Task1. Listen to the audio clip to complete the passage with proper expressions.
Energy, by simplest definition, is the capacity to do work. It is governed by the law of _______1__________ from the first law of thermodynamics, which states, 'Energy can neither be created nor destroyed.' However, energy can change form, and energy can flow from one place to another. Energy is found in nature in many forms, including _________2________, which is energy associated with mass and motion; ________3_________, which is energy associated with position in a force field, such as a _______4__________, electric, or magnetic field; __________5_______, which is energy stored incertain materials that can be released by chemical reactions;_________6________, which is energy associated with random molecular motions, often in a medium and associated with temperature; and radiant energy, which is energy carried by light or other ________7_________. This is energy on a_________8________. However, another way to look at energy is as a system. A civil way to think about how we get from the resources that are used to produce energy to the energy services we use on a daily basis is through the following chain: Resources are _________9________ to give us primary energy. This is a raw form of energy, for example, natural gas. Primary energy then undergoes________10_________ to become final energy. Final energy is a usable form of energy, such as electricity, transportation fuel. And use technologies, take this final energy and convert it—the last form of energy, useful energy. Useful energy refers to the energy associated when the energy services, the consumers receive. That’s energy.
Task2. Watch the video clip to complete the passage with proper expressions.
How solar panels work? Commonly known as solar panels, ___________1___________ are used to generate electricity. Solar panels are made from photovoltaic cells, photo meaning light and voltaic, the production of electricity. Photovoltaic cells have two __________2____________of semiconductors, similar to a battery. One layer is negatively charged while the other positive. These layers are protected by two ___________3___________made from special glass. The semiconductor absorbs __________4____________, or the radiation, from the sun and transforms it into ___________5___________, also known as DC. DC current flows to the inverter, which transforms the power into ___________6___________or AC. This process takes place billions of times per second and is noise free.The power flowing through the ___________7___________ is piped through a bidirectional electric meter into the main panel, which distributes the electricity throughout the house. The bidirectional meter displays net power used minus net power produced. When the __________8____________ generates more electricity than you use, the meter spins backwards. What happens at night? The excess electricity generated during the day is fed back to the main panel. It's that simple. Solar panels have a ____________9__________ of 30 to 40 years. On average utility costs rise by 6.7% annually. That means a $150.00 electricbill today will probably be $720 in 25 years, allow the sun to be your source of energy, save the planet, cut down or eliminate electrical spending, increase___________10___________ and invest in solar today.
Task3. Listen to the audio clip to choose correct answers to the questions.
1. A. Fossil fuels B. Geothermal energy C. Oil D. Natural gas
2. A. It requires less infrastructure investment
B. It produces a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions
C. It reduces the impact on climate change
D. The energy supply is stable and not affected by weather
3. A. The technology is not mature enough
B. The energy supply is unstable
C. They produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants
D. The initial investment cost is high
4. A. Coal B. Oil C. Solar energy D. Natural gas
5. A. Complete reliance on renewable energy
B. Complete reliance on non-renewable energy
C. A balanced approach between the two
D. Using only geothermal energy
Task4. Watch the video clip to choose correct answers to the questions.
1. A) Electromagnetic radiation
B) Magnetic induction
C) Thermal conduction
D) Chemical reaction
2. A) Solar panels
B) Permanent magnets or rotor coils excited with a power source
C) Chemical batteries
D) Hydraulic pressure
3. A) Square wave
B) Triangle wave
C) Sine wave
D) Sawtooth wave
4. A) It has no effect on the frequency
B) Higher speed creates a lower frequency
C) Higher speed creates a higher frequency
D) It only affects the voltage, not the frequency
5. A) Synchronous generator
B) Permanent magnet generator
C) Doubly fed induction generator
D) Single-phase generator
Task5. Watch the video clip and take notes to complete the summary.
Nuclear energy, a significant yet often misunderstood power source, currently supplies 21% of the electricity in the U.S., behind _______1________ at 41%. It operates by using uranium as fuel,which undergoes a ________2_______ to emit heat, driving a process that generates electricity without direct _________3______. Despite historical nuclear accidents, it remains one of the safest energy sources, with fewer direct fatalities compared to coal, which accounts for over _______4________deaths annually in the U.S. alone.
The main concerns regarding nuclear energy include safety, _______5________, and costs. However, the impact of accidents, while severe, is often exaggerated in media reports. Waste treatment involves________6_______ or the more costly reprocessing, the latter of which is not practiced in the U.S. due to a lack of necessary facilities. High initial costs for plant construction and ________7_______ can be offset by optimizing the operation of existing plants and developing new technologies to mitigate _______8________.
Looking ahead, nuclear energy, when integrated with _______9________, offers a sustainable solution to meet our energy demands with minimal environmental impact, providing a reliable baseload for the electrical system without reliance on external conditions. This combination has the potential to reduce our dependence on _______10________ and their harmful effects on the environment.
Task6. Listen to the audio clips to write down each sentence.
S1.
S2.
S3.
S4.
S5.
Task7. Watch the video clip to answer the first two questions and then discuss question three and four critically.
1. Why are solar and wind energy, despite being free natural resources, considered expensive in the process of converting them into usable energy on a large scale?
2. What are the "dilute problem"and the "intermittency problem," and how do they affect the widespread application of solar and wind energy?
3. Considering the intermittency and diluteness of solar and wind energy, what key issues do you think future energy technology development should focus on solving?
4. As a world leader in renewable energy, what is the state of Germany's utilization of solar and wind energy? What do you think are the strengths and areas for improvement in Germany's energy policy?
