Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. demonstrator (n.) [dem-uhn-strey-ter] – someone who joins a crowd of people to support or disapprove an issue
Example: Demonstrators marched in the streets asking the government to end
the war.
2. meltdown (n.) [melt-doun] – a melting process that happens at nuclear power plants when reactors are not
properly cooled, leading to a release of radiation
Example: The meltdown at the power plant made people worry
about their health and safety.
3. battery (n.) [bat-uh-ree] – a big group of related objects or ideas
Example: The equipment went
through a battery of tests to show
that it is working properly.
4. go-ahead (idiom) [goh-uh-hed] – permission or agreement to start or continue an activity
Example: The president must
give the go-ahead before the
information can be shown to the public.
5. blackout (n.) [blak-out] – the loss of electricity or power in an area
Example: The storm damaged power
lines, causing a blackout in the city
for days.
Article(10 minutes)
Read the text below.
Read the text below.
For the first time in 42 years Japan has become independent of nuclear energy as the
final nuclear reactor was shut down in Tomari, Hokkaido last May 5.
The
last nuclear reactor was switched off for a routine check, a safety procedure
that all other reactors underwent after the meltdown at the Fukushima plant in March 2011. Before the plants
were shut off, 30% of Japan’s energy was being supplied by nuclear power.
The plants will
only restart if they can pass a battery
of tests against earthquakes and tsunamis. The approval of each local
government officials is also needed before the plants can restart. But local
leaders have not been too quick to give the go-ahead because of strong public opinion against the reactors.
An estimated 5,500 demonstrators celebrated in Tokyo
after the shutdown in Tomari was completed. Protestors said their efforts had
stopped the running of many nuclear plants in Japan.
The government, on
the other hand, wants to continue operations of the Ohi plant in Fukui, since
two of the reactors there have been declared safe to use. Ministers are
worried Japan may face blackouts in
the coming summer.
Business owners are
also concerned about the effects of the lack of energy on the production of
goods.
However, if blackouts
can be avoided in the summer, the demands to completely stop nuclear operations could increase.
Meanwhile, in order
to keep enough supply of energy, Japan has started to import more fossil
fuel. Electric companies have also reopened some of their old power plants to
help provide energy.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Do you think people should continue to use
nuclear energy? Why or why not?
·
If it were possible for your country to replace
nuclear energy with any other kind of energy source, what would you choose? Why
choose it?
Discussion B
·
Have you ever experienced a blackout? What
would you do if you a blackout were to happen?
·
What do you think would be the effects of a
very long blackout in the area where you live?