Breaking News English Lesson: Zero Emissions

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Airbus unveils plans for zero-emission planes (24th September, 2020)

The Reading / Listening - Zero Emissions - Level 6

The airline manufacturer Airbus has unveiled ambitious plans for the world's first zero-emission aircraft. The aerospace giant predicts its hydrogen-powered commercial airplanes could be in service by 2035. The concept revealed by company engineers shows a shift away from battery power. Many in the industry believe batteries are the way forward for carbon-zero airplanes. However, Airbus says batteries could prove impractical for large airliners and have opted for hydrogen propulsion. A company spokesperson said the transition to hydrogen would require "decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem". This means redesigned airports and significantly different refuelling infrastructure.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said the company has three possible designs, one of which will be adopted as a business enterprise. He said the three "ZEROe" designs represented "a historic moment for the commercial aviation sector as a whole". Mr Faury said: "We intend to play a leading role in the most important transition this industry has ever seen." He added that the use of hydrogen as a fuel had "the potential to significantly reduce aviation's climate impact". Faury was upbeat about the future, saying: "With the support from government and industrial partners, we can rise up to this challenge to scale up renewable energy and hydrogen for the sustainable future of the aviation industry."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Zero Emissions - Level 4 or Zero Emissions - Level 5

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54242176
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/21/business/airbus-zero-emissions-plane/index.html
https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/airbus-turns-to-hydrogen-as-energy-promise-of-batteries-fades/140254.article

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. ZERO-EMISSION AIRPLANES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about zero-emission airplanes. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
airline / manufacturer / zero emission / commercial / batteries / hydrogen / aviation /
company / enterprise / historic / transition / industry / climate / partners / future
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TAX: Students A strongly believe flights on airplanes should have a high emissions tax; Students B strongly believe not. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. AIRPLANES: What do you think of the services on airplanes? How can they be improved? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What You Think	Improvements
Seats
Cabin crew
Cleanliness
In-flight entertainment
Airplane food
The decor

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. ZERO: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "zero". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. EMISSIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the easiest things to reduce emissions for at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Airplanes
Homes
Cars
Factories
Farming
Electricity production
Ships
Tourism

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	manufacturer	a.	Showed or announced publicly for the first time.
2.	unveiled	b.	Say or estimate that a specified thing will happen in the future.
3.	ambitious	c.	The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for a country or business to operate.
4.	predict	d.	Having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed.
5.	prove	e.	The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.
6.	transition	f.	A person or company that makes goods for sale.
7.	infrastructure	g.	Show or demonstrate the truth or existence of something by evidence or argument.

Paragraph 2

8.	adopted	h.	A project or undertaking, usually one that is difficult or requires effort.
9.	enterprise	i.	The flying or operating of aircraft.
10.	aviation	j.	Conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.
11.	sector	k.	Have a course of action as one's purpose or objective; plan.
12.	intend	l.	A part of a nation's economy or society or of an area of activity such as education, tourism, health, aviation, etc.
13.	upbeat	m.	Taken up or started to use or follow an idea, method, or course of action.
14.	sustainable	n.	Optimistic.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

The airline maker Airbus has veiled plans for a zero-emission aircraft. T / F
Airbus said it hopes all planes worldwide will be zero-emission by 2035. T / F
Many in the aviation industry think airplanes should run on batteries. T / F
Hydrogen-fuelled planes would require redesigned airports. T / F
Airbus will choose one of four designs for its new aircraft. T / F
Airbus said the designs signified a historic moment in aviation history. T / F
The Airbus CEO was somewhat downbeat about the future. T / F
The CEO said Airbus could meet the future sustainability challenge. T / F

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

manufacturer
predicts
concept
impractical
decisive
adopted
sector
transition
upbeat
scale up

settled on
idea
expand
firm
field
maker
change
optimistic
anticipates
unfeasible

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

The airline manufacturer Airbus has unveiled
could be in
a shift away
hydrogen
decisive
three possible
the commercial aviation
We intend to play a
reduce aviation's climate
renewable

impact
from battery power
action
sector
service by 2035
leading role
ambitious plans
energy
designs
propulsion

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

concept
significantly
unveiled
prove
entire
predicts
way
propulsion

The airline manufacturer Airbus has (1) _____________________ ambitious plans for the world's first zero-emission aircraft. The aerospace giant (2) _____________________ its hydrogen-powered commercial airplanes could be in service by 2035. The (3) _____________________ revealed by company engineers shows a shift away from battery power. Many in the industry believe batteries are the (4) _____________________ forward for carbon-zero airplanes. However, Airbus says batteries could (5) _____________________ impractical for large airliners and have opted for hydrogen (6) _____________________. A company spokesperson said the transition to hydrogen would require "decisive action from the (7) _____________________ aviation ecosystem". This means redesigned airports and (8) _____________________ different refuelling infrastructure.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

sustainable
historic
role
upbeat
adopted
fuel
scale
partners

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said the company has three possible designs, one of which will be (9) _____________________ as a business enterprise. He said the three "ZEROe" designs represented "a (10) _____________________ moment for the commercial aviation sector as a whole". Mr Faury said: "We intend to play a leading (11) _____________________ in the most important transition this industry has ever seen." He added that the use of hydrogen as a (12) _____________________ had "the potential to significantly reduce aviation's climate impact". Faury was (13) _____________________ about the future, saying: "With the support from government and industrial (14) _____________________, we can rise up to this challenge to (15) _____________________ up renewable energy and hydrogen for the (16) _____________________ future of the aviation industry."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The airline manufacturer Airbus has unveiled ______
     a. ambitious planes
     b. ambitious plants
     c. ambitious spans
     d. ambitious plans
2) The concept revealed by company engineers ______
     a. shows a sift
     b. shows a shaft
     c. shows a shift
     d. shows a sniff
3) prove impractical for large airliners and have opted ______
     a. for hydrogen compulsion
     b. for hydrogen propulsion
     c. for hydrogen pre-pulse shun
     d. for hydrogen propellers
4) hydrogen would require decisive action from the entire ______
     a. aviator's ecosystem
     b. aviating ecosystem
     c. a violation ecosystem
     d. aviation ecosystem
5) This means redesigned airports and significantly different ______
     a. reef Yule in infrastructure
     b. refuse long infrastructure
     c. reef you in infrastructure
     d. refuelling infrastructure

6) Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said the company has ______
     a. three possible designs
     b. three possibly designs
     c. three possible design
     d. three possibly design
7) represented a historic moment for the commercial ______
     a. aviation section
     b. aviation nectar
     c. aviation hector
     d. aviation sector
8) We intend to play a leading role in the ______
     a. most importance transition
     b. most important transit shun
     c. most important transition
     d. mostly importantly transition
9) had the potential to significantly reduce aviation's climate impact. ______
     a. Faury was upbeat
     b. Faury was downbeat
     c. Faury was on the beat
     d. Faury was beat
10) from government and industrial partners, we can rise up to this challenge ______
     a. two scale up
     b. twos kale up
     c. tooth kale up
     d. to scale up

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The airline manufacturer Airbus (1) ____________________ plans for the world's first zero-emission aircraft. The aerospace giant predicts its hydrogen-powered commercial airplanes could (2) ____________________ by 2035. The concept revealed by company engineers shows a shift away from battery power. Many (3) ____________________ believe batteries are the way forward for carbon-zero airplanes. However, Airbus says batteries (4) ____________________ for large airliners and have opted for hydrogen propulsion. A company spokesperson said (5) ____________________ hydrogen would require "decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem". This means (6) ____________________ significantly different refuelling infrastructure.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said the company has (7) ____________________, one of which will be adopted as a business enterprise. He said the three "ZEROe" designs represented "a (8) ____________________ the commercial aviation sector as a whole". Mr Faury said: "We intend to play a (9) ____________________ the most important transition this industry has ever seen." He added that the use of hydrogen as a fuel had "(10) ____________________ significantly reduce aviation's climate impact". Faury was upbeat about the future, saying: "With the support from government and industrial partners, we can rise up to this challenge to (11) ____________________ energy and hydrogen for the sustainable future of (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

What did the article say Airbus had unveiled?
By when does Airbus hope to have zero-emission planes in the air?
What do many in the industry believe airplanes should run on?
From whom would the transition require decisive action?
What kind of redesigned infrastructure might be needed?
How many designs does Airbus have for its new plane?
What did Airbus say the designs were a historic moment for?
What does Airbus want to play in the transition to zero emissions?
What will the zero-emission planes reduce?
What kind of future did the Airbus CEO talk about?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say Airbus had unveiled?
a) a statue
b) ambitious plans
c) a new kind of engine
d) new cabin crew uniform
2) By when does Airbus hope to have zero-emission planes in the air?
a) 2050
b) 2040
c) 2030
d) 2035
3) What do many in the industry believe airplanes should run on?
a) batteries
b) oxygen
c) methane
d) biofuels
4) From whom would the transition require decisive action?
a) all pilots
b) all aviation schools
c) the entire aviation ecosystem
d) petrochemical engineers
5) What kind of redesigned infrastructure might be needed?
a) roads
b) refuelling
c) runways
d) departure lounges

6) How many designs does Airbus have for its new plane?
a) three
b) four
c) two
d) six
7) What did Airbus say the designs were a historic moment for?
a) flying
b) the company
c) the commercial aviation sector
d) European airplane manufacturers
8) What does Airbus want to play in the transition to zero emissions?
a) a leading role
b) a game
c) a huge part
d) second fiddle
9) What will the zero-emission planes reduce?
a) aviation's climate impact
b) the number of passengers
c) legroom
d) the prices of flights
10) What kind of future did the Airbus CEO talk about?
a) a rosy future
b) a space-age future
c) a future without frontiers
d) a sustainable future

Role play

Role A – Airplanes
You think airplanes are the easiest things to reduce emissions for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as easy. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): homes, farming or electricity production.

Role B – Homes
You think homes are the easiest things to reduce emissions for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as easy. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): airplanes, farming or electricity production.

Role C – Farming
You think farming is the easiest thing to reduce emissions for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as easy. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): homes, airplanes or electricity production.

Role D – Electricity Production
You think electricity production is the easiest thing to reduce emissions for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as easy. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): homes, farming or airplanes.

After reading / listening

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

'zero'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'emission'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

ambitious

service

forward

prove

require

different

possible

historic

play

use

upbeat

scale

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - Zero Emissions

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'emissions'?
What do you know about Airbus?
How important is the aircraft manufacturing industry?
How important are zero-emission airplanes?
What do you think of air travel?
What do you know about hydrogen power?
Why do we travel around the world so much?
How else can aviation reduce its carbon footprint?
What advice do you have for Airbus?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'airplane'?
What do you think about what you read?
What would life as Airbus' CEO be like?
What historic moments have there been in aviation history?
How can air travel be improved?
What would life be like without airplanes?
What three adjectives best describe this news?
What renewable energies show the most promise?
What questions would you like to ask the Airbus CEO?

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

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

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

The airline manufacturer Airbus has unveiled (1) ____ plans for the world's first zero-emission aircraft. The aerospace (2) ____ predicts its hydrogen-powered commercial airplanes could be (3) ____ service by 2035. The concept revealed by company engineers shows a shift away from battery power. Many in the industry believe batteries are the way forward for carbon-zero airplanes. However, Airbus says batteries could (4) ____ impractical for large airliners and have opted for hydrogen propulsion. A company spokesperson said the (5) ____ to hydrogen would require "decisive action from the (6) ____ aviation ecosystem". This means redesigned airports and significantly different refuelling infrastructure.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said the company has three possible designs, one of (7) ____ will be adopted as a business enterprise. He said the three "ZEROe" designs represented "a historic moment for the commercial aviation (8) ____ as a whole". Mr Faury said: "We (9) ____ to play a leading role in the most important transition this industry has ever seen." He added that the use of hydrogen as a fuel had "the potential to significantly reduce aviation's climate impact". Faury was (10) ____ about the future, saying: "With the support from government and industrial partners, we can (11) ____ up to this challenge to (12) ____ up renewable energy and hydrogen for the sustainable future of the aviation industry."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) ambition (b) ambitious (c) ambitions (d) ambitiously
(a) monster (b) giant (c) ogre (d) jumbo
(a) by (b) on (c) at (d) in
(a) improve (b) prove (c) proof (d) probe
(a) persistence (b) material (c) viable (d) transition
(a) all (b) partial (c) entire (d) utter
(a) which (b) what (c) whole (d) all
(a) portion (b) sector (c) serving (d) fraction
(a) inferred (b) interred (c) intense (d) intend
(a) upbeat (b) tempo (c) cadence (d) pulse
(a) rise (b) arise (c) raise (d) rose
(a) scale (b) limit (c) flake (d) deposit

Spelling

Paragraph 1

The airline ufacnrumtare Airbus
unveiled subomiait plans
hydrogen-powered eoalcmcmir airplanes
hydrogen pproiounls
require ivciseed action
different refuelling nusrecarufitrt

Paragraph 2

adopted as a business etrseriepn
aotvanii sector
the most important rnonitstai
a fuel had the leitntapo
tndliuirsa partners
for the saleusbiatn future

Put the text back together

(...) moment for the commercial aviation sector as a whole". Mr Faury said: "We intend to play a leading
(...) fuel had "the potential to significantly reduce aviation's climate impact". Faury was upbeat about the future, saying:
(...) spokesperson said the transition to hydrogen would require "decisive action from the entire aviation
( 1 ) The airline manufacturer Airbus has unveiled ambitious plans for the world's first zero-emission
(...) up renewable energy and hydrogen for the sustainable future of the aviation industry."
(...) prove impractical for large airliners and have opted for hydrogen propulsion. A company
(...) power. Many in the industry believe batteries are the way forward for carbon-zero airplanes. However, Airbus says batteries could
(...) adopted as a business enterprise. He said the three "ZEROe" designs represented "a historic
(...) ecosystem". This means redesigned airports and significantly different refuelling infrastructure.
(...) role in the most important transition this industry has ever seen." He added that the use of hydrogen as a
(...) aircraft. The aerospace giant predicts its hydrogen-powered commercial airplanes could be in service
(...) Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said the company has three possible designs, one of which will be
(...) "With the support from government and industrial partners, we can rise up to this challenge to scale
(...) by 2035. The concept revealed by company engineers shows a shift away from battery

Put the words in the right order

first for Ambitious zero-emission aircraft . world's plans the
hydrogen-powered in could commercial airplanes be Its service .
batteries are believe the way Many forward .
decisive transition to action . hydrogen The would require
infrastructure . and significantly refuelling different airports Redesigned
said Faury three company has the designs . possible
represented "ZEROe" historic designs three a The moment .
leading A in role the important transition . most
climate impact . aviation's potential reduce significantly to The
industry . sustainable future of The the aviation

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The airline manufacturer Airbus has unveiled / involved ambitious plans for the world's first zero-emission aircraft. The aerospace giant / gigantic predicts its hydrogen-powered commercial airplanes could be on / in service by 2035. The concept revealed by company engineers shows a return / shift away from battery power. Many in the industry believe batteries are the way backward / forward for carbon-zero airplanes. However, Airbus says batteries could prove impractical / impartial for large airliners and have opted for hydrogen propulsion. A company spokesperson said the translation / transition to hydrogen would require "decisive action from the entirety / entire aviation ecosystem". This / Thus means redesigned airports and significantly different refuelling / recharging infrastructure.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said the company has three possibly / possible designs, one of which will be / been adopted as a business enterprise. He said the three "ZEROe" designates / designs represented "a historic moment for the commercial aviation section / sector as a whole". Mr Faury said: "We intense / intend to play a leading role in the most important transition this industry has ever / even seen." He added that the use of hydrogen as a fuel had "the potent / potential to significantly reduce aviation's climate impact". Faury was downbeat / upbeat about the future, saying: "With the support from government and industrial partners, we can rise / raise up to this challenge to scale up renewable energy and hydrogen for the sustenance / sustainable future of the aviation industry."

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 h_ __ r l_n_ m_n_f_c t_r_r A_r b_s h_s _n v__ l_d _m b_t___s p l_n s f_r t h_ w_r l d ' s f_r s t z_r_-_m_s s__ n __ r c r_f t . T h_ __ r_s p_c_ g__ n t p r_d_c t s _t s h y d r_g_n - p_w_r_d c_m m_r c__ l __ r p l_n_s c__ l d b_ _n s_r v_c_ b y 2 0 3 5 . T h_ c_n c_p t r_v__ l_d b y c_m p_n y _n g_n__ r s s h_w s _ s h_f t _w_y f r_m b_t t_r y p_w_r . M_n y _n t h_ _n d_s t r y b_l__ v_ b_t t_r__ s _r_ t h_ w_y f_r w_r d f_r c_r b_n - z_r_ __ r p l_n_s . H_w_v_r , A_r b_s s_y s b_t t_r__ s c__ l d p r_v_ _m p r_c t_c_l f_r l_r g_ __ r l_n_r s _n d h_v_ _p t_d f_r h y d r_g_n p r_p_l s__ n . A c_m p_n y s p_k_s p_r s_n s__ d t h_ t r_n s_t__ n t_ h y d r_g_n w__ l d r_q__ r_ " d_c_s_v_ _c t__ n f r_m t h_ _n t_r_ _v__ t__ n _c_s y s t_m " . T h_s m__ n s r_d_s_g n_d __ r p_r t s _n d s_g n_f_c_n t l y d_f f_r_n t r_f__ l l_n g _n f r_s t r_c t_r_.

A_r b_s C E O G__ l l__ m_ F__ r y s__ d t h_ c_m p_n y h_s t h r__ p_s s_b l_ d_s_g n s , _n_ _f w h_c h w_l l b_ _d_p t_d _s _ b_s_n_s s _n t_r p r_s_. H_ s__ d t h_ t h r__ " Z E R O_" d_s_g n s r_p r_s_n t_d "_ h_s t_r_c m_m_n t f_r t h_ c_m m_r c__ l _v__ t__ n s_c t_r _s _ w h_l_" . M r F__ r y s__ d : " W_ _n t_n d t_ p l_y _ l__ d_n g r_l_ _n t h_ m_s t _m p_r t_n t t r_n s_t__ n t h_s _n d_s t r y h_s _v_r s__ n . " H_ _d d_d t h_t t h_ _s_ _f h y d r_g_n _s _ f__ l h_d " t h_ p_t_n t__ l t_ s_g n_f_c_n t l y r_d_c_ _v__ t__ n ' s c l_m_t_ _m p_c t " . F__ r y w_s _p b__ t _b__ t t h_ f_t_r_, s_y_n g : " W_t h t h_ s_p p_r t f r_m g_v_r n m_n t _n d _n d_s t r__ l p_r t n_r s , w_ c_n r_s_ _p t_ t h_s c h_l l_n g_ t_ s c_l_ _p r_n_w_b l_ _n_r g y _n d h y d r_g_n f_r t h_ s_s t__ n_b l_ f_t_r_ _f t h_ _v__ t__ n _n d_s t r y . "

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the airline manufacturer airbus has unveiled ambitious plans for the worlds first zeroemission aircraft the aerospace giant predicts its hydrogenpowered commercial airplanes could be in service by 2035 the concept revealed by company engineers shows a shift away from battery power many in the industry believe batteries are the way forward for carbonzero airplanes however airbus says batteries could prove impractical for large airliners and have opted for hydrogen propulsion a company spokesperson said the transition to hydrogen would require decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem this means redesigned airports and significantly different refuelling infrastructure

airbus ceo guillaume faury said the company has three possible designs one of which will be adopted as a business enterprise he said the three zeroe designs represented a historic moment for the commercial aviation sector as a whole mr faury said we intend to play a leading role in the most important transition this industry has ever seen he added that the use of hydrogen as a fuel had the potential to significantly reduce aviations climate impact faury was upbeat about the future saying with the support from government and industrial partners we can rise up to this challenge to scale up renewable energy and hydrogen for the sustainable future of the aviation industry

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheairlinemanufacturerAirbushasunveiledambitiousplansforthewor
ld'sfirstzero-emissionaircraft.Theaerospacegiantpredictsitshydrog
en-poweredcommercialairplanescouldbeinserviceby2035.Theconc
eptrevealedbycompanyengineersshowsashiftawayfrombatterypow
er.Manyintheindustrybelievebatteriesarethewayforwardforcarbon-
zeroairplanes.However,Airbussaysbatteriescouldproveimpracticalf
orlargeairlinersandhaveoptedforhydrogenpropulsion.Acompanyspo
kespersonsaidthetransitiontohydrogenwouldrequire"decisiveaction
fromtheentireaviationecosystem".Thismeansredesignedairportsan
dsignificantlydifferentrefuellinginfrastructure.AirbusCEOGuillaume
Faurysaidthecompanyhasthreepossibledesigns,oneofwhichwillbead
optedasabusinessenterprise.Hesaidthethree"ZEROe"designsrepres
ented"ahistoricmomentforthecommercialaviationsectorasawhole".
MrFaurysaid:"Weintendtoplayaleadingroleinthemostimportanttran
sitionthisindustryhaseverseen."Headdedthattheuseofhydrogenasaf
uelhad"thepotentialtosignificantlyreduceaviation'sclimateimpact".F
aurywasupbeataboutthefuture,saying:"Withthesupportfromgovern
mentandindustrialpartners,wecanriseuptothischallengetoscaleupre
newableenergyandhydrogenforthesustainablefutureoftheaviationin
dustry."

Free writing

Write about zero emissions for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Airplanes that produce emissions should be banned after 2035. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ZERO-EMISSION AIRPLANES: Make a poster about zero-emission airplanes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. AVIATION: Write a magazine article about only zero-emission airplanes being allowed to fly from 2035. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
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 an expert on zero-emission airplanes. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on aviation. 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

$US 9.99

Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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