English Lesson on National Bio-Diesel Day

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THE LESSON ON NATIONAL BIO-DIESEL DAY

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.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

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NATIONAL BIODIESEL DAY

 

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

THE NATIONAL BIODIESEL DAY SURVEY

Write five questions about National Biodiesel Day in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out.  Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about National Biodiesel Day for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

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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 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.


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