at Stonehenge and the chalk figure of the Long Man at Wilmington. The river Thames flows across southern England, starting as a small stream in the Cotswolds and flowing through important towns and cities such as Oxford, Reading, Windsor and, of course, London. Cornwall and Devon in the south west of England have dramatic, rocky coastlines and high moorland areas. The south coast is a popular tourist destination and also has several important ports such as Southampton and Portsmouth.

London

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Geography

| Dossier 1

Scotland

Edinburgh

Scotland forms the northern part of Great Britain and it is bordered by England to the south and surrounded by the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Apart from the mainland, there are hundreds of islands but only about 95 of them are inhabited.

The main population, however, lives in the Central Lowlands area.

Glasgow, the biggest city in Scotland, was once famous for heavy industry, in particular shipbuilding. Now most businesses are in the tertiary sector.

Edinburgh is an important financial centre. The Highlands in the north of Scotland offer incredible mountain scenery with many lochs (lakes), including the famous Loch Ness, and Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles at 1,344 m.

Wales

Snowdonia

Wales is a small country, 274 km from north to south. It borders England to the east and the rest is over 1,200 km of coastline. The north of the country is mountainous and Snowdon is the highest peak at 1,085 m. Tourism in this area is very important.

As you travel south, there are more hills and valleys. The south coast is the main inhabited and industrialised area, with cities like Swansea and Cardiff. This was an important coal mining area but now business and financial services form the main part of the economy. The River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain, starts in mid Wales and then flows through central England to the Bristol Channel.

Northern Ireland

The Giant’s Causeway

reading comprehension 3 PET Read the texts again and decide if these sentences are true (T) or false (F). Correct the false ones.

T

1 The East of England does not have any coastline.

2 There are a large number of software and electronics companies near Cambridge.

3 It would be possible to travel from Birmingham to London by boat.

4 The Pennines are mountains in Scotland.

5 The north of England had many important industries in the past.

6 The River Thames starts in London.

7 Scotland shares a border with Wales.

8 Most people in Scotland live on the Scottish islands.

9 The south of Wales is less mountainous than the north.

10 Coal mining is still very important in Wales.

11 The Irish Sea divides Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland.

12 There is a lot of industry around the city of Belfast.

exam practice _ oral exam 4 Choose one of the four countries of the UK and prepare a short presentation (3-5 minutes), including details about the population, the geography of the area and any important cities or landmarks.

265

F

Activities

Northern Ireland shares a border with the Republic of Ireland and is separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. It has a varied terrain with the Mourne Mountains, fertile agricultural land and beautiful coasts and beaches. Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles. The River Lagan valley and the area around Belfast are the main industrial areas and about a third of the population lives here. There are many spectacular tourist spots such as the Giant’s Causeway, a World Heritage Site, and the seven stone circles at Beaghmore.

Dossier 1 |

Geography

warm up 1 Have you ever been to the USA? What places did you visit or would you like to visit?

2 Use the information in the fact file below to complete this presentation of the USA.

Name: United States of America Area: 9,826,675 km2 Borders with: Mexico, Canada, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean No. of states: 50 (48 contiguous states; Hawaii and Alaska are separate) + the District of Columbia Capital city: Washington DC Population: 315,134,658 State with highest population: California State with lowest population density: Alaska Flag: Stars and Stripes 266

The USA – Quick facts The United States of America is situated between the Pacific and (1) ________________ Oceans and it has borders to the north with (2) ________________ and to the south with (3) ________________. It is formed of (4) ________________ states and a federal district . Two of these states are actually separate from the rest: Alaska is located to the north west of Canada and (5) ________________ is an archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The US also has overseas territories, such as the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean and American Samoa in the South Pacific, which are controlled to various degrees by the US government.

The USA covers an area of (6) ________________, more than twice the size of the European Union. The population is currently estimated at (7) ________________.

New Jersey is the state with the highest population density at 462 per km2, while Wyoming and (8) ________________ have the lowest population density with, respectively, 2.2 and 0.46 inhabitants per km2.

(9) ________________ is the state with the highest population: 38,041,430 (2012 figure).

The US flag, commonly called the (10) ________________, has 50 white stars to represent the number of states and 13 stripes to represent the original 13 colonies.

This is the District of Columbia where the capital city Washington DC is located.

It is land which was donated by the State of Maryland specifically to build the nation’s capital and is not part of any state.

listening 3 2.14

| Dossier 1

PET Listen to a tourist guide talking about three different tourist attractions/geographical features in the USA and fill in the missing information.

267

Activities

Geography

Dossier 1 |

Geography

geography of the uSA

warm up 1 Read the texts quickly to find the answers to these questions.

1 Which is the smallest state in the USA? 2 Which is the largest state?

3 Which is the largest city?

4 Where is the highest mountain?

5 Where is the lowest point in the USA? 6 Where is the largest lake?

G lossary prairies: praterie grasslands: pascoli

Fortune 500 is an annual list, compiled and published by the business magazine Fortune, of the top 500 companies in the USA. The classification is based on the companies gross revenue and includes companies like Exxon Mobil, Walmart, Apple and Ford. Some Fortune 500 companies based in Atlanta are Delta Airlines, Home Depot and UPS.

The North East This region of the USA, from the capital Washington up the Atlantic coast to the border with Canada, has the largest city – New York – and the smallest state – Rhode Island. It is the most densely populated and industrialised region, with a number of important cities along the Atlantic coast. Philadelphia and Boston are both historically important, having played an important role in American history; Washington is the political capital and New York the financial, business and cultural capital. Delaware and Baltimore are also important cities.

This area also has farmlands, forests and valleys with the Appalachian mountains in the east. The St. Lawrence Seaway connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes.

The South East This region covers the states from Louisiana across to Georgia, and up to Virginia in the north and down to Florida in the south. Traditionally an agricultural area for growing cotton, tobacco, rice and sugar, it is now more diversified and economically stronger, with many important cities and business centres. New Orleans, a port and a centre for tourism, is situated in the flat lowlands of the Mississippi Delta. Atlanta is well known for CNN and many Fortune 500 companies are located there. Miami, with its Latin American influences, is a tourist’s dream, along with the rest of Florida, with its wide beaches, the Everglades and theme parks.

The Midwest This region, which includes amongst others the states of Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and Iowa, is sometimes called the ‘heart’ of the USA. It is an area of flat, fertile land which is vital for agriculture with crops like corn, wheat and oats. The northern states also produce milk and cheese. The longest river in the USA, the Missouri, starts in Montana and flows into the Mississippi River, the second longest river in the USA. In the north, on the Canadian border, there are the Great Lakes. Lake Superior is the largest and is over 560 km long. Important industrial cities include Chicago for steel, chemicals Grand Canyon and financial services, Detroit for cars and Cleveland for steel and petroleum refining, although as heavy industry declines, they are moving towards becoming centres for new technologies and services.

The South West This region (Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma) shares a border with Mexico. It is full of open spaces, with prairies, grasslands and deserts, but at the same time it is home to some of the fastest growing cities in the USA, thanks in part to the climate. The Rocky Mountains extend north from New Mexico and the Colorado River, which created the spectacular canyons like the Grand Canyon, flows through Arizona. There are many Native American reservations in this area, and it also is influenced by Mexican culture.

268

New York

Geography

| Dossier 1

San Francisco

Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains

The West

Alaska and Hawaii, although detached from the other western states, are often classified together with this region. Alaska, the largest state in the USA, is mountainous and has the highest peak in the USA (Mount McKinley, 6,194 m). Many parts of the state are uninhabited and the majority of the population lives in the area of Anchorage. There are vast crude oil deposits in the region. The Hawaiian islands are volcanic. Tourism is the main industry, although the islands do export coffee, pineapple and sugar.

Hawaii

G lossary cattle: bestiame crude oil: petrolio greggio

reading comprehension 2 Read the texts again and answer these questions.

7 Why is there a lot of Mexican influence in the 1 What is the landscape like in the North East?

South West?

2 What is the purpose of the St. Lawrence seaway?

8 What common feature do the Western states 3 Which areas of the South East attract a lot of share? tourism and why?

9 Where is most of the agriculture located in this 4 What is the economy of this area based on? region?

5 What foodstuffs are produced in the Midwest?

10 How do the economic resources of Alaska and 6 How have the industrial cities of the Midwest Hawaii differ? changed?

internet research 3 Plan a trip across the USA, from coast to coast. Then present your ideal journey to the class.

• Which states would you travel through?

• Which important cities/areas would you visit?

• How would the landscape change during your trip?

• Where would you spend most time? Why?

269

Activities

This is a very geographically diverse region, but all of the states are mountainous to some extent. The Rocky Mountains run approximately north to south through the central states of this region, while the Sierra Nevada mountain range is in southern California and the Cascade mountains are in Oregon and Washington. To the east of the Rocky Mountains there are the Great Plains, while to the west there are the arid deserts of Utah and Nevada. The lowest point in the USA is Death Valley in California at 86 metres below sea level. The area has some agriculture, especially fruit, vegetables and wine in the Pacific Coast area, as well as sheep and cattle farming and mining. Tourism is an important industry both in the major cities, such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as the many National Parks, like Yellowstone and Yosemite.

Dossier 1 |

Geography

Climate in the UK

warm up 1 Discuss these

The UK weather is influenced by its position close to mainland Europe and by the Atlantic Ocean. This means that the weather is 1 What is the notoriously variable and changes from day to weather usually day, often many times a day, but the climate like in the UK can be classified as temperate. Generally and the USA? the west is wetter and cloudier with milder 2 If you have winters, while eastern parts are drier and less visited these windy. It is usually colder in the north and countries, what there is a bigger temperature range. Snow can was it like when fall almost anywhere in the UK, although it you went? is most common in the north of England and 3 How do Scotland, and it can often happen as late as you think it spring. Record temperatures for the UK are compares to 38.5°C and -27.2°C, but average temperatures the weather in your country? are not that extreme: the average maximum temperature in July is 20.6°C in Death Valley England and 16.9°C in Scotland; the average minimum temperature in January is about 1.2°C in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and -0.2°C in Scotland. questions in pairs or small groups.

Climate in the Usa

Activities

Alaska

Due to its size, the USA has a very wide range of weather and climatic conditions. (1) ________________ has a sub-tropical climate, with only rare cold days and snow. Hawaii also has a tropical climate, with no great difference in the average daily temperature during the year. Alaska is the opposite with a (2) ________________ climate, where mountains have permanent snow and ice.

The South West is (3) ________________ and the North East usually has very cold, snowy winters and (4) ________________ summers. The Central Plains can be subject to warm humid air from the (5) ________________ or cold air from the north which means dramatic changes in weather and temperature in one day, especially in (6) ________________ and spring. The coastal areas of California have a Mediterranean M ore about... climate, but (7) ________________, for example, In the USA, it is common to use Fahrenheit to has its own microclimate and is often cooler with talk about temperature wind and (8) ________________. The highest while in the UK Celsius temperatures in the USA, and often in the world, is also used. have been recorded in Death Valley, California.

0°C 32°F

reading comprehension 2 Read the text about the climate in the UK and answer these questions.

1 What factors influence the weather in the UK? 2 What are the differences in the climate in the east and west of the country?

listening 3 2.15

10°C 20°C 30°C

3 Which is the coldest area?

4 What are the highest and lowest temperatures recorded?

How do they compare to average temperatures?

PET Listen to this description of the climate in the USA and complete the text.

270

50°F 68°F 86°F

Geography

called an Indian summer, which only occurs ‘as a warm, calm spell in autumn, especially in October and November’. But whether we call it a ‘St. Martin’s Summer’ like many Europeans or a ‘Tiger Autumn’ like the Chinese, the big difference is that the British talk about it more.

As we are a reserved nation, we seize upon the weather as one subject we can discuss without difficulty. It helps facilitate social interaction. It is not personal and it gives away no secrets. Not everyone believes that the British obsession with the weather is a bad thing.

Some say the weather has etched itself into our culture, history, and sense of who we are.

I say it is best to enjoy the sunshine while it is here, and when the next heatwave comes, do the sensible thing and wave back. of both delight and alarm. On television and in the newspapers, experts argued over what such weather meant, and if there was even a term for it. The Met Office stated that it couldn’t be properly

Adapted from The Telegraph

G lossary warm to: ci scaldiamo, ci entusiasmiamo etched: impresso

reading comprehension 4 PET Read the article and choose the correct option.

1 In this article, the author wants to talk about…

A the accuracy of weather forecasts.

B the history of British weather.

C the British people’s interest in the weather.

2 The British obsession with the weather…

A is a recent thing.

B was mentioned by Dr Johnson.

C has changed since the eighteenth century.

3 The temperature of 29°C was…

A the highest temperature ever recorded.

B the highest temperature in that period in over 100 years.

C the highest temperature that summer.

4 An Indian summer…

A only happens in October and November.

B only happens in the UK. C never happens in the UK. 5 For some people, talking about the weather…

A is a difficult thing to do.

B is part of the British identity.

C only happens when it is hot.

internet research 5 Find some examples of English idioms and expressions for talking about the weather. Write a short report.

271

Activities

[March 2011] The Indian summer has arrived early this year. Or maybe the regular summer has arrived late. Then again, it might just be an innocuous warm spell. Or some more evidence of the climate going mad. What really matters is that the British have a weather topic to discuss – something much more interesting than the eurozone meltdown or British politics. ‘It is commonly observed’, wrote Dr Johnson in 1758, ‘that when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather; they are in haste to tell each other, what each must already know, that it is hot or cold, bright or cloudy, windy or calm.’ Not much has changed.

A YouGov survey published earlier this year found that the average Briton mentions the weather at least once every six hours, and that 70 per cent of us check the forecast every day, even when nothing unusual is happening.

Last week, as temperatures rose to 29°C – the highest recorded end-of-September temperature for 116 years – there was a feeling

| Dossier 1

Dossier

1

warm up 1 When you imagine Australia and New Zealand what are the first five things that you think of?

Write them down, and then compare with a partner.

English-Speaking World

Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand are the two largest countries in the continent of Oceania in the Southern Hemisphere.

SIMILARITIES • They are both island states, and are surrounded by the South Pacific Ocean and, in the case of Australia, the Indian Ocean too.

• Both countries were once colonies of the British Empire and are now members of the Commonwealth group of countries – so they are English-speaking countries.

• Australia has 2 cities with a population of over 4 million people – Sydney and Melbourne. However, the capital – Canberra – is only the country’s 8th largest city. Similarly, the largest city in New Zealand is Auckland, with a population of just over 1 million, while the capital – Wellington – is only the second largest city.

• Because they are both in the Southern Hemisphere the seasons are inverted compared to Europe – so Christmas occurs in the middle of summer, and August is a cold month.

DIFFERENCES

M ore about...

Because both Australia and New Zealand are part of the Commonwealth they have a lot in common with Great Britain – for example, they drive on the left, the British flag appears in their National flags and their head of state is Queen Elizabeth II.

Activities

• Both countries have indigenous minority populations – known as the Aborigines in Australia and the Maoris in New Zealand.

• It is possible to find strange animals which cannot be found in the wild in any other place on Earth: Australia is famous for its kangaroos and wallabies, the possum, the koala bear and a wild dog called the dingo. New Zealand has an unusual bird called the kiwi, which has a long beak and cannot fly; and many types of penguins and marine animals that can only be found there.

• Australia is an enormous country – almost as large as the USA and the 6th largest in the world, while New Zealand is only slightly larger than Great Britain; • Australia has a larger population – about 23 million, compared to only 4.5 million in New Zealand; • About 70% of Australian land is arid. However, the country also has mountains where it snows in winter, and, in the North, which is closer to the Equator, the climate is tropical. Because New Zealand is further south, it has a cooler, wetter, temperate climate. www.austrade.gov.au

Despite these differences, Australia and New Zealand have always been economically and politically close. Since 1983 there has been a trade agreement between the two countries known as Anzcerta, which has benefitted them both substantially; and today this part of the world is considered a very attractive place to live.

reading comprehension 2 PET Read the text and decide if these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1 Both Australia and New Zealand are in the Southern Hemisphere.

2 Both countries are islands in the Indian Ocean.

3 At Christmas time it is warm in Australia.

4 You can find kangaroos in New Zealand and Australia.

5 Britain and New Zealand are about the same size.

6 New Zealand has a larger population than Australia.

7 Australia has a varied climate.

8 The climate in New Zealand is cooler because the country is further south.

272

T

F

Uluru or Ayers Rock In the centre of the Australian desert there is a unique and mysterious land feature, listed as a World Heritage Site, known as Ayers Rock, or Uluru – two official names – one given by the white colonialists and the other by the native Aborigines, The Anangu. It is a large sandstone mass standing at 348 m high in a dry, flat area, with very little vegetation, and is considered sacred to the indigenous people. Nearly half a million people visit the rock for tourism every year and it is considered particularly beautiful at sunset when it changes colour and becomes red.

Geography

| Dossier 1

There are many mysteries connected to Uluru. For the Anangu people it is considered the resting ground of the spirits of the creators of the world itself. The Anangu do not climb to the top of the rock and do not want parts of it to be photographed for spiritual reasons. One other mystery connected to the rock is that nobody should take away any pieces of rock from the site. If they do, they will be cursed by evil spirits. This possibly seems just a superstition, but many people have reported strange incidents after taking rocks away from the site.

Dreamtime

The aboriginal Australians have a very original form of spirituality called ‘dreaming’, or ‘dreamtime’. They tell stories about the creation of sacred places, land, people, animals and plants; and they believe that every creature also exists eternally in a dream form – so the soul exists both before and after life. They also use this code to establish laws and customs. Connected to this tradition is the belief in ‘songlines’ – paths of energy which the white man cannot see but Aborigines can sense. These invisible lines help them to find their way when walking long distances in the desert – a practice called ‘walkabout’ which Aboriginal boys have to perform as a ritual to become adults. They are called ‘songlines’ because the Aborigines sing as they walk, to help them recognise the path. Uluru G lossary and the surrounding area is crossed by many songlines which is another reason why it is sacred for the Aborigines.

reading comprehension 3 Read the texts about Uluru and Dreamtime and answer these questions.

1 Why does Uluru have two names?

2 What is unusual about Uluru at a certain time of day?

3 Why do the Anangu people not climb the rock?

4 What apparently happens if you take rocks away from Uluru?

listening 4 2.16

5 What is ‘dreamtime’?

6 What do the Aborigines do to help them recognise the paths of energy?

7 What is ‘walkabout’ and why do Aborigines do it?

PET Listen to this description of the Aborigines and fill in the missing information.

The Aborigines

1 The term Aborigine is used to refer to the indigenous or (1) ___________ people of Australia.

2 These people once spoke about (2) ___________ different languages.

3 One cultural difference was that the Aborigines did not usually wear (3) ___________.

4 The Europeans did not treat the Aborigines well because they thought they were (4) ___________.

5 The boomerang is used as a (5) ___________ by native Australians.

6 Their culture is rich in music, stories and art, but it did not have a (6) ___________.

writing 5 PET

Write a story (about 100 words). It must begin with this sentence:

‘We arrived at Uluru at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

The thermometer in the coach said it was 42°C…’ 273

Activities

sandstone: arenaria cursed: maledetti

Dossier

1 going deeper

warm up 1 Discuss these

Global Warming

questions in small groups.

1 What do you do to help the environment?

2 What does your local council do? And local businesses?

3 What about the national government?

G lossary reach: portata compels: obbliga pay our fair share: fare la propria parte leaded: con piombo carbon offsetting: compensazione delle emissioni di carbonio

A staycation is a new term used to indicate a holiday – or vacation (AE) – at home.

Going Green but Getting Nowhere Y

ou reduce, reuse and recycle. You refuse plastic bags in the shops. You do all the right things. Good. Just know that it won’t save the tuna, protect the rain forest or stop global warming. The changes necessary are so large and profound that they are beyond the reach of individual action.

Even if you sold your car, stopped using air-conditioning in the summer and took a staycation , you would, in fact, have no impact on the planet. Americans would continue to emit an average of 20 tons of carbon dioxide a year; Europeans, about 10 tons.

Leading climate scientists say we need to decrease global annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least half of current levels by 2050 and much further by the end of the century. And that will still mean rising temperatures and sea levels for generations.

Activities

Sadly, individual action does not work.

It distracts us from the need for collective action, and it doesn’t amount to enough.

Self-interest, not self-sacrifice, is what

causes noticeable change. Only the right economic policies will enable us as individuals to be guided by self-interest and still do the right thing for the planet.

Things won’t change until a regulatory system compels us to pay our fair share to limit pollution accordingly. The ‘cap and trade’ system, which helped eliminate leaded petrol in the 1980s and reduce acid rain pollution in the 1990s, is beginning to decrease carbon pollution in Europe, and similar models are planned from California to China.

Markets are truly free only when everyone pays the full price for his or her actions.

Anything else is socialism. High school science tells us that global warming is real.

And economics teaches us that humanity must have the right incentives if it is to stop this terrible trend. Don’t stop recycling. Don’t stop buying local. But start studying some basic economics too. Our future will be largely determined by our ability to admit the need to end planetary socialism. That’s the most fundamental of economics lessons and one any serious environmentalist should listen to.

Adapted from The New York Times

reading comprehension 2 PET Read the article and decide if these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

The author of the article believes: 1 global warming is not a problem.

2 individual action helps solve the problem of global warming.

3 the solution to global warming can be found in new economic policies.

4 we must all pay the full price for our actions.

T

F

discussion points 3 Discuss these questions in pairs.

1 Do you agree with the author on the above points? Why/Why not?

2 Should countries with the largest CO2 emissions, such as the USA, do more to reduce their CO2 emissions?

3 Do you think that international agreements to reduce pollution, like the Kyoto Protocol, work?

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Geography

CARBON OFFSETTING

Carbon offsets can be purchased when you travel by (1) ___________, car or other forms of transport to reduce the effect of (2) ___________ emissions on the environment.

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warm up 4 How do you travel to school?

What about at weekends? Is there a greener alternative?

If you go on holiday, how do you travel? What kind of impact does this form of transport have on the environment?

1 ton of carbon is equal to: 2,000 miles by plane (3) ___________ miles by medium-sized car 1,350 miles by jeep using a (4) ___________ for 10,600 hours Carbon offset projects: planting trees installing (5) ___________ making bio-fuels from cooking oil

listening 5 2.17

PET Listen to this interview with an environmental journalist on the topic of carbon offsets and fill in the missing information.

discussion points 6 What do you think about carbon offsets? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Do you think they will be an effective way of reducing CO2 emissions in the future?

exam practice _ written exam 7 A Write a short essay (150-200 words) about global warming following these guidelines:

• define global warming and its major causes; • illustrate some of the ways to reduce our impact on the environment; • give your opinion on what individuals/governments/companies should do to stop global warming.

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Activities

Problems: no proper regulations airlines calculate their emissions for flights in different ways (6) ___________ might have been sold before difficult to check that companies use the money to make genuine savings

Wordsworth’s Romantic Nature 1

The position of Poet Laureate is a special honour awarded to a poet whose work is of national significance.

In the past, the position involved writing poetry for special occasions, but nowadays it is purely honorary.

The poem ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ is about an experience Wordsworth had in the Lake District in 1804 while there with his sister, Dorothy, who described it in prose.

William Wordsworth is a major Romantic poet.

His poems are inspired by the extraordinary beauty of nature.

He was born on 7th April 1770 in Cockermouth, near the Lake District. After finishing Grammar School, he went to Cambridge University. In 1791, he travelled to France and was impressed by its revolutionary spirit and the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity.

After graduation, he returned to France, but became disillusioned with the Revolution since it had turned into the Reign of Terror and he became a conservative.

Wordsworth was close friends with the poet Coleridge and together they wrote and published Lyrical Ballads in 1798. In its preface, Wordsworth defined poetry as ‘the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity.’

In 1807, he published Poems, in Two Volumes, which included ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’, ‘My Heart Leaps Up’ and ‘Intimations of Immortality’.

In 1839 he received an honorary degree from Oxford University and was made Poet Laureate in 1843, seven years before his death in 1850.

2

G lossary floats: fluttua hosts: moltitudini fluttering: svolazzando twinkle: scintillano tossing: scuotendo sprightly: allegro outdo (v): superare glee: allegria gazed: fissai bliss: beatitudine

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Read this text and complete the biography card.

Date and place of birth: ______________________ Education: ____________ ______________________ Publications: __________ ______________________ Political ideas: ________ ______________________ Poetical views: ________ ______________________

2.18 Listen and read the poem ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’. What is the rhyme scheme? Choose the correct pattern from the box.

ABCABC • ABABCC • ABABAB • ABABCD I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed – and gazed – but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought:

Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.

Geography

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3 Read the poem again and choose the correct alternative to complete this description.

The poet was walking in the countryside when he saw a single flower/lots of flowers which were by a lake/a river. The flowers were motionless/dancing in the wind. He paid a lot of/little attention to the sight at that time. At the end of the poem, he remembers with joy/pain the sight of the flowers.

4 Read stanzas 1-3 and underline the parts describing the protagonist of the poem and the daffodils.

How is the protagonist compared to a natural object? How are the daffodils personified as human beings?

Why is this important?

5 Now discuss these questions in pairs or small groups.

1 What feelings does the poem suggest to you? Sadness? Loneliness? Freedom? Why? 2 Why is the memory so important to the protagonist?

3 What do you think the final message of the poem is?

6 Read this text and find out more about the Lake District. What is the countryside like?

What problems does the area face?

M ore about...

The Lake District National Park Within Great Britain, there are 15 national parks: 10 in England, 3 in Wales and 2 in Scotland. These parks are protected areas due to their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. They range from mountainous areas, to woods, coastal areas and wetlands. Most visitors go to enjoy the natural landscape and scenery and to go walking or do other outdoor sports such as climbing and kayaking.

They also visit the towns and villages within the parks.

One of the oldest English parks is the Lake District National Park which was founded in 1951. It is also the largest, covering 2,292 km2. This spectacular area, with its mountains, wooded valleys and many lakes also holds other records. You can find Windermere, the largest lake in England, which is over 18 km long. The wettest place in England is also in the Lake District. The village of Seathwaite once registered 316.4 mm of rain in 24 hours. You can also find the highest mountain in England, Scafell Pike at 978 m.

With almost 16 million visitors a year, tourism is one of the biggest challenges for the park to face. While tourists spend over ÂŁ925 million every year, creating jobs and income for the local economy, they also bring with them pollution and traffic congestion (89% travel by car), litter, erosion and the risk of fires.

Beatrix Potter was an English author and illustrator, best known for her children’s stories about animals, like The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She lived most of her life in the Lake District.

MOVE to the NET 7 Have a look at this video about the Lake District and answer these questions.

1 How many lakes are there in the Lake District?

2 How long is Lake Windermere?

3 What activities can you do on or near Lake Windermere?

4 What is the name of the village where Wordsworth lived?

5 What is the name of the cottage where he lived?

6 How many visitors come to the cottage each year?

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