Limited Energy: Earth's Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels are a non-renewable source of energy formed from plants and animals that used to live up to 300 million years ago. Chemical energy is stored in these fuels, and when we burn these fuels the energy is released. Coal, natural gas and oil are the three fossil fuels that currently providemore than 85 % of all the energy consumed in the United States. They account for 2/3 of all the electricity produced and nearly all transportation fuel comes from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels produce around 6.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide per year worldwide. Carbon dixoide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to the effects of global warming. Our dependence upon fossil fuels is still likely to increase over the next few decades even while new renewable fuels are being developed. With decreasing amounts of fossil fuels located on Earth, humans will have no other choice other than to switch to renewable resources. It's already happening slowly, but time will only tell. An optimistic time estimate on how long fossil fuels will last is displayed below (Oil & Gas Journal, World Oil):

oil: 45 years;

gas: 72 years;

coal: 252 years.

Exercises

Complete the sentences based on the articles.

1. Natural gas is the byproduct from the … of ancient plants and animals that became trapped underground.

2. Mining also leads to … of the land.

3. If the vegetation is removed, much of the land's fertility is lost.

4. With modern population pressures, many agricultural problems are more … than ever before.

5. In the nearest future humans will have no other choice than to switch to … resources.

6. By not recycling glass, it takes over 4,000 years for it to … in a landfill.

7. … are made in some places to refill open mined areas with topsoil and to plant vegetation on it to reduce the damage.

8. Land is easily damagedand … by the activities of mankind.

9. … constructed to bring water to dry areas have caused massive damage to the landscape.

10. Carbon dioxide is a … gas that contributes to the effects of global warming.

11. About 27 % of all the newspapers in America are … .

12. Such reduction of plant cover occurs especially in the … areas where many of the world's pasture lands are located.

13. The … of industry on the land may be severe.

14. If the vegetation cover is reduced, the soil surface is less … .

15. By recycling one aluminum can, enough energy is … to run a TV for three hours.

16. The erosion of topsoil makes the land less productive and also causes land and waterways down-stream to … .

17. The principles and techniques of land reclamation … according to the setting. The common reason is that land is a … which should be made available for productive or beneficial use wherever possible.

18. Natural gas is composed of … organic material from millions of years ago.

19. When we burn fossil fuels chemical energy is … .

20. Our dependence upon fossil fuels is still likely to … over the next few decades.

Match the word with its meaning.

1. mar	a) turn from liquid into vapour
2. trap	b) convert waste into reusable material
3. contaminate	c) prevent someone from escaping from a place
4. disturb	d) inflict physical harm on something so as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function
5. evaporate	e) make a problem, injury, or offence worse or more serious
6. aggravate	f) experience or be subjected to something bad or unpleasant
7. recycle	g) impair the quality or appearance or spoil something
8. suffer	h) retrieve or recover something previously lost or given
9. damage	i) interfere with the normal arrangement or functioning
10. reclaim	j) make (something) impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance

Find the missing word.

1. There is a tendency for agriculturists to move more marginal areas.	______
2. The dumping of industrial waste has also contaminatedland and made unproductive.	______
3. Fossil fuels are a non-renewable source of energy formed from plants and animals that to live up to 300 million years ago.	______
4. More appropriate forms of land management can be practiced; the prospects for adequate resources in future are gloomy.	______
5. An irrigation project backfired the amountof salt in the soil rose so high that it became unusable for agriculture.	______
6. Such programs transform the productivity of the land, but sometimes they suffer technical problems.	______
7. Severe air pollution has damaged soils and vegetation the extent that agriculture is no longer possible there.	______
8. Many of the world's most ambitious reclamation schemes have been carried in countries that have high population densities.	______
9. Usually the most pressing need is more living space.	______
10. Sulfur dioxide, released by factories, dissolves in rain form a weak acid, which is extremely harmful to the environment.	______
11. The amount of paper and wood thrown every year is equivalent to the energy needed to heat 50,000,000 homes for 20 years.	______
12. Tropical rainforest is felled and burned at a rate of about 110,000sq km a year.	______
13. The chief source of plant nutrients is in the vegetation than in the soil.	______
14. The pollution of the air from industrial plants can cause damage plant life and soil.	______
15. Fossil fuels account 2/3 of all the electricity produced and nearly all transportation fuel comes from fossil fuels.	______