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Google investing $1billion in renewable energy (20th February, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Tech giant Google is investing $1billion in renewable energies to make its operations totally green. The company hopes to exploit solar energy, wind farms and other forms of alternative energy to power its data centres around the world. Rick Needham, Google's Director of Energy and Sustainability, told reporters: "We've invested over a billion dollars in 15 projects that have the capacity to produce two giga-watts of power around the world." Mr Needham added it was an economic necessity for Google to invest in energy. He said: "Procuring power for ourselves and investing in…renewable power plants…all make business sense. They make sense for us as a company to do. We rely on power for our business."

Mr Needham said Google still has a long way to go before all of its operations are fuelled by renewable energy. He said about 34 per cent of Google's power requirements are sourced from renewables. Needham told reporters it wasn't always easy to meet this target in some parts of the world, saying: "Our goal is to be 100 per cent renewable powered. There are lots of challenges in getting there, not the least of which is operating in many jurisdictions that are in different parts of the world." He added: "At Google we invest in innovative renewable energy projects that have the potential to transform the energy landscape and help provide more clean power to businesses and homes around the world."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101417698
http://rt.com/usa/google-billion-solar-power-457/
http://guardianlv.com/2014/02/google-attempts-to-power-all-its-operations-with-renewable-energy/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. RENEWABLE ENERGY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about renewable energy. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

tech / giant / renewable energy / sustainability / power / necessity / business sense / operations / meet a target / challenges / innovative / projects / transform / landscape

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES: Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

	What I know about them	Their potential in my country
Wind power
Hydropower
Solar energy
Biomass
Biofuels
Geothermal energy

4. NO FOSSIL FUELS: Students A strongly believe we won't be using fossil fuels by the end of the century; Students B strongly believe we will always use fossil fuels. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. GOING GREEN: Rank these ways to go green with your partner. Put the easiest for you to do at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• use heating/air-con less

• borrow instead of buying

• walk/bike to work/school

• skip bottled water

• take shorter showers

• eat less meat

• buy in bulk

• wash clothes in cold water

6. ENERGY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "energy". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	Google says it is planning to compete with the big oil companies.	T / F
b.	Google wants to power all of its operations using renewable energy.	T / F
c.	A Google spokesman said it economically unnecessary to go green.	T / F
d.	The spokesman said it made business sense to invest in renewables.	T / F
e.	Over a third of Google's operations are fuelled by renewables.	T / F
f.	Some countries make it difficult for Google to be 100% green.	T / F
g.	Google said it isn't interested in changing the energy industry.	T / F
h.	Google isn't interested in providing power to homes and businesses.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	operations	a.	depend
2.	exploit	b.	cutting edge
3.	capacity	c.	wisdom
4.	sense	d.	use to good advantage
5.	rely	e.	authorities
6.	fuelled	f.	businesses
7.	requirements	g.	change
8.	jurisdictions	h.	power
9.	innovative	i.	needs
10.	transform	j.	powered

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	make its operations totally	a.	energy projects
2.	other forms of	b.	sense
3.	it was an economic	c.	clean power
4.	make business	d.	by renewable energy
5.	We rely	e.	green
6.	fuelled	f.	necessity
7.	it wasn't always easy to meet	g.	the energy landscape
8.	invest in innovative renewable	h.	on power
9.	the potential to transform	i.	this target
10.	provide more	j.	alternative energy

GAP FILL

Tech giant Google is investing $1billion in renewable energies to make its operations totally (1) ____________. The company hopes to exploit solar energy, wind farms and other (2) ____________ of alternative energy to power its (3) ____________ centres around the world. Rick Needham, Google's Director of Energy and Sustainability, told reporters: "We've invested over a billion dollars in 15 (4) ____________ that have the (5) ____________ to produce two giga-watts of power around the world." Mr Needham added it was an economic (6) ____________ for Google to invest in energy. He said: "Procuring power for ourselves and investing in…renewable power (7) ____________ …all make business sense. They make sense for us as a company to do. We (8) ____________ on power for our business."

necessity
data
plants
green
projects
rely
forms
capacity

Mr Needham said Google still has a long way to go before all of its operations are (9) ____________ by renewable energy. He said about 34 per cent of Google's power requirements are (10) ____________ from renewables. Needham told reporters it wasn't always easy to (11) ____________ this target in some parts of the world, saying: "Our goal is to be 100 per cent renewable (12) ____________. There are lots of (13) ____________ in getting there, not the least of which is operating in many jurisdictions that are in different parts of the world." He added: "At Google we invest in (14) ____________ renewable energy projects that have the potential to (15) ____________ the energy (16) ____________ and help provide more clean power to businesses and homes around the world."

challenges
meet
landscape
powered
fuelled
innovative
sourced
transform

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	renewable energies to make its ______
	a. operation totally green b. operations total green c. operations totally green d. operation total green
2)	The company hopes to ______
	a. exploits solar energy b. exploit solar energies c. exploits solar energies d. exploit solar energy
3)	Google's Director of Energy ______
	a. and Sustainability b. and Sustain Ability c. and Sustain A Bill And Tea d. and Sustains Ability
4)	invested over a billion dollars in 15 projects that ______
	a. have the minacity b. have the rapacity c. have the audacity d. have the capacity
5)	investing in…renewable power plants…all ______
	a. makes business senses b. make business sense c. makes business sense d. make business senses
6)	Google still has a long way to go before all of its ______
	a. operations are fuels b. operations are fuelled c. operations are fuelling d. operations are fuel
7)	Google's power requirements are ______
	a. sourced from renewables b. sauced from renewables c. source from renewables d. sources from renewables
8)	not the least of which is operating ______
	a. in many juries dictions b. in many juries diction c. in many jurisdictions d. in many jurisdiction
9)	At Google we invest ______ energy projects
	a. in an innovative renewable b. in innovative renewable c. in innovative renewables d. in innovatively renewable
10)	the potential to transform the ______
	a. energy landscapes b. energy land scrape c. energy land scope d. energy landscape

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Tech giant Google is investing $1billion in renewable energies to make its (1) ___________________. The company hopes to exploit solar energy, wind farms and other forms of alternative energy (2) ___________________ centres around the world. Rick Needham, Google's Director of Energy and Sustainability, told reporters: "(3) ___________________ billion dollars in 15 projects that have the capacity to produce two giga-watts of power around the world." Mr Needham added it was (4) ___________________ for Google to invest in energy. He said: "Procuring power for ourselves and investing in…renewable power plants… (5) ___________________. They make sense for us as a company to do. (6) ___________________ for our business."

Mr Needham said Google still has a long way (7) ___________________ of its operations are fuelled by renewable energy. He said about 34 per cent of Google's power (8) ___________________ from renewables. Needham told reporters it wasn't always easy (9) ___________________ in some parts of the world, saying: "Our goal is to be 100 per cent renewable powered. There are lots of challenges in getting there, (10) ___________________ is operating in many jurisdictions that are in different parts of the world." He added: "At Google we (11) ___________________ renewable energy projects that have the potential to transform the energy landscape and help provide (12) ___________________ businesses and homes around the world."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What kind of farms does Google want to exploit?
2.	What kind of centres does Google want to power?
3.	How much power can Google's projects currently produce?
4.	What did a spokesman say was an economic necessity?
5.	What does Google rely on for its business?
6.	How much of Google's operations are powered by renewables?
7.	What is Google's goal in terms of being powered by renewables?
8.	What is one of the biggest challenges for Google?
9.	What do Google's projects have the power to transform?
10.	To whom does Google want to provide power?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What kind of farms does Google want to exploit?	6.	How much of Google's operations are powered by renewables?
	a) fish b) wind c) fat d) dairy		a) 34% b) 33% c) 43% d) 44%
2.	What kind of centres does Google want to power?	7.	What is Google's goal in terms of being powered by renewables?
	a) middle b) social c) data d) youth		a) 90% b) 90-100% c) 110% d) 100%
3.	How much power can Google's projects currently produce?	8.	What is one of the biggest challenges for Google?
	a) 2 mega-watts b) 2 tera-watts c) 2 quadro-watts d) 2 giga-watts		a) staying #1 b) fossil fuels c) operating in different countries d) hackers
4.	What did a spokesman say was an economic necessity?	9.	What do Google's projects have the power to transform?
	a) improving the speed of Internet searches b) investing in energy c) making profit d) hiring a sustainability director		a) computers b) business c) search engines d) the energy landscape
5.	What does Google rely on for its business?	10.	To whom does Google want to provide power?
	a) power b) users c) sense d) investing		a) oil companies b) businesses and homes c) governments d) Internet users

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Use less power

You think using less power is the best way to go green. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least doable of these (and why): borrowing instead of buying, walking to work or eating less meat.

Role B – Borrowing instead of buying

You think borrowing instead of buying is the best way to go green. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least doable of these (and why): using less power, walking to work or eating less meat.

Role C – Walking to work

You think walking to work is the best way to go green. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least doable of these (and why): borrowing instead of buying, using less power or eating less meat.

Role D – Eating less meat

You think eating less meat is the best way to go green. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least doable of these (and why): borrowing instead of buying, walking to work or using less power.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'solar' and 'energy'.

solar

energy

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

giant
green
data
15
2
sense

long
34
meet
lots
transform
clean

RENEWABLE ENERGY SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about renewable energy in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

RENEWABLE ENERGY DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the term 'renewable energy'?
c)	What do you think of Google's idea to go 100% renewable?
d)	How much of your power use comes from green energy?
e)	Should Google win an award for its commitment to go green?
f)	What renewable energies are commonly used in your country?
g)	What potential does your country have for going green?
h)	Do you think all big companies will follow Google's example?
i)	Why does Google's idea make business sense?
j)	How could you be greener?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	When do you think the whole world will be powered by renewable energy?
c)	Why might there be resistance from some countries to go green?
d)	Should countries that are not going green face penalties?
e)	What will the global energy situation look like in 100 years from now?
f)	Could Google become a global leader in providing energy?
g)	Would you switch to renewable energy even if it was more expensive?
h)	How would the world be different if all energy came from green sources?
i)	What do you think oil companies think of renewable energy?
j)	What questions would you like to ask Rick Needham?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Tech giant Google is investing $1billion in renewable energies to make its operations (1) ____ green. The company hopes to (2) ____ solar energy, wind farms and other forms of alternative energy to power its data centres around the world. Rick Needham, Google's Director of Energy and Sustainability, told reporters: "We've invested over a billion dollars in 15 projects that have the (3) ____ to produce two giga-watts of power around the world." Mr Needham added it was an economic (4) ____ for Google to invest in energy. He said: "Procuring power for (5) ____ and investing in…renewable power plants…all make business sense. They make sense for us as a company to do. We rely (6) ____ power for our business."

Mr Needham said Google still has a (7) ____ way to go before all of its operations are fuelled by renewable energy. He said about 34 per cent of Google's power requirements are (8) ____ from renewables. Needham told reporters it wasn't always easy to (9) ____ this target in some parts of the world, saying: "Our goal is to be 100 per cent renewable powered. There are lots of challenges in getting there, not the (10) ____ of which is operating in many jurisdictions that are in different parts of the world." He added: "At Google we invest in innovative renewable energy projects that have the potential to transform the energy (11) ____ and help provide more (12) ____ power to businesses and homes around the world."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	totals	(b)	totalled	(c)	totality	(d)	totally
2.	(a)	design	(b)	refuel	(c)	displace	(d)	exploit
3.	(a)	voluminous	(b)	capacity	(c)	largeness	(d)	largess
4.	(a)	necessarily	(b)	necessitate	(c)	necessity	(d)	unnecessary
5.	(a)	us	(b)	we	(c)	ourselves	(d)	ours
6.	(a)	on	(b)	in	(c)	to	(d)	of
7.	(a)	longitudinal	(b)	long	(c)	longing	(d)	longstanding
8.	(a)	sourced	(b)	traced	(c)	born	(d)	birthed
9.	(a)	congregate	(b)	meet	(c)	assemble	(d)	gather
10.	(a)	worst	(b)	best	(c)	least	(d)	most
11.	(a)	portrait	(b)	scenery	(c)	landscape	(d)	vista
12.	(a)	sanitised	(b)	sanitary	(c)	cleanliness	(d)	clean

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	make its taoieprsno totally green
2.	otielpx solar energy
3.	other forms of teiernavtla energy
4.	energy and anttsiayiulbsi
5.	an economic yintsesce
6.	nrprgoicu power for ourselves
Paragraph 2
7.	34 per cent of Google's power eeqruimnrtes
8.	cseourd from renewables
9.	operating in many orctiidussjni
10.	we invest in innvoevati renewable energy projects
11.	have the pittneaol to transform
12.	the energy paadlcnse

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	Mr Needham said Google still has a long way to go before all of its operations are fuelled
( 1 )	Tech giant Google is investing $1billion in renewable energies to make its operations totally
( )	business sense. They make sense for us as a company to do. We rely on power for our business."
( )	there, not the least of which is operating in many jurisdictions that are in different parts of the world." He added: "At Google we invest
( )	energy to power its data centres around the world. Rick Needham, Google's Director of Energy and
( )	sourced from renewables. Needham told reporters it wasn't always easy to meet this target in some parts of the
( )	Sustainability, told reporters: "We've invested over a billion dollars in 15 projects that have the capacity to produce two giga-
( )	world, saying: "Our goal is to be 100 per cent renewable powered. There are lots of challenges in getting
( )	green. The company hopes to exploit solar energy, wind farms and other forms of alternative
( )	landscape and help provide more clean power to businesses and homes around the world."
( )	watts of power around the world." Mr Needham added it was an economic
( )	necessity for Google to invest in energy. He said: "Procuring power for ourselves and investing in…renewable power plants…all make
( )	in innovative renewable energy projects that have the potential to transform the energy
( )	by renewable energy. He said about 34 per cent of Google's power requirements are

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	its Renewable operations energies totally to green make.
2.	of farms alternative and energy other forms Wind.
3.	around power centres world to data the Energy its.
4.	giga two produce to capacity the Have power of watts -.
5.	do They make sense for us as a company to.
6.	by its fuelled energy of are renewable All operations.
7.	cent renewable powered Our goal is to be . 100 per
8.	projects Google in energy At invest renewable we innovative.
9.	landscape energy the transform to potential the Have .
10.	more provide Help businesses to power clean.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Tech giant Google is investing $1billion in renewable energies to make its operations totally / total green. The company hopes to exploit / exploitation solar energy, wind farms and other farms / forms of alternative energy to power its data / date centres around the world. Rick Needham, Google's Director of Energy and Sustainability, told reporters: "We've invested over a billion dollars in 15 projects that have the audacity / capacity to produce two giga-watts of power around the world." Mr Needham added it was an economic necessary / necessity for Google to invest in energy. He said: "Procreating / Procuring power for ourselves / us and investing in…renewable power plants…all make business sense / senses. They make sense for us as a company to do. We rely / reliable on power for our business."

Mr Needham said Google still has a long / length way to go before all of its operations are refuels / fuelled by renewable energy. He said about 34 per cent of Google's power / powerful requirements are sourced / sauced from renewables. Needham told reporters it wasn't always easy to congregate / meet this target in some parts of the world, saying: "Our goal is to be 100 per cent renewable powered. There are lots of challenges in being / getting there, not the least of which is operating in many justifications / jurisdictions that are in different parts / partners of the world." He added: "At Google we invest in innovative renewable energy projects that have the potential to transform / transfer the energy landscape / portrait and help provide more clean power to businesses and homes around the world."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

T_ch g__nt G__gl_ _s _nv_st_ng $1b_ll__n _n r_n_w_bl_ _n_rg__s t_ m_k_ _ts _p_r_t__ns t_t_lly gr__n. Th_ c_mp_ny h_p_s t_ _xpl__t s_l_r _n_rgy, w_nd f_rms _nd _th_r f_rms _f _lt_rn_t_v_ _n_rgy t_ p_w_r _ts d_t_ c_ntr_s _r__nd th_ w_rld. R_ck N__dh_m, G__gl_'s D_r_ct_r _f _n_rgy _nd S_st__n_b_l_ty, t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "W_'v_ _nv_st_d _v_r _ b_ll__n d_ll_rs _n 15 pr_j_cts th_t h_v_ th_ c_p_c_ty t_ pr_d_c_ tw_ g_g_-w_tts _f p_w_r _r__nd th_ w_rld." Mr N__dh_m _dd_d _t w_s _n _c_n_m_c n_c_ss_ty f_r G__gl_ t_ _nv_st _n _n_rgy. H_ s__d: "Pr_c_r_ng p_w_r f_r __rs_lv_s _nd _nv_st_ng _n…r_n_w_bl_ p_w_r pl_nts…_ll m_k_ b_s_n_ss s_ns_. Th_y m_k_ s_ns_ f_r _s _s _ c_mp_ny t_ d_. W_ r_ly _n p_w_r f_r __r b_s_n_ss."

Mr N__dh_m s__d G__gl_ st_ll h_s _ l_ng w_y t_ g_ b_f_r_ _ll _f _ts _p_r_t__ns _r_ f__ll_d by r_n_w_bl_ _n_rgy. H_ s__d _b__t 34 p_r c_nt _f G__gl_'s p_w_r r_q__r_m_nts _r_ s__rc_d fr_m r_n_w_bl_s. N__dh_m t_ld r_p_rt_rs _t w_sn't _lw_ys __sy t_ m__t th_s t_rg_t _n s_m_ p_rts _f th_ w_rld, s_y_ng: "__r g__l _s t_ b_ 100 p_r c_nt r_n_w_bl_ p_w_r_d. Th_r_ _r_ l_ts _f ch_ll_ng_s _n g_tt_ng th_r_, n_t th_ l__st _f wh_ch _s _p_r_t_ng _n m_ny j_r_sd_ct__ns th_t _r_ _n d_ff_r_nt p_rts _f th_ w_rld." H_ _dd_d: "_t G__gl_ w_ _nv_st _n _nn_v_t_v_ r_n_w_bl_ _n_rgy pr_j_cts th_t h_v_ th_ p_t_nt__l t_ tr_nsf_rm th_ _n_rgy l_ndsc_p_ _nd h_lp pr_v_d_ m_r_ cl__n p_w_r t_ b_s_n_ss_s _nd h_m_s _r__nd th_ w_rld."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

tech giant google is investing $1billion in renewable energies to make its operations totally green the company hopes to exploit solar energy wind farms and other forms of alternative energy to power its data centres around the world rick needham google's director of energy and sustainability told reporters "we've invested over a billion dollars in 15 projects that have the capacity to produce two giga-watts of power around the world" mr needham added it was an economic necessity for google to invest in energy he said "procuring power for ourselves and investing in…renewable power plants…all make business sense they make sense for us as a company to do we rely on power for our business"

mr needham said google still has a long way to go before all of its operations are fuelled by renewable energy he said about 34 per cent of google's power requirements are sourced from renewables needham told reporters it wasn't always easy to meet this target in some parts of the world saying "our goal is to be 100 per cent renewable powered there are lots of challenges in getting there not the least of which is operating in many jurisdictions that are in different parts of the world" he added "at google we invest in innovative renewable energy projects that have the potential to transform the energy landscape and help provide more clean power to businesses and homes around the world"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TechgiantGoogleisinvesting$1billioninrenewableenergiestomakeit
soperationstotallygreen.Thecompanyhopestoexploitsolarenergy,
windfarmsandotherformsofalternativeenergytopoweritsdatacentr
esaroundtheworld.RickNeedham,Google'sDirectorofEnergyandSu
stainability,toldreporters:"We'veinvestedoverabilliondollarsin15pr
ojectsthathavethecapacitytoproducetwogiga-wattsofpowerarou
ndtheworld."MrNeedhamaddeditwasaneconomicnecessityforGoog
letoinvestinenergy.Hesaid:"Procuringpowerforourselvesandinvest
ingin…renewablepowerplants…allmakebusinesssense.Theymakes
enseforusasacompanytodo.Werelyonpowerforourbusiness."MrNe
edhamsaidGooglestillhasalongwaytogobeforeallofitsoperationsare
fuelledbyrenewableenergy.Hesaidabout34percentofGoogle'spowe
rrequirementsaresourcedfromrenewables.Needhamtoldreportersi
twasn'talwayseasytomeetthistargetinsomepartsoftheworld,saying
:"Ourgoalistobe100percentrenewablepowered.Therearelotsofchal
lengesingettingthere,nottheleastofwhichisoperatinginmanyjurisdi
ctionsthatareindifferentpartsoftheworld."Headded:"AtGooglewein
vestininnovativerenewableenergyprojectsthathavethepotentialtot
ransformtheenergylandscapeandhelpprovidemorecleanpowertobu
sinessesandhomesaroundtheworld."

FREE WRITING

Write about renewable energy for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

The world should set a deadline to use only renewable energy from 2040 and stop using fossil fuels from then. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about renewable energy. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. RENEWABLE ENERGY: Make a poster about renewable energy. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. GOOGLE: Write a magazine article about Google's plan to use renewable energy for 100% of its power requirements. Include imaginary interviews with Google execs and energy experts.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to a renewable energy expert. Ask him/her three questions about renewable energy. Give him/her three of your opinions on Google's idea. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	operations	a.	businesses
2.	exploit	b.	use to good advantage
3.	capacity	c.	power
4.	sense	d.	wisdom
5.	rely	e.	depend
6.	fuelled	f.	powered
7.	requirements	g.	needs
8.	jurisdictions	h.	authorities
9.	innovative	i.	cutting edge
10.	transform	j.	change

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Wind farms
2.	Data centres
3.	2 giga-watts
4.	Investing in energy
5.	Power
6.	34%
7.	100%
8.	Operating in different parts of the world
9.	The energy landscape
10.	Businesses and homes

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

a

7.

d

8.

c

9.

d

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Google investing $1billion in renewable energy (20th February, 2014)

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