能源学术英语综合教程1教师手册Unit6 TB.docx

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Unit6

EnergyandGeopolitics

Listeningandspeaking

Listening

1

1-4:bdac

2

increasingsupply

marketshare

leadingexporters

potentiallyharmful

lessdependent

havethepower

dominantproducer

enterthemarket

Script

Inthenewsweconstantlyhearthattheworldisrunningoutofoil.Theyshouldmeanthatworldwidesupplywillbesmallerandthepriceofoilwillbehigher.However,theoppositeishappening?oilpriceshavedroppedsignificantly,makingoilrelativelycheaperthanever.

Howisthispossible?Thepriceofoil,gasandcoalisformedbysupplyanddemand.Untilrecentlythreeforcesinfluencethis.Whichforcesarethese?Thefirstforceisthegrowingimportanceofoilinoureconomy.Weneedoilformostheating,transportation,electricity,anditisaprimaryrawmaterialforchemicals,fertilizerandplastics.Becauseweusesomuchoilthedemandcontinuestoincrease.Thesecondforceistheemergenceofmonopolypositions.Whencapitalismreigns,multinationaloilcompanies,merchantsandevenindividualinvestorscanobtainmonopolypositionsinvariouspartsoftheproductionprocess.Thisallowsthemtosetapricefortheirpartoftheprocessandhenceimpacttheoverallpriceofoil.Thethirdforceisthecollectionofgeopoliticalgamesbeingplayedinordertogainpoliticalpower.Anexampleisthenationalizationofoilcompaniesinacountry.Allowingthegovernmenttocontroltheproductionsuppliedimpactsthepriceofoil.

Sothesethreeforceshavealwaysdeterminedthepriceofoil.Attheendofthe20thcentury,afourthforcehasenteredthescene.Burningoilisoneofthemaincausesofglobalwarming.Therefore,alternativeformsofself-renewingenergymustreplaceoilassoonaspossible.Forthistohappen,thepriceofoilshouldbehigherandtherefore,fairerthanitisnow.Thiswouldmakerenewablesourcesmoreattractivetouse.

However,thepriceofoilstillseemstobecontrolledbymonopoly