A researcher named Ihab Ahmed is working on a special project at Sheffield University. He is testing a small jet engine that runs on a new type of fuel called synthetic sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). These fuels are made from things like old cooking oils and farm waste. Using SAF can help airplanes be better for the environment by reducing pollution.

Airplanes need to find new fuels because more people are flying, and we need to protect the planet. New planes use less fuel, but scientists are also looking at other ideas like hydrogen and electric power. Right now, SAF is a good option for planes we already have. Some airlines, like Virgin Atlantic, have even flown planes using only SAF, but there are still problems like not having enough fuel and it being more expensive.

Governments and companies are trying to make SAF more popular by helping to make more of it and making it cheaper. They are looking at different ways to produce SAF, like using plants or special chemical processes. Even though there are still some challenges, people are working together to make air travel better for the environment. This gives hope that flying can be greener in the future.

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

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Write down some key vocabulary words from the article on small pieces of paper. Have students pick a word and act it out without speaking while the rest of the class guesses what word they are representing.

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and have each group summarize the article in their own words. Encourage them to focus on the main idea and key points. Then, have each group present their summary to the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a set of questions related to the topic of sustainable aviation fuels and air travel. Have students walk around the classroom and ask their classmates these questions, recording their responses. After gathering data, have a group discussion on the opinions and views shared.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select some key vocabulary words from the article and write them on the board. Divide the class into teams and have one student from each team come up to the board. They must draw the word while their team tries to guess what it is. This helps reinforce vocabulary learning in a fun and engaging way.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article to the class. Have students take a few minutes to think about their response individually. Then, pair them up with a classmate to discuss their thoughts. Finally, open up the discussion to the whole class, allowing students to share their ideas and opinions.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the researcher working on a special project at Sheffield University?
2. What kind of fuel is the small jet engine being tested by Ihab Ahmed running on?
3. Why do airplanes need to find new fuels according to the article?
4. What are some other ideas scientists are looking at besides synthetic sustainable aviation fuels?
5. Which airline mentioned in the article has flown planes using only SAF?
6. What are governments and companies trying to do to make SAF more popular?
7. What gives hope that flying can be greener in the future according to the article?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A researcher named Ihab Ahmed is working on a special (1)______ at Sheffield University. He is testing a small jet engine that runs on a new type of fuel called synthetic (2)______ aviation fuels (SAF). These fuels are (3)______ from things like old cooking oils and farm waste. Using SAF can help airplanes be better for the environment by reducing (4)______.

Airplanes need to find new fuels because more people are flying, and we need to protect the planet. New planes use less fuel, but scientists are also looking at other (5)______ like (6)______ and electric power. Right now, SAF is a good option for planes we already (7)______. Some airlines, like Virgin Atlantic, have even flown planes using (8)______ SAF, but there are still problems like not having enough fuel and it being more expensive.

Governments and companies are (9)______ to make SAF more popular by helping to make more of it and making it cheaper. They are looking at different ways to (10)______ SAF, like using plants or special chemical processes. Even though there are still some challenges, people are working together to (11)______ air (12)______ better for the environment. This gives hope that flying can be greener in the future.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think about using old cooking oils and farm waste to make fuel for airplanes?
2. How would you feel if airplanes started using hydrogen or electric power instead of regular fuel?
3. Do you like the idea of airplanes being better for the environment by using new types of fuel?
4. What is a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and why is it important?
5. How do you think using SAF can help protect the planet?
6. Do you think it’s a good idea for governments and companies to work together to make SAF more popular?
7. Why do you think some airlines have already flown planes using only SAF?
8. How do you think scientists can make sure there is enough SAF for all the airplanes in the world?
9. What are some other ways besides SAF that airplanes can become more environmentally friendly?
10. Why do you think it’s important for air travel to become greener in the future?
11. How would you feel if you knew that flying on an airplane was helping the environment instead of hurting it?
12. Do you think it’s possible for air travel to be completely eco-friendly one day? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. researcher
2. synthetic
3. sustainable
4. aviation
5. pollution
6. hydrogen
7. electric
8. option
9. airlines
10. challenges
11. produce
12. greener

Meanings:
(A) A choice or possibility
(B) Related to flying or airplanes
(C) A light gas that can be used as fuel
(D) Can be used for a long time without running out
(E) Better for the environment, less harmful to nature
(F) Made by people, not natural
(G) Dirty or harmful things in the air or water
(H) Difficulties or problems to solve
(I) A person who studies and investigates things to learn more
(J) Using power from electricity
(K) To make or create something
(L) Companies that fly airplanes
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the researcher working on the project at Sheffield University?
(a) John Smith
(b) Emily Johnson
(c) Sarah Brown
(d) Ihab Ahmed

2. What type of fuel is the small jet engine being tested with?
(a) Gasoline
(b) Diesel
(c) Natural gas
(d) Synthetic sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)

3. What are synthetic sustainable aviation fuels made from?
(a) Old cooking oils and farm waste
(b) Coal
(c) Plastic bottles
(d) Fresh fruits

4. Why do airplanes need to find new fuels?
(a) They don’t need new fuels
(b) The old fuels taste bad
(c) More people are flying and we need to protect the planet
(d) They are too heavy

5. Which airline has flown planes using only SAF?
(a) Virgin Atlantic
(b) Delta Airlines
(c) American Airlines
(d) British Airways

6. What are scientists looking at as other ideas for airplane fuels?
(a) Gasoline only
(b) Hydrogen and electric power
(c) Coal
(d) Diesel

7. What is one problem with using SAF right now?
(a) It is too cheap
(b) Not having enough fuel and it being more expensive
(c) It is too easy to find
(d) It is not good for the environment

8. How are governments and companies trying to make SAF more popular?
(a) By banning it
(b) By making it more expensive
(c) By helping to make more of it and making it cheaper
(d) By ignoring it

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. People are working together to make air travel better for the environment, giving hope that flying can be greener in the future.
2. Governments and companies are not trying to make SAF more popular by making more of it and making it cheaper.
3. Old planes use more fuel, but scientists are also not looking at other ideas like hydrogen and electric power for the future.
4. Virgin Atlantic has not flown planes using only SAF, but there are still solutions like having enough fuel and it being more expensive.
5. SAF is made from things like old cooking oils and farm waste to help airplanes be better for the environment by reducing pollution.
6. Ihab Ahmed is a researcher at Sheffield University testing a small jet engine that runs on a new kind of fuel called synthetic sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
7. Different ways to produce SAF are being explored, like using plants or special chemical processes.
8. Airplanes do not need new fuels because more people are flying, and we do not need to protect the planet.
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 Ihab Ahmed testing at Sheffield University?
2. Why is it important to find new fuels for airplanes?
3. Which types of materials are used to make synthetic sustainable aviation fuels?
4. What are some other ideas scientists are looking at for airplane fuels?
5. How are governments and companies trying to make synthetic sustainable aviation fuels more popular?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who is the researcher working on a special project at Sheffield University?
– Ihab Ahmed is the researcher working on the special project.

2. What kind of fuel is the small jet engine being tested by Ihab Ahmed running on?
– The small jet engine is running on synthetic sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

3. Why do airplanes need to find new fuels according to the article?
– Airplanes need new fuels to protect the planet from pollution caused by flying.

4. What are some other ideas scientists are looking at besides synthetic sustainable aviation fuels?
– Scientists are also looking at using hydrogen and electric power for airplanes.

5. Which airline mentioned in the article has flown planes using only SAF?
– Virgin Atlantic is the airline that has flown planes using only SAF.

6. What are governments and companies trying to do to make SAF more popular?
– Governments and companies are trying to make SAF more popular by making more of it and making it cheaper.

7. What gives hope that flying can be greener in the future according to the article?
– People working together to find ways to make air travel better for the environment gives hope that flying can be greener in the future.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) project
(2) sustainable
(3) made
(4) pollution
(5) ideas
(6) hydrogen
(7) have
(8) only
(9) trying
(10) produce
(11) make
(12) travel
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. researcher
Answer: (I) A person who studies and investigates things to learn more

2. synthetic
Answer: (F) Made by people, not natural

3. sustainable
Answer: (D) Can be used for a long time without running out

4. aviation
Answer: (B) Related to flying or airplanes

5. pollution
Answer: (G) Dirty or harmful things in the air or water

6. hydrogen
Answer: (C) A light gas that can be used as fuel

7. electric
Answer: (J) Using power from electricity

8. option
Answer: (A) A choice or possibility

9. airlines
Answer: (L) Companies that fly airplanes

10. challenges
Answer: (H) Difficulties or problems to solve

11. produce
Answer: (K) To make or create something

12. greener
Answer: (E) Better for the environment, less harmful to nature
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the researcher working on the project at Sheffield University?
Answer: (d) Ihab Ahmed

2. What type of fuel is the small jet engine being tested with?
Answer: (d) Synthetic sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)

3. What are synthetic sustainable aviation fuels made from?
Answer: (a) Old cooking oils and farm waste

4. Why do airplanes need to find new fuels?
Answer: (c) More people are flying and we need to protect the planet

5. Which airline has flown planes using only SAF?
Answer: (a) Virgin Atlantic

6. What are scientists looking at as other ideas for airplane fuels?
Answer: (b) Hydrogen and electric power

7. What is one problem with using SAF right now?
Answer: (b) Not having enough fuel and it being more expensive

8. How are governments and companies trying to make SAF more popular?
Answer: (c) By helping to make more of it and making it cheaper
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. People are working together to make air travel better for the environment, giving hope that flying can be greener in the future. (Answer: True)
2. Governments and companies are not trying to make SAF more popular by making more of it and making it cheaper. (Answer: False)
3. Old planes use more fuel, but scientists are also not looking at other ideas like hydrogen and electric power for the future. (Answer: False)
4. Virgin Atlantic has not flown planes using only SAF, but there are still solutions like having enough fuel and it being more expensive. (Answer: False)
5. SAF is made from things like old cooking oils and farm waste to help airplanes be better for the environment by reducing pollution. (Answer: True)
6. Ihab Ahmed is a researcher at Sheffield University testing a small jet engine that runs on a new kind of fuel called synthetic sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). (Answer: True)
7. Different ways to produce SAF are being explored, like using plants or special chemical processes. (Answer: True)
8. Airplanes do not need new fuels because more people are flying, and we do not need to protect the planet. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧