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Japan Asks People to Use Less Electricity (21st May, 2012)

The Japanese government has warned people the country might not have enough electricity this summer. All of Japan's 50 nuclear reactors have shut down following the accident at Fukushima in March 2011. Spokesman Osamu Fujimura said yesterday there could be power shortages and that people needed to use less electricity to save power. He added: "The government will try hard to figure out …measures… so that the power savings will affect the economy and people's livelihood as little as possible."

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Some parts of the country could see more power cuts than others. The Kansai region's power company is asking its customers to use 15 per cent less electricity. Many big companies already have plans in place. Toyota will use eight of its own natural gas power generators, while railway companies will dim the lights in their train carriages and stations. There is a 40 per cent chance the summer will be hotter than average so the government said people need to be prepared to cut back from July the 2nd.

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PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.	might not have	a.	economy
2	following the	b.	enough
3.	use less electricity to	c.	as possible
4.	try hard to figure	d.	accident at Fukushima
5.	affect the	e.	out measures
6.	as little	f.	save power

Paragraph 2

1.	power	a.	in place
2	use 15 per cent	b.	to cut back
3.	already have plans	c.	cuts
4.	dim	d.	average
5.	hotter than	e.	less electricity
6.	people need to be prepared	f.	the lights

LISTENING GAP FILL

The Japanese government has warned people the country might __________________ electricity this summer. All of Japan's 50 nuclear reactors have shut down __________________ at Fukushima in March 2011. Spokesman Osamu Fujimura said yesterday there could be __________________ and that people needed to use less electricity __________________. He added: "The government will try __________________ …measures… so that the power savings will affect the economy and people's livelihood __________________ possible."

__________________ country could see more power cuts than others. The Kansai region's power company is __________________ to use 15 per cent less electricity. Many big companies already have __________________. Toyota will use eight of its __________________ power generators, while railway companies will dim the lights in their train carriages and stations. There is a 40 per cent chance the summer will be __________________ so the government said people need to be prepared __________________ from July the 2nd.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

The Japanese government has warned people the country might not have (1) ____ electricity this summer. All of Japan's 50 nuclear reactors have shut (2) ____ following the (3) ____ at Fukushima in March 2011. Spokesman Osamu Fujimura said yesterday there could be power shortages and that people needed to use less electricity to (4) ____ power. He added: "The government will try hard to (5) ____ out …measures… so that the power savings will affect the economy and people's livelihood as (6) ____ as possible."

Some parts of the country could see more power cuts than (7) ____. The Kansai region's power company is asking (8) ____ customers to use 15 per cent less electricity. Many big companies already have plans (9) ____ place. Toyota will use eight of its own natural gas power generators, while railway companies will (10) ____ the lights in their train carriages and stations. There is a 40 per cent chance the summer will be hotter than (11) ____ so the government said people need to be (12) ____ to cut back from July the 2nd.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.	(a)	plenty	(b)	enough	(c)	many
2.	(a)	down	(b)	up	(c)	across
3.	(a)	accidental	(b)	accidentally	(c)	accident
4.	(a)	short	(b)	save	(c)	serve
5.	(a)	statue	(b)	figure	(c)	number
6.	(a)	little	(b)	small	(c)	few
7.	(a)	another	(b)	other	(c)	others
8.	(a)	its	(b)	it's	(c)	it is
9.	(a)	up	(b)	at	(c)	in
10.	(a)	dim	(b)	dam	(c)	dumb
11.	(a)	mean	(b)	average	(c)	total
12	(a)	prepares	(b)	preparation	(c)	prepared

SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	The Japanese government has adrnwe people
2.	might not have ognuhe
3.	Japan's 50 rnauelc reactors
4.	there could be power rsagoetsh
5.	grfeiu out measures
6.	acfeft the economy
Paragraph 2
7.	see more power cuts than hrteos
8.	asking its ctoermuss to use 15% less
9.	ryaeald have plans in place
10.	dim the igshlt
11.	hotter than aegraev
12.	be eerpdpar to cut back

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	company is asking its customers to use 15 per cent less electricity. Many big companies already have plans
( )	enough electricity this summer. All of Japan's 50 nuclear reactors have shut
( )	government said people need to be prepared to cut back from July the 2nd.
( )	per cent chance the summer will be hotter than average so the
( )	in place. Toyota will use eight of its own natural gas power generators, while railway
( )	less electricity to save power. He added: "The government will try hard to figure
( 1 )	The Japanese government has warned people the country might not have
( )	said yesterday there could be power shortages and that people needed to use
( )	Some parts of the country could see more power cuts than others. The Kansai region's power
( )	down following the accident at Fukushima in March 2011. Spokesman Osamu Fujimura
( )	companies will dim the lights in their train carriages and stations. There is a 40
( )	out …measures… so that the power savings will affect the economy and people's livelihood as little as possible."

THE READING / TAPESCRIPT

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.	electricity enough have not might country The.
2.	shut have reactors nuclear 50 Japan's down.
3.	less save People use to to electricity power needed.
4.	out hard figure measures Try to.
5.	people's the and livelihood Affect economy.
6.	the see cuts of could power Parts country more.
7.	less Asking to customers 15% electricity its use.
8.	place in plans have already companies Big.
9.	dim lights Railway will the companies.
10.	prepared People to need cut to back be.

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about electricity for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other's work.

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. ELECTRICITY: Search the Internet and find more information about electricity. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about electricity cuts and power shortages. Include an imaginary interview with a power company boss. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to an electricity expert. Ask him/her three questions about electricity shortages. Give him/her three of your opinions on how to save electricity. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Your partner will answer the questions you asked.

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News English Lessons FREE Handout, Listening & Quizzes - Power Shortages (11 Pages of Materials & 8 Online Activities)