Scientists found out that when people use Bitcoin, a kind of money on the internet, it uses a lot of water. Every time someone uses Bitcoin, it’s like filling a whole swimming pool with water. Computers all over the world help Bitcoin work, and they need a lot of power and water to stay cool. Last year, Bitcoin used so much water that it could fill a lot of swimming pools, and it might use even more water next year.
The reason Bitcoin uses so much water is because it needs a lot of computer power. Big power plants that make electricity also use a lot of water to stay cool. The computers that help Bitcoin work need to be cooled down too. A person who studied this said Bitcoin could use less water if it changed the way it works. Another kind of internet money called Ethereum already made some changes to use less power and water.
People who know a lot about this are worried. They think we should be careful about using water for Bitcoin, especially in places where there isn’t much water. Some people say it might be hard for Bitcoin to change and use less water. But other people say we need to think about how using Bitcoin can hurt the environment.
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 word or phrase related to the article (e.g. Bitcoin, water usage, computer power). One person from each group will act out the word or phrase without speaking, and the other group members have to guess what it is.
– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. After each summary, the partner will provide feedback and help clarify any misunderstood information.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write two statements on the board related to the article, such as “Using Bitcoin is harmful to the environment” and “Using Bitcoin is beneficial for the economy.” Have students stand on a spectrum from “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree” and explain why they chose their position.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a word from the article (e.g. Bitcoin, power plant, Ethereum). Students will draw a picture representing the word on the board while their classmates guess what it is. This will help reinforce vocabulary related to the article.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will discuss and make predictions about the future of Bitcoin and its impact on the environment. They should consider the possibility of Bitcoin using even more water in the coming years and discuss potential solutions or alternatives.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What happens when people use Bitcoin?
2. Why does Bitcoin use a lot of water?
3. What do the computers that help Bitcoin work need to stay cool?
4. How did another kind of internet money called Ethereum use less power and water?
5. Why are people who know a lot about this worried?
6. Why might it be hard for Bitcoin to change and use less water?
7. What do some people say we need to think about when using Bitcoin?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Scientists found out that when people use Bitcoin, a (1)______ of money on the internet, it uses a lot of water. Every time someone uses Bitcoin, it’s like filling a whole swimming pool with water. Computers all over the world help Bitcoin (2)______, and they need a lot of (3)______ and water to stay cool. Last year, Bitcoin used so much water that it could fill a lot of swimming pools, and it might use even more water next year.
The (4)______ Bitcoin uses so much water is because it needs a lot of computer power. Big power plants that (5)______ electricity also use a lot of water to stay (6)______. The (7)______ that help Bitcoin work need to be cooled down too. A person who studied this said Bitcoin could use less (8)______ if it changed the way it works. Another kind of internet money called Ethereum already made some changes to use less power and water.
(9)______ who know a lot about this are (10)______. They think we should be careful about (11)______ water for Bitcoin, especially in places where there isn’t much water. Some people say it might be hard for Bitcoin to (12)______ and use less water. But other people say we need to think about how using Bitcoin can hurt the environment.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is Bitcoin and how does it work?
2. How do computers help Bitcoin work?
3. Do you think it’s important to use less water for Bitcoin? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you found out that using Bitcoin uses a lot of water?
5. What are some ways that Bitcoin could use less water?
6. Have you ever used Bitcoin or any other kind of internet money? Why or why not?
7. Do you think it’s important to think about how using Bitcoin can hurt the environment? Why or why not?
8. What are some other ways that we can help protect the environment?
9. How do you think people can use less water in their daily lives?
10. Do you think it’s hard for Bitcoin to change and use less water? Why or why not?
11. What are some other things that use a lot of water?
12. How can we raise awareness about the importance of conserving water?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. Bitcoin
2. water
3. power
4. cool
5. electricity
6. changes
7. environment
8. study
Meanings:
(a) To make something cold
(b) To learn about something in detail
(c) A type of money used on the internet
(d) The energy that comes from outlets
(e) To make something different
(f) The natural world around us
(g) Energy that makes things work
(h) A liquid that is essential for life
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is Bitcoin?
(a) A type of swimming pool
(b) A kind of money on the internet
(c) A big power plant
(d) A computer game
2. How does Bitcoin use a lot of water?
(a) Bitcoin is made of water
(b) People who use Bitcoin need to drink a lot of water
(c) Bitcoin is used to fill swimming pools
(d) Computers that help Bitcoin work need water to stay cool
3. Why do computers that help Bitcoin work need to be cooled down?
(a) They use a lot of power and can get hot
(b) They need to be cleaned with water
(c) They need to be frozen to work properly
(d) They need to be kept warm to work properly
4. What is another kind of internet money that made changes to use less power and water?
(a) Bitcoin
(b) Ethereum
(c) Swimming pool money
(d) Power plant money
5. Why are some people worried about using water for Bitcoin?
(a) They don’t like swimming pools
(b) They think Bitcoin is too expensive
(c) They think we should be careful about using water, especially in places with little water
(d) They think Bitcoin is a computer game
6. What do some people say about Bitcoin using less water?
(a) It’s not important to use less water
(b) Bitcoin should use even more water
(c) Bitcoin should stop using water completely
(d) It might be hard for Bitcoin to change and use less water
7. What do big power plants that make electricity use a lot of?
(a) Water
(b) Money
(c) Computers
(d) Bitcoin
8. What is the main concern about using Bitcoin?
(a) How it can make people rich
(b) How it can fill swimming pools
(c) How it can hurt the environment
(d) How it can cool down computers
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Power plants that make electricity also use water to stay warm, unlike the computers that help Bitcoin work.
2. Last year, Bitcoin used so much water that it could fill many swimming pools.
3. Bitcoin uses a small amount of water because it needs minimal computer power.
4. Computers in certain areas help Bitcoin work and do not need water to stay cool.
5. People are debating whether Bitcoin should change to use less water and consider the environmental impact.
6. Ethereum, another type of internet money, has made changes to use less power and water.
7. Some people are worried about using so much water for Bitcoin, especially in places where water is scarce.
8. Using Bitcoin requires a negligible amount of water, far less than filling up a swimming pool.
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 happens when people use Bitcoin?
2. How much water did Bitcoin use last year?
3. Why does Bitcoin use so much water?
4. What did Ethereum do to use less power and water?
5. Why are some people worried about using water for Bitcoin?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What happens when people use Bitcoin?
When people use Bitcoin, 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 help it work need to be cooled down, and cooling them requires water.
3. What do the computers that help Bitcoin work need to stay cool?
The computers that help Bitcoin work need water to stay cool.
4. How did another kind of internet money called Ethereum use less power and water?
Ethereum made some changes to its system to use less power and water.
5. Why are people who know a lot about this worried?
People who know a lot about this are worried because using a lot of water for Bitcoin can harm the environment, especially in places where there isn’t much water.
6. Why might it be hard for Bitcoin to change and use less water?
It might be hard for Bitcoin to change and use less water because it would require making changes to its system, which can be difficult.
7. What do some people say we need to think about when using Bitcoin?
Some people say we need to think about how using Bitcoin can harm the environment.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) kind
(2) work
(3) power
(4) reason
(5) make
(6) cool
(7) computers
(8) water
(9) People
(10) worried
(11) using
(12) change
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. Bitcoin
Answer: (c) A type of money used on the internet
2. water
Answer: (h) A liquid that is essential for life
3. power
Answer: (g) Energy that makes things work
4. cool
Answer: (a) To make something cold
5. electricity
Answer: (d) The energy that comes from outlets
6. changes
Answer: (e) To make something different
7. environment
Answer: (f) The natural world around us
8. study
Answer: (b) To learn about something in detail
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is Bitcoin?
Answer: (b) A kind of money on the internet
2. How does Bitcoin use a lot of water?
Answer: (d) Computers that help Bitcoin work need water to stay cool
3. Why do computers that help Bitcoin work need to be cooled down?
Answer: (a) They use a lot of power and can get hot
4. What is another kind of internet money that made changes to use less power and water?
Answer: (b) Ethereum
5. Why are some people worried about using water for Bitcoin?
Answer: (c) They think we should be careful about using water, especially in places with little water
6. What do some people say about Bitcoin using less water?
Answer: (d) It might be hard for Bitcoin to change and use less water
7. What do big power plants that make electricity use a lot of?
Answer: (a) Water
8. What is the main concern about using Bitcoin?
Answer: (c) How it can hurt the environment
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Power plants that make electricity also use water to stay warm, unlike the computers that help Bitcoin work. (Answer: False)
2. Last year, Bitcoin used so much water that it could fill many swimming pools. (Answer: True)
3. Bitcoin uses a small amount of water because it needs minimal computer power. (Answer: False)
4. Computers in certain areas help Bitcoin work and do not need water to stay cool. (Answer: False)
5. People are debating whether Bitcoin should change to use less water and consider the environmental impact. (Answer: True)
6. Ethereum, another type of internet money, has made changes to use less power and water. (Answer: True)
7. Some people are worried about using so much water for Bitcoin, especially in places where water is scarce. (Answer: True)
8. Using Bitcoin requires a negligible amount of water, far less than filling up a swimming pool. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
