The study said that in 2021, Bitcoin used almost 1,600 billion liters of water, and by 2023, it could use even more, up to 2,200 billion liters. The reason for this is that Bitcoin needs a lot of electricity, which is made in power plants that use water to cool down. The computers used for Bitcoin also need water to stay cool.
The person who did the study, Alex de Vries, said that Bitcoin doesn't need to use so much water. The problem is the way Bitcoin works, called "Bitcoin mining." Miners use powerful computers to check transactions and earn Bitcoin. But this uses a lot of electricity and water because they're all competing against each other.
To use less electricity and water, Bitcoin needs to change the way it works. Another cryptocurrency called Ethereum has already done this and reduced its power usage by a lot. But it might be harder for Bitcoin to make the same change because it's set up differently.
Experts are worried about the findings of this study. Dr. Larisa Yarovaya, a finance professor, thinks that using so much water for Bitcoin mining is a problem, especially in places where there's already not enough water. It's important to find more sustainable alternatives and make sure we're using our resources responsibly.
Original news source: Every Bitcoin payment 'uses a swimming pool of water' (BBC)
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Assign each group a different aspect of the article (e.g. Bitcoin's water usage, the study findings, the problem with Bitcoin mining).
3. Give the groups a few minutes to read and discuss their assigned aspect.
4. Each group presents a summary of their assigned aspect to the class.
5. Encourage other groups to ask questions or add additional information.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Assign each group a role: pro-Bitcoin or anti-Bitcoin.
3. Each group discusses and prepares arguments to support their position.
4. Conduct a class-wide opinion poll by asking students to vote on whether they think Bitcoin's water usage is a problem or not.
5. After the poll, groups present their arguments and try to persuade others to change their opinions.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper.
2. Divide the class into two teams.
3. One member from each team comes to the front of the class.
4. Show the first word to both students, who must draw a picture to represent the word.
5. The team members must guess the word based on the drawings.
6. The first team to guess correctly earns a point.
7. Repeat with different students and words.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Assign each group the task of discussing the pros and cons of Bitcoin's water usage.
3. Give the groups time to brainstorm and list their arguments.
4. Each group presents their lists to the class, discussing the positive and negative aspects of Bitcoin's water usage.
5. Encourage class-wide discussion and debate on the topic.
– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Individually, students write down their predictions for the future of Bitcoin's water usage.
2. In pairs or small groups, students share and discuss their predictions.
3. Encourage students to provide reasons and evidence for their predictions.
4. Select a few students to share their predictions with the whole class.
5. Engage in a class-wide discussion about the different predictions and their likelihoods.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Using Bitcoin for transactions requires a lot of water because the computers that support Bitcoin need power and cooling, which in turn requires water.
According to the study, Bitcoin used almost 1,600 billion liters of water in 2021.
Bitcoin's high water usage is due to the need for power and cooling for the computers that support it.
The person who conducted the study on Bitcoin's water usage is Alex de Vries.
The process is called "Bitcoin mining."
Ethereum has reduced its power usage by changing the way it works, unlike Bitcoin. It has made adjustments to use less electricity and water.
It might be more difficult for Bitcoin to make the same change in reducing power usage because it is set up differently than Ethereum, and changing its system would require significant adjustments.
Experts are concerned about the findings of this study because using so much water for Bitcoin mining is a problem, especially in places where there is already a scarcity of water. It is important to find more sustainable alternatives and use resources responsibly.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A new found that using for transactions uses a lot of water. In fact, it uses about six million times more water than a regular credit card transaction. This is because Bitcoin needs a lot of power and cooling for all the computers that support it. This is a problem because many already don't have enough water, and it's only to get worse with climate change. The study said that in 2021, Bitcoin used almost 1,600 billion liters of , and by 2023, it could use even more, up to 2,200 billion liters. The reason for this is that Bitcoin needs a lot of electricity, which is made in power that use water to cool down. The computers used for Bitcoin also need water to stay cool. The who did the study, Alex de , said that Bitcoin doesn't need to use so much water. The problem is the way Bitcoin works, called "Bitcoin mining." Miners use ful computers to check transactions and earn Bitcoin. But this uses a lot of and water because they're all competing against each . To use less electricity and water, Bitcoin needs to change the way it works. Another cryptocurrency called has already done this and reduced its power usage by a lot. But it might be for Bitcoin to make the same change because it's set up differently. are worried about the findings of this study. Dr. Larisa , a finance professor, thinks that using so much water for Bitcoin mining is a problem, especially in places where there's already not enough water. It's important to find more alternatives and make sure we're using our resources responsibly.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is Bitcoin and how is it different from a regular credit card transaction?
2. How would you feel if you found out that using Bitcoin for transactions uses a lot of water?
3. Do you think it's a problem that Bitcoin uses so much water? Why or why not?
4. Do you like the idea of using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin? Why or why not?
5. What do you think about the fact that Bitcoin could use even more water in the future?
6. How do you think the use of Bitcoin could impact places that already have water shortages?
7. What is "Bitcoin mining" and why does it use so much electricity and water?
8. Do you think it's important for Bitcoin to change the way it works to use less electricity and water? Why or why not?
9. Have you heard of any other cryptocurrencies besides Bitcoin? Which ones?
10. How do you think the findings of this study could affect the popularity of Bitcoin?
11. Do you think it's necessary to find more sustainable alternatives to Bitcoin? Why or why not?
12. Have you ever used or invested in any cryptocurrencies? If so, which ones and why?
13. What do you think are some other ways we can use our resources responsibly?
14. How do you think the use of Bitcoin could be impacted by climate change?
15. Do you think the government should regulate the use of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to protect the environment? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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