Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on National Bio-Diesel Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
National Biodiesel Day is a day the biodiesel industry celebrates the role of the vegetable-based fuel in helping to tackle environmental problems. It takes place on March 18, which is the date of Rudolf Diesel’s birthday. He invented diesel in 1912. He designed the diesel engine in the late 1800s to run on peanut oil. He was a visionary who knew that biofuels would become very important. In 1912, he said: “The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum.” He died in 1913, well before any hint of damage to the environment by fossil fuels, and long before the green movement, which would embrace his thinking.
The U.S. biodiesel industry is doing much to promote energy independence and reduce America’s thirst for oil. In 2007, manufacturers produced 500 million gallons of biofuels, which reduced the need for 12 million barrels of oil. The biofuels industry is very excited about the future of biofuels. They say biofuels greatly reduce CO2 emissions and therefore are an important part of helping countries reduce their carbon footprints. President George W Bush described bio-fuels as one of the most promising forms of renewable energy. Not everyone is so eager in their praise of biofuels. Many blame them for reducing the amount of land available for food production, which has led to food shortages and rising food prices.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
… celebrates the role of the vegetable-
a.
the late 1800s
2
helping to tackle environmental
b.
as important as petroleum
3.
He designed the diesel engine in
c.
engine fuels
4.
The use of vegetable oils for
d.
based fuel
5.
oils may become, in the course of time,
e.
the environment
6.
well before any hint of damage to
f.
problems
Paragraph 2
1.
reduce America’s thirst
a.
barrels of oil
2
reduced the need for 12 million
b.
of renewable energy
3.
very excited about the future
c.
their carbon footprints
4.
helping countries reduce
d.
available for food production
5.
one of the most promising forms
e.
for oil
6.
reducing the amount of land
f.
of biofuels
LISTENING GAP FILL
National Biodiesel Day is a day the biodiesel industry celebrates __________________ vegetable-based fuel in helping to tackle environmental problems. It takes place on March 18, __________________ of Rudolf Diesel’s birthday. He invented diesel in 1912. He designed the diesel engine in the late 1800s to run on peanut oil. He was ____________________ that biofuels would become very important. In 1912, he said: “The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today, __________________ become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum.” He died in 1913, well __________________ damage to the environment by fossil fuels, and long before the green movement, __________________ his thinking.
The U.S. biodiesel industry is __________________ promote energy independence and reduce America’s thirst for oil. In 2007, manufacturers produced 500 million gallons of biofuels, which __________________ for 12 million barrels of oil. The biofuels industry is very excited about __________________. They say biofuels greatly reduce CO2 emissions and therefore are an important part of helping countries reduce their __________________. President George W Bush described bio-fuels as one of the most promising forms of renewable energy. Not everyone is __________________ praise of biofuels. Many blame them for reducing the amount of land available for food production, __________________ food shortages and rising food prices.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
National Biodiesel Day is a day the biodiesel industry celebrates the __________ of the vegetable-based fuel in helping to tackle environmental problems. It takes __________ on March 18, which is the date of Rudolf Diesel’s birthday. He __________ diesel in 1912. He designed the diesel engine in the __________ 1800s to run on peanut oil. He was a __________ who knew that biofuels would become very important. In 1912, he said: “The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may __________ insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum.” He died in 1913, well before any __________ of damage to the environment by fossil fuels, and long before the green movement, which would __________ his thinking.
invented seem role hint visionary place embrace late
The U.S. biodiesel industry is doing __________ to promote energy independence and reduce America’s __________ for oil. In 2007, manufacturers produced 500 million gallons of biofuels, which reduced the __________ for 12 million barrels of oil. The biofuels industry is very excited about the __________ of biofuels. They say biofuels greatly reduce CO2 emissions and therefore are an important part of helping countries reduce their __________ footprints. President George W Bush described bio-fuels as one of the most __________ forms of renewable energy. Not everyone is so eager in their __________ of biofuels. Many blame them for reducing the amount of land available for food production, which has led to food __________ and rising food prices.
need shortages thirst promising much carbon praise future
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
National Biodiesel Day is a date / day the biodiesel industry celebrates the role of the vegetable-based fuel in help / helping to tackle environmental problems. It takes place on March 18, which is the date of Rudolf Diesel’s birthday. He invented / invention diesel in 1912. He designed the diesel engine in the late 1800s to run in / on peanut oil. He was a visionary who knew that biofuels would become very important. In 1912, he said: “The use of vegetable oils of / for engine fuels may seem insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as importance / important as petroleum.” He died in 1913, well before any hint of damaged / damage to the environment by fossil fuels, and long before the green movement, which would embrace his think / thinking.
The U.S. biodiesel industry is doing many / much to promote energy independence and reduce America’s thirst / thirsty for oil. In 2007, manufacturers produced 500 million gallons of biofuels, which reduced the need / necessary for 12 million barrels of oil. The biofuels industry is very excited about the future to / of biofuels. They say biofuels greatly reduce CO2 emissions and therefore are an important part of helping countries reduction / reduce their carbon footprints. President George W Bush described bio-fuels as one of the most promises / promising forms of renewable energy. Not everyone is so eager in their praise of biofuels. Many blame it / them for reducing the amount of land available for food production, which has led to food shortages and rising food price / prices.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
National Biodiesel Day is a day the biodiesel (1) ____ celebrates the role of the vegetable-based fuel in helping to tackle environmental problems. It takes place on March 18, which is the date of Rudolf Diesel’s birthday. He (2) ____ diesel in 1912. He designed the diesel engine in the (3) ____ 1800s to run on peanut oil. He was a visionary who knew that biofuels would become very important. In 1912, he said: “The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may (4) ____ insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum.” He died in 1913, (5) ____ before any hint of damage to the environment by fossil fuels, and long before the green movement, which would embrace his (6) ____.
The U.S. biodiesel industry is doing (7) ____ to promote energy independence and reduce America’s thirst for oil. In 2007, manufacturers produced 500 million gallons of biofuels, which reduced the need (8) ____ 12 million barrels of oil. The biofuels industry is very excited about the future of biofuels. They say biofuels greatly reduce CO2 emissions and therefore are an important part of helping countries (9) ____ their carbon footprints. President George W Bush described bio-fuels as one of the most promising forms of (10) ____ energy. Not everyone is so eager in their praise of biofuels. Many (11) ____ them for reducing the amount of land available for food production, which has led to food shortages and (12) ____ food prices.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
industrial
(b)
industries
(c)
industrialize
(d)
industry
2.
(a)
invented
(b)
inventor
(c)
invents
(d)
inventing
3.
(a)
behind
(b)
late
(c)
after
(d)
dead
4.
(a)
seems
(b)
seem
(c)
seeming
(d)
seemingly
5.
(a)
good
(b)
OK
(c)
well
(d)
6.
(a)
thinker
(b)
thoughtful
(c)
think
(d)
thinking
7.
(a)
much
(b)
many
(c)
lot
(d)
large
8.
(a)
necessary
(b)
needy
(c)
need
(d)
needing
9.
(a)
reduction
(b)
reducing
(c)
reduces
(d)
reduce
10.
(a)
renew
(b)
renewing
(c)
renewable
(d)
renews
11.
(a)
blameworthy
(b)
blame
(c)
blameless
(d)
blameful
12.
(a)
rising
(b)
raise
(c)
rise
(d)
arisen
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
etlcka environmental problems
2.
He dtenvnei diesel
3.
He designed the diesel eninge
4.
He was a irvnsiyoa
5.
as mpttaorni as petroleum
6.
the nrgee movement
Paragraph 2
7.
poremot energy independence
8.
America’s hsirtt for oil
9.
12 million srearlb of oil
10.
CO2 sisinemso
11.
carbon fnototsirp
12.
food gstehsrao
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
fuels, and long before the green movement, which would embrace his thinking.
( 1 )
National Biodiesel Day is a day the biodiesel industry celebrates the role of the vegetable-based fuel in
( )
emissions and therefore are an important part of helping countries reduce their carbon
( )
The U.S. biodiesel industry is doing much to promote energy independence and reduce America’s thirst
( )
available for food production, which has led to food shortages and rising food prices.
( )
oil. He was a visionary who knew that biofuels would become very important. In 1912, he said: “The use of
( )
for oil. In 2007, manufacturers produced 500 million gallons of biofuels, which reduced the need for 12 million barrels
( )
vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of
( )
energy. Not everyone is so eager in their praise of biofuels. Many blame them for reducing the amount of land
( )
footprints. President George W Bush described bio-fuels as one of the most promising forms of renewable
( )
birthday. He invented diesel in 1912. He designed the diesel engine in the late 1800s to run on peanut
( )
of oil. The biofuels industry is very excited about the future of biofuels. They say biofuels greatly reduce CO2
( )
helping to tackle environmental problems. It takes place on March 18, which is the date of Rudolf Diesel’s
( )
time, as important as petroleum.” He died in 1913, well before any hint of damage to the environment by fossil
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
of role the fuel based - vegetable the
2.
the late diesel 1800s engine He in designed the
3.
fuels engine for oils vegetable of use The
4.
any before environment the to damage of hint
5.
the long green before movement
6.
thirst reduce for America’s oil
7.
biofuels produced million of manufacturers 500 gallons
8.
greatly emissions reduce biofuels CO2
9.
carbon their reduce countries helping footprints
10.
for available land of amount the reducing food
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
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 more information about National Biodiesel Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about National Biodiesel Day. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about National Biodiesel Day. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
