BTS ELEC - Recognising Arguments from familiar topics

Recognising Arguments from Familiar Topics

By N Vancouvert

​Reconnaitre les arguments issus de documents portant sur un sujet familier

Read the following extracts from the online article:

The Importance of Renewable Energy for the Future - The Renewable Energy Institute

Then answer the questions.

Climate Change and the Urgency of Transition

The most pressing reason for investing in renewable energy is its role in combating climate change. Fossil fuel combustion for electricity, heating and transportation accounts for approximately 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to rising global temperatures, melting polar ice, rising sea levels and more frequent and intense extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods and wildfires.

Multiple Choice

According to the text, what is the main reason for investing in renewable energy?

• To reduce electricity costs for households

• To improve the efficiency of fossil fuel technologies

• To combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions

• To increase the use of nuclear energy worldwide

Energy Security and Independence

Another major benefit of renewable energy is enhanced energy security. Many countries currently depend on fossil fuel imports, leaving them vulnerable to geopolitical instability, trade disruptions and price volatility. This dependence creates not only economic risks but also strategic vulnerabilities.

Renewable energy, on the other hand, is inherently local. Solar panels can be installed on rooftops, wind turbines can power rural and coastal areas and bioenergy can be produced from agricultural waste. This decentralisation means countries, and even individual communities, can generate their own energy, reducing their reliance on external sources and stabilising local energy prices.

Multiple Choice

What is one key advantage of renewable energy mentioned in the text?

• It increases dependence on imported fossil fuels

• It allows countries to generate local energy and reduce external reliance

• It makes energy prices more volatile

• It reduces the need for agricultural production

Economic Opportunities and Job Creation

Renewable energy is also an engine for economic growth. Contrary to the misconception that sustainability comes at the cost of prosperity, clean energy is now one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide. The costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) and onshore wind have fallen by over 80% and 60%, respectively, since 2010. As renewables become increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels, they attract investment, spur innovation and create jobs.

Multiple Choice

According to the text, how does renewable energy contribute to economic growth?

• By increasing the cost of electricity production

• By reducing innovation in the energy sector

• By attracting investment and creating jobs

• By making fossil fuels more competitive

Access to Electricity & Global development

Renewable energy, especially decentralised solutions like solar home systems and mini-grids, offers a viable path to universal electrification. These systems are more flexible, scalable and rapidly deployable. They empower communities by enabling access to lighting, refrigeration, communication and clean water systems, thus improving health, education and economic outcomes.

For example, solar microgrids in rural Kenya have not only brought electricity to homes and schools but also powered small businesses and agriculture, significantly improving livelihoods. These developments highlight the potential for renewable energy to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy for All.

Multiple Choice

Why are renewable energy solutions important for global development?

• They are too expensive to implement in remote areas

• They help expand traditional fossil-fuel-based grids

• They only benefit urban populations

• They provide flexible and scalable access to electricity in underserved regions

A Vision for the Future

The shift to renewable energy represents a fundamental rethinking of how we generate and use power in our daily lives. In a world facing increasing environmental challenges, economic pressures and geopolitical uncertainties, renewable energy offers a practical and powerful path forward.

By committing to renewable energy today, we are not only addressing the urgent challenges of our time but also investing in a healthier, more equitable world for future generations.

Multiple Choice

What is the broader impact of committing to renewable energy, according to the text?

• It contributes to a healthier and fairer future for all

• It only helps reduce electricity bills

• It solves all geopolitical conflicts

• It eliminates the need for fossil fuels overnight