📝 Use of English Test – B2

There is increasing concern over the impact of road transport on climate change. Never in human history ____have emissions beenemissions have beenhad emissions beenwere emissions so high. ____It is estimatedThere is estimatedIt estimatesThey estimate that over 36 billion tons of carbon were released into the atmosphere, and 14% of these ____are thoughtthinkhave thoughtthought to be to come from vehicles. That's the main reason why ____there continuesit continuescontinues therehas continued to be a great deal of interest in finding alternative fuels, and electric vehicles could offer a solution. ____UsingBy usingUsedHaving used energy stored in a battery, electric cars produce zero emissions while in operation.

However, there are some drawbacks. The emissions produced during the manufacture of a typical electric car are around 68% higher than a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle. Moreover, the battery must be charged ____in order forso thatto allowfor it to run. Thus, the car’s total emissions depend on ____how electricity is generatedthe way electricity generatesthat electricity generateshow is electricity generated locally. In ____most of thethe mostalmost allmajority of countries where electric cars are widely in use today, electricity is generated in a relatively clean way. ____As a resultThereforeHoweverDespite this, the total carbon emissions from an electric vehicle remain lower than those of a conventional one, ____evenstillyetjust if we factor in the energy required for battery charging. However, this is not the case worldwide. In China, for example, many power stations are fuelled by coal. Therefore, in China electric cars could only be considered a cleaner source of fuel if the methods of generating power ____were toarewillhad change.

Another problem is the lithium required to manufacture the batteries, ____andbutsowhile there are fears that lithium mining operations are damaging local environment by lowering water tables and polluting water supplies. Again, all is not lost, as engineers are working on ways to produce lithium from groundwater using zero carbon technologies.

____OverallIn conclusionAltogetherTotally, electric vehicles do have the potential to reduce carbon emissions. However, they don’t offer a complete solution ____toforagainstabout the damaging impacts of electricity generation and mining. ____What is neededThere is neededIt needsWhat needs is a coordinated approach by all these industries to work together in protecting our environment.