The Reading / Listening - Oil Production - Level 6

The energy giant Royal Dutch Shell has announced it has passed its peak production of oil. The days of increasing oil production are over and the decline in output has started. Shell said in a press release that, "oil production peaked in 2019". The "high point" of Shell's oil production reached around 1.7 million barrels per day. It now expects an annual drop of up to two per cent per year. The fall comes a year ahead of Shell's initial forecasts. In 2015, the company predicted the peak of global oil demand would be in 2020. The announcement included news that Shell would reduce the number of its oil refineries from 14 sites to six. This means the loss of around 9,000 jobs, or more than 10 per cent of its workforce.

Shell said it is shifting its focus onto renewables and reducing its carbon footprint. It pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company said it wants to diversify into becoming an energy provider rather than relying on fossil fuels. It has been actively exploring new, green technologies such as carbon capture. It has also been buying companies that provide electric vehicle charging stations. Shell CEO Ben van Beurden vowed to create half a million EV charging points by 2025. He said: "We must give our customers the products and services they want - products that have the lowest environmental impact. We will...grow in markets where demand for cleaner products and services is strongest."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Oil Production - Level 4  or  Oil Production - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1131263_shell-admits-it-s-past-peak-oil-eyes-carbon-offsets-as-a-business-opportunity
  • https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-9250857/Oil-production-passed-peak-admits-Shell.html
  • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-shell-results-idUSKBN27E119


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. OIL PRODUCTION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about oil production. 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?
       energy / giant / peak / production / oil / decline / forecast / demand / oil refineries
       focus / renewables / net-zero / carbon emissions / fossil fuels / charging points
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FOSSIL FUELS: Students A strongly believe we should end the use of all fossil fuels by the end of this decade; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. RENEWABLES: What do you know about these renewables? How good are they? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

How Good They Are

Wind power

 

 

Hydro power

 

 

Solar energy

 

 

Geothermal energy

 

 

Bioenergy

 

 

Tidal power

 

 
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. PRODUCTION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "production". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. OIL PRODUCTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Soap
  • Tyres
  • Dyes
  • Plastic bottles
  • Combs
  • Golf balls
  • Shower curtains
  • Water pipes

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. announced a. A large, cylindrical container used to store liquids like oil or beer.
      2. decline b. An official statement issued to newspapers giving information on a particular matter.
      3. press release c. A gradual and continuous loss of strength, numbers, quality, or value.
      4. expect d. An industrial factory-type building where a substance is developed and improved.
      5. barrel e. Made a public declaration about a fact, occurrence, or intention.
      6. forecast f. Regard something as likely to happen.
      7. refineries g. A prediction or estimate of future events, especially coming weather or a financial trend.

    Paragraph 2

      8. shifting h. The production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation.
      9. renewables i. The process of trapping CO2 and storing it.
      10. pledged j. Make or become more varied.
      11. emissions k. Sources of energy that are not used up, such as water, wind, or solar power.
      12. diversify l. The action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another.
      13. carbon capture m. Changing, especially unpredictably.
      14. impact n. Committed a person or organization by a big promise.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says the decline in oil production has started.     T / F
  2. Shell said oil production peaked in 2019.     T / F
  3. Shell forecast that oil production would drop by 2 per cent a year.     T / F
  4. Shell will close 14 of its oil refineries.     T / F
  5. Shell said it would change its focus to renewables.     T / F
  6. Shell said it wants to have net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.     T / F
  7. Shell wants to install over a million EV charging points by 2025.     T / F
  8. Shell said it would focus on clearer, stronger products.     T / F

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

  1. peak
  2. decline
  3. expects
  4. annual
  5. workforce
  6. shifting
  7. relying
  8. provide
  9. vowed
  10. impact
  1. promised
  2. yearly
  3. changing
  4. decrease
  5. supply
  6. height
  7. effect
  8. personnel
  9. supposes
  10. depending

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

  1. it has passed its peak
  2. The days of increasing oil production
  3. a press
  4. the company predicted the peak
  5. more than 10 per cent of
  6. it is shifting its focus
  7. diversify into becoming an
  8. rather than relying
  9. provide electric vehicle charging
  10. products that have the lowest
  1. on fossil fuels
  2. its workforce
  3. stations
  4. onto renewables
  5. are over
  6. energy provider
  7. of global oil demand
  8. production of oil
  9. environmental impact
  10. release

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
decline
annual
refineries
giant
point
workforce
peak
predicted

The energy (1) _____________________ Royal Dutch Shell has announced it has passed its (2) _____________________ production of oil. The days of increasing oil production are over and the (3) _____________________ in output has started. Shell said in a press release that, "oil production peaked in 2019". The "high (4) _____________________ " of Shell's oil production reached around 1.7 million barrels per day. It now expects an (5) _____________________ drop of up to two per cent per year. The fall comes a year ahead of Shell's initial forecasts. In 2015, the company (6) _____________________ the peak of global oil demand would be in 2020. The announcement included news that Shell would reduce the number of its oil (7) _____________________ from 14 sites to six. This means the loss of around 9,000 jobs, or more than 10 per cent of its (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
diversify
vehicle
strongest
shifting
actively
impact
pledged
points

Shell said it is (9) _____________________ its focus onto renewables and reducing its carbon footprint. It (10) _____________________ to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company said it wants to (11) _____________________ into becoming an energy provider rather than relying on fossil fuels. It has been (12) _____________________ exploring new, green technologies such as carbon capture. It has also been buying companies that provide electric (13) _____________________ charging stations. Shell CEO Ben van Beurden vowed to create half a million EV charging (14) _____________________ by 2025. He said: "We must give our customers the products and services they want - products that have the lowest environmental (15) _____________________. We will...grow in markets where demand for cleaner products and services is (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The energy giant Royal Dutch Shell has announced it has passed its peak ______
     a.  production offshore oil
     b.  production offer oil
     c.  production have oil
     d.  production of oil
2)  The "high point" of Shell's oil production reached around ______
     a.  1.7 million barrels
     b.  1.7 million burrows
     c.  1.7 million bevels
     d.  1.7 million broils
3)  In 2015, the company predicted the peak of ______
     a.  global oil demands
     b.  global oil demand
     c.  global oil demanded
     d.  global oil demanding
4)  included news that Shell would reduce the number of ______
     a.  its oil refines arise
     b.  its oil reef fineries
     c.  its oil refineries
     d.  its oil reef wineries
5)  the loss of around 9,000 jobs, or more than 10 per cent ______
     a.  of its works force
     b.  of its workforce
     c.  of its worker farce
     d.  of its work farce

6)  Shell said it is shifting its focus onto renewables and reducing ______
     a.  its carbon footprint
     b.  its carbon thumbprint
     c.  its carbon hoof print
     d.  its carbon imprint
7)  It pledged to achieve net-zero carbon ______
     a.  emission by 2050
     b.  emissions bye 2050
     c.  emissions buy 2050
     d.  emissions by 2050
8)  It has been actively exploring new, green technologies such ______
     a.  as carbon rapture
     b.  as carbon enrapture
     c.  as carbon rupture
     d.  as carbon capture
9)  Shell CEO Ben van Beurden vowed to create half a million ______
     a.  EV charging points
     b.  EV charge in points
     c.  EV char gin points
     d.  EV char ginger points
10)  We will grow in markets where demand for cleaner products and ______
     a.  service is strongest
     b.  services strongest
     c.  serve vices is strongest
     d.  services is strongest

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

(1) ____________________ Royal Dutch Shell has announced it has passed its peak production of oil. The (2) ____________________ oil production are over and the decline in output has started. Shell said in a press release that, "oil production peaked in 2019". The (3) ____________________ Shell's oil production reached around 1.7 million barrels per day. It now expects an       (4) ____________________ up to two per cent per year. The fall comes a year ahead of Shell's initial forecasts. In 2015, the company predicted the peak (5) ____________________ demand would be in 2020. The announcement included news that Shell would reduce the number of its oil refineries from 14 sites to six. This means (6) ____________________ around 9,000 jobs, or more than 10 per cent of its workforce.

Shell said it is (7) ____________________ onto renewables and reducing its carbon footprint. It pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company said it wants (8) ____________________ becoming an energy provider rather than relying on fossil fuels. It has (9) ___________________ new, green technologies such as carbon capture. It has also been buying companies (10) ____________________ vehicle charging stations. Shell CEO Ben van Beurden vowed to create half a million EV charging points by 2025. He said: "We must (11) ____________________ the products and services they want - products that have the lowest environmental impact. We will...grow in markets where demand for cleaner products and (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the full name of the Shell oil company?
  2. When did Shell say it had passed peak production?
  3. How many barrels a day did Shell produce at its peak?
  4. In what year did Shell expect to hit peak demand?
  5. How many oil refineries will Shell close?
  6. What does Shell want to shift its focus to?
  7. By when does Shell want to achieve net-zero carbon emissions?
  8. What does Shell hope to do with carbon?
  9. How many EV charging points does Shell want to create?
  10. What does Shell want to have the lowest impact on?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What is the full name of the Shell oil company?
a) Shell Royal Dutch
b) Royal Dutch Shell
c) Royal Shell Dutch
d) Dutch Royal Shell
2)  When did Shell say it had passed peak production?
a) in 2017
b) in 2018
c) in 2020
d) in 2019
3) How many barrels a day did Shell produce at its peak?
a) around 1.7 million
b) exactly 1.7 million
c) just under 1.7 million
d) just over 1.7 million
4) In what year did Shell expect to hit peak demand?
a) 2021
b) 2025
c) 2020
d) 2026
5) How many oil refineries will Shell close?
a) 7
b) 8
c) 5
d) 9

6) What does Shell want to shift its focus to?
a) renewables
b) biofuels
c) technology
d) web services
7) By when does Shell want to achieve net-zero carbon emissions?
a) 2060
b) 2040
c) 2050
d) 2030
8) What does Shell hope to do with carbon?
a) capture it
b) destroy it
c) change it to nitrogen
d) experiment on it
9) How many EV charging points does Shell want to create?
a) half a million
b) 250,000
c) 5,000,000
d) fifty thousand
10) What does Shell want to have the lowest impact on?
a) the bottom line
b) its profits
c) oil reserves
d) the environment

Role play

Role  A – Soap
You think soap is the most important oil product. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their products aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): tyres, golf balls or shower curtains.

Role  B – Tyres
You think tyres are the most important oil product. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their products aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): soap, golf balls or shower curtains.

Role  C – Golf Balls
You think golf balls are the most important oil product. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their products aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): tyres, soap or shower curtains.

Role  D – Shower Curtains
You think shower curtains are the most important oil product. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their products aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): tyres, golf balls or soap.

After reading / listening

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

'oil'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'production'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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
    • over
    • 2019
    • 1.7
    • 2015
    • 14
    • focus
    • 2050
    • fossil
    • capture
    • give
    • grow

    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 - Oil Production

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'peak'?
    3. What do you know about the company Shell?
    4. How important do you think oil is?
    5. What do you think of oil production being past its peak.
    6. What do we need oil for?
    7. How would the world change if we didn't use oil?
    8. What damage has oil done to the world?
    9. What can Shell's workforce do once they lose their jobs?
    10. What do you know about the uses of oil?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'oil'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about renewables?
    5. What are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint?
    6. What is your country doing to reduce its carbon footprint?
    7. How can we achieve net-zero carbon emissions?
    8. What do you think of electric cars?
    9. What clean energies are best?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the Shell 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 energy giant Royal Dutch Shell has announced it has (1) ____ its peak production of oil. The days of increasing oil production are over and the decline (2) ____ output has started. Shell said in a (3) ____ release that, "oil production peaked in 2019". The "high point" of Shell's oil production reached around 1.7 million (4) ____ per day. It now expects an (5) ____ drop of up to two per cent per year. The fall comes a year ahead of Shell's initial forecasts. In 2015, the company predicted the peak of global oil demand would be in 2020. The announcement included news that Shell would reduce the number of its oil (6) ____ from 14 sites to six. This means the loss of around 9,000 jobs, or more than 10 per cent of its workforce.

    Shell said it is (7) ____ its focus onto renewables and reducing its carbon footprint. It pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company said it wants to (8) ____ into becoming an energy provider rather than relying on fossil fuels. It has been actively exploring new, green technologies such as carbon (9) ____. It has also been buying companies that provide electric vehicle charging stations. Shell CEO Ben van Beurden (10) ____ to create half a million EV charging (11) ____ by 2025. He said: "We must give our customers the products and services they want - products that have the lowest environmental (12) ____. We will...grow in markets where demand for cleaner products and services is strongest."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     past     (b)     pasted     (c)     parsed     (d)     passed    
    2. (a)     at     (b)     to     (c)     by     (d)     in    
    3. (a)     pull     (b)     press     (c)     push     (d)     squash    
    4. (a)     cartons     (b)     containers     (c)     barrels     (d)     boxes    
    5. (a)     annual     (b)     annually     (c)     annul     (d)     annuals    
    6. (a)     refineries     (b)     refines     (c)     refined     (d)     refunds    
    7. (a)     sifting     (b)     sieving     (c)     shafting     (d)     shifting    
    8. (a)     diversify     (b)     qualify     (c)     nullify     (d)     intensify    
    9. (a)     catapult     (b)     capture     (c)     creature     (d)     culture    
    10. (a)     wowed     (b)     cowed     (c)     vowed     (d)     bowed    
    11. (a)     pockets     (b)     plugs     (c)     points     (d)     poppets    
    12. (a)     improve     (b)     impact     (c)     impress     (d)     impish

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. udnoacnen it has passed its peak
    2. the iceednl in output has started
    3. It now expects an ulnnaa drop
    4. a year ahead of Shell's initial tesrscfoa
    5. the company rpdtecedi the peak
    6. reduce the number of its oil reineiesrf

    Paragraph 2

    1. shifting its focus onto leseberwan
    2. achieve net-zero carbon niismsseo
    3. it wants to vfdiisyre
    4. relying on fsolsi fuels
    5. carbon raptecu
    6. electric veieclh charging stations

    Put the text back together

    (...)  are over and the decline in output has started. Shell said in a press release that, "oil production peaked
    (...)  to create half a million EV charging points by 2025. He said: "We must give our
    (...)  in 2019". The "high point" of Shell's oil production reached around 1.7 million barrels
    (...)  Shell said it is shifting its focus onto renewables and reducing its carbon footprint. It pledged to
    (...)  ahead of Shell's initial forecasts. In 2015, the company predicted the peak of global oil demand would
    (...)  capture. It has also been buying companies that provide electric vehicle charging stations. Shell CEO Ben van Beurden vowed
    (...)  than relying on fossil fuels. It has been actively exploring new, green technologies such as carbon
    (  1  ) The energy giant Royal Dutch Shell has announced it has passed its peak production of oil. The days of increasing oil production
    (...)  impact. We will...grow in markets where demand for cleaner products and services is strongest."
    (...)  customers the products and services they want - products that have the lowest environmental
    (...)  achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company said it wants to diversify into becoming an energy provider rather
    (...)  be in 2020. The announcement included news that Shell would reduce the number of its oil
    (...)  refineries from 14 sites to six. This means the loss of around 9,000 jobs, or more than 10 per cent of its workforce.
    (...)  per day. It now expects an annual drop of up to two per cent per year. The fall comes a year

    Put the words in the right order

    1. are   increasing   of   production   over   .   The   days   oil
    2. 2%   .   expects   now   an   of   annual   It   drop
    3. of   fall   a   forecasts   .   comes   ahead   The   year
    4. would   reduce   the   of   number   Shell   refineries   .   oil
    5. of   the   jobs   .   means   loss   This   around   9,000
    6. renewables   .   its   onto   it's   said   Shell   focus   shifting
    7. net-zero   pledged   achieve   emissions   .   carbon   to   It
    8. an   It   energy   provider   .   wants   into   to   diversify
    9. charging  stations  .  Buying   electric   vehicle  that  provide  companies
    10. they   customers   our   want   .   Give   the   products

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The energy giant Royal Dutch Shell has renounced / announced it has passed its peak production of oil. The days of increasing oil production are over and the recline / decline in output has started. Shell said in a press release that, "oil production peaked in 2019". The "high point" of Shell's oil production reached / breached around 1.7 million barrels per day. It now expects the / an annual drop of up to two per cent per year. The fall / fail comes a year ahead of / on Shell's initial forecasts. In 2015, the company predicted the peak of global oil demand would be / have in 2020. The announcement included news that Shell would induce / reduce the number of its oil refineries / refines from 14 sites to six. This means the loss of around 9,000 jobs, or more than 10 per cent of / at its workforce.

    Shell said it is sifting / shifting its focus onto renewables / renews and reducing its carbon footprint. It pledged / alleged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company said it wants to diversify onto / into becoming an energy provider rather than relying / reliance on fossil fuels. It has been actively exploring new, green technologies such was / as carbon capture. It has also been buying companies that provide electric vehicle charging / charges stations. Shell CEO Ben van Beurden wowed / vowed to create half a million EV charging points by 2025. He said: "We must give our customers the products and services they want - products that have the lowest / lowly environmental impact. We will...grow in markets where demand for cleaner products and services is / are strongest."

    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)

    Th_  _n_rgy  g__nt  R_y_l  D_tch  Sh_ll  h_s  _nn__nc_d  _t  h_s  p_ss_d  _ts  p__k  pr_d_ct__n  _f  __l.  Th_  d_ys  _f  _ncr__s_ng  __l  pr_d_ct__n  _r_  _v_r  _nd  th_  d_cl_n_  _n  __tp_t  h_s  st_rt_d.  Sh_ll  s__d  _n  _  pr_ss  r_l__s_  th_t,  "__l  pr_d_ct__n  p__k_d  _n  2019".  Th_  "h_gh  p__nt"  _f  Sh_ll's  __l  pr_d_ct__n  r__ch_d  _r__nd  1.7  m_ll__n  b_rr_ls  p_r  d_y.  _t  n_w  _xp_cts  _n  _nn__l  dr_p  _f  _p  t_  tw_  p_r  c_nt  p_r  y__r.  Th_  f_ll  c_m_s  _  y__r  _h__d  _f  Sh_ll's  _n_t__l  f_r_c_sts.  _n  2015,  th_  c_mp_ny  pr_d_ct_d  th_  p__k  _f  gl_b_l  __l  d_m_nd  w__ld  b_  _n  2020.  Th_  _nn__nc_m_nt  _ncl_d_d  n_ws  th_t  Sh_ll  w__ld  r_d_c_  th_  n_mb_r  _f  _ts  __l  r_f_n_r__s  fr_m  14  s_t_s  t_  s_x.  Th_s  m__ns  th_  l_ss  _f  _r__nd  9,000  j_bs,  _r  m_r_  th_n  10  p_r  c_nt  _f  _ts  w_rkf_rc_.

    Sh_ll  s__d  _t  _s  sh_ft_ng  _ts  f_c_s  _nt_  r_n_w_bl_s  _nd  r_d_c_ng  _ts  c_rb_n  f__tpr_nt.  _t  pl_dg_d  t_  _ch__v_  n_t-z_r_  c_rb_n  _m_ss__ns  by  2050.  Th_  c_mp_ny  s__d  _t  w_nts  t_  d_v_rs_fy  _nt_  b_c_m_ng  _n  _n_rgy  pr_v_d_r  r_th_r  th_n  r_ly_ng  _n  f_ss_l  f__ls.  _t  h_s  b__n  _ct_v_ly  _xpl_r_ng  n_w,  gr__n  t_chn_l_g__s  s_ch  _s  c_rb_n  c_pt_r_.  _t  h_s  _ls_  b__n  b_y_ng  c_mp_n__s  th_t  pr_v_d_  _l_ctr_c  v_h_cl_  ch_rg_ng  st_t__ns.  Sh_ll  C__  B_n  v_n  B__rd_n  v_w_d  t_  cr__t_  h_lf  _  m_ll__n  _V  ch_rg_ng  p__nts  by  2025.  H_  s__d:  "W_  m_st  g_v_  __r  c_st_m_rs  th_  pr_d_cts  _nd  s_rv_c_s  th_y  w_nt  -  pr_d_cts  th_t  h_v_  th_  l_w_st  _nv_r_nm_nt_l  _mp_ct.  W_  w_ll...gr_w  _n  m_rk_ts  wh_r_  d_m_nd  f_r  cl__n_r  pr_d_cts  _nd  s_rv_c_s  _s  str_ng_st."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the energy giant royal dutch shell has announced it has passed its peak production of oil the days of increasing oil production are over and the decline in output has started shell said in a press release that oil production peaked in 2019 the high point of shells oil production reached around 17 million barrels per day it now expects an annual drop of up to two per cent per year the fall comes a year ahead of shells initial forecasts in 2015 the company predicted the peak of global oil demand would be in 2020 the announcement included news that shell would reduce the number of its oil refineries from 14 sites to six this means the loss of around 9000 jobs or more than 10 per cent of its workforce

    shell said it is shifting its focus onto renewables and reducing its carbon footprint it pledged to achieve netzero carbon emissions by 2050 the company said it wants to diversify into becoming an energy provider rather than relying on fossil fuels it has been actively exploring new green technologies such as carbon capture it has also been buying companies that provide electric vehicle charging stations shell ceo ben van beurden vowed to create half a million ev charging points by 2025 he said we must give our customers the products and services they want  products that have the lowest environmental impact we will grow in markets where demand for cleaner products and services is strongest

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheenergygiantRoyalDutchShellhasannouncedithaspasseditspeakp
    roductionofoil.Thedaysofincreasingoilproductionareoverandthedecl
    ineinoutputhasstarted.Shellsaidinapressreleasethat,"oilproduction
    peakedin2019".The"highpoint"ofShell'soilproductionreachedaroun
    d1.7millionbarrelsperday.Itnowexpectsanannualdropofuptotwoper
    centperyear.ThefallcomesayearaheadofShell'sinitialforecasts.In20
    15,thecompanypredictedthepeakofglobaloildemandwouldbein2020
    .TheannouncementincludednewsthatShellwouldreducethenumbero
    fitsoilrefineriesfrom14sitestosix.Thismeansthelossofaround9,000jo
    bs,ormorethan10percentofitsworkforce.Shellsaiditisshiftingitsfocus
    ontorenewablesandreducingitscarbonfootprint.Itpledgedtoachieve
    net-zerocarbonemissionsby2050.Thecompanysaiditwantstodiversi
    fyintobecominganenergyproviderratherthanrelyingonfossilfuels.Ith
    asbeenactivelyexploringnew,greentechnologiessuchascarboncaptu
    re.Ithasalsobeenbuyingcompaniesthatprovideelectricvehiclechargi
    ngstations.ShellCEOBenvanBeurdenvowedtocreatehalfamillionEVc
    hargingpointsby2025.Hesaid:"Wemustgiveourcustomerstheproduc
    tsandservicestheywant-productsthathavethelowestenvironmen
    talimpact.Wewill...growinmarketswheredemandforcleanerproducts
    andservicesisstrongest."

    Free writing

    Write about oil production for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    The world should try and end the use of oil this decade. Discuss.

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    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. OIL PRODUCTION: Make a poster about oil production. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. FOSSIL FUELS: Write a magazine article about ending the use of all fossil fuels by the end of this decade. 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 oil production. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on oil. 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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