Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Fracking

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* 26-page lesson
(40 exercises)

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* MP3 (N. America)

* MP3 (20 Qs)

* Dictation -
(10 sentences)

* Speed Read
(4 speeds)

.....

* Gap-fill

Saudi prince says fracking will hurt his nation (2nd August, 2013)

Prince Alwaleed warned the biggest threat to Saudi Arabia is from fracking – a technology that extracts oil from shale and rock. The United States has reduced its demand for Saudi oil because of its investment in producing its own from fracking. It hopes to be self-sufficient in oil by 2020, which would be a huge blow for Saudi. Alwaleed recognised this in his letter, stating: "We see that rising North American shale gas production is an inevitable threat." Arabian oil executives have so far dismissed any threat from shale, although OPEC members have said the issue needs to be addressed. The prince encouraged Saudi Arabia to invest in nuclear and solar energy production.

Try Level 4 or Level 5

Sources:
http://news.sky.com/story/1121610/saudi-prince-fracking-is-threat-to-kingdom
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/alwaleed-warns-of-sliding-oil-demand-511466.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-29/alwaleed-warns-saudi-oil-minister-of-waning-need-for-oil.html

WARM-UPS

1. FRACKING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about fracking. 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.

billionaire / prince / diversifies / dependence / demand for oil / concern / richest person / biggest threat / technology / investment / self-sufficient / a huge blow / threat

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

3. ENERGY: What are the pros and cons? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Pros	Cons
Gas from fracking
Oil
Nuclear power
Solar energy
Bio-fuels
Wind power

4. OIL-FREE: Students A strongly believe we won't need oil within the next five decades; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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5. DANGERS: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the biggest dangers for your country at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

future energy
neighbouring countries
ethnic divisions
pollution

economy
terrorism
overpopulation
poverty

6. OIL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'oil'. 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.	A Saudi prince has said fracking will damage Saudi's deserts.	T / F
b.	Saudi Arabia gets over 90% of its revenue from oil.	T / F
c.	The prince wrote a letter warning of a global decline in demand for oil.	T / F
d.	The prince is one of the 10 richest people in the world.	T / F
e.	The prince said fracking was the biggest threat to Saudi Arabia.	T / F
f.	The USA is buying less oil from Saudi Arabia these days.	T / F
g.	Gulf states are taking the fracking issue very seriously.	T / F
h.	The prince discouraged his country from investing in nuclear energy.	T / F

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

1.	diversifies	a.	completely
2.	whopping	b.	certain
3.	entirely	c.	huge
4.	dependent	d.	shares
5.	stakes	e.	independent
6.	extracts	f.	branches out
7.	self-sufficient	g.	shrugged off
8.	inevitable	h.	reliant
9.	dismissed	i.	put money into
10.	invest	j.	removes

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

1.	…unless it diversifies	a.	an inevitable threat
2.	oil	b.	of concern for all
3.	demand for oil was	c.	in Apple
4.	this reality is becoming a source	d.	solar energy production
5.	owns stakes	e.	blow for Saudi
6.	a technology that	f.	in continuous decline
7.	a huge	g.	minister
8.	shale gas production is	h.	to be addressed
9.	the issue needs	i.	extracts oil from shale
10.	invest in nuclear and	j.	away from oil

GAP FILL

A Saudi billionaire prince has warned that his country's economy faces danger unless it (1) ____________ away from oil. A whopping 92 per cent of Saudi Arabia's (2) ____________ comes from oil. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal told his nation's oil (3) ____________ that Saudi needed to reduce its (4) ____________ on oil. His open letter was published for the world to see. In it, he warned other Gulf states and countries in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that demand for oil was "in (5) ____________ decline". Prince Alwaleed wrote: "Saudi Arabia is almost (6) ____________ dependent on oil and this reality is becoming a (7) ____________ of concern for all." The prince is the world's 20th richest person and owns (8) ____________ in Apple, Twitter and Citigroup.

continuous
dependence
revenue
source
diversifies
stakes
entirely
minister

Prince Alwaleed warned the biggest (9) ____________ to Saudi Arabia is from fracking – a technology that (10) ____________ oil from shale and rock. The United States has reduced its demand for Saudi oil because of its investment in producing its own from fracking. It hopes to be self-(11) ____________ in oil by 2020, which would be a huge (12) ____________ for Saudi. Alwaleed recognised this in his letter, stating: "We see that rising North American shale gas production is an (13) ____________ threat." Arabian oil executives have so far (14) ____________ any threat from shale, although OPEC members have said the (15) ____________ needs to be addressed. The prince encouraged Saudi Arabia to (16) ____________ in nuclear and solar energy production.

inevitable
sufficient
extracts
invest
dismissed
threat
issue
blow

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	his country's economy faces danger unless it ______ oil
	a. diversify away from b. diverse flies away from c. diversifies away from d. diversification away from
2)	Saudi needed to reduce its ______
	a. dependence on oil b. dependence in oil c. dependence an oil d. dependence of oil
3)	countries in the Organisation of the Petroleum ______
	a. Exporting Country b. Exporting Countries c. Exporting Companies d. Exporting Company
4)	demand for oil was in ______
	a. continue as decline b. continued decline c. continuous decline d. continuously decline
5)	Saudi is almost entirely dependent on oil and this reality is becoming ______ for all
	a. a sauce of concern b. a source of concern c. a thoughts of concern d. a thaws of concern
6)	a technology that ______ shale and rock
	a. expects oil from b. excerpts oil from c. ex-tracks oil from d. extracts oil from
7)	It hopes to be self-sufficient in oil by 2020, which would ______
	a. be a huge blowout b. be a huge blows c. be a huge blowing d. be a huge blow
8)	Arabian oil executives have so far ______
	a. dismissed many threats b. dismissed any threat c. dismissed any treat d. dismissed any thread
9)	OPEC members have said the issue needs ______
	a. to get addressed b. to do addressed c. to be addressed d. to have addressed
10)	The prince encouraged Saudi Arabia to invest in nuclear and ______
	a. solar energy production b. so far energy production c. stellar energy production d. cellar energy production

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A Saudi billionaire prince (1) ______________________ his country's economy faces danger unless it (2) ______________________ oil. A whopping 92 per cent of Saudi Arabia's revenue comes from oil. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal told his nation's oil minister that Saudi needed to (3) ______________________ on oil. His open letter was published for the world to see. In it, he warned other Gulf states and countries in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that demand for oil was " (4) ______________________". Prince Alwaleed wrote: "Saudi Arabia is almost (5) ______________________ oil and this reality is becoming a source of concern for all." The prince is the world's 20th richest person (6) ______________________ Apple, Twitter and Citigroup.

Prince Alwaleed warned the (7) ______________________ Saudi Arabia is from fracking – a technology (8) ______________________ shale and rock. The United States has reduced its demand for Saudi oil because of its investment in (9) ______________________ from fracking. It hopes to be self-sufficient in oil by 2020, which would (10) ______________________ Saudi. Alwaleed recognised this in his letter, stating: "We see that rising North American shale gas production is (11) ______________________." Arabian oil executives have so far dismissed any threat from shale, although OPEC members have said the issue (12) ______________________. The prince encouraged Saudi Arabia to invest in nuclear and solar energy production.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What does the prince advise for Saudi to avoid a danger?
2.	What percentage of Saudi revenue comes from oil?
3.	What did the prince say Saudi needs to reduce?
4.	What did he warn OPEC?
5.	How rich is the prince?
6.	What is the biggest threat to Saudi?
7.	What does the USA hope to achieve by 2020?
8.	What do Arabian oil execs think about shale?
9.	What does OPEC think of shale?
10.	What does the prince want Saudi to invest in?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What does the prince advise for Saudi to avoid a danger?	6.	What is the biggest threat to Saudi?
	a) dichotomise b) diversify c) divide d) digitise		a) overpopulation b) desertification c) fracking d) a global recession
2.	What percentage of Saudi revenue comes from oil?	7.	What does the USA hope to achieve by 2020?
	a) 88% b) 90% c) 92% d) 94%		a) zero carbon emissions b) to be the world's biggest oil exporter c) the cheapest gas prices in the G20 d) self-sufficiency in oil
3.	What did the prince say Saudi needs to reduce?	8.	What do Arabian oil execs think about shale?
	a) its reliance on oil b) energy consumption c) the number of gas stations d) oil production		a) not much b) it's very interesting c) it's worrying d) they don't know what it is
4.	What did he warn OPEC?	9.	What does OPEC think of shale?
	a) to talk to each other b) to look at other energies c) that demand for oil is declining d) the danger of global warming		a) it's an issue b) OPEC needs to get into shale c) it wants to ban it d) it doesn't care about it
5.	How rich is the prince?	10.	What does the prince want Saudi to invest in?
	a) Saudi Arabia's richest person b) the world's 20th richest person c) he owns 92% of Saudi wealth d) on the world's top ten rich list		a) solar power and wind farms b) nuclear and solar power c) tourism and aviation d) China and India

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Wave power

You think wave power is the future of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their energy sources. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): nuclear, solar or wind.

Role B – Nuclear

You think nuclear is the future of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their energy sources. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): wave power, solar or wind.

Role C – Solar

You think solar is the future of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their energy sources. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): nuclear, wave power or wind.

Role D – Wind

You think wind is the future of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their energy sources. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): nuclear, solar or wave power.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

oil

gas

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:

faces
92
minister
OPEC
entirely
owns

biggest
technology
self
rising
far
invest

FRACKING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about fracking 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.

FRACKING 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 word 'oil'?
c)	What do you know about fracking?
d)	How dangerous is it for Saudi to be so dependent on oil?
e)	What will Saudi Arabia be like in 100 years from now?
f)	If we are moving away from oil and gas, why are we fracking?
g)	Why is the world demand for oil in "continuous decline"?
h)	When do you think the oil will run out?
i)	What kind of energy do you think will be most common in 100 years?
j)	What do you think of the word "fracking"?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Do you think fracking is the answer to our energy needs?
c)	What is the answer to our energy needs?
d)	Will more countries become self-sufficient on oil because of fracking?
e)	How might fracking affect OPEC countries?
f)	Are Arabian oil execs right to dismiss fracking?
g)	How should Saudi Arabia diversify?
h)	What could happen to OPEC if fracking really takes off?
i)	What would you like to know about fracking?
j)	What questions would you like to ask the prince?

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.	________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

A Saudi billionaire prince has warned that his country's economy (1) ____ danger unless it diversifies away from oil. A (2) ____ 92 per cent of Saudi Arabia's revenue comes from oil. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal told his nation's oil minister that Saudi needed to reduce its dependence (3) ____ oil. His open letter was published for the world to see. In it, he warned other Gulf states and countries in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that demand for oil was "(4) ____ continuous decline". Prince Alwaleed wrote: "Saudi Arabia is almost (5) ____ dependent on oil and this reality is becoming a source of concern for all." The prince is the world's 20th richest person and owns (6) ____ in Apple, Twitter and Citigroup.

Prince Alwaleed warned the biggest (7) ____ to Saudi Arabia is from fracking – a technology that (8) ____ oil from shale and rock. The United States has reduced its demand for Saudi oil because of its investment in producing its own from fracking. It hopes to be (9) ____-sufficient in oil by 2020, which would be a huge (10) ____ for Saudi. Alwaleed recognised this in his letter, stating: "We see that rising North American shale gas production is an inevitable threat." Arabian oil executives have so far (11) ____ any threat from shale, although OPEC members have said the issue needs to be (12) ____. The prince encouraged Saudi Arabia to invest in nuclear and solar energy production.

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

1.	(a)	eyes	(b)	heads	(c)	skulls	(d)	faces
2.	(a)	wiping	(b)	whipping	(c)	whooshing	(d)	whopping
3.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	at	(d)	to
4.	(a)	at	(b)	on	(c)	in	(d)	of
5.	(a)	complete	(b)	whole	(c)	entirely	(d)	usually
6.	(a)	stakes	(b)	streaks	(c)	steaks	(d)	stacks
7.	(a)	treat	(b)	threat	(c)	treaty	(d)	thread
8.	(a)	extracts	(b)	excerpts	(c)	exacts	(d)	extorts
9.	(a)	soul	(b)	self	(c)	lone	(d)	one
10.	(a)	puff	(b)	gust	(c)	blow	(d)	breath
11.	(a)	dismissal	(b)	dismissive	(c)	dismissed	(d)	dismissing
12.	(a)	franked	(b)	stamped	(c)	mailed	(d)	addressed

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	baliriolien prince
2.	unless it ieidreissfv away from oil
3.	a inohpwgp 92 per cent of Saudi Arabia's revenue
4.	reduce its denecepnde on oil
5.	almost eyteinrl
6.	owns sasket in Apple
Paragraph 2
7.	a technology that etacrtxs oil from shale
8.	be self-csefnfitui in oil
9.	Alwaleed esrgidceon this
10.	an eetinvblai threat
11.	executives have so far msidesdsi any threat
12.	rsloa energy

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( 1 )	A Saudi billionaire prince has warned that his country's economy faces danger unless it
( )	any threat from shale, although OPEC members have said the issue needs to be
( )	concern for all." The prince is the world's 20th richest person and owns stakes in Apple, Twitter and Citigroup.
( )	diversifies away from oil. A whopping 92 per cent of Saudi Arabia's revenue comes
( )	of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that demand for oil was "in continuous decline". Prince Alwaleed wrote:
( )	addressed. The prince encouraged Saudi Arabia to invest in nuclear and solar energy production.
( )	extracts oil from shale and rock. The United States has reduced its demand for Saudi oil because of its investment
( )	Prince Alwaleed warned the biggest threat to Saudi Arabia is from fracking – a technology that
( )	on oil. His open letter was published for the world to see. In it, he warned other Gulf states and countries in the Organisation
( )	blow for Saudi. Alwaleed recognised this in his letter, stating: "We see that rising North American shale gas
( )	from oil. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal told his nation's oil minister that Saudi needed to reduce its dependence
( )	in producing its own from fracking. It hopes to be self-sufficient in oil by 2020, which would be a huge
( )	"Saudi Arabia is almost entirely dependent on oil and this reality is becoming a source of
( )	production is an inevitable threat." Arabian oil executives have so far dismissed

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	faces danger His unless country's it economy diversifies.
2.	cent Arabia's A per Saudi 92 of revenue whopping.
3.	dependence needed on to oil reduce its Saudi.
4.	source of concern for all This reality is becoming a.
5.	prince richest is person the world's The 20th.
6.	fracking biggest Saudi from The to is threat Arabia.
7.	2020 by oil in sufficient - self be to hopes It.
8.	American an shale inevitable gas threat production is.
9.	far Oil dismissed executives any have threat so.
10.	said needs addressed have issue be Members the to.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A Saudi billionaire prince has warned that his country's economy faces danger until / unless it diversifies away from oil. A whopping 92 per cent of Saudi Arabia's revenue coming / comes from oil. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal told his nation's oil administer / minister that Saudi needed to reduce its dependence in / on oil. His open letter was published for the globe / world to see. In it, he warned others / other Gulf states and countries in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that demanding / demand for oil was "in continuous decline". Prince Alwaleed wrote: "Saudi Arabia is almost entirely / entire dependent on oil and this reality is becoming a source / sauce of concern for all." The prince is the world's 20th richest person and owns steaks / stakes in Apple, Twitter and Citigroup.

Prince Alwaleed warned the biggest treat / threat to Saudi Arabia is from fracking – a technology that distracts / extracts oil from shale and rock. The United States has reduced / reduction its demand for Saudi oil because of its investment in producing its own for / from fracking. It hopes to be self-sufficient in / on oil by 2020, which would be a huge puff / blow for Saudi. Alwaleed recognised this in his letter, stating: "We see that rising / risen North American shale gas production is an inevitable / inevitably threat." Arabian oil executives have so far dismissed any threat from shale, although OPEC members have said the issue needs to be addresses / addressed. The prince encouraged Saudi Arabia to / for invest in nuclear and solar energy production.

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)

_ S__d_ b_ll__n__r_ pr_nc_ h_s w_rn_d th_t h_s c__ntry's _c_n_my f_c_s d_ng_r _nl_ss _t d_v_rs_f__s _w_y fr_m __l. _ wh_pp_ng 92 p_r c_nt _f S__d_ _r_b__'s r_v_n__ c_m_s fr_m __l. Pr_nc_ _lw_l__d b_n T_l_l t_ld h_s n_t__n's __l m_n_st_r th_t S__d_ n__d_d t_ r_d_c_ _ts d_p_nd_nc_ _n __l. H_s _p_n l_tt_r w_s p_bl_sh_d f_r th_ w_rld t_ s__. _n _t, h_ w_rn_d _th_r G_lf st_t_s _nd c__ntr__s _n th_ _rg_n_s_t__n _f th_ P_tr_l__m _xp_rt_ng C__ntr__s (_P_C) th_t d_m_nd f_r __l w_s "_n c_nt_n___s d_cl_n_". Pr_nc_ _lw_l__d wr_t_: "S__d_ _r_b__ _s _lm_st _nt_r_ly d_p_nd_nt _n __l _nd th_s r__l_ty _s b_c_m_ng _ s__rc_ _f c_nc_rn f_r _ll." Th_ pr_nc_ _s th_ w_rld's 20th r_ch_st p_rs_n _nd _wns st_k_s _n _ppl_, Tw_tt_r _nd C_t_gr__p.

Pr_nc_ _lw_l__d w_rn_d th_ b_gg_st thr__t t_ S__d_ _r_b__ _s fr_m fr_ck_ng – _ t_chn_l_gy th_t _xtr_cts __l fr_m sh_l_ _nd r_ck. Th_ _n_t_d St_t_s h_s r_d_c_d _ts d_m_nd f_r S__d_ __l b_c__s_ _f _ts _nv_stm_nt _n pr_d_c_ng _ts _wn fr_m fr_ck_ng. _t h_p_s t_ b_ s_lf-s_ff_c__nt _n __l by 2020, wh_ch w__ld b_ _ h_g_ bl_w f_r S__d_. _lw_l__d r_c_gn_s_d th_s _n h_s l_tt_r, st_t_ng: "W_ s__ th_t r_s_ng N_rth _m_r_c_n sh_l_ g_s pr_d_ct__n _s _n _n_v_t_bl_ thr__t." _r_b__n __l _x_c_t_v_s h_v_ s_ f_r d_sm_ss_d _ny thr__t fr_m sh_l_, _lth__gh _P_C m_mb_rs h_v_ s__d th_ _ss__ n__ds t_ b_ _ddr_ss_d. Th_ pr_nc_ _nc__r_g_d S__d_ _r_b__ t_ _nv_st _n n_cl__r _nd s_l_r _n_rgy pr_d_ct__n.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a saudi billionaire prince has warned that his country's economy faces danger unless it diversifies away from oil a whopping 92 per cent of saudi arabia's revenue comes from oil prince alwaleed bin talal told his nation's oil minister that saudi needed to reduce its dependence on oil his open letter was published for the world to see in it he warned other gulf states and countries in the organisation of the petroleum exporting countries (opec) that demand for oil was "in continuous decline" prince alwaleed wrote "saudi arabia is almost entirely dependent on oil and this reality is becoming a source of concern for all" the prince is the world's 20th richest person and owns stakes in apple twitter and citigroup

prince alwaleed warned the biggest threat to saudi arabia is from fracking – a technology that extracts oil from shale and rock the united states has reduced its demand for saudi oil because of its investment in producing its own from fracking it hopes to be self-sufficient in oil by 2020 which would be a huge blow for saudi alwaleed recognised this in his letter stating "we see that rising north american shale gas production is an inevitable threat" arabian oil executives have so far dismissed any threat from shale although opec members have said the issue needs to be addressed the prince encouraged saudi arabia to invest in nuclear and solar energy production

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ASaudibillionaireprincehaswarnedthathiscountry'seconomyfacesdangeru
nlessitdiversifiesawayfromoil.Awhopping92percentofSaudiArabia'srevenu
ecomesfromoil.PrinceAlwaleedbinTalaltoldhisnation'soilministerthatSaudi
neededtoreduceitsdependenceonoil.Hisopenletterwaspublishedfortheworl
dtosee.Init,hewarnedotherGulfstatesandcountriesintheOrganisationofthe
PetroleumExportingCountries(OPEC)thatdemandforoilwas"incontinuousd
ecline".PrinceAlwaleedwrote:"SaudiArabiaisalmostentirelydependentonoi
landthisrealityisbecomingasourceofconcernforall."Theprinceistheworld's2
0thrichestpersonandownsstakesinApple,TwitterandCitigroup.PrinceAlwal
eedwarnedthebiggestthreattoSaudiArabiaisfromfracking–atechnology
thatextractsoilfromshaleandrock.TheUnitedStateshasreduceditsdemandf
orSaudioilbecauseofitsinvestmentinproducingitsownfromfracking.Ithopes
tobeself-sufficientinoilby2020,whichwouldbeahugeblowforSau
di.Alwaleedrecognisedthisinhisletter,stating:"WeseethatrisingNorthAmeri
canshalegasproductionisaninevitablethreat."Arabianoilexecutiveshavesof
ardismissedanythreatfromshale,althoughOPECmembershavesaidtheissue
needstobeaddressed.TheprinceencouragedSaudiArabiatoinvestinnuclear
andsolarenergyproduction.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Fracking is just another way to get oil and gas while harming the environment. It should be banned. 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 fracking. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. FRACKING: Make a poster about fracking. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. FRACKING: Write a magazine article about fracking and finding other new sources. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 fracking expert. Ask him/her three questions about fracking. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	diversifies	a.	branches out
2.	whopping	b.	huge
3.	entirely	c.	completely
4.	dependent	d.	reliant
5.	stakes	e.	shares
6.	extracts	f.	removes
7.	self-sufficient	g.	independent
8.	inevitable	h.	certain
9.	dismissed	i.	shrugged off
10.	invest	j.	put money into

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Diversify away from oil
2.	92%
3.	Its dependence on oil
4.	That demand for oil was declining
5.	The 20th richest person in the world
6.	Fracking
7.	Self-sufficiency in oil
8.	It's not a threat
9.	The issue needs to be addressed
10.	Nuclear and solar energy

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

10.

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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Breaking News English

* 26-page lesson (40 exercises)

* 2-page MINI lesson

* MP3 (British)

* MP3 (N. America)

* MP3 (20 Qs)

* Listen & spell

* Dictation - (10 sentences)

* Speed Read (4 speeds)

* Jumble 1

* Jumble 2

* No spaces

* Text jumble

* Gap-fill

* The/An/A Gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Word order

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Initials

* Initials only

* No letters

.....

* Word pairs

* Missing words

* Gap-fill

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

* 26-page lesson
(40 exercises)

* 2-page MINI
lesson

* Dictation -
(10 sentences)

* Speed Read
(4 speeds)