Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- contraption / kənˈtræp ʃən / (n.) – a strange or unusual device or machine
Example:The scientist made a contraption that could turn sunlight into electricity.
- cavity / ˈkæv ɪ ti / (n.) – a hole or empty space in something
Example:Researchers found a small cavity in an old tree, where birds had built their nest.
- interfere with (something) / ˌɪn tərˈfɪər wɪð / (phrasal v.) – to prevent something from working effectively or successfully
Example:Too much dust in the air interferes with breathing and can make people cough.
- passerby / ˈpæs ərˈbaɪ / (n.) – a person who is walking or going past a place
Example:The street performer entertained passersby with his music and magic tricks.
- flock / flɒk / (v.) – to go somewhere in a large group
Example:Fans are flocking to the stadium to watch the championship match.
Article
Read the text below.
A solar-powered oven is giving people in Kenya a cheap, healthy way to cook food. The simple contraption is an alternative to firewood and charcoal which are linked to harmful gases.
The box is set up outside, food is placed inside, and the lid is closed. The sun’s rays are reflected into the cavity, heating it up and cooking the meal.
“I used to use firewood for a longer time. I also realized that firewood gives us some problems, like lung problems. When there is a lot of smoke, it interferes with the lungs, therefore the breathing system becomes in very big problem and cannot be treated,” says Benta Achieng who likes this way of cooking because it’s healthier than traditional methods.
Achieng switched to the solar-powered oven two years ago. And she’s not the only one.
For street food vendor Ian Duncun Onyango, it’s part of his business. He cooks up boiled eggs and smokies (smoked sausages) for passersby in Nairobi. It saves him money and boosts his profits.
“The solar cooker is aiding me a lot since previously I was using the ‘jiko’ and the charcoal to boil my eggs and these days I am using it and it is from the power of the sun. I am boiling my eggs. I am saving the fuel and I’m saving some money to boost my stock and business. And I am also having customers from all over town. They are flocking here, they are saying my eggs are sweeter compared to how they were those days,” he says.
The local solar-powered oven was developed by entrepreneur Carolyn Olang. She saw an opportunity in the market for such an invention.
“The solar oven is an alternative use. We want to get people to stop using fossil fuel and that is why we have decided to use renewable energy, hence the solar-powered oven which is just a box and you use the sun to cook your food,” says Olang.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Carolyn Olang saw a market opportunity and created the solar oven which also helps people and the environment. What skills do you think make a good entrepreneur (ex. take risks, adapt to changes)? Do you think businesses should always focus on solving problems or is making money the most important goal? Discuss.
- Ian Duncun Onyango uses a solar cooker to run his business. Do you think businesses that use green technology have an advantage over those that don’t? Why or why not? Do you think customers care about sustainability when choosing where to shop? Why do you say so? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Would you be interested in using a solar-powered oven? Why or why not? What challenges do you think people might face when switching to solar cooking? If a new technology saves money but is less convenient, would you still use it? Why or why not? Discuss.
- Are there any simple inventions that your country is known for (ex. vending machines, shampoo dispensers)? How have these simple inventions improved your routine? Discuss.
