Real-Life Communication
You are a nuclear power plant engineer. You are explaining nuclear
power to a group of people.
"Both written and verbal communication
skills are needed in this field," says Joseph Gonyeau. Gonyeau is a nuclear
power plant engineer. "Technical specifications require very good reading
skills as well."
Nuclear plants are just one source of energy used
in the world. Many other types of power exist, such as coal, solar power and
hydroelectric dams. Each type of power has its advantages and disadvantages.
The
citizens have questions about nuclear power. By reading the excerpt below,
help answer their queries:
Coal, as a power source, is
inexpensive and easy to recover. However, it requires costly air pollution
controls. It is also a significant contributor to acid rain and global warming.
Plus, it requires an extensive transportation system.
Nuclear power
has advantages. The fuel is inexpensive. Energy generation is from a very
concentrated source. Its waste is more compact than any source, it's easy
to transport as new fuel and it has no greenhouse or acid rain effects.
However,
it requires larger capital cost because of emergency, containment, radioactive
waste and storage systems. It also requires long-term, high-level waste storage.
There is also the danger of potential nuclear proliferation.
Hydroelectric
power is inexpensive once the dam is built, and many dams already exist. Its
disadvantages are that it is a limited source because it depends on water
elevation. Dam collapse can often lead to loss of life. In addition, dams
have negatively affected some fish stocks, and caused environmental damage
for areas flooded.
(Excerpted from Joseph Gonyeau's Virtual Nuclear
Tourist web page)
Questions:
- Why is coal a good source of power?
- What is one of the major drawbacks of nuclear power?
- How does hydroelectric power affect the environment?