A scientist named Ihab Ahmed is working on a small jet engine that uses special fuel. This fuel is made from things like old cooking oil and farm waste. It is better for the Earth than regular airplane fuel. Using this special fuel helps airplanes make less pollution. This is important to help stop climate change.

Airplanes need new kinds of fuel because more people are flying. New planes use less fuel, but we need more ideas like using hydrogen or electric power. The special fuel works well for planes we have now. Some planes have already flown using only this special fuel. But it costs more and there isn’t enough of it yet.

Governments and companies are trying to make more of this special fuel. They are giving money to help make it cheaper and easier to get. People are finding new ways to make lots of this fuel. Even though there are problems, people are working hard to make flying better for the planet. This gives hope that flying can be greener in the future.

Original news source: Will sustainable aviation fuels take off? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Write down key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., jet engine, fuel, pollution, climate change) on separate pieces of paper. One student from each team will come to the board and choose a word without showing their team. They have to draw the word while their team tries to guess what it is. The team that guesses correctly gets a point.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Write a sentence from the article on the board but leave out key vocabulary words as blanks (e.g., A scientist named ____ is working on a small jet engine that uses special ____). Have students guess letters to fill in the blanks. For each incorrect guess, draw part of a hangman. If the students can fill in all the blanks before the hangman is complete, they win.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Have students work in pairs. Each student takes turns saying three statements related to the article – two truths and one lie. For example, “Ihab Ahmed is working on a jet engine. The special fuel is made from cotton candy. The special fuel helps reduce pollution.” The partner needs to guess which statement is the lie. This helps reinforce comprehension of the article content.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think quietly about the following question related to the article: “Why is it important to find new kinds of fuel for airplanes?” Then, have them pair up with a classmate to discuss their thoughts. After a few minutes, open the discussion to the whole class, where pairs can share their ideas. This encourages speaking and sharing opinions in English.

– Charades
Instructions: Write down action words related to the article (e.g., flying, working, making) on separate pieces of paper. One student comes to the front of the class, picks a paper without looking, and acts out the word without speaking. The rest of the class tries to guess the action in English. This activity helps with vocabulary recall and acting out verbs.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is working on a small jet engine that uses special fuel?
2. What is the special fuel made from?
3. Why is the special fuel better for the Earth than regular airplane fuel?
4. Why do airplanes need new kinds of fuel?
5. Have some planes already flown using only the special fuel?
6. What are governments and companies doing to make more of the special fuel?
7. Why are people working hard to make flying better for the planet?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A scientist (1)______ Ihab Ahmed is working on a small jet engine that uses special fuel. This fuel is made from things like old cooking oil and farm (2)______. It is better for the Earth than regular airplane fuel. Using this special fuel helps airplanes make less pollution. This is important to help stop climate change.

Airplanes need new (3)______ of fuel because more people are flying. New planes use less fuel, but we need more ideas like using hydrogen or (4)______ power. The special fuel works well for planes we have now. Some planes have already flown using only this (5)______ fuel. But it costs more and there isn’t enough of it yet.

Governments and companies are (6)______ to make more of this special fuel. They are giving money to help make it cheaper and easier to get. People are finding new ways to make lots of this fuel. Even though there are problems, people are working hard to make flying better for the planet. This (7)______ hope that flying can be (8)______ in the future.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a scientist?
2. How would you feel if airplanes made a lot of pollution?
3. Do you like the idea of using old cooking oil for fuel?
4. Do you think it’s important to help stop climate change? Why or why not?
5. What is a jet engine?
6. How would you feel if airplanes used electric power instead of regular fuel?
7. Do you like flying on airplanes?
8. What is special about the fuel that the scientist is working on?
9. How would you feel if there was less pollution in the air from airplanes?
10. Do you think it’s good that governments and companies are trying to make more special fuel? Why or why not?
11. What is climate change?
12. How would you feel if airplanes could fly without making any pollution?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. scientist
2. engine
3. fuel
4. pollution
5. climate
6. hydrogen
7. electric
8. government
9. companies
10. planet

Meanings:
(A) Big groups that make and sell things
(B) A machine that makes things move
(C) Dirty stuff in the air or water
(D) The world we live on
(E) A person who studies and learns about things
(F) Power that comes from batteries or plugs
(G) The weather and temperature of the Earth
(H) Something that makes cars and planes go
(I) A group of people who make rules for a country
(J) A very light gas that can be used for power
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the scientist working on a special jet engine?
(a) John Smith
(b) Ihab Ahmed
(c) Emily Brown
(d) Sarah Johnson

2. What is the special fuel made from for the small jet engine?
(a) Old cooking oil and farm waste
(b) Gasoline and diesel
(c) Water and sand
(d) Milk and cookies

3. Why is the special fuel better for the Earth than regular airplane fuel?
(a) It makes airplanes go faster
(b) It makes airplanes louder
(c) It makes airplanes bigger
(d) It helps airplanes make less pollution

4. Why do airplanes need new kinds of fuel?
(a) More people are driving
(b) More people are walking
(c) More people are swimming
(d) More people are flying

5. What are some other ideas for airplane fuel mentioned in the article?
(a) Gasoline or diesel
(b) Water or sand
(c) Hydrogen or electric power
(d) Milk or cookies

6. What are governments and companies doing to make more of the special fuel?
(a) Keeping the fuel a secret
(b) Using the fuel for themselves
(c) Giving money to help make it cheaper and easier to get
(d) Throwing away the fuel

7. What are people finding new ways to make lots of?
(a) The special fuel
(b) Toys
(c) Candy
(d) Clothes

8. What gives hope that flying can be greener in the future?
(a) People not caring about the Earth
(b) People working hard to make flying better for the planet
(c) People making more pollution
(d) People not trying to find solutions

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. People are working hard to make flying better for the planet.
2. The fuel is made from old cooking oil and farm waste.
3. It helps airplanes make less pollution.
4. This special fuel is better for the Earth than regular airplane fuel.
5. A scientist named Ihab Ahmed is not making a special fuel for airplanes.
6. New planes use more fuel, but we need more ideas like using hydrogen or electric power.
7. Governments and companies are not trying to make more of this special fuel.
8. Some planes have not flown using only this special fuel.
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 scientist Ihab Ahmed working on?
2. What is the special fuel made from?
3. Why is using this special fuel important?
4. What are some other ideas for new airplane fuel?
5. Who is helping to make more of this special fuel?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who is working on a small jet engine that uses special fuel?
Ihab Ahmed is working on it.

2. What is the special fuel made from?
It is made from things like old cooking oil and farm waste.

3. Why is the special fuel better for the Earth than regular airplane fuel?
It helps airplanes make less pollution, which is important to stop climate change.

4. Why do airplanes need new kinds of fuel?
Because more people are flying, so we need fuel that is better for the environment.

5. Have some planes already flown using only the special fuel?
Yes, some planes have already flown using only this special fuel.

6. What are governments and companies doing to make more of the special fuel?
They are giving money to help make it cheaper and easier to get, and people are finding new ways to make lots of this fuel.

7. Why are people working hard to make flying better for the planet?
They want to make flying greener in the future to help protect the Earth.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) waste
(3) kinds
(4) electric
(5) special
(6) trying
(7) gives
(8) greener
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. scientist
Answer: (E) A person who studies and learns about things

2. engine
Answer: (B) A machine that makes things move

3. fuel
Answer: (H) Something that makes cars and planes go

4. pollution
Answer: (C) Dirty stuff in the air or water

5. climate
Answer: (G) The weather and temperature of the Earth

6. hydrogen
Answer: (J) A very light gas that can be used for power

7. electric
Answer: (F) Power that comes from batteries or plugs

8. government
Answer: (I) A group of people who make rules for a country

9. companies
Answer: (A) Big groups that make and sell things

10. planet
Answer: (D) The world we live on
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the scientist working on a special jet engine?
Answer: (b) Ihab Ahmed

2. What is the special fuel made from for the small jet engine?
Answer: (a) Old cooking oil and farm waste

3. Why is the special fuel better for the Earth than regular airplane fuel?
Answer: (d) It helps airplanes make less pollution

4. Why do airplanes need new kinds of fuel?
Answer: (d) More people are flying

5. What are some other ideas for airplane fuel mentioned in the article?
Answer: (c) Hydrogen or electric power

6. What are governments and companies doing to make more of the special fuel?
Answer: (c) Giving money to help make it cheaper and easier to get

7. What are people finding new ways to make lots of?
Answer: (a) The special fuel

8. What gives hope that flying can be greener in the future?
Answer: (b) People working hard to make flying better for the planet
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. People are working hard to make flying better for the planet. (Answer: True)
2. The fuel is made from old cooking oil and farm waste. (Answer: True)
3. It helps airplanes make less pollution. (Answer: True)
4. This special fuel is better for the Earth than regular airplane fuel. (Answer: True)
5. A scientist named Ihab Ahmed is not making a special fuel for airplanes. (Answer: False)
6. New planes use more fuel, but we need more ideas like using hydrogen or electric power. (Answer: False)
7. Governments and companies are not trying to make more of this special fuel. (Answer: False)
8. Some planes have not flown using only this special fuel. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧