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Unit 5 The Story of America'S Oil: Word Guide

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UNIT 5

THE STORY OF AMERICA’S OIL

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

case: situation - centenary: 100th anniversary - consume: use - crude oil:


oil that comes out of the ground - drill: make a hole - fracking: a
controversial new technology to extract oil from rocks - gasoline (USA) =
petrol (GB) - a gallon (US) : 3.78 liters - oil well: crude oil comes out of the
ground through oil wells - run out: come to an end.
Exercise - comparisons

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

Arrange these sentences into good paragraph!

1. The pipes carry a special fluid that heats up rapidly.

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.

4. This saves using electricity or gas to heat up the water tank.

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

Modal Uses Examples


Must 1. Strong Necessity 1. You must study hard.
2. Prohibition 2. You mustn’t leave the class.
3. 95% certainly 3. He isn’t in the office now. He
must have something to do
outside.
May 1. Polite request 1. May I have a glass of water?
2. Formal permission 2. You may go to Australia.
3. Less than 50% 3. He may be learning in his
room.
Might Less than 50% certainly Robert might be sleeping now
Can 1. Ability 1. I can speak English.
2. Informal polite request 2. Can you lend me your
computer?
3. Informal permission 3. You can use my computer.
Could 1. Past ability 1. I could pay badminton well
when I was young.
2. Polite request 2. Could I borrow your book?
3. Suggestion 3. You could see the doctor to
get better soon.
4. Certainly less than 50% 4. Sara could be at home.
5. Impossible thing 5. It couldn’t be false.
Will 1. 100% certainly 1. I will be in the office before 8.
2. Willingness 2. Someone knocks the door. I’ll
open it
3. Polite request 3. Will you lend me your car?
Would 1. Polite request 1. Would you lend me your car?
2. Preference 2. I would rather to study in my
room than play in the yard.
3. repeated action in the past 3. I would play every afternoon
in the yard with my friends
when I was young.
Shall 1. polite request to make 1. Shall I turn off the lamp?
suggestion
2. future with I and we as 2. We shall visit her soon.
subject
Should 1. Advisability 1. You should study hard before
exam.
2. 90% certainty 2. She should consume her
medicine.

Choose the best answer for these sentences!


1. It's a hospital. You .....not smoke.
a. must b. may c. will
2. I .... speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Morocco.
a. can b. could c. should
3. The teacher said we .... read this book for our own pleasure as it is optional.
a. can b. shall c. will
4. Take an umbrella. it .... rain later.
a. may b. might c. would
5. You ...... look at me when I am talking.
a. could b. should c. would

Complete these sentences using appropriate modal!

1. You really ....not be late again.

2. If you don’t start working harder, you ....have to repeat the course next year.

3. I ....be able to help you, but I'm not sure yet.


4. Already as a child Mozart .... play the piano beautifully.

5. .... I go to the bathroom, please!

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

Match the symbols! Fill in the blank!


1)+ 2) = 3) X or * 4) - 5) / or : 1) 8 …… 4 = 2 3) 7…….12=19
a. Minus d. equals 2) 15 … 10 = 5 4) 6……..2 = 12
5)five minus, nine divided by three
b. Plus e. divided by equals……
6) nine multiplied by three, minus six, plus four
c. multiplied by equals……
Number

 Write decimal points as a point (.), not a Exercise


comma (,) : 3.5 3,5 1. 3.46 =
 After the number, say number separately 2. = twenty-three point four
1.25 = one point two five 3. 0.8 =
 Before the point say numbers together 4. 1.06 =
25.25 = twenty-five point two five 5. 2001 =
 Before the point 0 is zero or nought (not oh) 6. 755 =
0.3 = zero point three or nought oh point 7. = nineteen and eighty eight
three 8. 55 =
 After the point, o is zero or oh 9. = seventeen
0.03 zero point zero three or zero point 10. 203 =
oh three 11. =
 1800 can say in two ways; one thousand and
12 =
eight hundred or eighteen hundred.
 2015 -year- = twenty and fifteen or two 13. = two third
thousand fifteen. 14. = thirty – three point six four five
 634 = six hundred and thirty four 15. = zero point zero two three
 = one second / one half
 = five sixths
 = one fourth /one quarter

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