Read the following passage. You have 3 minutes to read the passage. Get your timers or your stopwatch ready to time yourself. The time starts as soon as you begin reading the passage below.
READING
Electric Vehicles
Electric cars are becoming more visible on the roads today. From 2017-2018, the number of registered electric cars worldwide nearly doubled. Avoiding the pitfalls of gasoline-powered cars, electric vehicles will have beneficial effects for our environment due to their zero-emissions, independence from fossil fuels and recycling capabilities.
Electric vehicles (or EVs) are battery-powered. Unlike cars that use petroleum, EVs do not emit harmful gases such as carbon dioxide. Like other greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide traps heat in the atmosphere leading to warmer temperatures. Global warming precipitates long-term negative consequences for our environment such as more heat waves, droughts and stronger hurricanes. In urban environments, car emissions can increase smog and result in respiratory illnesses. With zero-emission electric vehicles, the negative impacts that car emissions have on our environment can be avoided.
Because electric vehicles are powered by batteries and not gas, the extraction of fossil fuels is not necessary. The process of extracting oil and gas can be harmful to the environment resulting in disruption of wildlife habitats and loss of vegetation. Oil spills can wreak havoc on marine life and local economies. A drilling method known as fracking uses water, sand and chemicals to extract gas. The chemicals used can contaminate drinking water and lead to cancer, liver damage and birth defects. Since EVs do not require gas, the hazardous effects of gas extraction can be reduced.
Finally, EV batteries can be reused and recycled in environmentally friendly ways. When EV batteries reach the end of their life cycle in cars, they can be repurposed. In 2019, Toyota reused EV batteries along with solar panels to power 7-Eleven stores in Japan. Recycling EV batteries for their content is also advantageous. EV batteries contain rare metals such as cobalt. When recycled, cobalt can be used to make new batteries, which avoids the need for extraction and mining.
Now, listen to the Lecture. You may take notes as you listen.
LECTURE
You have 20 minutes to write an essay explaining how the points in the lecture cast doubt on the points made in the reading.
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