EnglishClub

Pre-listening vocabulary

• fossil: the ancient remains of an animal or plant
• organism: a living thing
• geologist: someone who studies the history and materials of the Earth
• compress: to pack something into a small space
• deposit: a layer of material in the ground
• marine life: plants or animals that live in the water
• atmosphere: the gases that surround the Earth

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas are called fossil fuels because they come from ancient plants and animals. The organisms that became our fossil fuels lived around 300 million years ago, a time that geologists call the Carboniferous Period. After these plants and animals died, they were slowly buried and compressed. Trees and ferns from ancient hardened into coal deposits. Oil and natural gas come from small marine life, such as algae and plankton. Fossil fuels are made up of molecules called hydrocarbons, which store energy in their chemical bonds. When humans fuels to power cars and provide , the carbon is released into the air. This causes the Earth’s atmosphere to trap heat, leading to higher global .

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. The plants and animals that became today’s fossil fuels lived during the
   a. Cambrian Period
   b. Carboniferous Period
   c. Permian Period
   
2. Coal comes from
   a. trees and ferns
   b. algae and plankton
   c. dinosaurs
   
3. The molecules in fossil fuels are called
   a. hydrocarbons
   b. carbohydrates
   c. hydroxides

Discussion/essay questions

1. People use fossil fuels every day to power their cars and heat their houses. Do you think we will find a way to rely on fossil fuels less in the near future? Why or why not?

Transcript

Energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas are called fossil fuels because they come from ancient plants and animals. The organisms that became our fossil fuels lived around 300 million years ago, during a time that geologists call the Carboniferous Period. After these plants and animals died, they were slowly buried and compressed. Trees and ferns from ancient forests hardened into coal deposits. Oil and natural gas come from small marine life, such as algae and plankton. Fossil fuels are made up of molecules called hydrocarbons, which store energy in their chemical bonds. When humans burn fuels to power cars and provide electricity, the carbon is released into the air. This causes the Earth’s atmosphere to trap heat, leading to higher global temperatures.

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2a 3a

Pre-listening vocabulary

• nutrient: something that plants and animals need for energy and growth
• fertilizer: a substance that humans use to help crops and other plants grow
• algae: plants that grow on the surface of water
• deplete: to reduce the amount of something by using it all up
• suffocate: to die from a lack of air
• aquatic: relating to water

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08 — 1.0MB)

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Gapfill exercise

Eutrophication is a process where a body of fills up with plant nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This usually happens when rain washes crop fertilizers into a lake. The fertilizers, which use nitrogen to help plants grow, cause excess amounts of algae to grow on the of the water. This is called an algal bloom. When the algae die, bacteria use large amounts of to decompose the plant matter. This process is harmful because it depletes the lake’s oxygen, causing fish at the to suffocate. Eventually, the lack of oxygen can create an aquatic dead zone: a place where little to no aquatic can survive.

Comprehension questions

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Discussion/essay questions

1. Fertilizers are very useful for humans. They help us grow enough crops to feed large populations. Do you think that we can prevent eutrophication while continuing to use fertilizers? Why or why not?

Transcript

Eutrophication is a process where a body of water fills up with plant nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This usually happens when rain washes crop fertilizers into a lake. The fertilizers, which use nitrogen to help plants grow, cause excess amounts of algae to grow on the surface of the water. This is called an algal bloom. When the algae die, bacteria use large amounts of oxygen to decompose the plant matter. This process is harmful because it depletes the lake’s oxygen, causing fish at the bottom to suffocate. Eventually, the lack of oxygen can create an aquatic dead zone: a place where little to no aquatic life can survive.