Hugh Pendy: We are facing a serious energy crisis.
All known reserves of coal, oil and gas will be exhausted within ten years. It
is urgent and imperative that we develop new sources of energy immediately.
Nuclear power is the answer to our problems. If we don’t build nuclear power
stations now, our civilization will collapse. The Government has decided to
build a nuclear power station to solve the energy problem we are facing. I am
for this wise decision. Maureen Preston: We can’t
allow this power station to be built. It would cause terrible damage to the
environment and all living creatures in the district would be in great danger. A
small leak would cause a disaster. It’s our duty as responsible citizens to
force the Government to abandon their unclear energy program. I used to believe
nuclear power station were safe. But last month I read a newspaper report that
there were at least five major leaks in the last two years in other stations. In
each case, the alarm systems failed and there could have been a disaster.
Scientists have too much faith in their own ideas. It’s time the truth was told
that nuclear power stations are very dangerous. Peter
Epstein: This power station will be absolutely safe. There
will be no danger of leakage because the reactor will be housed in a concrete
box with walls six meters thick. Five independent alarm systems will monitor
every square centimeter of the power station to prevent fire or sabotage. People
are afraid of nuclear power because they don’t understand it. We must educate
them. Nuclear power is clean, quiet, cheap, and pollution-free, unlike
conventional power using gas, oil and coal. Furthermore it is almost
unlimited. William Mclean: The Government is placing
far too much emphasis on nuclear power. It will take many more years of
experimentation before the safety problem alone is overcome. In the meantime, we
should develop other ways of taking energy from the earth, such as sunshine, or
wind or tide, waves, rivers ,hot springs, etc, etc. They are cheaper, safer and
more convenient than nuclear power. Scientists could do more in exploiting how
to make use of these things in nature and benefit human beings. Jack
Robin: I am not worried about the energy crisis. My house is
heated by solar energy; my electricity is supplied by a windmill in my garden;
and I go to work by bicycle. If everybody followed my example, there would not
be any energy crisis. People are so wasteful. Do they really need big cars,
central heating systems and millions of electronic gadgets I doubt it. We live
a far more unhealthy life than before. People are getting lazier and lazier.
Many people suffer from overeating and lack of physical exercises. We should
make good use of the development of science and technology and shouldn’t let the
machine getting control. Now match each of the persons (61 to
65) to the appropriate statement. Note: there are two extra
statements.
Statements [A] We should
educate people to make them understand how a nuclear power station works. [B]
A nuclear power station would cause a disaster. [C] Nuclear power station is
a good resolution to our energy crisis. [D] We should educate people to make
them understand that nuclear power station is safe. [E] I now believe that
nuclear power is dangerous. [F] We should make use of other type of energies
before taking the risk of building a nuclear power station. [G] If we live a
healthier life, there would not be any energy crisis. Jack Robin