Rising Heating Oil Prices Force Sacrifices in Aveyron, France
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The price of heating oil is going up in France. People in Aveyron, a region in France, feel the problem. Heating oil is a fuel. People use it to make their homes warm.
One person said, "I will try to stay warm all winter." This means life is hard now. Many people must turn down their heating. This helps them save money.
A hotel in Aveyron must close. It will stay closed until March. The owners cannot pay for enough heating oil. This is a big sacrifice for them.
Both normal people and business owners feel this problem. They are called particuliers and professionnels in French. This means regular people and workers.
One big company, TotalEnergies, is giving some discounts on heating oil. But it is not the only company doing this. Other fuel companies may also lower their prices.
Governments have special oil they keep for hard times. This is called a strategic reserve. If they use this oil, prices might go down. People are hoping for good news soon.
Vocabulary10 words
- heating oil
- a type of fuel; liquid that makes houses warm
- fuel
- something you burn for heat or energy
- sacrifice
- giving up something important
- particuliers
- French word; means regular people, not businesses
- professionnels
- French word; means workers or business owners
- discounts
- lower prices; less money to pay
- strategic reserve
- oil saved by the government for emergencies
- region
- a part of a country
- winter
- the cold season of the year
- company
- a business that sells things
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Quiz
Answer key
1. They are going up 2. Close until March 3. False
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The price of _____ is going up in France. People in Aveyron, a region in France, feel the problem.
One person said, "I will try to stay warm all _____." This means life is hard now.
A hotel in Aveyron must close. It will stay closed until _____.
The owners cannot pay for enough heating oil. This is a big _____ for them.
One big company, _____, is giving some discounts on heating oil.
Other fuel companies may also lower their _____.
Governments have special oil they keep for hard times. This is called a _____ reserve.
If they use this oil, prices might go _____.
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