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Dominica is a beautiful island in the Caribbean, famous for its rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanoes. In 2023, the island saw nearly 84,000 tourists, which is a 13% increase from the year before. This rise in visitors is thanks to new direct flights from the United States and more hotels opening up. After recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017, the government is now focusing on using its natural resources to provide clean energy for its 66,000 residents and the tourism industry.
To cut down on its use of diesel generators, Dominica is building a geothermal power plant in the southern part of the island. This plant will use hot water from underground, heated by volcanic rock, to create electricity. The 10-megawatt plant, located near the village of Laudat in the Roseau Valley, is expected to start working by the end of the year. The process involves bringing steam to the surface to power turbines, and then cooling the steam and putting it back underground to keep the cycle going. The energy minister, Dr. Vince Henderson, wants to stop using diesel for electricity by 2030 and believes this geothermal plant will also help lower electricity prices.
The geothermal project is a partnership between the Dominican government and Ormat Technologies, a renewable energy company from the US and Israel. The funding comes from various governments, including the US, UK, Japan, and New Zealand, along with loans from the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank. This project has needed a lot of money and a complicated exploration process, which included deep drilling to check the geothermal resources.
While the geothermal plant has many potential benefits, some local residents and environmentalists are worried about its impact. Environmentalist Atherton Martin is concerned about how the project might affect the plants and animals in the Roseau Valley. Some community members are also questioning the financial costs, as the Dominican government has invested about $15 million. Dr. Henderson understands the challenges but is hopeful about the long-term advantages of the project. This geothermal power plant could also inspire other Caribbean countries to explore renewable energy options, helping to create a cleaner and more affordable energy future for the region.
Original news source: Letting off steam: How Dominica’s volcanoes will boost its green energy (BBC)
π§ Listen:
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π Vocabulary:
| 1 | geothermal | Relating to heat from the earth |
| 2 | turbines | Machines that produce power by spinning |
| 3 | renewable | Able to be used repeatedly because it is naturally replaced |
| 4 | exploration | The act of searching or investigating |
| 5 | environmentalists | People who work to protect the environment |
| 6 | geothermal resources | Natural heat sources from the earth used for energy |
| 7 | drilling | The act of making a hole in the ground |
| 8 | impact | The effect or influence of something |
| 9 | financial | Related to money or how money is managed |
| 10 | invested | Spent money or resources on something for future benefit |
| 11 | advantages | Benefits or positive outcomes |
| 12 | inspire | To motivate or encourage someone to do something |
| 13 | affordable | Not too expensive; reasonably priced |
| 14 | complicated | Difficult to understand or deal with |
| 15 | renewable energy | Energy that comes from sources that are naturally replenished |
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out key vocabulary words or phrases from the article without speaking, while the other groups guess what they are. This will help reinforce vocabulary related to the article.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Present a series of statements based on the article, such as “Geothermal energy is a good solution for Dominica” or “Tourism is more important than environmental protection.” Students will move to different corners of the room to indicate their agreement or disagreement with each statement. Afterward, facilitate a class discussion about the opinions expressed.
– NEWS REPORTER ROLE-PLAY
Instructions: In pairs, students will role-play as news reporters covering the geothermal power plant project in Dominica. One student will act as the reporter, while the other takes on the role of an expert (e.g., a government official or an environmentalist). They will conduct a brief interview and report back to the class.
– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Give students a few minutes to draw a scene or a concept from the article, such as the geothermal power plant, the rainforests, or the tourism increase. After they finish their sketches, they will present their drawings to the class and explain their significance related to the article.
– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Students will write down two true statements and one false statement related to the article’s content. After they have created their statements, they will share them with the class, and classmates will guess which statement is the lie. This activity encourages critical thinking and engagement with the material.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
1. What are some of the natural features that make Dominica a popular tourist destination?
2. How did the number of tourists visiting Dominica in 2023 compare to the previous year?
3. What is the main reason for the increase in tourists to Dominica?
4. What kind of power plant is Dominica building, and what natural resource will it use to generate electricity?
5. Who is the energy minister of Dominica, and what goal does he have for electricity generation by 2030?
6. What are some of the sources of funding for the geothermal project in Dominica?
7. Why are some local residents and environmentalists concerned about the geothermal plant?
8. How might the geothermal power plant benefit other Caribbean countries in the future?
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π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Dominica is a beautiful island in the Caribbean, famous for its rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanoes. In 2023, the island saw nearly 84,000 tourists, which is a 13% increase from the year before. This rise in visitors is thanks to new (1)______ flights from the United States and more hotels opening up. After recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane (2)______ in 2017, the government is now foc(3)______ on using its natural resources to provide clean energy for its 66,000 residents and the tourism industry.
To cut down on its use of diesel (4)______, Dominica is building a geothermal power (5)______ in the southern part of the island. This plant will use hot water from underground, heated by volcanic rock, to create electricity. The 10-megawatt plant, located near the village of Laudat in the Roseau (6)______, is expected to start working by the end of the year. The process involves bringing (7)______ to the surface to power (8)______, and then cooling the steam and putting it back underground to keep the cycle going. The energy minister, Dr. Vince Henderson, wants to stop using diesel for electricity by 2030 and believes this geothermal plant will also help lower electricity prices.
The geothermal project is a partnership between the Dominican government and Ormat Technologies, a (9)______ energy company from the US and Israel. The (10)______ comes from various governments, including the US, UK, Japan, and New Zealand, along with loans from the World Bank and the Caribbean (11)______ Bank. This project has needed a lot of money and a complicated exploration process, which included deep drilling to (12)______ the geothermal resources.
While the geothermal plant has many potential benefits, some local residents and environmentalists are worried about its impact. Environmentalist Atherton Martin is concerned about how the project might affect the plants and animals in the Roseau Valley. Some (13)______ members are also questioning the financial costs, as the Dominican government has invested about $15 million. Dr. Henderson understands the (14)______ but is hopeful about the long-term advantages of the project. This geothermal power plant could also inspire other Caribbean countries to explore renewable energy (15)______, helping to (16)______ a cleaner and more affordable energy future for the region.
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π¬ Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is your opinion on using geothermal energy as a source of power?
2. How would you feel if your country decided to invest heavily in renewable energy projects?
3. Do you think tourism is important for a countryβs economy? Why or why not?
4. What is a natural resource that you think is underutilized in your country?
5. How do you think climate change affects small island nations like Dominica?
6. Do you like visiting places that are known for their natural beauty, like rainforests and waterfalls? Why?
7. What is a challenge that you think small countries face when trying to develop clean energy?
8. How would you feel if your community was divided on an important project, like the geothermal plant in Dominica?
9. Do you think itβs important to balance economic development with environmental protection? Why?
10. What is a project in your country that you believe has had a positive impact on the environment?
11. How do you think local communities can be involved in decisions about energy projects?
12. Do you think the benefits of renewable energy projects outweigh the potential risks? Why or why not?
13. What is a type of energy you think should be prioritized for the future?
14. How would you feel if you had to change your lifestyle to help the environment?
15. Do you think other countries should follow Dominicaβs example in renewable energy? Why?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. geothermal
2. turbines
3. renewable
4. exploration
5. environmentalists
6. geothermal resources
7. drilling
8. impact
9. financial
10. invested
11. advantages
12. inspire
13. affordable
14. complicated
15. renewable energy
Meanings:
(A) The effect or influence of something
(B) Spent money or resources on something for future benefit
(C) Related to money or how money is managed
(D) To motivate or encourage someone to do something
(E) Able to be used repeatedly because it is naturally replaced
(F) Machines that produce power by spinning
(G) Natural heat sources from the earth used for energy
(H) Difficult to understand or deal with
(I) The act of searching or investigating
(J) Not too expensive; reasonably priced
(K) Benefits or positive outcomes
(L) The act of making a hole in the ground
(M) Energy that comes from sources that are naturally replenished
(N) Relating to heat from the earth
(O) People who work to protect the environment
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π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is Dominica famous for?
(a) Rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanoes
(b) Deserts and mountains
(c) Beaches and cities
(d) Snow and ice
2. How many tourists visited Dominica in 2023?
(a) About 50,000
(b) Over 100,000
(c) Nearly 84,000
(d) Approximately 70,000
3. What is the purpose of the geothermal power plant being built in Dominica?
(a) To provide water for agriculture
(b) To generate solar energy
(c) To improve tourism facilities
(d) To create electricity using hot water from underground
4. Where is the geothermal power plant located?
(a) In the capital city
(b) On the northern coast
(c) Near the village of Laudat
(d) In the eastern part of the island
5. Who is the energy minister of Dominica mentioned in the article?
(a) Mr. John Smith
(b) Ms. Sarah Brown
(c) Mr. Tom Johnson
(d) Dr. Vince Henderson
6. Which countries are involved in funding the geothermal project?
(a) US, UK, Japan, and New Zealand
(b) Canada, Australia, France, and Brazil
(c) Germany, Italy, Spain, and Mexico
(d) China, India, Russia, and South Africa
7. What is one concern local residents and environmentalists have about the geothermal project?
(a) The lack of tourist interest
(b) Its impact on plants and animals
(c) The need for more hotels
(d) The increase in diesel use
8. What does Dr. Henderson hope the geothermal plant will achieve by 2030?
(a) Increase tourism rates
(b) Stop using diesel for electricity
(c) Lower hotel prices
(d) Expand the islandβs population
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π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
1. In 2023, the number of tourists visiting Dominica increased by 13% compared to the previous year.
2. The geothermal power plant will not be located near the village of Laudat in the Roseau Valley.
3. The energy minister, Dr. Vince Henderson, aims to maintain diesel use for electricity by 2030.
4. The Dominican government is collaborating with Ormat Technologies to build the geothermal plant.
5. The rise in tourism is partly due to new direct flights from the United States.
6. Dominica is not working on a geothermal power plant to reduce its reliance on diesel generators.
7. Some local residents and environmentalists are not concerned about the potential environmental impact of the geothermal project.
8. Dominica is an island in the Caribbean known for its natural beauty, including rainforests and waterfalls.
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π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!
1. What are some natural features that make Dominica a popular tourist destination?
2. How has the increase in tourism affected the island’s economy?
3. What is the purpose of the geothermal power plant being built in Dominica?
4. Why are some local residents and environmentalists worried about the geothermal project?
5. What are the potential long-term benefits of the geothermal power plant for Dominica and other Caribbean countries?
β Answers
π€β Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What are some of the natural features that make Dominica a popular tourist destination?
Dominica is famous for its rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanoes.
2. How did the number of tourists visiting Dominica in 2023 compare to the previous year?
In 2023, the number of tourists visiting Dominica increased by 13% compared to the previous year.
3. What is the main reason for the increase in tourists to Dominica?
The increase in tourists is mainly due to new direct flights from the United States and more hotels opening up.
4. What kind of power plant is Dominica building, and what natural resource will it use to generate electricity?
Dominica is building a geothermal power plant, which will use hot water from underground, heated by volcanic rock, to generate electricity.
5. Who is the energy minister of Dominica, and what goal does he have for electricity generation by 2030?
The energy minister of Dominica is Dr. Vince Henderson, and he aims to stop using diesel for electricity by 2030.
6. What are some of the sources of funding for the geothermal project in Dominica?
The geothermal project is funded by various governments, including the US, UK, Japan, and New Zealand, along with loans from the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank.
7. Why are some local residents and environmentalists concerned about the geothermal plant?
Some local residents and environmentalists are worried about the potential impact of the geothermal plant on the plants and animals in the Roseau Valley, as well as the financial costs involved.
8. How might the geothermal power plant benefit other Caribbean countries in the future?
The geothermal power plant could inspire other Caribbean countries to explore renewable energy options, helping to create a cleaner and more affordable energy future for the region.
Go back to questions β§
π§βοΈβ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) direct
(2) Maria
(3) using
(4) generators
(5) plant
(6) Valley
(7) steam
(8) turbines
(9) renewable
(10) funding
(11) Development
(12) check
(13) community
(14) challenges
(15) options
(16) create
Go back to questions β§
ππβ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. geothermal
Answer: (N) Relating to heat from the earth
2. turbines
Answer: (F) Machines that produce power by spinning
3. renewable
Answer: (E) Able to be used repeatedly because it is naturally replaced
4. exploration
Answer: (I) The act of searching or investigating
5. environmentalists
Answer: (O) People who work to protect the environment
6. geothermal resources
Answer: (G) Natural heat sources from the earth used for energy
7. drilling
Answer: (L) The act of making a hole in the ground
8. impact
Answer: (A) The effect or influence of something
9. financial
Answer: (C) Related to money or how money is managed
10. invested
Answer: (B) Spent money or resources on something for future benefit
11. advantages
Answer: (K) Benefits or positive outcomes
12. inspire
Answer: (D) To motivate or encourage someone to do something
13. affordable
Answer: (J) Not too expensive; reasonably priced
14. complicated
Answer: (H) Difficult to understand or deal with
15. renewable energy
Answer: (M) Energy that comes from sources that are naturally replenished
Go back to questions β§
π‘β Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is Dominica famous for?
Answer: (a) Rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanoes
2. How many tourists visited Dominica in 2023?
Answer: (c) Nearly 84,000
3. What is the purpose of the geothermal power plant being built in Dominica?
Answer: (d) To create electricity using hot water from underground
4. Where is the geothermal power plant located?
Answer: (c) Near the village of Laudat
5. Who is the energy minister of Dominica mentioned in the article?
Answer: (d) Dr. Vince Henderson
6. Which countries are involved in funding the geothermal project?
Answer: (a) US, UK, Japan, and New Zealand
7. What is one concern local residents and environmentalists have about the geothermal project?
Answer: (b) Its impact on plants and animals
8. What does Dr. Henderson hope the geothermal plant will achieve by 2030?
Answer: (b) Stop using diesel for electricity
Go back to questions β§
π΅οΈβ True or False Answers:
1. In 2023, the number of tourists visiting Dominica increased by 13% compared to the previous year. (Answer: True)
2. The geothermal power plant will not be located near the village of Laudat in the Roseau Valley. (Answer: False)
3. The energy minister, Dr. Vince Henderson, aims to maintain diesel use for electricity by 2030. (Answer: False)
4. The Dominican government is collaborating with Ormat Technologies to build the geothermal plant. (Answer: True)
5. The rise in tourism is partly due to new direct flights from the United States. (Answer: True)
6. Dominica is not working on a geothermal power plant to reduce its reliance on diesel generators. (Answer: False)
7. Some local residents and environmentalists are not concerned about the potential environmental impact of the geothermal project. (Answer: False)
8. Dominica is an island in the Caribbean known for its natural beauty, including rainforests and waterfalls. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions β§
