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Ilustración 1
 POWER SURGE
FROM OUTER SPACE
LESSON AIMS:
In this lesson you are going to read about a special source of energy. You Will practise these
things:
•Predicting the content of a reading text form ist title and pictures.
•Recognising contextual reference,i.e. words which refer to something mentioned earlier in
the text.
•Sequencing the steps within a process.

•Reviewing verb tenses and the passive voice.

•Recognising cause-effetc relatinships
You Will also learn technical and general vocabulary.
ACTIVITY ONE: Brainstorming
How many different sources of energy can you think of?
Solar energy, wind, hidraulic, tidal, biomass
Can you make two lists of sources of energy used to produce electrical power?

Renewable energy sources Non-renewable energy sources

Wood OIL
Solar energy Petroleom
Biomass Coal
Wind Natural gas
Biofuels Nuclear energy
Bio gas
Geothermal
ACTIVITY TWO
Look at title and the picture below and predict what the article is about.

a) travellers in space ? V
b) satellites for tv and telephone communication? V C)Energy from the sun
via satellite ? V
d)Cooking with amicrowave oven? F

ACTIVITY THREE: finding your way around the text Read the

text and find out which paragraph(s) are about :

a) what people are afraid of :..Dangers of microwaves

b)advatages of solar-powerd satellites:.. Almost infinite electricity production

c)the process of getthing electricity:.. They send energy to the entire planet
d)orbiting time:..90minutes
e)the scientis who proposed the SPS:..Peter galser

F)the diameter of the orbit is less now than

Fears about the dangers of microwaves were highlighted recently when a woman

announced that she planned to sue a cell phone company for personal injuries allegedly

caused by her phone. The result of this could be far-reaching and frustratingly ambitious

plans to use communication satellites to meet growing energy needs. ¹

The idea involves solar-powered satellites (SPS) with large photovoltaic cells that convert

the sun's rays into electricity as they orbit the Earth. The energy is transformed into

microwaves that are transmitted to collectors on the Earth's surface, where they are

converted back to electricity.²

The idea was proposed in 1968 by Peter Glaser, an engineer. Technology at that stage

dictated the need for huge solar panels measuring about 50 square kilometers to be

effective. Glaser also envisioned the satellites orbiting at 36,000 km. on Earth in

geosynchronous orbit, that is, they were always over the same point on Earth. ³ Due to
the immense scale of the concept, it never really got off the ground. But today's

technological advances could soon see the idea reborn. ⁴

One modern strategy uses Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. These take 90 minutes to

orbit the Earth, transmitting power to various collectors virtually anywhere on the planet,

good news for developing countries. ⁵

The closer they are to the Earth's surface, the less the microwave beams will propagate.

So, in an orbit of just 650 km, Earth collectors only need to be a few hundred meters in

diameter, instead of the 10 km as originally proposed. ⁶

energy carriers

Advances in photovoltaic technology mean that solar panels would only need to be 200

meters long and very lightweight, making them cheaper to launch into orbit. ⁷ The

advantages of SPS are innumerable. Because the atmosphere is negligible at orbital

height, there is much less absorption and scattering of solar radiation, so more electricity

is produced. Without night in space, electricity would be generated practically 24 hours a

day. ⁸

Unlike ultraviolet light or X-rays, microwaves are relatively benign at the proposed

frequencies and are hardly affected by variable atmospheric conditions. This makes them

highly efficient energy carriers. ⁹

And by piggybacking the communication transmissions to the microwave beams, SPS

would be more than economically viable—it would effectively generate two revenues. ¹⁰

But microwaves don't come without a stigma. Many people fear that microwaves are

harmful to our health, think about what happens to food in a microwave oven! However,

scientists are certain that, at the correct frequencies and with high-tech

guidance systems, people and the environment should be safe. ¹¹

ACTIVITY FOUR
Read the text again and decide whether the following statements are True (T) or False
(F)

1. People are always afraid of microwaves:.. V

2. Solar panels convert microwaves into electricity:.. V

3. This technology needs satellites orbiting the earth:.. F

4. Collectors are placed in different parts of the planet to receive energy :..V

5. The sizze of the collector Will be bigger tan originally proposed :.. V
6. Due to advances in photovoltaic technology the launching of satellites is cheaper than
Before:.. V

7. Ultravilet light, x-rays and microwaves are all harmless:.. V

8. The satellites would be 36,000Km from the earth:.. V

9. The electricicity is sent from the satellite to the earth as microwaves:.. F

ACTIVITY FIVE
Read the text again and decide whether the following statements are True (T) or False
(F)

1. announced she planned …. (1.4 ) a woman

2. That convert the sun´s rays…. (2.3 ) Satellites

3. into microwaves that are (2.6 ) Energy

4. where they are converted ( 2.8 ) microwaves

5. i.e. they were always… (3.9 ) Satellites

6. the concept, it never really (4.2 ) Idea

7. These take 90 minutes (5.3 ) Strategy

8. The closer they are (6.1) Satellites

ACTIVITY SIX
Choose a Word from the box to complete the diagram. Some words can be used more tan
once.(plant,panels,energy,metres,earth,astellites,collector,beam
electricity,microwave,sun,orbit)
a. Collector receives microwave beams.
b. Sun´s energy is captured on solar panels
c. Microwave energy is converted into electricity in reconversión plants
d. Microwaves are sent to collectors on Earth.
e. electricity is distributed and used in homes and factories
f. Sun´s energy is transformed into microwaves.
 ACTIVITY SEVEN
Chose a word from the box to complete the diagram. Some word can be used more than once Plant.
Panels. Energy. Metres. Earth. Satellites.
Collector beam
Microwaves electricity. Sum. Orbit.

ACTIVITY EIGHT: Summary

Complete this summary of the text using the passive voice form of the verb in brackets.

1. The use of solar panels in space were proposed (propose) in 1968.

2. The idea would work like this:
3. Satellites are launched (launch) in orbit 650km, above earth.
4. The sun rays are converted (convert) into electricity by solar panels on the
satellites.
5. This electricity has been sended (send) to earth as microwaves.
6. The microwave energy is received (receive) by collectors on earth, and it's
converted (convert) back in to electrical power.

ACTIVITY NINE: Language Focus I – Verb Tenses

These are verbs that appear in the text. Complete the table.
Infinitive Present Past Past Participle
1. Meet rising planned converted
2. Sue convert announced caused
3. Launch are converted transmitted
4. Use measuring dictated transformed
5. Orbit orbiting took distributed
6. Be takes beamed affected
7. Move damaging proposed proposed
8. Make makes envisaged
9. Generate making
10. Come developing

ACTIVITY TEN: Language Focus II – Cause and Effect

There are many ways of expressing cause and effect. One way is with because, because of
and so.
Examples: Because of the immense scale of the concept, it never took off. Solar energy is
cheap and clean, so it will be more used in the near future. Because fossil fuels pollute the
atmosphere, we need to find alternative energy sources.

PART A:
Match the sentences in the two columns to make complete sentences of cause and effect.
D 1.Because of improvements in a) this idea might never be used
technology,
C 2.There is no night time in space b) they are efficient for carrying energy
B 3.Because microwaves are not c) so energy is generated 24hrs a day
affected by clouds
A 4.Becaus people are afraid of d) this idea is now possible microwaves
E 5.Because the ground collectors e) they are suitable for developing
can be located anywhere countries

PART B:
Join these sentences and phrases using because, because of and so.

1 a) Solar panels are much more efficient than before because

b) Smaller solar panels can be used to produce a lot of electricity.

2 a) Microwaves are not affected by atmospheric conditions because b)

They are an efficient way to send energy to earth.

3 a) Fossil fuels are a non-renewable source of energy so b) We need to find

other sources of energy.

4 a) A power failure because of b) The lights went out in the hospital.

5 a) Energy plants can be installed everywhere on Earth so b) Energy

plants are suitable for developing countries.

6 a) The pollution caused by burning fossil fuels in our cars, factories and power
plants because

b) The earth’s temperature is rising steadily.

PART C: Complete the following sentences using your own ideas

1. Because there are so many cars in La Paz, there is too much traffic.

2. Because of the students’ strike, the class is canceled until further notice.

3. Fossil fuels will not last forever, so we’re going to need other sources of energy.
4. Because diesel fuel is much cheaper than petrol, it’s reachable for most people
to buy it.
5. Computers are becoming cheaper and easier to use, so in the future everyone
will use them.

ACTIVITY ELEVEN

The following words from the text have more than one definition according to the dictionary and to
their function in the sentence. Choose their meaning in this context.

1. scupper a) (v.) to sink deliberately

(paragraph 1) b) (v.) to cause to fail, ruin

2. microwave a) (n.) very short electromagnetic wave

(p. 1) b) (n.) type of oven that cooks food quickly using microwaves

3. beam (n.) a) (n.) a piece of gymnastic apparatus

(picture) b) (n.) a long thick bar of wood, metal or concrete
c) (n.) a line of energy, radiation or particles

4. to launch a) (v.) to send something into the air or into space (p. 7)
b) (v.) to put something into water
c) (v.) to start something
d) (v.) to make something available to the public
e) (n.) a large motorboat

5. scatter a) (v.) to throw or drop (p. 8) b) (v.) to separate

suddenly
c) (v.) to spread over an area

6. plant a) (n.) a living thing that grows in the earth

(picture) b) (n.) a factory or a place where power is generated
c) (n.) a large piece of machinery used for industrial processes
d) (v.) to put something firmly in a place
e) (v.) to send a person to do something secretly

7. panel a) (n.) a group of people chosen to judge something or make a

(p. 3) decision
b) (n.) a flat rectangular piece of wood or other material that
formspart of another object
c) (n.) a board or surface which contains switches and controls
to operate a machine

8. tap a) (n.) a device that controls the flow of a liquid or gas

(subheading) b) (v.) to hit with a quick light blow
c) (v.) to make use of a resource or situation
d) (v.) to attach a secret listening device to a phone line

9. harness a) (n.) to bring something under control and use it

(picture) b) (n.) a set of straps that fit under a person's arms and fasten
round the body
c) (v.) to work together or co-operate to achieve an aim

10. stigma a) (n.) part of a flower which takes in pollen

(p. 10) b) (n.) something considered to be unacceptable or a
disgrace

ACTIVITY TWELVE

Working in groups discuss the following questions and compare your answers.

• Do you think this idea will ever become a reality? Why / Why not?
R.- I think so, because the way they are going to work is very efficient and would help us in the issue of
electicity.

• Would Bolivia be a good place for microwave collection?

R.- Not because Bolivia doesn't have the important resources

• Do you think this is a good way to produce electricity? Why / Why not?
R.- If because with that way of generating energy, we avoid polluting the environment
 LANGUAGE SUMMARY
Cause and Effect
• Because they are not affected by atmospheric conditions, microwaves are an efficient way to send
energy to Earth
• Microwaves are an efficient way to send energy to Earth because they are not affected by
atmospheric conditions.
• Because of the students' strike, there will be no class tomorrow.
• There will be no class tomorrow because of the students' strike.
• He woke up late, so he was late for class.

SELF EVALUATION
What did you learnin this lesson? Look back at the LESSON AIMS at the beginning of lesson. Can you do
all these things well? Were the activities useful to help you to practise these skills? What things do you
need to practise some more? What have you tried already to improve your english and your reading
strategies? Shere your with the class

VOCABULARY REVIEW FROM LESSON NINE

Use your dictionary to look up these words, the check how theyare use in this text. Write a definition,
translation or example for the new words in the spaces provided. Add your own words to this list New
word or expression
A panel = Un panel = Yesterday I found a solar panel in my house.
A ray = Un rayo = I went to the doctor and they took an x ray.
To orbit = Orbitar = The orbit of planet earth is very important.
To receive = Para recibir = I went to my mother house to receive a big hug from her.
Efficient = Efeciente = Celery is and efficient neutralizer of hypertension and a notable direct.
Afraid of = Miedo de = My brother is afraid of drowning when swimming.
A source (of energy) = Una fuente = A source of energy is very important for city.
A microwave = Un microondas = My grandmother has a microwave to heat up her dinner.
A scale = Una escala = A scale of my life is complicated and our goal is to achieve it.
New word or expression Explanation (translation, definition,
example sentence)
1:.. Energ energia: The ability of matter to produce work in the
form of movement, light, heat, etc.
2:..Technology tecnología: Set of knowledge of a technique.
3:..Orbiting orbital: Of or relating to orbit.
4:.. Electricista electricidad: Form of energy that produces luminous, mechanical,
calorific, chemical effects, etc.
5:..Sclale escala: Series of elements of the same species, gradually
ordered according to some of their characteristics or qualities.
6:.. Systems sistemas: Set of rules, principles or measures that are
related to each other
7:.. Orbitingorbital: Of or relating to
orbit.Mygrandmotherhasamicrowavetoheatup herdinner.

LESSON AIMS
In this lesson you are going to read a technical article about the development of the electric
car, its characteristics, and its future prospects.

- You will practise these things:

• Scanning through a text to find some detailed information.

• Understanding contextual reference.

•Reviewing the use of connectors for contrast, time sequence, cause-effect relationships,
giving examples and adding information.
•Choosing the right words to fill in the gaps.

You will also learn a lot of useful technical and general words.

ACTIVITY ONE: How much do you know?

PART A: How much do you know about the history of cars? Answer the quiz below, and
Compare your answers with a partner’s.

1. Who invented the first car?

a) Henry Ford

b) Nicholas J. Cugnot
c) John Dunlop

1. What kind of energy did the first car run on?

a) petrol

b) electricity steam
C) steam
2. Who was the inventor of the electric battery?

a) Alessandro Volta

b) Leonardo da Vinci

c) Albert Einstein

3. When and where was the first electrically-powered vehicle introduced?

a) 1968 – the USA

b) 1952-France

c) 1879-Germany

5. What speed could the first electric cars go?

a) 6 miles an hour

b) 12 miles an hour

c) 20 miles an hour
Curiously, the first automobile was powered by steam and was invented by the Frenchman
Nicholas Joseph Cugnot, who introduced it to Paris in 1770. Twenty- six years later in 1796, an
Italian scientist called Alessandro Volta invented the first source of continuous electric energy
(the voltaic battery). However, batteries at that time were extremely heavy.

In 1879, E.W Siemens unveiled the first battery- electric locomotive in Berlin. In 1889 Camille
Jenatz introduced his version of the electric vehicle, a car that could go six miles per hour.
However, due to the enormous weight of the batteries and the fact that they needed to be
recharged so frequently, electric cars soon began to lose their appeal. At the end of the 19th
century, these cars faced competition from steam powered cars and cars with internal
combustion engines.

As we now know, it was the internal combustion engine that won out in the end. However, the
idea of electric cars was never totally abandoned. At the beginning of the 20th century, 38% of
North American cars were electric. In 1905, H. Piper introduced the hybrid car-a combination of
electric and combustion motors. But it is only un the decades, due to the petroleum crisis of the
1970s and to an increased awareness of environmental issues, that the development of electric
cars has taken a new turn.

Answer the following questions in the text about the

Development of the automobile.
1. What name was given to the first source of 'continuous electrical power'? Because it
wasis it called that?
R._The voltaic battery was named after the Italian scientist named Alessandro Volta.

2. What were two reasons that kept electric cars from becoming more popular in the
19thcentury?
R _due to the enormous weight of the batteries and the fact that they needed to be recharged
so frequently

3. What other types of cars competed for public acceptance? which one won?

R._steam cars and cars with internal combustion engines. The one who won was the
combustion engine

4What is a hybrid car? Who invented the first?

R._It is a combination of electric and combustion motors and it was invented by H. Piper

5 What are the two factors that have made people interested in electric cars again?

R._awareness about environmental problems

ACTIVITY THREE Scan the text below to find this information:

1.Two benefits of substituting fossil fuels in the automotive industry

R.will eliminate pollution and noise

2. The type of battery that can last 300+ miles.

R._Ovonic NIMH, which can last up to 375 miles.
3. A possible substitute for the chemical battery.
R._ flywheel systems to store energy

4. Four companies whit are promoting the use of electrically-powered cars

5. R._Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota The man who first 'mass- produced' cars
R._. Henry Ford began mass- producing his internal combustion cars

HOW WILL PEOPLE travel on the 21st century? It is believed that changes un car design un
search of added security, comfort Andy beauty Will occur; that the speed of Cars Will increase
and their cost Will go down. Also, it is expexted that due to a combination of scientific,
technological and social factors, the sources of fuel for Cars Will be the subject of Major
transformation. It is likely that the consumption of fossil duela Will reduce drastically, to be
replaced by other sources of energy. It also seems likely that the futuro of many vehicles Will
involve advanced electric baterry technology. The benefits of electric Cars are obvious:
pollution and Moise Will be eliminated,and countries Will be leds dependet on internal and
external sources of petroleum.

However, the critics of electric cars point out that there are a number of drawbacks. These are
that their range is still short; the cost too high; the time to recharge the batteries too long;
and the infrastructure for recharging operations is at present non-existent. They also argue
that electric vehicles do not save energy, but simply move it. All this may be true now, but as
fossil fuels run out, these arguments will lose their validity.

Moreover, several companies are developing solutions to these problems. Energy Conversion
Devices claims to have successfully tested a battery - Ovonic NiMH - that can last up to 375
miles. The problem of the amount of time required to recharge is also being tackled.In 1994,
this operation took six hours, but with advanced technology, nowadays it is possible to
recharge an electric car in only 15 minutes to 60% of its capacity and an hour for the full 100%.
As for the infrastructure for recharging. when Henry Ford began to mass-produce his internal
combustion cars, there were no gas stations and the means to transport fuel was not yet
developed. Today electricity is available everywhere. Hence drivers could recharge in their own
homes or at designated stations.

Meanwhile, to gain the recognition it deserves, the electric car has to overcome a 25 number of
obstacles including a lack of understanding. There is, however a stepping stone.. which may
appeal to the critics: hybrid cars, which allow for an electrically-powered engine to be backed
up by another source, thus solving the problem of distance. Several manufacturers are working
on hybrids, including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Nissan and
Toyota, as well as Land Rover, which is developing an electric/petrol hybrid version of its
Discovery model. There have also been advances in flywheel systems for storing energy to
replace chemical batteries which are harmful to the environment. Flywheels store power
mechanically in the form of kinetic energy. They take an electrical input to accelerate a heavy
rotating flywheel up to a high rotational speed using built-in motors, and return the electrical
energy by using this same motor as a generator. The US government has invested close to $750
million since 1994 in the development of hybrid electric cars. Other countries such as France,
Britain and Japan are also contributing to research in this field. Hundreds of engineers around
the world are working on perfecting this type of car, whose main advantage is that you never
run the risk of running out of fuel. Furthermore, the environmental benefits give electric
vehicles a huge advantage over the traditional car.
 ACTIVITY FOUR: Vocabulary
In pairs, match the terms in italics in column A with their closest Spanish
meaning in column B
1. In search of added security a. agotarse
2. The sources of fuel b. Piedra de toque
3. The range is still short c. respaldado,
4. But as fossil fuels run out d. fuentes
5. The electric car has to overcome e. incorporado
6. Including a lack of understanding f. búsqueda
7. Here is, however, a stepping stone g. alcance, extensión
8. To be backed up by another source h. investigación
9. Using built-in motors… i. falta
10. …are contributing to research in this field. J. vencer, sobrepasar
ACTIVITY FIVE
Are these statements true (T) or false (F)? Read both texts to check your results,
then indicate the line of reference or the sentence in which the information
appears to support your answers.
1 The short distance electric cars can t
ravel before they need recharging is
a problem, A) But electricity can be found in any place: users can
even recharge their cars in their homes.
2 Chemical batteries are not B) However, with advanced technology, it is now
convenient because they damage the possible to do it in less than an hour.
environment, C) But recently tested batteries can provide a range of
more than 350 miles.
3 There is no infrastructure yet for
recharging operations, D) So flywheels may provide a good substitute for
them in the future.
4 It used to take a long time to
recharge a car battery;
1. People do not understand the advantages of electric cars yet. T
2. Because of problems of battery recharging, the concept of
electricallypowered cars had to be abandoned. F
3. Steam cars won the competition between steam, internal combustion and
electric cars. F
4. During the early years of this century, more than a third of the cars used in
North America were electrically-powered. T
5. Today’s hybrid cars use a combination of steam and electric motors. F
6. Special recharging stations where electric cars can recharge their
batteries have not yet been built. T
7. The flywheel is a new system of recharging which may replace the
chemical battery. T
8. Researchers in several countries are studying the problems related to
hybrid cars. T
ACTIVITY SIX: Comprehension and Matching
Here are some problems presented by the use of future cars – and their possible
solutions, but they are not in correct order.

ACTIVITY SEVEN: Reading and thinking

Answer these questions according to the information presented in the main
reading text.
1. Why will the arguments against electric cars lose their validity? Because
fossil fuels are running out
2. What problems can hybrid cars solve? Never running out of fuel
3. What is a Discovery? A hybrid car model
4. What is the principle on which a flywheel operates?
Replace the chemical batteries which are harmful to the environment.
5. How much time is needed to recharge a battery for an electric car? It takes
less than an hour

ACTIVITY EIGHT:language Focus-sentence contenectors parta: read the following

ingiformation about sentence conectores.
Ask your theacher if there si anything You don't understand.
Sentence concetors, also termed linking words, connecctives or discourse markers, are a group of
importante expressions used to show the relationship between ONE idea and another within a
sentence or between two sentences. Connectors may have different fuctions: giving examples, and
so on.
ACTIVITY NINE
The text below describes how people will probable travel in the near future, but it is not
complete. Fill in the capa with the words from the box. Them compare your resulta with your
partner’s.

• LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Sentence conectors

• Additional informativo or ideas
• Moreover several companies are developing solutions to these problema.
• There have also been advances in flywheel systems.
• Giving examples
• The electric car has to overcome a number of obstacles, including a lack of
understanding.
• Electric cara have a number of drawbackssuch as the high cost, the short range and
the long recharging times.

• Time sequence
• Meanwhile, researchers are looking for a una to derived from electric cars. •
Cause – effect
• Due to the petroleum crisis in the 1970 the production of electric cars increased a lot.

An electric car is a car equipped with one or more electric motors, giving it fast and continuous
acceleration from a standstill. As of December 2019, 7.2 million electric vehicles were circulating
in the world, counting pure electric and plug-in hybrids.