Module 1: Building your vocabulary

Energy security and nuclear power — learn the essential language and key facts before you speak.

⚡ Core Vocabulary Bank

10 Target Words

dependency shortfall outage diversify reactor uranium radioactive intermittent baseload decommission

____ a. baseload ____ b. shortfall ____ c. outage

____ a. outage ____ b. dependency ____ c. reactor

____ a. decommission ____ b. generate ____ c. diversify

____ a. radioactive ____ b. intermittent ____ c. baseload

____ a. baseload ____ b. uranium ____ c. shortfall

🔗

Section 2: High-Scoring Collocations

1. "cover a shortfall" Verb phrase

____ a. shut down and dismantle aging industrial facilities ____ b. secure constant minimum output for the grid ____ c. compensate for an unexpected deficit

2. "sudden outage" Noun phrase

____ a. abrupt loss of electrical power ____ b. erratic flow that comes and goes ____ c. broaden the range of fuel supplies

3. "diversify energy sources" Verb phrase

____ a. compensate for an unexpected deficit ____ b. broaden the range of fuel supplies ____ c. permanently retire and dismantle facilities

4. "intermittent supply" Noun phrase

____ a. secure constant minimum output for the grid ____ b. abrupt loss of electrical power ____ c. erratic flow that comes and goes

5. "guarantee baseload power" Verb phrase

____ a. secure constant minimum output for the grid ____ b. compensate for an unexpected deficit ____ c. erratic flow that comes and goes

6. "decommission an old reactor" Verb phrase

____ a. broaden the range of fuel supplies ____ b. permanently retire and dismantle an aging facility ____ c. abrupt loss of electrical power

💬

Section 3: Four Spoken Sentence Patterns

Fact 1 US Department of Energy Record

____ 1931 ____ 1951 ____ 1971

💡 Did you know? It was an experimental plant located in the Idaho desert, proving that nuclear energy could be harnessed for civilian power.

Fact 2 World Nuclear News Archive

____ 1936 ____ 1956 ____ 1976

💡 Historical benchmark: Calder Hall demonstrated that atomic energy was viable on a national scale, supplying industrial and domestic power across northwest England.

Grading Criteria

"Well, I think it depends on how much risk a country can take. Cheap imports are tempting, but if one supplier stops sending gas, the money we save is a fraction of what a blackout would cost. My cousin's flat had no heating for two days last winter, and it was awful. So I'd say a country shouldn't rely on one source. It doesn't have to make everything at home, though. It's better to diversify its suppliers and keep some of its own power as a safety net. That way, price matters, but it doesn't leave the country exposed."

Grading Criteria

"Honestly, yes, I think I would. I know some people worry, but if these places are heavily regulated, I'd trust trained inspectors more than my own guesses. What I'd want is clear information, so nobody is left guessing. If a station is on a par with other big industrial sites for safety, I wouldn't worry about it. That said, I'd feel differently if the local council hid things from residents. For me it comes down to trust. If people get straight answers, I'd be fine with it, and the jobs would be a bonus."

Grading Criteria

"I'd say the companies that make the waste should pay, at least at first, because it's their product. But a hundred years is a long time, and companies can go out of business, so the government has to be ready to step in. I think the cost should be added to electricity bills in a fair way, so people can see what they're paying for. It's not fair to leave it to our grandchildren. They didn't get the benefit, so they shouldn't foot the bill. A special fund, paid into every year, seems the most sensible plan to me."

Grading Criteria

"Not in the near future, I'd say. Wind and sun are intermittent, so the power stops when the weather changes. Even if they covered roughly half of what a country needs, the other half would still be a problem on still, cloudy days. For a whole country we'd need huge batteries or another steady source for those days, and that's a far cry from where most places are now. I'd like it to happen, and it's a goal worth working towards, but a mix feels more realistic, with some baseload power in the background."

Grading Criteria

"First, I think it should be honest about the risk, so people can get ready at home. Then it needs a plan for the people who'd suffer most, like elderly neighbours who live alone. Warm places, such as school halls, could open as shelters. It should also keep some fuel in store and make sure hospitals have their own generators. I remember a storm when our street lost power, and the worst part was not knowing what was happening. So clear updates matter too. Yeah, I'd say plan ahead and keep people informed, and don't forget the people who'd suffer most."

Grading Criteria

"Yes, definitely. When there's a conflict somewhere, people start asking whether the gas will keep coming, and that makes them nervous about their bills. I've noticed my parents turning the heating down as soon as they hear bad news on TV, even before prices change. It's partly fear, I think. Energy is something we all use every day, so a rise hits every household. Countries with a heavy dependency on one supplier feel it far more than countries with several sources. So conflict and price worries go hand in hand."