Module 4A Film Fest Activities 1 Match the pictures with the paragraphs d b a Alternative Forms of Energy We can use solar energy to warm and light our homes, heat our water and provide electricity for our cookers, refrigerators and other appliances It is unlimited and it does not cause air or water pollution The problem with solar energy is that it is only a viable option in places where the sun shines The wind moves the blades of wind turbines in wind farms or wind plants These are connected to the power grid and provide electricity for many people They need to be located in areas where the wind blows at a constant speed but this does not occur everywhere in the world Hydroelectric power plants use the water in rivers, dams, reservoirs and streams to run c turbines which generate electricity Hydropower is inexpensive and does not produce air pollution but dams can disrupt the ecology of the region For example, the water temperature and level may change, killing fish and affecting plants that grow along the riverbanks We can also get energy from biomass, the scientific word for rubbish It includes wood, plant residues, animal and municipal waste It can be used to provide heat, make fuel and generate electricity It is abundant and cheap but it requires effective management Otherwise, we might consume it faster than we produce it Also, like any fuel, biomass can create air pollution when it is burned or converted into energy 2 These sentences intend to summarise the previous text Correct them if you consider they are wrong a Solar energy produces electricity for all types of devices; on a cloudy day the electric machines in a house would stop working b Turbines transform the wind into power, they can be installed anywhere English Toolkit - Natural Sciences Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A / Richmond 2011 Sun, Wind and Water Module 4A c Hydroelectric plants kill fish because they get electric shocks d Rubbish can become electricity through a very clean process 3 Fill in the chart with information from the text Discuss it orally Advantages Disadvantages 4 Prepare a report about one of the following topics a Explain the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy b Classify the sources of energy in the previous text c What advantages and disadvantages fossil fuels have compared to renewable energy? d List electric appliances used at home, at school and at work What are they used for? Which ones you consider essential? Why? 5 Make a class presentation on one of these topics: solar power systems, wind energy and hydroelectric power plants a Carry out a street survey on how to save energy Draw your own conclusions b Do people save or waste energy? List ways of wasting energy 6 What are the advantages of living in a solar house? Otherwise, how can you save energy in a conventional house? Write a paragraph English Toolkit - Natural Sciences Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A / Richmond 2011 Source of energy