2020-2021学年度第824期总第30期
Powering China (P6)
山东省烟台第二中学 孔洁

Activity 1 Lead-in
After a winter storm hit Texas, US, in February, the state was enveloped in darkness for days.

Early in the morning nearly a half-million residents were without electricity but by midday, just under 350,000 remained without power, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks outages across the country.
                                                  February 18, 2021

•If extreme weather hit China, would the same tragedy happen?

Activity 2 Skimming
1. What’s the main idea of the passage?
It compares the powering system of the United States and China, highlighting China's national grid system and new technologies.

2. How is the passage developed?
   Para 1&2 introduction
   Para 3&4 the severe power failure in Texas
   Para 5-8 China’s powering system
   Para 9 conclusion
 
Activity 3 Scanning  
Read and answer the following questions.

1. What damage was caused by the winter storm in Texas?

After a winter storm hit Texas, US, in February, the state was enveloped in darkness for days. Millions of people shivered in freezing temperatures, and more than 30 died.

2. What accounts for the devastating power failure in Texas?

It was the almost completely isolated grid system that made it hard for Texas to get help from other states.
As a whole, the US doesn’t have a national grid system and lacks coordination among states.

3. What is China’s advantage over Texas in power supply?

a) The national grid system, which is composed of six regional systems
The country also boasts an energy industrial internet platform, connecting more than 3,000 power plants or stations, and covering five major energy sources – wind, solar, hydro, thermal and nuclear power.
b) Smart technologies that ensure a smooth power supply
“We have built the largest ice melting device in the world, and we have also adopted robot ice melting technology in local areas, which has greatly improved working efficiency.”

4. How does the Source-Grid-Load Smart Grid work?
By connecting a large number of scattered power supply channels and equipment, the smart grid can precisely control electric distribution.
For example, in case of a power shortage, it could cut the supply to specific lights and increase the temperature of air conditioners, while ensuring supply to essential departments.

Activity 4  Language focus
Paraphrase the following sentences.

1. After a winter storm hit Texas, US, in February, the state was enveloped in darkness for days.

After a winter storm happened in Texas, US, in February, the state fell into darkness for days.

hit: to reach a place/have a bad influence on sth
Eg.
The village has been hit by a devastating drought.
Follow this footpath and you'll eventually hit the main road.

envelope: to wrap sb/sth up or cover them or it completely
Eg.  
The white coat she was wearing enveloped her completely.
她穿的白色大衣把她完全包了起来。
Clouds enveloped the mountain tops.
云雾笼罩着山顶。

2. The country also boasts an energy industrial internet platform, connecting more than 3,000 power plants or stations, and covering five major energy sources – wind, solar, hydro, thermal and nuclear power.

The country is proud to have an energy industrial internet platform. This platform connects more than 3000 power plants or stations and includes five major energy sources -- wind, solar, hydro, thermal and nuclear power.

boast: to have sth that is impressive and that you can be proud of
Eg. The hotel also boasts two swimming pools and a golf course.

Find the following expressions in the passage.

account for
as a whole
lack coordination
by comparison
be composed of
ensure a smooth power supply
ice melting device
working efficiency
be in operation
in case of
light up
be grateful to do sth