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05.09.2024, 22:58 Ready for C2 Proficiency Student's Book Classroom Presentation

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M: Really? I hadn’t even considered that. difference to communities in far flung areas, J: Thank you, Dan. And yes, cats are close
I suppose they must really be feeling it… especially as running costs are virtually to our hearts, that can’t be denied, but
non-existent. And there is no reason why this we shouldn’t be blind to a much more
W: No doubt… Most animals are accustomed
couldn’t be scaled up. In fact, there are some significant issue they bring about – the
to being in the elements, which is the last
companies that are considering gravity, in elimination of a variety of species,
place to be at the moment, so a lot of them
terms of energy storage this time, on a much particularly birds, here in the country.
are in a bad way, even those that are built
larger scale, so it seems as if this is just the All countries have to protect their native
to deal with the cold. I think most animals
tip of the iceberg for its potential. species, but for New Zealanders the need
tend to retreat as winter approaches, but
is so much stronger, because whereas
they simply aren’t equipped for what can The next step for small-scale energy
other countries may be able to repopulate
come out of the blue. Poor things. Lots of production might lie in exploiting the kinetic
depleted species by bringing the same
volunteers have been out there lending a energy we generate all around us. In the UK,
species in from other countries, they just
hand, but, needless to say, they can’t get to there are smart panels in some pavements
don’t have that luxury as many of their
them all. to capture the energy of the pedestrians,
species are completely unique to their
channelling it into the streetlights. In Japan,
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country. Cats are great pets, sure, but
some nightclubs are using similar techniques
I: So, today, you’re announcing a new
they’re also predators, and they’ve killed
but on their dancefloors. This kind of energy
housing scheme. Tell us about it, and why
off more than eleven bird species in New
could change our daily lives as we know it,
you think this is adequate to address the
Zealand.
perhaps for example to the point where we
real long-term housing problems we’re
are using our fingers as a charging device K: But let’s make it clear that we’re talking
facing in this country?
every time we send a text message or scroll about feral cats, not the common domestic
Mi: We think this scheme is an ideal way to
on our mobiles. That could also mean that we cat we find within homes, and while I
deal with the issues we have with housing
never run out of battery again! do accept there is a sensitive problem
at the moment. Basically, our towns have
to deal with here, we need to be careful
Now these are great inexpensive energy
been laid to waste in recent decades
not to demonise those with cats. I’d say
sources, but, while having potential for
following the influx of people to the core
nine out of ten of them already take their
expansion, at present they are localised
cities, and we want to regenerate these
responsibilities as owners seriously.
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projects. However, there is one rather
areas. Anyone with empty housing in these
unusual resource which involves the I: But let’s backtrack a moment…how has this
places can apply for a grant to restore their
adaption of an existing energy source – solar occurred? I mean, it’s common knowledge
property, improve its energy efficiency
energy – and this could be a game-changer. that cats kill birds… but are they actually
and basically give it a new lease of life.
While solar energy is considered, and quite responsible for killing off whole species
Making these places more attractive would
rightly, as one of the green energies, it’s not of birds?
eliminate the need to keep building on
as perfect as it at first seems. The actual
J: What you need to take into consideration
our green spaces, and now in the days of
construction of the panels is where the
here is how unique this country is. Never
remote working, towns, not just cities, are a
problem lies, because of the need for silicon
historically being home to mammals,
much more viable offering.
as a conductor in the panels, which is neither
unlike other countries, the bird population
I: But why not tackle the real problem head
cheap nor particularly environmentally
flourished. However, with very few threats
on by investing in our cities and the lack of
friendly due to its energy-intensive production
to counter, they didn’t cultivate the
affordable and decent accommodation?
process. The replacement scientists are
necessary survival skills for living amongst
Mi: We mustn’t be too city centric in our
working on for this actually comes from a
the varieties of life that have now been
thinking. Policies also exist for our cities,
creature of the deep – the jellyfish. A specific https://english0905.com/private/
introduced. So, for example, a cat finds a
they have been fruitful, especially recently.
protein is being developed that is derived
bird and in other places that bird just flies
I: And do you really think that people will
from the green fluorescent protein, or GFP,
away, hopefully, but some of their birds
flock from cities into these, might I call
contained in jellyfish that gives them their
can’t even fly!
them, deserted towns? Being a pioneer
distinctive glow. This protein reacts to UV
K: This isn’t a modern problem though as
in a place with limited services hoping for
light which in turn activates electrons…
far as I’m concerned. It’s been taking
better days doesn’t sound ideal to me.
mirroring the kind of process that happens
place over centuries since humans first
in solar panel energy. Scientists have the
populated the islands. Take for example
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ability now to artificially create this protein,
the Lyall’s wren, a bird which thrived in
Thank you for inviting me here today to talk
so there is little reason why this couldn’t be
New Zealand, well, up until the first human
about new and inventive ways people are
commercially sold in the form of solar panels,
settlement in the 13th century. Then fast
harnessing energy, which I hope some of
and also deployed as bio cells floating in the
forward to the start of the 19th century
you might adopt. In modern life, energy has
ocean, collecting power whenever the sun
and this bird population was all but wiped
become somewhat of a predicament for both
shines.
out on the main islands. Numbers had
individuals and countries, as costs of energy
These are just some of the ways that
dwindled to just a colony on St Stephens
prices soar, and the environmental costs
our traditional sources of energy can be
Island.
of energy production become increasingly
complemented, or even replaced over
J: But, much later, when that became home to
obvious. But this does not necessarily need
time, both on a local and global scale. As I
a lighthouse, with a cat that produced more
to be the case, and research into non-
mentioned at the start, it’s an exciting time
feral cats, that was another nail in the coffin
traditional energy production is coming on
for energy, as talented young scientists are
for the Lyall’s wren, so to speak.
leaps and bounds with solutions showing
shooing away finite generators of power to
great inventiveness, both in small- and I: So, what can we do about this?
look to things that are abundant and limitless
large-scales which are either ready, or almost
K: Well, I imagine Julia has much more drastic
in our natural world. And this is essential if
ready, to deploy.
ideas than I do on what needs to be done.
we are to counter the challenges that climate
For me, it’s fundamental to respect and
Let’s start with a case study. You might not
change, limited resources, and population
think of the force of gravity as a viable energy protect the rights of our citizens, and as
growth, present to us.
source, but surprisingly, it is used in the a nation where almost half of us are cat
production of energy in some forms and has owners, we shouldn’t bombard them
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much higher reliability than solar or wind with restrictions and make cat owning
I = Interviewer K = Kevin J = Julia
energy, as it is a constant. It has been put a headache. What we DO need to do, I
I: Today I’m joined by town councillor Kevin
to use in some localised projects to make a believe, is to agree on a working system
Eastwell and conservationist Julia Wright
huge difference to certain groups of people. for the reduction of feral cats, which are
to talk about a much-loved household pet
Take for example, the GravityLight in Kenya, a the main problem, but this should be
device which is bringing light to homes which that’s causing some controversy here in nationwide, not a localised initiative, as I’d
New Zealand at the moment… the cat. So,
are normally off-grid, and doing it, safely argue the major damage is done in rural
Julia let’s start with you. Enlighten us on the
and cost-effectively. Where they once used areas.
kerosene to power their lighting, they are now problem. Surely everyone loves a cat.
doing it with rocks linked to a dynamo with
a pulley system. It may be a small amount of
power that is generated, but it’s making a real
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