Production of biofuels set to rise

30th May, 2008

The world’s production of biofuels is set to rise rapidly over the next ten

years. This is according to a new report by the United Nations Food and

Agriculture Organization. The report stated that increased global

demand for biofuels will “boost international trade” over the next

decade. This is because of rising concerns about global warming and

the search for alternative energies. Governments around the world are

desperate to reduce the amount of fossil fuels they use so they can

meet their CO2 targets. The current record price of oil is fueling the

scramble for biofuels. New biofuel production plants are springing up in

developed countries all over the world. The race is on to produce clean

and economically-friendly biofuels that will provide up to 20 per cent of

the energy needs in the major world economies.

Biofuels are not without their critics. Many people believe they are a

major cause of the current rise in food prices. Industry analysts

disagree and say biofuels make up only five percent of these increases,

and that supply and demand is more to blame. However, it seems that

a sharp rise in biofuel production would greatly influence food prices.

This is because more wheat, seeds, palm oil and sugar would go into

making biofuels instead of feeding people and farm animals. There is a

danger that food riots could spread across the world, even to rich

countries. People would have cheaper fuel for their cars but more

expensive food on store shelves. This would greatly increase the gap

between the haves and have-nots. In October 2007, a United Nations

spokesperson called biofuels a "crime against humanity".

2
WARM-UPS

1. ENERGY: Walk around the class and talk to other students about energy. Change
partners often. After you finish, sit with your partner(s) 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.
production / biofuel / international trade / alternative energies / CO2 targets / oil
price / critics / food prices / supply and demand / feeding people / haves and have
nots

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

3. RISING PRICES: Look at these causes of rising food prices. With your
partner(s), discuss what the world should do to stop the rises. Write your ideas in the table.
Change partners and share your ideas. As a whole class, choose the best ideas.

rising oil prices

population increase
rise of middle classes
biofuels
global warming
poor farming

4. CHEAPER: What would you like to be cheaper? Rank the items below: 10 =
“absolutely essential to be cheap;” 1 = “I don’t care if prices go through the roof”. Compare
your answers with your partner(s).

_____ petrol _____ transportation

_____ electricity and gas bills _____ phone calls
_____ bread and rice _____ air fares
_____ English lessons _____ other _________________

5. HEADLINE PREDICTION: With your partner(s), use the words in the “Chat”
activity above to predict what the news article will be about. Once you have your story,
change partners and share them. Who was closest to the real story?

6. FOSSIL FUELS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you
associate with the term ‘fossil fuels’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about
them. Together, put the words into different categories.

3
BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T)
or false (F):

a. The production of biofuels will more than double over the next T/F
decade.
b. The demand for biofuels will help increase global trade. T/F
c. Governments are extremely keen to replace fossil fuels with biofuels. T/F
d. There is an international competition to produce a clean biofuel. T/F
e. There are no critics of biofuels. T/F
f. Analysts believe biofuels are a major cause of rising food prices. T/F
g. It’s possible that food riots might break out in developed countries. T/F
h. A UN official said biofuels were a crime against humanity. T/F

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

1. set a. push up
2 rapidly b. disadvantaged people
3. boost c. appearing
4. fueling d. quickly
5. springing up e. form
6. critics f. ready
7. make up g. difference
8. influence h. stimulating
9. gap i. affect
10 have-nots j. commentators
.

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than
one combination is possible):

1. production of biofuels is set a. of these increases

2 boost b. CO2 targets
3. the search c. their critics
4. meet their d. international trade
5. production plants are springing e. rise in biofuel production
6. Biofuels are not without f. to rise rapidly
7. biofuels make up only five percent g. for alternative energies
8. a sharp h. and have-nots
9. There is a danger that food i. up in developed countries
10 the gap between the haves j. riots could spread
.

4
WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

The world’s production of biofuels is __________ to rise rapidly

over the next ten years. This is __________ to a new report by desperate
the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The
decade
report stated that increased global demand for biofuels will
friendly
“boost international trade” over the next __________. This is
because of rising __________ about global warming and the set
search for alternative energies. Governments around the world
concerns
are __________ to reduce the amount of fossil fuels they use so
scramble
they can meet their CO2 targets. The current record price of oil
is fueling the __________ for biofuels. New biofuel production according
plants are springing up in developed countries all over the
race
world. The __________ is on to produce clean and
economically-__________ biofuels that will provide up to 20 per
cent of the energy needs in the major world economies.

Biofuels are not __________ their critics. Many people believe

they are a major cause of the __________ rise in food prices. shelves
Industry analysts disagree and say biofuels make up only five
feeding
percent of these increases, and that __________ and demand is
sharp
more to blame. However, it seems that a __________ rise in
biofuel production would greatly influence food prices. This is current
because more wheat, seeds, palm oil and sugar would go into
humanity
making biofuels instead of __________ people and farm
without
animals. There is a danger that food __________ could spread
across the world, even to rich countries. People would have riots
cheaper fuel for their cars but more expensive food on store
supply
__________. This would greatly increase the gap between the
haves and have-nots. In October 2007, a United Nations
spokesperson called biofuels a "crime against __________ ".

5
LISTENING: Listen and fill in the spaces.

The world’s production of biofuels ______________________ over the next

ten years. This is according to a new report by the United Nations Food and

Agriculture Organization. The report __________________ global demand

for biofuels will “boost international trade” __________________. This is

because of rising concerns about global warming __________________

alternative energies. Governments around the world are desperate to reduce

the amount of fossil fuels they use __________________ their CO2 targets.

The current record price of oil is __________________ for biofuels. New

biofuel production plants are springing up in developed countries all over the

world. The __________________ produce clean and economically-friendly

biofuels that will provide up to 20 per cent _____________________ the

major world economies.

Biofuels __________________ critics. Many people believe they are a major

cause __________________ food prices. Industry analysts disagree and say

biofuels make up only five percent of these increases, and that supply and

demand __________________. However, it seems that a sharp rise in

biofuel production __________________ food prices. This is because more

wheat, seeds, palm oil and sugar would go into making biofuels instead of

feeding people and farm animals. There is a danger __________________

spread across the world, even to rich countries. People would have cheaper

__________________ but more expensive food on store shelves. This would

greatly increase the gap between _____________________. In October

2007, a United Nations spokesperson called biofuels a "crime against

humanity".

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AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find

collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘bio’ and
‘fuel’.

Bio fuel

 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:

 set  without
 boost  five percent
 search  sharp
 meet  feeding
 scramble  shelves
 20 per cent  haves

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STUDENT BIOFUELS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about biofuels 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.

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

a) What did you think when you read the headline?

b) What springs to mind when you hear the term ‘biofuel’?
c) What are your thoughts on this article?
d) What do you know about biofuels?
e) Are you worried about the rise in food and oil prices?
f) Do you think the rise in biofuels production is good or bad for the
world?
g) What does your country have to do to meet its CO2 targets?
h) Do you think there are better alternatives to biofuels?
i) How economically friendly do you think biofuels are?
j) Do you think the world’s major economies should reduce the energy
they use?

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

a) Did you like reading this article?

b) What adjectives would you use to describe today’s situation of rising
prices?
c) What do critics of biofuels say?
d) How can supply and demand be to blame for rising food prices?
e) What increases in food prices have you noticed?
f) Do you think farmers should grow crops for fuel or food?
g) Have there been food riots in your country? Would you protest in the
streets?
h) What do you think life is like for the have-nots?
i) What questions would you like to ask the UN spokesperson?
j) Did you like this discussion?

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LANGUAGE
The world’s production of biofuels is set to rise (1) ____ over the next ten years.
This is according to a new report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization. The report (2) ____ that increased global demand for biofuels will
“boost international trade” over the (3) ____ decade. This is because of rising
concerns about global warming and the search (4) ____ alternative energies.
Governments around the world are desperate to reduce the amount of fossil fuels
they use so they can meet their CO2 targets. The current record price of oil is
(5) ____ the scramble for biofuels. New biofuel production plants are springing up
in developed countries all over the world. The race is (6) ____ to produce clean and
economically-friendly biofuels that will provide up to 20 per cent of the energy
needs in the major world economies.

Biofuels are (7) ____ without their critics. Many people believe they are a major
cause of the current rise in food prices. Industry analysts disagree and say biofuels
make (8) ____ only five percent of these increases, and that supply and demand is
more to blame. However, it seems that a sharp rise in biofuel production would
greatly (9) ____ food prices. This is because more wheat, seeds, palm oil and sugar
would go into making biofuels instead of (10) ____ people and farm animals. There
is a danger that food riots could spread across the world, (11) ____ to rich
countries. People would have cheaper fuel for their cars but more expensive food on
store shelves. This would greatly increase the gap between the (12) ____ and
have-nots. In October 2007, a United Nations spokesperson called biofuels a "crime
against humanity".

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

1. (a) rapidness (b) rapidity (c) rapid (d) rapidly

2. (a) state (b) statement (c) stated (d) stating
3. (a) current (b) next (c) last (d) one
4. (a) for (b) by (c) with (d) to
5. (a) fueled (b) fuels (c) fueling (d) fuel
6. (a) won (b) over (c) in (d) on
7. (a) none (b) not (c) no (d) nope
8. (a) up (b) over (c) it (d) to
9. (a) influencing (b) influence (c) influences (d) influenced
10. (a) feeds (b) food (c) feeding (d) fed
11. (a) even (b) evenly (c) evenness (d) evening
12. (a) have (b) has (c) had (d) haves

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WRITING:

Write about biofuels for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

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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 biofuels and
how they influence rising food prices. Share what you discover with your
partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES: Make a poster about alternative

energies. Include the ones that are used in your country. Show your work to
your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. RIOTS: Write a magazine article about food riots. Include imaginary

interviews with haves and have-nots. Include questions about food prices
and oil prices.

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. LETTER: Write a letter to the head of the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization. Ask him/her three questions about biofuels and
food production. Give him/her three pieces of advice on what (s)he should
do to make sure there is enough food in the world. Read your letter to your
partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

6. DIARY / JOURNAL: You are a farmer. You need to decide if you will
produce crops for food or fuel. Write your diary entry about one day in your
life. Include your thoughts on biofuels and rising food prices. Read your
entry to your classmates in the next lesson.

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:
a. F b. T c. T d. F e. F f. F g. T h. T

SYNONYM MATCH:
1. set a. ready
2 rapidly b. quickly
3. boost c. push up
4. fueling d. stimulating
5. springing up e. appearing
6. critics f. commentators
7. make up g. form
8. influence h. affect
9. gap i. difference
10. have-nots j. disadvantaged people

PHRASE MATCH:
1. production of biofuels is set a. to rise rapidly
2 boost b. international trade
3. the search c. for alternative energies
4. meet their d. CO2 targets
5. production plants are springing e. up in developed countries
6. Biofuels are not without f. their critics
7. biofuels make up only five percent g. of these increases
8. a sharp h. rise in biofuel production
9. There is a danger that food i. riots could spread
10. the gap between the haves j. and have-nots

GAP FILL:
Production of biofuels set to rise
The world’s production of biofuels is set to rise rapidly over the next ten years. This is according to a new report
by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The report stated that increased global demand for
biofuels will “boost international trade” over the next decade. This is because of rising concerns about global
warming and the search for alternative energies. Governments around the world are desperate to reduce the
amount of fossil fuels they use so they can meet their CO2 targets. The current record price of oil is fueling the
scramble for biofuels. New biofuel production plants are springing up in developed countries all over the world.
The race is on to produce clean and economically-friendly biofuels that will provide up to 20 per cent of the
energy needs in the major world economies.
Biofuels are not without their critics. Many people believe they are a major cause of the current rise in food
prices. Industry analysts disagree and say biofuels make up only five percent of these increases, and that supply
and demand is more to blame. However, it seems that a sharp rise in biofuel production would greatly influence
food prices. This is because more wheat, seeds, palm oil and sugar would go into making biofuels instead of
feeding people and farm animals. There is a danger that food riots could spread across the world, even to rich
countries. People would have cheaper fuel for their cars but more expensive food on store shelves. This would
greatly increase the gap between the haves and have-nots. In October 2007, a United Nations spokesperson called
biofuels a "crime against humanity".

LANGUAGE WORK
1–d 2-c 3-b 4-a 5-c 6-d 7-b 8-a 9-b 10 -c 11 - a 12 - d

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