Saudi Arabia's Oil Export Routes All Blocked
Listen to the story
Saudi Arabia sells oil to many countries. This oil is called crude oil. It travels by three routes. Now, all three routes are blocked.
One route uses a pipeline. A pipeline is a long pipe that carries oil. This pipeline has stopped working. Because of this, Saudi Arabia's oil stock is running low.
People say the world could lose 4% of its oil supply. This is a big number for the whole world.
The Houthis are a group from Yemen. They now control parts of the Red Sea coast. Many ships use the Red Sea to carry oil.
Because of the blocked routes, the United States and Saudi Arabia are blaming each other. Some people call this a huge mistake by both countries.
Vocabulary15 words
- crude oil
- oil before it is cleaned; used to make petrol
- pipeline
- a long pipe that moves oil or gas
- Houthis
- a group of fighters from Yemen
- Red Sea
- a sea between Africa and the Middle East
- export
- to sell and send goods to other countries
- route
- a way or path to travel
- supply
- the amount of something that is available
- blocked
- closed so nothing can pass
- stock
- goods kept ready to sell
- blame
- to say someone did something wrong
- coast
- land next to the sea
- control
- to have power over a place
- mistake
- something done wrong
- world
- the whole earth and all people
- stopped
- no longer working
Quiz
Answer key
1. Three 2. The Houthis 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Saudi Arabia sells oil to many _____. This oil is called crude oil. It travels by three _____.
Now, all three routes are _____.
One route uses a _____. This pipe has stopped working.
Because of this, Saudi Arabia's oil _____ is running low.
People say the world could lose 4% of its oil _____.
The Houthis are a group from _____.
They now control parts of the Red Sea _____.
Many ships use the Red Sea to carry _____.
The United States and Saudi Arabia are _____ each other.
Some people call this a huge _____ by both countries.