2. Understanding the text: True or False?

From the information contained in the text, decide whether the statements are true or false.

(a) The sun, wood, running water, and the wind are the main energy sources today.

(b) The waste products of extracting fossil fuels accumulate in the atmosphere

(c) Proven reserves of coal, oil, and gas are higher than the estimated additional undiscovered coal reserves

(d) The oil price will rise and it will cost more to extract than to gain from it.

(e) The Baltic countries do not have enough fossil energy resources

(f) Renewable energy sources can be used rather successfully

3. Find in the text the following words and expressions and translate them into Russian

renewable energy sources methanol

compressed plant tissues hydrogen

content of hydrogen energy carriers

to combust a coal-dependent country

waste products to mine

reserves of coal, oil, gas hydro and wind power

to be equal to biomass

3. Scanning

Read quickly and find a specific piece of information

(a) What are the different sources of energy today?

(b) How have fossil fuels been formed?

(c) What chemical substances do fossil fuels consist of?

(d) What waste products of fossil fuels extraction accumulate in the atmosphere?

(e) Why will the extraction of oil stop in the nearest future?

(f) Where are fossil fuels exploited?

(g) How can renewable energy sources be used?

5. Grammar Reference

In the article you can see the underlined sentence fragments. Can you translate them into Russian?

The rule:

Present participle (verb + ing) describes what somebody or something is.

Ex. It was a fascinating story. (What kind of story? Fascinating.)

Past participle (verb + ed(for regular verbs)) describes how somebody feels.

Ex. We were fascinated by his story. (How did we feel about his story? Fascinated.)

Practice exercises

Paraphrase the following using present participle

Example: The man who is speaking to Mary is a well-known surgeon. –

The man speaking to Mary is a well-known surgeon.

1. The sidewalks were crowded with people who were watching the carnival.

2. The conferences, which are held at the University every year, are devoted to ecological problems.

3. I looked at the people who were lying on the beach.

4. The man who phoned you yesterday is waiting for you downstairs.

5. The people who are waiting for the doctor have been sitting here for a long time.

Paraphrase the following using past participle

Example: These are only a few of the attempts, which were made to improve the situation. – These are only a few of the attempts made to improve the situation

1. The animals, which were caught in the morning, struggled furiously.

2. There was a dead silence in the room, which was broken only by his cough.

3. The news, which you’ve brought to us, is exciting.

4. The answer, which had been so long expected, came at last.

5. The sunrays lighted the magnificent house, which was built on the hill.

Read the dialogue and choose the correct participle

A: I didn’t know you were 1) interesting/interested in gardening.

B: I am not. I think it’s really 2) boring/bored but my mum’s hurt her back and she was 3) concerning/concerned that the garden would become a mess.

A: Oh, I understand now. I was really 4) surprising/surprised to see you with a spade in your hand!

B: Don’t laugh! This is really 5) tiring/tired, I feel 6) exhausting/exhausted already.