LEVEL II UNIT 2

TECHNOLOGY AND THE

ENVIRONMENT
READING 2

BIO BUS

SKILLS:
Unlike an ordinary bus, the Bio-Bus has an unusual power supply: human
poo. Human waste from sewers can be collected and turned into - Details
biomethane, a highly flammable fuel. Because the ingredients of - Understand
biomethane are both abundant and completely renewable, the Bio-Bus vocabulary
shows us that clean fuels could one day be used to power our cars, heat our
- Look for synonyms
homes, and generate electricity.

Biomethane is made by heating waste inside tanks where the air is removed.
Inside, bacteria turn the poo into biogas, which is 60% methane. Dust, bugs, GETTING

and bad smells are filtered, and the biogas is then refined, so it is 98% STARTED:
methane, which can be used as fuel for vehicles.
Do you think human

excrement can be

On the bus, the fuel is stored in a tank on the roof, compressed to 200 times
useful to create

the air pressure in the atmosphere. The exhaust emissions contain 97% less
energy?
smoke and 90% less nitrogen oxide than diesel-powered buses.
 LEVEL II UNIT 2

To protect the The 40-seater bus can travel 300 km on a full tank of biogas. Actually, the Bio-Bus runs a regular
public transportation service through Bristol, UK, powered by human sewage and food waste. After being
processed at a biogas plant, these rotting materials become a super-clean, odor-free, and low-carbon fuel.

Other Alternative Energy Sources

Another source of oil fuel can be made with light. Tiny algae use a source of bright light to grow inside an algal
bioreactor, where they are kept free of impurities. The oils stored in the algae’s cells are then refined into a
fuel. Likewise, the trash cans of Copenhagen, Denmark, have become a source of power since the Amager
Resource Center (ARC), an energy plant and sports facility, opened. This giant incinerator makes electricity
from the heat of burning garbage.

*Adapted from How Super Cool Tech Works. DK Publishing.

Note:

- Alga (singular) is pronounced /ˈælɡə/

- Algae (plural) is pronounced /ˈældʒiː/

Read the following words and identify their synonyms in each paragraph:

- Paragraph 1: different, changed, abnormal, create, gathered

- Paragraph 2: odors, in, automobiles
- Paragraph 3: kept
- Paragraph 4: in fact, daily
- Paragraph 5: in the same way, trash, small, tins, huge
LEVEL II UNIT 2

Match the concepts with the descriptions on the right.

1. Bio-Bus a. Place where energy is generated and people can exercise.

2. Biomethane b. Material no longer needed
3. Waste c. Plants, like seaweed, that grow in or near the water.
4. Exhaust d. System through which gases come out.
5. Algae e. A type of fuel
6. ARC f. Vehicle that runs on alternative fuel.

Language Note – Passive Voice

- Human waste from sewers can be turned into biomethane.
- Biomethane is made by heating waste inside tanks where the air is removed.

We use the passive voice when we want to focus on the action (not the doer of the action), or
because the doer is unknown.
- The bank was robbed last night.

We form the passive voice by using be (in any tense) + a past participle form.
- Jessica Chastain was given the Oscar for best actress in 2022.
- The materials are processed at a biogas plant.

If we want to mention the doer of the action, we use by + the person (or thing, place, etc.).
- Romeo and Juliet was written by Shakespeare.

WHAT DO YOU

THINK?

Do you know of other

projects/technology

that involve using

alternative fuels?

LEVEL II UNIT 2

TECHNOLOGY AND THE

ENVIRONMENT
READING 3

SKILLS:
OCTOPUS ENERGY TO CREATE 1,000 NEW UK

JOBS - Details

- Vocabulary in context
Octopus Energy, a British supplier specializing in sustainable energy, plans - Make inferences
- Understand points of
to create 1,000 new jobs in London, Brighton, Warwick and Leicester, and a
view
new tech center in Manchester. This is part of its vision to make the UK the
“Silicon Valley of energy”. The supplier will employ graduates at the new
sites to help develop a green energy technology platform.
GETTING

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, said the new jobs will “provide exciting STARTED:
opportunities across the country for those who want to be at the cutting
What kind of

edge of the global green revolution”. “It’s UK tech companies like Octopus
alternative energy

that will ensure we continue to build greener alternatives and remain a

sources do you know?
world leader in pioneering renewable energy, leading the path to net zero

while creating thousands of jobs,” Johnson said.

LEVEL II UNIT 2

Octopus became the UK’s latest “tech unicorn” after the

Australian energy company Origin paid £300m for a 20%
stake. It has since announced a £100m push into the US
market, as part of its goal to reach 100 million energy
customers around the world by 2027. The company’s
newest recruits will aim to develop smart technologies
that can help Britain’s transport and heating systems
harness cheap renewable energy, helping them to reduce
their emissions in line with the UK’s pledge to be carbon
neutral by 2050.

The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, said the growth of green jobs

was not only good news for British jobseekers, but also a
vote of confidence in the UK economy as it recovers. It’s
also a crucial part of collective efforts to build a greener,
cleaner planet.
LEVEL II UNIT 2

Octopus has already used its cutting-edge energy technology platform, known as Kraken, to help its customers
earn money by using more electricity when renewable energy generation is high, and avoid paying higher costs
when renewable energy is low. It has also widened its reach to other UK energy companies including E.On UK,
Good Energy, and Co-Op Energy, which also use the Kraken platform under technology license deals.

Greg Jackson, the chief executive of Octopus, said the technology could help make Britain the best place to
invest in creating new clean electricity generation. “When Apple created the App Store, nobody knew that it
would change the way we live. We’re revolutionizing the energy industry in the same way, creating jobs and
facilitating the development of new and emerging industries like electric vehicles, electric heating, and vertical
farming.”

*Adapted from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/oct/05/tech-unicorn-octopus-energy-to-create-1000-new-uk-jobs

Glossary:

- Net zero: It refers to achieving an overall

balance between emissions produced and
emissions taken out of the atmosphere.

- Unicorn: It is the term used in the capital

industry to describe a startup company with a
value of over $1 billion.

Answer the following questions:

1. What kind of people are going to be hired

by Octopus Energy?

a. People with more than 10 years of

experience.
b. People who have a university degree.
c. Individuals who live in Manchester.
d. College students
LEVEL II UNIT 2

2. According to paragraph 2, what is Boris 5. What is stated about Kraken in paragraph

Johnson’s attitude towards the news? 5?

a. He thinks Octopus could be greener as what a. All British companies use Kraken.
they’re doing is not enough. b. People may save money by using it.
b. He believes this is going to bring great c. Kraken has a high number of customers.
chances for many people in the UK. d. It is related to an old type of technology.
c. He hardly believes companies like Octopus
can create a green revolution. 6. Greg Jackson is very optimistic about his
d. He assumes Octopus is one of the world company and the UK. Which predictions
leaders in renewable energy. represent that feeling? (Choose two
answers)
3. The word harness in paragraph 3 is closest
in meaning to a. Green industries can decrease
unemployment rates.
a. deteriorate b. Octopus may buy Apple Inc.
b. harm c. New food platforms will emerge in the near
c. use future.
d. buy d. The number of electric cars could be higher
in a couple of years.
4. Based on the text, what is likely to happen
by 2050?

a. Boris Johnson will continue being the Prime

Minister.
b. Octopus will have gotten 100 customers in
the UK.
c. Octopus will be the most important
company in Silicon Valley.
d. The UK will have found a balance between
carbon absorption and emissions.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Do you think technology

can help the

environment?

LEVEL 2 UNIT 3

TECHNOLOGICAL

DEVICES
Reading 1

RFID TAGS
Have you seen how during sports broadcasts people can see accurate Skills:
live statistics on players’ performance? This is possible thanks to RFID
tags. RFID tags are a type of tracking system that uses smart - Details
barcodes to identify items. _____(1) and as such, RFID tags use radio - Cohesion and

frequency technology. These radio waves transmit data from the tag coherence
to a reader, which then transmits the information to an RFID
computer program. RFID tags are frequently used for merchandise,
but they’re also used to keep track of athletes’ statistics, vehicles,
pets, and even patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Getting

An RFID tag works by transmitting and receiving information via an

started
antenna and a microchip. The microchip on an RFID reader is written Do you know how

with whatever information the user wants. precise live

statistics are

There are two main types of tags: battery-operated (active) and established in

passive. Battery-operated RFID tags contain a battery as a power sports nowadays?

supply, _____(2), instead working with electromagnetic energy
transmitted from an RFID reader. Active tags contain three main
parts: _____(3). The battery should supply enough power to last for 3-
5 years. When it dies, the unit must be replaced, as the batteries
aren’t replaceable.
There are two main kinds of active RFID tags: beacons and transponders. Beacons send a ping every
few seconds, and their signal is readable from hundreds of feet away. As they’re sending out data so
frequently, their battery usually depletes quicker. Like passive RFID tags, transponders require a reader
to transmit information. When within range of one another, a reader first sends a signal to the
transponder, which then returns with the relevant information. As they only activate when they are
near a reader, transponders are much more battery-efficient than beacons.

When a passive tag is scanned, the reader transmits energy to the tag, which powers it enough for the
chip and antenna to transmit information back to the reader. The reader then sends this information
back to an RFID computer program for interpretation.

_____(4): inlays and hard tags. Inlays are typically thin and can be stuck on various materials while
hard tags are made of a durable material such as plastic or metal.

_____(5), it makes an excellent choice for those looking for up-to-the-minute live tracking, such as in
sports or real-time vehicle tracking applications. They’re an expensive product, but they offer a long-
read range, which may be preferred depending on their use.

Passive RFID tags are a much more economical choice than active ones _____(6). This makes them a
popular choice for supply chain management, race tracking, file management, and access control
applications. While a passive tag doesn’t require a direct line to the RFID reader, it has a much shorter
read range than an active RFID tag. However, they’re small, lightweight, and can last a lifetime.

Since active RFID tags feature a larger, stronger design than passive tags, they are better suited for
applications where durability is required. _____(7), cargo tracking applications, and even in devices
used to track people.
*Adapted from https://www.camcode.com/asset-tags/what-are-rfid-tags/
 Glossary:

- Tag: An electronic device that can be

attached to a person, animal, or object
so that police, researchers, etc. know
where the person, animal, etc. is.

-Radio waves: Low-energy

electromagnetic waves, especially when
used for long-distance communication.

- Ping: a message, especially one

providing information, that is sent to an
electronic device.

Look at gaps (___) in the text. Complete the gaps with phrases A-G below. Notice that

some of these phrases start with capital letters.

A. a tag, an antenna, and an interrogator

B. They are frequently used in toll payment systems
C. while a passive RFID tag does not
D. and cost around 20 cents each
E. Since an active RFID is constantly sending out a
signal
F. RFID is short for “radio frequency identification,”
G. There are two main types of passive RFID tags

What do you think?

How else can such tags be used in this

current world? Think of some possible

uses.
LEVEL 2 UNIT 3

TECHNOLOGICAL

DEVICES
Reading 2

3D PRINTER Skills:
Traditionally, the process of making physical products was a tough - Details
one. It was often hard for designers and manufacturers to build and - Make inferences
test their ideas. By the time a good product was in the market, tons of - Vocabulary in

hard moments had taken place. However, in the 1980s, an idea called context
rapid prototyping (RP) emerged as a solution. This means developing
models through automated methods in hours or days rather than
weeks. 3D printing is an extension of this idea as designers make their
own prototypes in hours, using sophisticated machines similar to Getting

inkjet printers.
started
This machine works like regular printers. Instructions are sent to the What kind of

printer from a computer, and it turns these into physical objects. processes have

Thus, 3D printers can build complex shapes and even objects with been benefited by

moving parts. new technological

advances?
How the printer works isn’t a mystery. The printer melts a continuous filament of solid material and
squeezes the liquid out of the print head through a fine nozzle onto a baseplate. The baseplate or the
nozzle move according to the instructions to control where the liquid goes. When the first layer has
been laid down, another layer is squeezed out on top of it. Then, more layers are laid down gradually
building up the shape of a 3D object.

3D printing in space
The days when astronauts had to wait ages for a tool or a replacement part to be sent up from Earth
may be over. in November 2014, the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) was able to make a
wrench there in space. They had received a 3D printer some weeks before, which enabled the
astronauts to make objects they needed.

*Adapted from How Super Cool Tech Works. DK Publishing.

Read the following definitions and match them with words from the text.

1. Having or causing problems or difficulties: _____________

2. Instead of somebody or something: _____________
3. To become or make something become liquid as a result of heating:
_____________
4. A quantity or sheet of something that lies over a surface or between surfaces:
_____________
5. To get liquid out of something by pressing or twisting it hard: _____________
6. All the people working on a ship, plane, etc.: _____________
7. A metal tool with an end with a special shape for holding and turning nuts and
bolts (= small metal rings and pins that hold things together): _____________
 Language Note – Past Perfect

- By the time a good product was in the market, tons of hard moments had taken

place.
- They had received a 3D printer some weeks before.

We use the past perfect to express events that happened before other past actions.
- When I arrived at the airport, I realized I had forgotten my passport.
- As I tried to open the door, I realized someone had broken in our office the previous

night.

Structure: had + past participle

- By the time she won her first Oscar, she had already made 32 movies.

The past perfect continuous (had + been + verb -ing) is used to emphasize the

duration of an action.
- They had been walking for three hours before they realized they were lost.

What do you think?

If you could use a 3D

printer right now, what

object would you make?