http://www.motherearthnews.

com/green-transportation/fuel-
efficiency/biofuels-zkcz12zsch

Petroleum has been the fuel of choice for more than a century now,
but it’s not the only fuel that can run our cars and trucks. Some of the
most promising replacements for oil come from organic biomass, including
crops such as corn and soybeans. Those are the main sources for the most
common types of biofuels in use today, ethanol and biodiesel fuel.

Biofuels are attractive because they can be used in gasoline and

diesel engines, but unlike oil, they’re renewable. Biofuels also help lower
emissions because they burn cleaner than petroleum fuels, with lower
greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, biofuels are generally grown and
produced domestically rather than shipped from around the world.
Within the limits of current technology, biofuels can be costly and
energy-intensive to produce. Another major knock against biofuels is that
using potential food crops for fuel can reduce availability and raise prices
of those crops. How successful biofuels will be in the future will depend on
how well researchers are able to overcome these obstacles, and how wise
we are in choosing government policies that give us the best result.
Though biofuels can be used in their pure form, they are generally
used as a blend to stretch other fuels. Ethanol is blended with gasoline,
and biodiesel is blended with petroleum diesel. Whether you’re aware of
it or not, you probably have some biofuel in your gas tank right now. Most
gasoline we pump today is E10 — 10 percent ethanol.

What Is Ethanol Fuel?

Ethanol is simply alcohol fermented and distilled from the sugars in

plants. Most ethanol comes from a few crops, including corn and sugar
cane, but there are other promising sources that aren’t food crops.
Cellulosic ethanol production uses the non-edible parts of plants. The
cellulosic ethanol industry is struggling to get off the ground, but it could
be more competitive in the future with new technical breakthroughs and
if gasoline prices keep rising. Ethanol has less energy density than
gasoline. You won’t notice much difference in performance with the
common E10 blend, but you will with higher blends such as E85.
Blend : mezclar.
Breakthrough: avance

Get off the ground: cuajar, resultar factible

The future of biofuels

http://blogs.wsj.com/experts/2015/07/14/how-the-future-of-biofuels-is-
taking-shape/.

Global production of biofuels has surged over the past decade or so.
Much of this growth is being driven by governments’ increasing focus on
alternate fuel sources in an effort to reduce the countries’ reliance on
foreign oil. Demand for biofuels has been particularly strong in the U.S.,
the European Union and Latin America, and has increased recently in
China and India.

Although first-generation biofuels have been considered as a viable

alternative fuel source, their production has met some controversy,
particularly regarding the effects on the food and feed markets.

In response to this concern, governments and companies have

begun to push the development of second- and third-generation biofuels,
which are derived from resources (including waste biomass, certain
vegetable oils, animal fats, and algae) that cannot be used alternatively as
food. Second- and third-generation biofuels are not fully price competitive
with first-generation biofuels today, although some are expected to
become competitive within the 2020 to 2030 span.

China and India could play increasingly important roles in the

development of the biofuels market going forward, with potentially
significant implications for the food market.

1- Complete with the correct form of ther verb.

1- Petroleum has been (be) the transportation fuel of choice for

more than a century now.
 2- Biofuels are attractive because they can be used (use) in gasoline
and diesel engines.
3- Biofuels grown (grow) domestically.
4- It will depend on how wise we are in choosing (choose)
government policies that give us the best results.
5- Global production of biofuels has surged (surge) over the past
decade or so.
6- The cellulosic ethanol industry struggling (struggle) to get off the
ground.
7- Much of this growth driven (drive) by governments’ increasing
focus on alternate fuel sources.
8- Although first-generation biofuels considered (consider) as a
viable alternative fuel source.
9- Some biofuels expected (expect) to become competitive within
the 2020 to 2030 span.
10- Demand for biofuels increased (increase) recently in China
and India.

2- Match the words with similar meaning.

Present improvement essential smart progress worry

handicap preference dependence important lorry

Choice (preference)

Concern (worry) Truck (lorry)

Breakthrough (progress) Main (essential)

Grow (improvement) Obstacle (handicap)

Current (present) Wise (smart)

Major (important) Reliance (dependence)

3- Complete with a word from the box.

in addition within because how also another unlike

Biofuels are attractive because they can be used in gasoline and diesel
engines, but unlike oil, they’re renewable. Biofuels also help lower
emissions because they burn cleaner than petroleum fuels, with lower
greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, biofuels are generally grown and
produced domestically rather than shipped from halfway around the
world. Within the limits of current technology, biofuels can be costly and
energy-intensive to produce. Another major knock against biofuels is that
using potential food crops for fuel can reduce availability and raise prices
of those crops. How successful biofuels will be in the future will depend on
how well researchers are able to overcome these obstacles, and how wise
we are in choosing government policies that give us the best results.

4- Complete the text.

Petroleum has been the transportation fuel of choice for more than
a century now, but it’s not the only fuel that can run our cars and trucks.
Some of the most promising replacements for oil come from organic
biomass, including crops such as corn and soybeans. Those are the main
sources for the most common types of biofuels in use today, ethanol and
biodiesel fuel.

5- Answer the questions.

1- What are the most common types of biofuels in use today?

The most common types of biofuels in use today are ethanol and
biodiesel fuel.

2- Why are biofuels so attractive?

Biofuels are attractive because they can be used in gasoline and

diesel engines.
3- How successful biofuels will be in the future will depend on how
well researchers are able to overcome these obstacles.

Which obstacles does the writer refer to?

To the limits of current technology, biofuels can be costly and

energy-intensive to produce. Another major knock against biofuels is
that using potential food crops for fuel can reduce availability and
raise prices of those crops.

4- What are the differences between first generation biofuels and

second- and third-generation biofuels ?

Second- and third-generation biofuels are not fully price

competitive with first-generation biofuels today.