Table of Contents
Scientists in England set a new record in nuclear fusion energy. They used a machine called tokamak to create energy like the sun. They made a lot of energy. It was enough energy for 12,000 houses for 5 seconds.
This energy is like the energy from the sun and stars. It’s very clean and doesn’t need a lot of fuel.
When they use the machine, it gets to 150 million degrees Celsius, hotter than the sun. This heat makes two types of hydrogen join together. This makes more heat.
The machine uses magnets to keep the heat. Then, they use the heat to make electricity.
This was the last test for the machine. It’s good news for future projects.
This energy could help our planet. But it will take many years. There are still many problems. For example, the test used more energy than it made.
Vocabulary
- Scientist – a person who studies science or the natural world; researcher; 👨🔬🥼🧪🔬
- Set a record – to achieve/do something better or more significant than anyone has done before; the most or least ever measured
- Record – the most or least ever; the highest level ever; achieved for the first time.
- Nuclear fusion – A process where small atoms (particles) join together to make a bigger one, and it makes a lot of energy
- Energy – fuel; electricity; power; oil
- Create – to make something new or original; produce
- Enough – Having what is needed or sufficient; plenty; a good amount; abundant
- Clean energy – energy generated from renewable sources (wind, solar, water, etc.) without creating greenhouse gasses (CO2)
- Fuel – a source of energy; something that is used to provide heat or power, usually by being burned, for example coal, wood, oil, etc.
- Million – 1,000,000 = one-million
- Degree – A unit we use to measure temperature; °
- Hydrogen – a colorless, odorless, flammable gas; chemical element ‘H’
- Magnet – 🧲; Something that can pull certain types of metal towards it; Something that attracts metal
- Electricity – power; current; energy used to operate lights, TVs, etc.; ⚡🔌
- Planet – a large object in space that orbits (goes around) a star (Earth is a planet 🌍)
- Test – trial; experiment; study; try-out; an act of using something to find out if it is working correctly or how effective it is
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Discussion Questions
- Why do you think the scientists in England wanted to make energy like the sun?
- Why do you think using clean energy, like the energy from the sun and stars, is important for the planet?
- The machine gets hotter than the sun. Is that scary or exciting for you? Why?
- Doing the test used more energy than it made. What do you think about this?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Scientists in _____ set a new record in nuclear fusion _____. They used a machine called tokamak to create energy _____ the sun. They made a lot of energy. It was _____ energy for 12,000 houses for 5 _____.
This energy is like _____ energy from the sun and _____. It’s very clean and doesn’t need a lot of _____.
When they use the _____, it gets to 150 million degrees Celsius, _____ than the sun. This heat makes two types of hydrogen _____ together. This makes more heat.
The _____ uses magnets to keep the heat. Then, they use the heat to make _____.
This was the _____ test for the machine. It’s good news for future _____.
This energy could help our _____. But it will take many years. There are still _____ problems. For example, the test used more energy than it _____.
