Unit 5 The Story of America'S Oil: Word Guide
Unit 5 The Story of America'S Oil: Word Guide
Unit 5 The Story of America'S Oil: Word Guide
During the summer of 2000, lots of car-drivers in America were angry. The cost of gasoline went
above $2 a gallon in some states. The age of cheap gasoline was over. Today, in 2016, gas costs at
least $ 2 a gallon throughout the USA. In California, even regular gas costs about $2.80 a gallon. This is
very cheap compared to Europe, but Americans think that it is very expensive. The United States is the
land of relatively cheap energy; America is the second biggest producer of oil in the world, but it is also
the biggest importer. In fact, the USA imports over 20% of its energy, mostly in the form of oil.
There is oil under the ground in many parts of the USA. America's first oil wells were drilled in
the year 1859, in Pennsylvania; and since then, more and more wells have been made in other states.
Today, oil companies are "fracking", and finding lots more oil under the ground. The center of America's
oil industry today is the state of Texas; and America's "oil capital" is the city of Dallas. Texas is by far the
biggest producer of oil in the USA. It was not always the case; the first Texan oil-wells were opened in
1901, when there was already a big oil industry in other parts of the USA. But without the oil from Texas,
America's history would have been very different. In 2001, Texans celebrated their "oil centenary".
Cheap oil and cheap gasoline helped to make modern America. They shaped America's cities, and they
were an essential part of the American lifestyle. They were also essential in the great empty states of the
West, where people often have to travel long distances.
Today, Americans consume about 25% of the world's energy.... far more than people in other countries;
but the situation is slowly changing. Americans are already buying smaller cars, and American cars
consume much less gas than they used to. But in the coming years, they will use less and less oil. They
will have to. There is still a lot of oil under the ground, but oil and gas must become more expensive in the
future. Over 50% of America's traditional oil reserves have already been used - mostly since 1950.
Nobody knows when America's oil will start running out, but the first problems could come in less than 20
years. And as soon as oil starts running out, its price will go up very quickly! In conclusion, the "two dollar
gallon" was good for America. It has encouraged Americans to buy smaller cars, and to use less energy.
That way, America's oil will last longer... perhaps until the age of clean green energy arrives.
WORD GUIDE
Here is some information which comes from the article: unfortunately the sentences have been put
together
wrongly: each sentence contains two parts, (a) and (b). Join the parts correctly:
List a List b
1. Petrol is much cheaper in the USA b1. than in Pennsylvania
2. Petrol is more expensive today b2. than it is in Europe.
3. Americans consume more energy b3. than people in Europe.
4. Americans cars consume less petrol b4. than it is today
5. More oil is produced in Texas b5. than it was in the past.
6. Oil will be more expensive in the future B6. than they used to
2. Modern solar panels are a combination of magnifying glasses and fluid filled pipes.
3. They are painted black to absorb the heat from the sun.
5. The heat produced in the pipes is then used to heat a tank of water.
6. The silver reflective surface behind the pipes reflects sun light back, further heating the pipes and the
fluid they contain.
7. The reflective surface also protects anything behind the solar panel (such as a roof).
8. The solar panel seen opposite has a glass front which is specially made to focus the power of the sun
on pipes behind it.
STRUCTURE – MODAL
2. If you don’t start working harder, you ....have to repeat the course next year.
Choose the most suitable modal verb in each of the following sentences: these sentences are not
necessarily related to the article!
1. People who live in New York can /will / must see the Statue of Liberty.
2. You will / may / must / can pass your driving test before you will / may / must / can drive.
3. In 2100, people cannot / will not / will not be able to use oil as we do today.
4. In 15 years’ time, people must / will have to / will use more electric cars.
5. I am 15 today, so I will / can / may / must still be alive in the year 2050.
6. If I buy a lottery ticket, I may / can / must / will win the jackpot. If I don’t, I may not / will.
Calculation
Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.
Alternative Proxies: