II. Write a short summery of the text. Energy sources

I. Read and translate the text.

Coal. It was coal that produced the energy to run the factories of the first big industrial countries, such as Britain and Germany. Coalminers worked long hard hours in cold dark to bring this black rock above the ground. They called it black gold.

Oil and gas. Today big oil companies spend millions of dollars looking for oil, and when they find it, a new oil well is started and the company makes even more millions. Sometimes they do not find oil underneath the earth. They find gas. But gas can be used for energy, too. It is a good energy source for heating and cooking.

Nuclear or atomic energy. This energy can either be controlled in nuclear power stations to create for millions of homes, or it can be used in war to destroy millions of homes.

Hydroelectric power. Water from fast-running rivers is another source of energy. By building large dams to control the water, millions of kilowatts of power can be produced.

Solar and wind energy. In the future much of our energy may come from the sun. In some countries, solar collectors on the roof can already create enough solar power to heat and provide electricity for a house in both winter and summer. One day we may also see windmills on every roof. Even a small wind can provide enough power to run lights and most electrical machines in the home.

What is the future of energy?

I. Read and translate the text in a written form.

Every day we use more and more energy. At the same time, the supply of fossil fuels is being constantly depleted. This means that the industry as well as individuals will have to gradually switch to renewable sources of energy and to significantly increase the efficiency of power generation and consumption.

We can already see some new (and not so new) technologies helping to reduce our dependency on the non-renewable energy sources. For example, wind power is being used more and more to generate electricity in the areas with large empty spaces and strong wings. Hybrid cars are using a combination of gasoline engines and electric motors to dramatically increase gas mileage without compromising drivability. The examples are many and their number will continue to increase. Finding new sustainable and environment-friendly energy sources is both a challenge and a great opportunity.

II. Write a summary of these texts.

What is electricity?

I. Read and translate the text.

Electricity is a form of energy. Electricity is a flow of electrons. All matter is made up of atoms, and an atom has a centre called a nucleus. The nucleus contains positively charged particles called protons and uncharged particles called neutrons. The nucleus of an atom is surrounded by negatively charged particles called electrons. The negative charge of an electron is equal to the positive charge of a proton, and the number of electrons in an atom is usually equal to the number of protons. When the balancing force between protons and electrons is upset by an outside force, an atom may gain or lose an electron. When electrons are lost from an atom, the free movement of these electrons constitutes an electric current.

Electricity is a basic part of nature and it is one of our most widely used forms of energy. We get electricity, which is a secondary source of energy, from the conversion of other sources of energy, like coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power and other natural sources, which are called primary sources. Many cities and towns were built alongside waterfalls (a primary source of mechanical energy) that turned water wheels to perform work. Before electricity generation began slightly over 100 years ago, houses were lit with kerosene lamps, food was cooled in iceboxes, and rooms were warmed by wood-burning or coal-burning stoves. Beginning with Benjamin Franklin’s experiment with a kite one stormy knight in Philadelphia, the principles of electricity gradually became understood. In the mid-1800s, everyone’s life changed with the invention of the circle light bulb. Prior to 1879, electricity had been used in arc lights for outdoor lighting. The light bulb’s invention used electricity to bring indoor lighting to our homes.