The Reading / Listening - Solar Energy - Level 3

The world is in a climate crisis. We need to change how we get our power. This means we need to end the use of fossil fuels, like oil and gas. The European Space Agency (ESA) has started on work that could provide millions of homes with clean energy. It has approved a three-year project to test huge solar farms in space. ESA engineers hope to send energy wirelessly from space into people's homes. Testing will take place over three years. An ESA spokesperson said one solar-farm satellite could create the same amount of electricity as a power station on Earth. She added that the aim is to have many of these giant satellites in orbit. They could cut our use of fossil fuels and reduce energy shortages.

The ESA project is called Solaris. The ESA states on its website that it wants to create "a clean and secure energy future for European citizens". Josef Aschbacher, the director-general of the ESA, told the BBC that solar power from space could be of "enormous" help. He said: "We need to convert into carbon-neutral economies and therefore change the way we produce energy. We especially need to reduce the fossil fuel part of our energy production." He added: "If you can do it from space, and I'm saying 'if we could,' because we are not there yet, this would be absolutely fantastic. It would solve a lot of problems." The satellites will be around 1.7 km long. The International Space Station is 110 m in length.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Solar Energy - Level 0,  Solar Energy - Level 1   or  Solar Energy - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/SOLARIS/SOLARIS2
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-62982113
  • https://scitechdaily.com/esa-solaris-wireless-power-beamed-down-from-space/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. SOLAR ENERGY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about solar energy. 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?
       climate crisis / power / fossil fuels / oil / gas / solar farm / satellite / energy shortages
       project / future / space / carbon neutral / production / fantastic / problems / length
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NO FOSSIL FUELS: Students A strongly believe we should stop using all fossil fuels next year; Students B strongly believe this is impossible. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. GREEN FUEL: What do you know about these green fuels? How efficient are they? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

Efficient

Solar energy

 

 

Wave power

 

 

Wind power

 

 

Biofuel

 

 

Hydroelectricity

 

 

Nuclear power

 

 
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. SATELLITE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "satellite". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. WIRELESS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best wireless things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Electricity
  • Internet
  • Speakers
  • Ear buds
  • Mouse
  • Remote controls
  • Garage door opener
  • Radios

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. climate a. A time of big difficulty or danger.
      2. crisis b. Make available for use; supply.
      3. fossil fuels c. A situation where we cannot get enough of the things we need.
      4. provide d. Things we use for power, like oil, gas and coal.
      5. huge e. A human-made machine or thing put in space to collect information or for communication.
      6. satellite f. The weather in an area in general or over a long period of time.
      7. shortage g. Very, very big.

    Paragraph 2

      8. secure h. A person who holds (or can hold) a passport of a country.
      9. citizen i. Very, very big.
      10. enormous j. Find an answer to a question or problem.
      11. convert k. Make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
      12. reduce l. Change one thing into another thing.
      13. fantastic m. Certain to stay safe.
      14. solve n. Really, really great.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says we need to charge how we get power.     T / F
  2. The European Space Agency has finished testing solar farms in space.     T / F
  3. Electricity from the solar farms will be available in three months.     T / F
  4. The space agency says it wants many space farms in orbit.     T / F
  5. The electricity will only be available for people in Europe.     T / F
  6. The agency said we need to become carbon-neutral economies.     T / F
  7. The agency said solar farms in space would solve many problems.     T / F
  8. A solar farm is over 10 times bigger than the International Space Station. T / F

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

  1. crisis
  2. provide
  3. approved
  4. take place
  5. aim
  6. secure
  7. enormous
  8. convert
  9. fantastic
  10. solve
  1. change
  2. happen
  3. safe
  4. supply
  5. great
  6. goal
  7. catastrophe
  8. work out
  9. agreed to
  10. very big

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

  1. The world is in a climate
  2. It has approved a three-year
  3. send energy
  4. have many of these giant satellites
  5. reduce energy
  6. create a clean and secure energy
  7. carbon-neutral
  8. fossil
  9. this would be absolutely
  10. solve a
  1. wirelessly from space
  2. fuel
  3. shortages
  4. economies
  5. in orbit
  6. lot of problems
  7. crisis
  8. fantastic
  9. future
  10. project

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
approved
fossil
shortages
crisis
orbit
provide
satellite
wirelessly

The world is in a climate (1) _____________________. We need to change how we get our power. This means we need to end the use of (2) _____________________ fuels, like oil and gas. The European Space Agency (ESA) has started on work that could (3) _____________________ millions of homes with clean energy. It has (4) _____________________ a three-year project to test huge solar farms in space. ESA engineers hope to send energy (5) _____________________ from space into people's homes. Testing will take place over three years. An ESA spokesperson said one solar-farm (6) _____________________ could create the same amount of electricity as a power station on Earth. She added that the aim is to have many of these giant satellites in (7) _____________________. They could cut our use of fossil fuels and reduce energy (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
solar
therefore
length
yet
convert
solve
secure
reduce

The ESA project is called Solaris. The ESA states on its website that it wants to create "a clean and (9) _____________________ energy future for European citizens". Josef Aschbacher, the director-general of the ESA, told the BBC that (10) _____________________ power from space could be of "enormous" help. He said: "We need to (11) _____________________ into carbon-neutral economies and (12) _____________________ change the way we produce energy. We especially need to (13) _____________________ the fossil fuel part of our energy production." He added: "If you can do it from space, and I'm saying 'if we could,' because we are not there (14) _____________________, this would be absolutely fantastic. It would (15) _____________________ a lot of problems." The satellites will be around 1.7 km long. The International Space Station is 110 m in (16) _____________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The world is in a climate crisis. We need to change how we ______
     a.  get your power
     b.  get our powers
     c.  get our power
     d.  gets our power
2)  It has approved a three-year project to test huge solar ______
     a.  farm sin space
     b.  fanzine space
     c.  far mines space
     d.  farms in space
3)  ESA engineers hope to send energy wirelessly from space ______
     a.  unto people's homes
     b.  into people's homes
     c.  into peoples home
     d.  in two people's homes
4)  She added that the aim is to have many of these giant ______
     a.  satellites in a bit
     b.  satellites inner bit
     c.  satellites in orbit
     d.  satellites in awe bit
5)  They could cut our use of fossil fuels and ______
     a.  deduce energy shortages
     b.  reduce energy shortages
     c.  induce energy shortages
     d.  rid juice energy shortages

6)  it wants to create a clean and secure energy future ______
     a.  for European citizen
     b.  for Europe citizens
     c.  four European citizens
     d.  for European citizens
7)  ESA told the BBC that solar power from space could be ______
     a.  of enormous help
     b.  off enormous help
     c.  oft enormous help
     d.  of enormous helps
8)  We especially need to reduce the ______
     a.  fossil fuel apart
     b.  fossil fuel pat
     c.  fossil fuel pert
     d.  fossil fuel part
9)  I'm saying 'if we could,' because we are not there yet, this would ______
     a.  be absolute fantastic
     b.  be absolutely fan tasty
     c.  be absolutely fantastic
     d.  been absolute leafy artistic
10)  The International Space Station is ______
     a.  110 m on length
     b.  110 m in length
     c.  110 m sin length
     d.  110 m in leant

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The world is in (1) ____________________. We need to change how we get our power. This means we need to end the use of fossil fuels, (2) ____________________ gas. The European Space Agency (ESA) has started on work that could provide millions of homes with clean energy. It has approved a three-year project to test (3) ____________________ in space. ESA engineers hope to send energy wirelessly from space into people's homes. Testing will (4) ____________________ three years. An ESA spokesperson said one solar-farm satellite could create the same amount of electricity as a power station on Earth. She added that the aim is to have many of these giant (5) ____________________. They could cut our use of fossil fuels (6) ____________________ shortages.

The ESA project is called Solaris. The ESA (7) ____________________ website that it wants to create "a clean and (8) ____________________ for European citizens". Josef Aschbacher, the director-general of the ESA, told the BBC that solar power from space could (9) ____________________ help. He said: "We need (10) ____________________ carbon-neutral economies and therefore change the way we produce energy. We especially (11) ____________________ the fossil fuel part of our energy production." He added: "If you can do it from space, and I'm saying 'if we could,' because we are not there yet, this would (12) ____________________. It would solve a lot of problems." The satellites will be around 1.7 km long. The International Space Station is 110 m in length.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say we need to change?
  2. How long will the space agency test the solar space farms?
  3. What will one solar farm produce the same amount of energy as?
  4. How many of the satellites does the agency want to have in space?
  5. What kind of shortages could the ESA project reduce?
  6. What's the name of the solar farm project?
  7. Who might the solar farms give a secure energy future to?
  8. What did an ESA spokesperson say we needed to convert into?
  9. What did an ESA spokesperson say the solar farms would solve?
  10. How long is a solar farm satellite?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say we need to change?
a) batteries
b) how we get power
c) how much electricity we use
d) electricity wires
2) How long will the space agency test the solar space farms?
a) a year
b) four years
c) two years
d) three years
3) What will one solar farm produce the same amount of energy as?
a) a power station
b) the Sun
c) 10,000 batteries
d) 10,000 electric cars
4) How many of the satellites does the agency want to have in space?
a) a dozen
b) a few
c) many
d) half a dozen
5) What kind of shortages could the ESA project reduce?
a) food shortages
b) energy shortages
c) battery shortages
d) wi-fi shortages

6) What's the name of the solar farm project?
a) Solaris
b) Polaris
c) Claris
d) Orbit
7) Who might the solar farms give a secure energy future to?
a) the world
b) CEOs
c) European citizens
d) rich people
8) What did an ESA spokesperson say we needed to convert into?
a) carbon-neutral economies
b) hydrogen
c) sustainable lifestyles
d) wireless lifestyles
9) What did an ESA spokesperson say the solar farms would solve?
a) a lot of problems
b) very little
c) everything
d) the meaning of life
10) How long is a solar farm satellite?
a) 110 m
b) 117 m
c) 11.7 km
d) 1.7 km

Role play

Role  A – Electricity
You think electricity is the best wireless thing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why wireless isn't so necessary with their things. Also, tell the others which thing least requiring of wireless technology of these (and why): the Internet, ear buds or a computer mouse.

Role  B – Internet
You think the Internet is the best wireless thing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why wireless isn't so necessary with their things. Also, tell the others which thing least requiring of wireless technology of these (and why): electricity, ear buds or a computer mouse.

Role  C – Ear Buds
You think ear buds are the best wireless things. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why wireless isn't so necessary with their things. Also, tell the others which thing least requiring of wireless technology of these (and why): the Internet, electricity or a computer mouse.

Role  D – Computer Mouse
You think a computer mouse is the best wireless thing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why wireless isn't so necessary with their things. Also, tell the others which thing least requiring of wireless technology of these (and why): the Internet, ear buds or electricity.

After reading / listening

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

'solar'

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

    • and 'energy'.

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

    • • 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:

    • crisis
    • work
    • huge
    • homes
    • station
    • shortages
    • website
    • BBC
    • convert
    • part
    • yet
    • length

    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 - Solar Energy

    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 'solar'?
    3. What do you know about solar energy?
    4. Why is the world in a climate crisis?
    5. What do you think of fossil fuels?
    6. What do you think of wireless solar energy from space?
    7. Have you ever experienced an energy shortage?
    8. Would you like wireless electricity to end all power cords?
    9. What forms of clean energy do you use?
    10. What's the best form of clean and green energy?

    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 'energy'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of solar energy?
    5. How does the world get out of its climate crisis?
    6. What can we use instead of fossil fuels?
    7. What do you think of a wireless world for power and communications?
    8. Do you think wireless electricity might be dangerous
    9. Where will the climate crisis be in 30 years from now?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

    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 world is (1) ____ a climate crisis. We need to change how we get our power. This means we need to end the (2) ____ of fossil fuels, like oil and gas. The European Space Agency (ESA) has started on work that could (3) ____ millions of homes with clean energy. It has approved a three-year project to test huge solar farms (4) ____ space. ESA engineers hope to send energy wirelessly from space into people's homes. Testing will take place over three years. An ESA spokesperson said one solar-farm satellite could create the same amount of electricity (5) ____ a power station on Earth. She added that the aim is to have many of these giant satellites in (6) ____. They could cut our use of fossil fuels and reduce energy shortages.

    The ESA project is called Solaris. The ESA (7) ____ on its website that it wants to create "a clean and secure energy future for European citizens". Josef Aschbacher, the director-general of the ESA, told the BBC that solar power from space could be of "(8) ____" help. He said: "We need to convert into carbon-neutral economies and therefore change the way we produce energy. We especially (9) ____ to reduce the fossil fuel part of our energy production." He added: "If you can do it from space, and I'm saying 'if we could,' because we are not there (10) ____, this would be absolutely fantastic. It would (11) ____ a lot of problems." The satellites will be around 1.7 km long. The International Space Station is 110 m in (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     in     (b)     of     (c)     by     (d)     at     
    2. (a)     used     (b)     useful     (c)     use     (d)     useless    
    3. (a)     sell     (b)     order     (c)     provide     (d)     cut    
    4. (a)     at     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     in    
    5. (a)     as     (b)     has     (c)     was     (d)     is    
    6. (a)     habit     (b)     orbit     (c)     debit     (d)     credit    
    7. (a)     slants     (b)     stats     (c)     starts     (d)     states    
    8. (a)     giant     (b)     enormous     (c)     hugely     (d)     biggish    
    9. (a)     needy     (b)     necessary     (c)     need     (d)     needing    
    10. (a)     before     (b)     already     (c)     still     (d)     yet    
    11. (a)     salvo     (b)     solution     (c)     soluble     (d)     solve    
    12. (a)     longing     (b)     length     (c)     long     (d)     lengthy

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The world is in a climate rcsiis
    2. rovpide millions of homes with clean energy
    3. send energy esslriwely
    4. the same numato of electricity
    5. many of these giant iasteletsl in orbit
    6. energy sagstorhe

    Paragraph 2

    1. energy future for European tziinesc
    2. be of enormuso help
    3. We especially need to eeurcd the fossil fuel part
    4. this would be absolutely tacnatsif
    5. It would olsve a lot of problems
    6. 110 m in ghnlte

    Put the text back together

    (...)  of electricity as a power station on Earth. She added that the aim is to have many of
    (...)  The ESA project is called Solaris. The ESA states on its website that it wants to create "a clean and secure energy
    (...)  these giant satellites in orbit. They could cut our use of fossil fuels and reduce energy shortages.
    (...)  from space could be of "enormous" help. He said: "We need to convert into carbon-neutral economies and therefore change the way
    (...)  on work that could provide millions of homes with clean energy. It has approved a three-year project to test huge
    (...)  end the use of fossil fuels, like oil and gas. The European Space Agency (ESA) has started
    (  1  ) The world is in a climate crisis. We need to change how we get our power. This means we need to
    (...)  "If you can do it from space, and I'm saying 'if we could,' because we are not there
    (...)  yet, this would be absolutely fantastic. It would solve a lot of problems." The satellites will
    (...)  solar farms in space. ESA engineers hope to send energy wirelessly from space into people's
    (...)  be around 1.7 km long. The International Space Station is 110 m in length.
    (...)  we produce energy. We especially need to reduce the fossil fuel part of our energy production." He added:
    (...)  future for European citizens". Josef Aschbacher, the director-general of the ESA, told the BBC that solar power
    (...)  homes. Testing will take place over three years. An ESA spokesperson said one solar-farm satellite could create the same amount

    Put the words in the right order

    1. world   is   The   a   climate   crisis.   in
    2. like   fuels   End   use   the   oil.   of   fossil
    3. It   homes   of   clean   energy.   millions   with   provides
    4. space   wirelessly   from   energy   into   people's   homes.   Send
    5. satellites   these   in   Have   of   many   giant   orbit.
    6. energy   clean   a   and   Create   secure   future.
    7. is   enormous   of   Solar   space   help.   power   from
    8. part.   reduce   We   to   fuel   need   fossil   the
    9. you   can   space.   it   do   If   from
    10. would   a   problems.   of   It   solve   lot

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The world is in a climate crises / crisis. We need to change how we get our power. This means we need to end the used / use of fossil fuels, like oil and gas. The European Space Agency (ESA) has started on / in work that could provide millions of homes with clean / cleaning energy. It has approved / approval a three-year project to test huge solar farms in space. ESA engineers hope to send energy wireless / wirelessly from space into people's homes. Testing will give / take place over three years. An ESA spokesperson said one solar-farm satellite could create the same / near amount of electricity as a power station on Earth. She added that the aim is to be / have many of these giant satellites in orbit. They could cut our use of fossil fuels and reduce energy shorts / shortages.

    The ESA project is called / calling Solaris. The ESA states on its website that it wants to create "a clean and secure energy / energetic future for European citizens". Josef Aschbacher, the director-general of the ESA, said / told the BBC that solar power from space could be of / to "enormous" help. He said: "We need to convert onto / into carbon-neutral economies and therefore change the way we produce energy. We especially need to increase / reduce the fossil fuel part of our energy prediction / production." He added: "If you can do it from space, and I'm saying 'if we could,' because we are not there yet / already, this would be absolutely fantastic. It would solve / absolve a lot of problems." The satellites will be around 1.7 km long. The International Space Station is 110 m in longing / length.

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

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

    Th_  w_rld  _s  _n  _  cl_m_t_  cr_s_s.  W_  n__d  t_  ch_ng_  h_w  w_  g_t  __r  p_w_r.  Th_s  m__ns  w_  n__d  t_  _nd  th_  _s_  _f  f_ss_l  f__ls,  l_k_  __l  _nd  g_s.  Th_  __r_p__n  Sp_c_  _g_ncy  (_S_)  h_s  st_rt_d  _n  w_rk  th_t  c__ld  pr_v_d_  m_ll__ns  _f  h_m_s  w_th  cl__n  _n_rgy.  _t  h_s  _ppr_v_d  _  thr__-y__r  pr_j_ct  t_  t_st  h_g_  s_l_r  f_rms  _n  sp_c_.  _S_  _ng_n__rs  h_p_  t_  s_nd  _n_rgy  w_r_l_ssly  fr_m  sp_c_  _nt_  p__pl_'s  h_m_s.  T_st_ng  w_ll  t_k_  pl_c_  _v_r  thr__  y__rs.  _n  _S_  sp_k_sp_rs_n  s__d  _n_  s_l_r-f_rm  s_t_ll_t_  c__ld  cr__t_  th_  s_m_  _m__nt  _f  _l_ctr_c_ty  _s  _  p_w_r  st_t__n  _n  __rth.  Sh_  _dd_d  th_t  th_  __m  _s  t_  h_v_  m_ny  _f  th_s_  g__nt  s_t_ll_t_s  _n  _rb_t.  Th_y  c__ld  c_t  __r  _s_  _f  f_ss_l  f__ls  _nd  r_d_c_  _n_rgy  sh_rt_g_s.

    Th_  _S_  pr_j_ct  _s  c_ll_d  S_l_r_s.  Th_  _S_  st_t_s  _n  _ts  w_bs_t_  th_t  _t  w_nts  t_  cr__t_  "_  cl__n  _nd  s_c_r_  _n_rgy  f_t_r_  f_r  __r_p__n  c_t_z_ns".  J_s_f  _schb_ch_r,  th_  d_r_ct_r-g_n_r_l  _f  th_  _S_,  t_ld  th_  BBC  th_t  s_l_r  p_w_r  fr_m  sp_c_  c__ld  b_  _f  "_n_rm__s"  h_lp.  H_  s__d:  "W_  n__d  t_  c_nv_rt  _nt_  c_rb_n-n__tr_l  _c_n_m__s  _nd  th_r_f_r_  ch_ng_  th_  w_y  w_  pr_d_c_  _n_rgy.  W_  _sp_c__lly  n__d  t_  r_d_c_  th_  f_ss_l  f__l  p_rt  _f  __r  _n_rgy  pr_d_ct__n."  H_  _dd_d:  "_f  y__  c_n  d_  _t  fr_m  sp_c_,  _nd  _'m  s_y_ng  '_f  w_  c__ld,'  b_c__s_  w_  _r_  n_t  th_r_  y_t,  th_s  w__ld  b_  _bs_l_t_ly  f_nt_st_c.  _t  w__ld  s_lv_  _  l_t  _f  pr_bl_ms."  Th_  s_t_ll_t_s  w_ll  b_  _r__nd  1.7  km  l_ng.  Th_  _nt_rn_t__n_l  Sp_c_  St_t__n  _s  110  m  _n  l_ngth.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the world is in a climate crisis we need to change how we get our power this means we need to end the use of fossil fuels like oil and gas the european space agency esa has started on work that could provide millions of homes with clean energy it has approved a threeyear project to test huge solar farms in space esa engineers hope to send energy wirelessly from space into peoples homes testing will take place over three years an esa spokesperson said one solarfarm satellite could create the same amount of electricity as a power station on earth she added that the aim is to have many of these giant satellites in orbit they could cut our use of fossil fuels and reduce energy shortages

    the esa project is called solaris the esa states on its website that it wants to create a clean and secure energy future for european citizens josef aschbacher the directorgeneral of the esa told the bbc that solar power from space could be of enormous help he said we need to convert into carbonneutral economies and therefore change the way we produce energy we especially need to reduce the fossil fuel part of our energy production he added if you can do it from space and im saying if we could because we are not there yet this would be absolutely fantastic it would solve a lot of problems the satellites will be around 17 km long the international space station is 110 m in length

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Theworldisinaclimatecrisis.Weneedtochangehowwegetourpower.T
    hismeansweneedtoendtheuseoffossilfuels,likeoilandgas.TheEurope
    anSpaceAgency(ESA)hasstartedonworkthatcouldprovidemillionsof
    homeswithcleanenergy.Ithasapprovedathree-yearprojecttotesthu
    gesolarfarmsinspace.ESAengineershopetosendenergywirelesslyfro
    mspaceintopeople'shomes.Testingwilltakeplaceoverthreeyears.An
    ESAspokespersonsaidonesolar-farmsatellitecouldcreatethesamea
    mountofelectricityasapowerstationonEarth.Sheaddedthattheaimist
    ohavemanyofthesegiantsatellitesinorbit.Theycouldcutouruseoffossi
    lfuelsandreduceenergyshortages.TheESAprojectiscalledSolaris.The
    ESAstatesonitswebsitethatitwantstocreate"acleanandsecureenergy
    futureforEuropeancitizens".JosefAschbacher,thedirector-generalo
    ftheESA,toldtheBBCthatsolarpowerfromspacecouldbeof"enormous"
    help.Hesaid:"Weneedtoconvertintocarbon-neutraleconomiesandth
    ereforechangethewayweproduceenergy.Weespeciallyneedtoreduce
    thefossilfuelpartofourenergyproduction."Headded:"Ifyoucandoitfro
    mspace,andI'msaying'ifwecould,'becausewearenotthereyet,thiswo
    uldbeabsolutelyfantastic.Itwouldsolvealotofproblems."Thesatellite
    swillbearound1.7kmlong.TheInternationalSpaceStationis110minle
    ngth.

    Free writing

    Write about solar energy from space for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    All energy will be clean and green in the future. 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. SOLAR ENERGY: Make a poster about solar energy. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. END FOSSIL FUELS: Write a magazine article about ending the use of fossil fuels next year. 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 solar energy. Ask him/her three questions about solar energy. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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

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    Answers

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

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