Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Are you looking forward to winter? Why or why not?
- How often do you reheat food?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- household /HOUS-hold/
- economic /ek-uh-NOM-ik/
- supply /suh-PLAHY/
- contribute to /kuhn-TRIB-yoot to /
- inflation /in-FLEY-shuhn/
[noun] – a group of people, often a family, who live together
Our whole household is always up early on the weekend.
[adjective] – relating to trade, industry, and money
Business leaders shared their opinions during the economic discussions.
[noun] – an amount of something available
Our farm provides us with an endless supply of lemons.
[phrasal verb] – to help to cause an event or situation:
Negative customer reviews contributed to the cafe’s closing.
[noun] – a general, continuous increase in prices
Based on the survey, adults aged 25-40 are concerned with inflation.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
The United States (US) heating bills are expected to increase this winter as energy prices rise, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) says. Compared to last winter, American households that use natural gas for heating will have to pay 30% more in October-March. “As we have moved beyond what we expect to be the deepest part of the pandemic-related economic downturn, growth in energy demand has generally outpaced growth in supply,” EIA Acting Administrator Steve Nalley said in a statement.
The US has a large supply of natural gas, but prices have doubled this year from coronavirus-related lows partly because the country was not able to stockpile enough last winter. According to EIA’s forecasts, households that use propane – mainly in the South, the Northeast, and Midwest, United States- will spend $631 more for heating this winter. Additionally, users of heating oil could expect to pay $1,734 more. Prices in both cases would be significantly higher if the winter is colder than average. The gas hike will be hitting many cities such as Chicago, which depends heavily on central heating in the winter season. Meanwhile, supply chain issues and worker shortages contribute to US inflation. The prices of meat, cars, clothing, and gasoline have all risen.
The US has a large supply of natural gas, but prices have doubled this year from coronavirus-related lows partly because the country was not able to stockpile enough last winter. According to EIA’s forecasts, households that use propane – mainly in the South, the Northeast, and Midwest, United States- will spend $631 more for heating this winter. Additionally, users of heating oil could expect to pay $1,734 more. Prices in both cases would be significantly higher if the winter is colder than average. The gas hike will be hitting many cities such as Chicago, which depends heavily on central heating in the winter season. Meanwhile, supply chain issues and worker shortages contribute to US inflation. The prices of meat, cars, clothing, and gasoline have all risen.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What is expected to increase in the US?
- How much do propane users have to spend on heating this winter?
- How much could heating oil users expect to pay this winter?
- Which city in the US depends heavily on central heating?
- What factors contribute to inflation in the US?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- When was the last time energy prices increased in your country?
- How do households in your country keep warm during winter?
- If you were a US citizen, what steps would you take to help reduce your heating costs?
- Do you think people should be more concerned with global energy problems?
- As humans, why do you think it is important for us to take care of natural resources? (water, air, natural gas)