There is a new study about Bitcoin, which is a kind of money on the computer. The study says that when people use Bitcoin, it uses a lot of water—enough to fill a whole pool in your yard! This is because the computers that make Bitcoin work need a lot of power and they need to stay cool. This is a problem because some places don’t have enough water. Last year, Bitcoin used a lot of water, and it might use even more this year.

People are worried because Bitcoin needs so much water. The computers that help Bitcoin work get very hot, so they need water to cool down. A person who knows a lot about this says that Bitcoin could use less water if it changed the way it works. Another kind of computer money called Ethereum already made some changes to use less power. It’s important for people who make rules and everyone else to think about how Bitcoin uses water.

Original news source: Every Bitcoin payment ‘uses a swimming pool of water’ (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a list of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. Bitcoin, water, computer, power, cool down). One student from each group will act out a word from the list without speaking, while the other students try to guess the word. The group that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: Have the students work in pairs. Each pair will read the article and then write a short summary of the main points. After a few minutes, have pairs share their summaries with the class. As a class, discuss any differences or similarities in the summaries and make corrections if necessary.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a list of vocabulary words from the article. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and draw a picture to represent one of the words. The team members must guess the word based on the drawing. The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Set a timer for 3 minutes. Students must take turns summarizing the article to their partner within the time limit. After 3 minutes, have pairs switch roles and summarize again. Encourage students to use their own words and not read directly from the article.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the students to think about their own opinions on the topic of Bitcoin using a lot of water. Have them write down their thoughts individually for a few minutes. Then, pair the students up and have them share their opinions with each other. Afterward, invite some pairs to share their thoughts with the whole class and facilitate a discussion on the topic.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the new study about?
2. Why does Bitcoin use a lot of water?
3. Why is it a problem that Bitcoin uses so much water?
4. What can Bitcoin do to use less water?
5. What is another kind of computer money called?
6. Did Ethereum make changes to use less power?
7. Why is it important for people to think about how Bitcoin uses water?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

There is a new study about Bitcoin, which is a kind of money on the (1)______. The study (2)______ that when people use Bitcoin, it uses a lot of water—enough to fill a whole pool in your yard! This is because the computers that make Bitcoin work need a lot of power and they need to (3)______ cool. This is a problem because some places don’t have enough water. Last year, Bitcoin (4)______ a lot of water, and it might use even more this year.

People are worried because Bitcoin needs so much water. The computers that (5)______ Bitcoin (6)______ get very hot, so they need water to cool down. A person who knows a lot about this says that Bitcoin could use less water if it changed the way it works. Another kind of computer money called Ethereum already made some changes to use less power. It’s important for people who make rules and everyone else to (7)______ about how Bitcoin (8)______ water.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is Bitcoin?
2. How would you feel if you had a pool in your yard filled with water?
3. Do you like using computers? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to save water? Why or why not?
5. How do you think computers get hot?
6. What do you think would happen if the computers that make Bitcoin work didn’t have water to cool down?
7. Have you ever used a kind of computer money before? Why or why not?
8. What do you think it means to “make changes” to something?
9. How do you think people can use less power?
10. Do you think it’s important for people to think about how things use water? Why or why not?
11. What are some other ways we can help save water?
12. How do you think Bitcoin could use less water?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Bitcoin
2. study
3. water
4. computer
5. power
6. cool
7. changes
8. rules

Meanings:
(a) Something you drink and swim in
(b) Things that are different from before
(c) A machine that helps you do things on the internet
(d) A kind of money on the computer
(e) The opposite of hot
(f) The energy that makes things work
(g) A new research about something
(h) Things you have to follow to be safe
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the study about?
(a) Bitcoin and its power usage
(b) Bitcoin and its computer usage
(c) Bitcoin and its money usage
(d) Bitcoin and its water usage

2. Why does Bitcoin use a lot of water?
(a) The computers that make Bitcoin work need a lot of power
(b) The computers that make Bitcoin work need a lot of water
(c) The computers that make Bitcoin work need to fill a pool
(d) The computers that make Bitcoin work need to stay cool

3. What is the problem with Bitcoin using a lot of water?
(a) Some places have too much water
(b) Bitcoin computers get too cold
(c) Some places don’t have enough water
(d) Bitcoin computers get too hot

4. How much water did Bitcoin use last year?
(a) A little bit of water
(b) A lot of water
(c) No water at all
(d) Some water

5. What could Bitcoin do to use less water?
(a) Use more power
(b) Use more water
(c) Change the way it works
(d) Stay the same

6. What is another kind of computer money called?
(a) Ethereum
(b) Bitcoin
(c) Powercoin
(d) Watermoney

7. What changes did Ethereum make?
(a) Use less power
(b) Use more power
(c) Use more water
(d) Stay the same

8. Who should think about how Bitcoin uses water?
(a) No one
(b) Everyone
(c) Only the people who make rules
(d) Only the people who use Bitcoin

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. There is a study about a type of money called Bitcoin that is on the computer.
2. Another type of computer money called Ethereum already made changes to use less power, so it’s important for everyone to think about how Bitcoin uses water.
3. The study says that Bitcoin uses a lot of water, enough to fill a whole pool in your yard.
4. Last year, Bitcoin did not consume a significant amount of water, and it might consume even less this year.
5. People are not concerned about how much water Bitcoin needs.
6. The computers that make Bitcoin work need a lot of power and water to stay cool.
7. Some places have an abundance of water, so Bitcoin’s water consumption is not an issue.
8. A person who knows very little about this claims that Bitcoin could use less water if it changed the way it works.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the study about?
2. How much water does Bitcoin use?
3. Why do the computers that make Bitcoin work need water?
4. Why are people worried about Bitcoin using so much water?
5. What can Bitcoin do to use less water?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the new study about?
The new study is about Bitcoin and how it uses a lot of water.

2. Why does Bitcoin use a lot of water?
Bitcoin uses a lot of water because the computers that make it work need water to stay cool.

3. Why is it a problem that Bitcoin uses so much water?
It is a problem because some places don’t have enough water, so using a lot of water for Bitcoin can be bad for those places.

4. What can Bitcoin do to use less water?
Bitcoin can use less water if it changes the way it works.

5. What is another kind of computer money called?
Another kind of computer money is called Ethereum.

6. Did Ethereum make changes to use less power?
Yes, Ethereum made changes to use less power.

7. Why is it important for people to think about how Bitcoin uses water?
It is important for people to think about how Bitcoin uses water because using too much water can be bad for the environment and for places that don’t have enough water.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) computer
(2) says
(3) stay
(4) used
(5) help
(6) work
(7) think
(8) uses
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Bitcoin
Answer: (d) A kind of money on the computer

2. study
Answer: (g) A new research about something

3. water
Answer: (a) Something you drink and swim in

4. computer
Answer: (c) A machine that helps you do things on the internet

5. power
Answer: (f) The energy that makes things work

6. cool
Answer: (e) The opposite of hot

7. changes
Answer: (b) Things that are different from before

8. rules
Answer: (h) Things you have to follow to be safe
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the study about?
Answer: (d) Bitcoin and its water usage

2. Why does Bitcoin use a lot of water?
Answer: (d) The computers that make Bitcoin work need to stay cool

3. What is the problem with Bitcoin using a lot of water?
Answer: (c) Some places don’t have enough water

4. How much water did Bitcoin use last year?
Answer: (b) A lot of water

5. What could Bitcoin do to use less water?
Answer: (c) Change the way it works

6. What is another kind of computer money called?
Answer: (a) Ethereum

7. What changes did Ethereum make?
Answer: (a) Use less power

8. Who should think about how Bitcoin uses water?
Answer: (b) Everyone
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. There is a study about a type of money called Bitcoin that is on the computer. (Answer: True)
2. Another type of computer money called Ethereum already made changes to use less power, so it’s important for everyone to think about how Bitcoin uses water. (Answer: True)
3. The study says that Bitcoin uses a lot of water, enough to fill a whole pool in your yard. (Answer: True)
4. Last year, Bitcoin did not consume a significant amount of water, and it might consume even less this year. (Answer: False)
5. People are not concerned about how much water Bitcoin needs. (Answer: False)
6. The computers that make Bitcoin work need a lot of power and water to stay cool. (Answer: True)
7. Some places have an abundance of water, so Bitcoin’s water consumption is not an issue. (Answer: False)
8. A person who knows very little about this claims that Bitcoin could use less water if it changed the way it works. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧