Listening

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Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. go green
    • ex. Our school is going green by recycling paper and plastic.
  2. hybrid
    • ex. My boss drives a hybrid car that uses both electricity and gasoline to save energy.
  3. efficient
    • ex. Taking the train is more efficient than driving during rush hour because it saves time.
  4. redirect
    • ex. The local government redirects any unused funds to support community projects.
  5. nearby
    • ex. We went to a nearby café for lunch because it was close to our office.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Barcelona is going green with its new public transportation project MetroCharge. The project uses special technology to collect energy from Barcelona’s 16 subway stations. The subway system collects energy when the train driver applies the brakes. This energy is then used to power trains and stations. Any extra energy is sent to stations where electric and hybrid cars can charge.

Professor Alvaro Luna of the Polytechnical University of Catalonia said the system is very efficient because it redirects the saved energy to nearby places, which could also help lower the cost of charging electric cars. The project is part of the global effort to make energy use more efficient by 2030. This was an agreement between countries at U.N. climate talks in 2023.

Jordi Picas, systems head for Barcelona’s subway, said the public company expects to save 7.3 million euros (about ¥1.1 billion) in the next four years from lower energy costs. The system also uses solar panels to help power 28 subway stations, saving 6% of the total energy used by the metro. This is important as Europe works on its green energy plan.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

The MetroCharge Project

  • The MetroCharge Project is part of the global effort to make energy use more efficient by 2030. Do you think this goal can be achieved? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What city in your country should go green and use the same technology as MetroCharge? Discuss.
  • Any extra energy collected from the subway stations is used to charge electric and hybrid cars. What other public structures can use the extra energy (ex. street lights, traffic lights)? Discuss.

Going Green

  • Do you think it’s important for all countries to focus on going green and reducing pollution? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, how can a country be successful in going green (ex. by educating people, by creating strict rules)? Discuss.
  • Imagine you are the head of your city’s public transportation system. What green energy plans would you introduce to make it more sustainable? Discuss.