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Nuclear power
With our other fuel sources disappearing, do we have any choice about it?
Ex.1. Answer the following questions:
1. Are there any nuclear power stations near your town? If so, how do you feel about them?
2. What are the disadvantages of using fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas? Is nuclear power a good alternative? Why/Why not?
Ex.2. You are going to read an article about nuclear power and its possible dangers. Look at the list below of words connected with the topic and write down what you think they mean. Then use the dictionary to give correct definitions.
Leukemia radioactive fallout
Nuclear reprocessing plant a nuclear reactor
Toxic waste a leak
The greenhouse effect
Ex.3. Read the article:
1 For the pupils at Thurso High School, the visit to the nearby Dounreay atomic energy plant in Scotland was simply part of their course. But to 18-year-old Sharon Coghill, it was much more. Nine years ago, Sharon, who lives 12 miles from the station, discovered she had leukemia. She believes that the proximity of her home to Dounreay may be a contributory factor to her cancer. There is no medical evidence to support her claim – indeed; two independent inquiries have failed to find any connection whatsoever.
2 But five years ago this week a government committee found that in the area surrounding some, but not all, nuclear power stations, levels of childhood leukemia were higher that expected. Today, as then, no one is any closer to establishing why this is so. But says Sharon, “I feel that there is no way we can dismiss the idea of a link and would like to see more investigation.”
3 At present around 15% of the energy we use comes from nuclear power. The government will probably want that figure to increase to about 20% in the future because gas, coal and oil supplies are dwindling fast – the world’s oil supplies may well run out in 100 years. And burning oil and coal releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere creating the ”greenhouse effect”, the hitting up of the earth’s atmosphere causing long-term changes in climate.
4 Only 1% of the radiation received by most people is the result of discharges from the nuclear power industry. We get 5 times that from television sets, air travel and watches with luminous dials. 11,5% comes from medical sources like X-rays, and 87% from environmental sources like naturally radioactive rocks and gases.
5 But the question that most people still want to be answered – whether they live 5 or 500 miles from a nuclear power station – is: are they really safe?
6 There have been leaks from various nuclear installations – including sites dealing with highly radioactive matter – and whether or not these are dangerous - is a point of bitter controversy.
7 Parents of children suffering leukemia are convinced of their case. Two years ago, Susan D’Arcy’s daughter, Gemma, who is now five, was diagnosed as suffering leukemia. They live near Sellafield, a nuclear reprocessing plant near Cumbria, and Susan believes the plant to be a contributory cause of the cancer. She has joined the28-strong group of parents trying to sue British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), which runs the plant, for compensation. Twelve of their children have leukemia and six have died of the illness. The case is likely to tale between 2 and 3 years to come to court.
8 BNFL remains adamant that the parents have no cause for complaint. “A number of possible causes, including viruses, are being investigated and BNFL and the nuclear industry in general are providing financial aid for this work”, says their spokesman.
9 So, what’s the answer? The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) says that nuclear power is essential in supplying our energy needs. But the environmental group Friends of the Earth regards nuclear power as “A totally unnecessary and extremely expensive way of dealing with the greenhouse effect, with untold safety problems.” It says the solution is to reduce demand by applying more efficient technology.
10 As the argument rages the stakes get higher, with more radioactive waste being produced all the time, only the generations to come will know who was right. The question is: will they thank us for our decisions.
Ex.4. Say whether the following statements are true or false, according to the article.
1. It has been proved that children who live near nuclear power stations are more likely to get leukemia.
2. The government believes nuclear power could be the answer to dwindling fuel supplies.
3. Everyone agrees that leaks from nuclear power stations are dangerous.
4. Susan D’Arcy believes that the nearby nuclear power plant was the sole source of her daughter’s cancer.
5. Susan is fighting British Nuclear Fuels for compensation.
6. BNFL are paying for research into the causes of child leukemia.
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