Listening: Are Electric Cars Really Cleaner?

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B2 | Listening from video | 11 min

Are Electric Cars Really Cleaner?

Watch the whole video. You can watch more than once. Then answer the questions below. (5:16)

Choose the best answer.

1. What is the main point of the video?

____ Electric cars pollute as much as petrol cars once battery production is counted.____ Electric cars are cleaner overall, though grids and car size change the benefit.____ Hybrids are the best choice because large batteries cause too many problems.

2. According to the video, what creates the "carbon debt" of an electric car?

____ Electric motors use more energy than petrol engines over a year of driving.____ Power stations burn extra coal every time the car is plugged in.____ Mining metals and building the battery takes huge amounts of energy.

3. What problem does the extra weight of an electric car cause?

____ Tires wear out faster and release tiny pieces of rubber.____ The motor has to waste more energy to move the car.____ The car gives off more exhaust fumes on the road.

4. How do standard hybrids compare with full electric cars in Europe?

____ A hybrid cuts about 40% of emissions against 70% for a full electric car.____ A hybrid cuts about 20% of emissions against 70% for a full electric car.____ A hybrid cuts about the same 20% of emissions as a full electric car.

True, False or Not Given? Choose Not Given if the video does not say.

5. Electric cars are still cleaner than petrol cars in places that rely heavily on coal.

____ True____ False____ Not Given

6. Scientists already know exactly how serious the problem of tire dust is.

____ True____ False____ Not Given

7. Electric cars are cheaper to run than petrol cars.

____ True____ False____ Not Given

Complete each sentence with the words you hear.

A NUMBER from the video.

8. Making an electric car in the factory produces around ____ percent more emissions than making a petrol car.

A NUMBER from the video.

9. An average electric car in Europe has to cover about ____ km before its carbon debt is gone.

A NUMBER from the video.

10. Where electricity comes mostly from nuclear, hydro and wind, an electric car's lifetime emissions are around ____ percent below a petrol car's.

Are Electric Cars Really Cleaner?

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