Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

English Newsroom

Learn English through news articles - complete lesson plans, including articles, listening, classroom activities, quiz questions and more!

Why Data Centers Matter in Scotland

Data centers in Scotland spark environmental impact debates.
Try this article at a different level?

Data centers are important buildings filled with computers. They help run the internet and many applications. Scotland is now a key player in building these large data centers. This is happening because of the need for advanced technology like artificial intelligence (AI).

There are plans to build 23 large data centers in Scotland. These centers are expected to create thousands of jobs and bring lots of investment. But, there are also concerns. People are worried about the amount of electricity these centers will need.

Some think the data centers will harm the environment and use a lot of resources. There are also worries about the noise they might create. As a result, there is much debate about these projects in Scotland. Developers argue that they will mostly use renewable energy.

Original news source: Why are data centres such a big deal in Scotland? – BBC News (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

1. application
2. advanced
3. investment
4. concern
5. resource
6. debate
7. developer
8. renewable
9. project
10. technology
11. electricity
12. environment

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

1. What do you use the internet for every day?
2. Can you name a technology that helps us in our daily lives?
3. What jobs do computers do that people used to do themselves?
4. How do you feel about new buildings being constructed in your area?
5. What does it mean if something is renewable?

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are data centers filled with?

2. Why is Scotland important in the context of data centers?

3. How many data centers are planned for Scotland?

4. What job opportunities are expected from the data center projects?

5. Why are people concerned about the electricity used by data centers?

6. What do people fear about the impact of data centers on the environment?

7. What argument do developers give in favor of building data centers?

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Data centers are important buildings filled with . They help run the internet and many applications. is now a key player in building these large data centers. This is because of the for advanced technology like artificial intelligence (AI). There are plans to build 23 centers in Scotland. These centers are expected to create thousands of jobs and bring lots of investment. But, there are also . People are about the amount of electricity these centers will need. Some think the data centers will the environment and use a lot of resources. There are also worries about the they might create. As a result, there is much debate about these projects in Scotland. Developers argue that they will use renewable .

💬 Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think data centers are important?
2. How do you feel about technology changing so rapidly?
3. Should more jobs be created by building data centers?
4. What are the pros and cons of having data centers near your community?
5. Do you think data centers should use renewable energy?
6. How might data centers affect the environment?
7. What do you know about artificial intelligence?
8. How important is it to debate new projects before they start?
9. What other advanced technologies do you know about?
10. Would you be interested in working with technology in the future?
11. How does electricity power our everyday lives?
12. In what ways can we save electricity at home?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.

Words

1. application
2. advanced
3. investment
4. concern
5. resource
6. debate
7. developer
8. renewable
9. project
10. technology
11. electricity
12. environment

Meanings

(A) plan or task
(B) person who creates and builds
(C) power or energy
(D) program or software
(E) discussion or argument
(F) highly developed or complex
(G) natural world around us
(H) able to be used again and again
(I) worry or something that bothers
(J) something put in for a future profit
(K) supply or source of something
(L) use of scientific knowledge

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What does a data center help to run?
(a) Hospitals
(b) The internet
(c) Wildlife parks
(d) Stores
2. How many data centers are planned to be built in Scotland?
(a) 23
(b) 15
(c) 30
(d) 5
3. What is a main concern people have about the data centers?
(a) They make tasty food
(b) They are too colorful
(c) They use a lot of electricity
(d) They smell funny
4. What technology is driving the need for data centers?
(a) Artificial intelligence
(b) Solar panels
(c) Refrigerators
(d) Telephones
5. What is another worry people have about data centers?
(a) They will be very shiny
(b) They are too small
(c) They will be empty
(d) They might be noisy
6. What do developers say about the energy for these data centers?
(a) They will use no energy
(b) They will need coal
(c) They will use renewable energy
(d) They will use wood
7. What benefit do data centers bring according to the article?
(a) Build sandcastles
(b) Offer free candy
(c) Produce toys
(d) Create jobs
8. What is Scotland becoming in terms of data centers?
(a) A fun holiday spot
(b) A key player
(c) A fast food chain
(d) A space base

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Developers plan to use renewable energy for these centers.
2. There is consensus about the environmental impact of data centers.
3. Data centers are expected to create thousands of jobs.
4. Some people are concerned about electricity usage of data centers.
5. Basic technology decreases the need for data centers.
6. Data centers help run the internet.
7. There are no plans to build 23 data centers in Scotland.
8. People celebrate the silence from data centers.

Writing Questions:

1. Describe in your own words what a data center does.
2. Write about a time when technology helped you with a problem.
3. How do you think the internet has changed life in the last ten years?
4. Imagine building projects in your community that could help create jobs. Describe one.
5. What would you tell someone worried about data centers and their energy use?

How about these other Level 2 articles?

Online
Class
Writing
Coach

Feedback