America's oil - a love affair
In
September 2000, the world was hit by an "oil crisis"; the cost of crude
oil
reached over 35 dollars a barrel, and gasoline (which the British
call
"petrol") became very expensive. Even in America. In 2022 the cost of
oil increased sharply again even in the USA, and use of
oil continues
to fall .
They
don't make cars like this any more. They used too much gasoleneToday, in late summer 2023, gas costs over $ 4 a gallon in many parts of the USA. In California, even regular gas costs above $5 a gallon.
This is quite cheap compared to Europe,* * but Americans think that it is very expensive.
The United States is the land of relatively cheap energy; America is the second biggest producer of oil in the world, but it is also the biggest importer. In fact, the USA imports over 20% of its energy, mostly in the form of oil,.
There is oil under the ground in many parts of the USA. Today, oil companies are "fracking", and they are finding lots more oil under the ground; but this oil is expensive to extract.
Working
in the American oil industryThis was not always the case. America's first oil wells were drilled in the year 1859, in Pennsylvania; and since then, more and more wells have been made in other states. The first Texan oil-wells opened in 1901, when there was already a big oil industry in other parts of the USA; but without the oil from Texas, America's history would have been very different.
In 2001, Texans celebrated their "oil centenary".
Cheap oil and cheap gasoline helped to make modern America. They shaped America's cities, and they were an essential part of the American lifestyle. They were also essential in the great empty states of the West, where people often have to travel long distances.
Today, Americans consume about 25% of the world's energy.... far more than people in most other countries; but the situation is slowly changing.
Americans are buying smaller cars, and American cars consume much less gas than they used to. In the coming years, they will use even less. They will have to.
There is still a lot of oil under the ground, but oil and gas must become more expensive in the future. Over 50% of America's traditional oil reserves have already been used - mostly since 1950. Nobody knows when America's oil will start running out, but the first problems could come in less than 20 years. And as soon as oil starts running out, its price will go up even faster!
In conclusion, the "two dollar gallon" was good for America. It encouraged Americans to buy smaller cars, and to use less energy. That way, America's oil will last longer..... perhaps until the age when all the cars in America run on electricity.
** Comparing gasoline prices:
$3.80 per gallon = about $1.00 per litre, or about 0.85 €uros a litre... which is much cheaper than in Europe.(Converted at August 2020 rates)
case: situation - centenary: 100th anniversary - consume: use - crude oil: oil that comes out of the ground - drill: make a hole - fracking: a controversial new technology to extract oil from rocks - gasolene or gas (USA) = petrol (GB) - a gallon (US) : 3.78 litres - oil well: crude oil comes out of the ground through oil wells - run out: come to an end. -
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Interactive worksheet
America's oil
Exercise - comparisons
Here is some information which comes from the article: unfortunately the sentences have been put together wrongly: each sentence contains two parts, (a) and (b). Join the parts correctly. You can select and copy words from list b and paste them into list a.
| List a) | List b) |
| Gasolene is much cheaper in the USA | than in Pennsylvania |
| Gasolene is more expensive today | than it is in Europe. |
| Americans consume more energy | than people in Europe. |
| Americans cars consume less gasolene | than it is today |
| More oil is produced in Texas | than it was in the past. |
| Oil will be more expensive in the future | than they used to |
Verbs
.Select the correct form of the verb from the options in each of tyhe dropdown boxes.
Today, Americans
about 25% of
the world's energy.... far more than people in most other countries;
but the
situation
.
Americans smaller cars, and American cars much less gas than they . In the coming years, they even less. They .
There is still a lot of oil under the ground, but oil and gas become more expensive in the future. Over 50% of America's traditional oil reserves - mostly since 1950. Nobody when America's oil running out, but the first problems come in less than 20 years. And as soon as oil running out, its price even faster!
In conclusion, the "two dollar gallon" good for America. It Americans to buy smaller cars, and to use less energy. That way, America's oil longer..... perhaps until the age when all the cars in America on electricity.
Americans smaller cars, and American cars much less gas than they . In the coming years, they even less. They .
There is still a lot of oil under the ground, but oil and gas become more expensive in the future. Over 50% of America's traditional oil reserves - mostly since 1950. Nobody when America's oil running out, but the first problems come in less than 20 years. And as soon as oil running out, its price even faster!
In conclusion, the "two dollar gallon" good for America. It Americans to buy smaller cars, and to use less energy. That way, America's oil longer..... perhaps until the age when all the cars in America on electricity.
.
Lesson plan
Grammar - tenses
This text provides a good and simple illustration of the use of different tenses in English. In particular it contrasts uses of the past tenses (simple past and present perfect) with uses of the present tenses (simple present and present progressive).Apart from the first short paragraph, the first part of the text, down as far as The state of Texas produces more oil than any other state in the USA illustrates uses of the present tenses. The second part, from This was not always the case. to travel long distances illustrates past tenses, including a past conditional. The final part of the text has more examples of present tenses, which are contrasted with future tenses and more past tenses.
► For clear explanations of tense use in English, with lots of examples, Linguapress recommends A Descriptive Grammar of English sections 1.1 to 1.4
The interactive tense exercise above, which can be used once you have gone through the text in class, should not be difficult. There is only one possible answer in each case, and when students select the wrong answer, it should not be difficult to explain why.
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Updated from an article originally published in Horizon magazine.
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Level - Simple
intermediate.
