APIEGrammar: Energy Security and Comparison Phrases
Energy security and nuclear power
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
Proportions and Comparisons in Energy Reporting
Learn how to describe energy data accurately using standard comparison patterns. Master multiples, fractions, and idiomatic contrasts to report figures with confidence.
How to use this lesson
🧑🏫 For the Teacher
Set a 12-minute timer and ask students to review the 4 comparison patterns before starting the exercises.
Check student understanding by reviewing the short explanations and checking word order in their answers.
🎓 For the Learner
First, read through each rule card to notice how numbers and comparison phrases link together.
Next, complete all 12 practice tasks from start to finish and check the one-word clues when you need guidance.
Core Grammar Reference
Multiples with As Much As / As Many As
Use a number before times followed by as much as for uncountable amounts, or as many as for plural counts. Avoid using more than after multiples in formal reports. Remember that we say twice instead of two times when doubling a figure.
Example 1: The old plant burned three times as much coal as the new one.
Example 2: Our new reactor produces twice as much baseload power, cutting our national dependency on foreign fuel.
Fractions and Approximate Shares
Use a fraction of before a noun to show that an amount is an extremely tiny part of the total. When you want to describe an approximate proportion, use phrases like roughly half, about a third, or nearly two thirds. Avoid pairing fraction with exact numbers like half or fifty percent.
Example 1: Solar still supplies only a fraction of the winter demand.
Example 2: Domestic uranium reserves covered roughly half of the annual shortfall during the crisis.
A Far Cry From
Use a far cry from with a noun or an -ing verb to explain that the real situation is very different from what was expected or hoped for. Because this is a fixed idiom, keep every word in this exact order and do not substitute prepositions. It always highlights a disappointing shortfall or a major negative contrast.
Example 1: A single wind farm is a far cry from a full plan for the country.
Example 2: Experiencing a sudden power outage was a far cry from managing planned intermittent supply drops.
On a Par With
Use on a par with followed by a noun to state that two standards, figures, or risks are virtually equal. It normally comes directly after a linking verb like be or seem. Do not drop the article a or change with to to.
Example 1: The cost of the new reactor is on a par with the cost of a large gas plant.
Example 2: Government plans to diversify power sources seem on a par with the decision to decommission coal units.
Practice Exercises
12 ItemsWork through the four activity sections below. Use the single clue word in brackets to select or form the correct phrase.
Which sentence correctly compares the storage volumes of radioactive material?
Which sentence uses the fixed contrast idiom accurately?
Which sentence correctly compares the safety levels of power stations?
Rewrite the sentence below to show that foreign imports represent only an extremely tiny amount.
"Foreign imports account for 2% of our baseload power."
Your rewritten sentence: ____Rewrite the sentence below to show an approximate proportion of 50%.
"The emergency reserve covered 50 megawatts and the expected shortfall was 100 megawatts."
Your rewritten sentence: ____Rewrite the sentence below using a multiple comparison phrase.
"The country imported 90 tons of uranium this year and 30 tons last year."
Your rewritten sentence: ____Complete the report sentence by writing the missing comparison phrase into the blank.
Complete the comparison sentence to show equal expenditure levels.
Complete the statement with an approximate share phrase.
Read this memo to a colleague. Find the error in the underlined multiple comparison and type only the corrected phrase.
Message from Energy Analyst:
"Hi Sam, I just reviewed the fuel import brief. Our national dependency on foreign gas is three times more than it was five years ago. We need to rethink our pipeline strategy."
Read this team message. Find the incorrect preposition in the idiom and type only the corrected phrase.
Message from Grid Coordinator:
"Morning team, our current plan to diversify electricity generation is a far cry to achieving true supply resilience by 2030. Let's discuss concrete targets at today's standup."
Read this update from finance. Find the error in the comparison phrase and type only the corrected phrase.
Message from Project Lead:
"Hey Alex, the projected expense to decommission reactor unit 4 seems on par to our total maintenance budget. We need to verify these numbers before Friday."
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