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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 4 / B2
Published
Title
China’s Wind Power Bet Pays Off
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-05-18-china-wind-power-bet-pays-off/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Sentence Unscramble Reorder mixed phrases into correct sentences.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?

a) Asian countries worry that fuel from the Persian Gulf could become more expensive.

b) China begins moving wind turbines from the east to the west.

c) Solar farms at sea become easier to build than wind farms.

Wide illustrated landscape of green agricultural fields, canals, power lines, and multiple wind turbines fading into a hazy blue-gray sky.
Wind turbines in China.

Ask: (1) What do you use electricity for in your daily life? (2) How does your country make electricity?

VOCAB LIST

shortage (n.) — A situation in which there is not enough of something.
exposed (adj.) — Open to harm or risk.
turbine (n.) — A tall machine with large blades that uses wind to make power.
foundation (n.) — The strong base that supports a structure.
capacity (n.) — The total amount something can produce or hold.
coastal (adj.) — Near the sea or on the coast.
renewable (adj.) — Able to be replaced naturally, such as energy from wind or sun.
priority (n.) — Something that is considered more important than other things.
security (n.) — Safety or protection from risk or danger.
crisis (n.) — A serious time of difficulty or danger.

Reading

The war in Iran is putting pressure on oil and gas supplies from the Persian Gulf. Many Asian countries buy much of their fuel from that region, so they are worried about higher prices and possible shortages. China imports huge amounts of oil and gas, but it has one advantage: it has spent years building wind power.

Across China, wind turbines now stand on hills, in deserts, and near the coast. Long power lines carry electricity from windy western regions to busy factories and cities in the east. Last year, China installed more wind power capacity than the rest of the world combined. Chinese companies are also selling more turbines and parts overseas.

This investment now looks smart. For China, renewable energy is not only about climate change. It is also about energy security. If more electricity comes from wind and solar power, the country is less exposed when oil and gas prices rise.

Wind power, however, cannot be built overnight. Unlike solar panels, which can be installed quickly, wind farms take time. Each turbine needs a large foundation, a windy location, calm weather during construction, and power lines that can carry the electricity to cities and factories. Wind farms at sea are even harder to build, but they can produce steady power close to coastal cities.

China’s wind boom also brings problems. Some people living near turbines complain about noise, especially at night. One resident near Yancheng said the turbines run for many hours and affect people’s sleep.

This moment shows why renewable energy has become a national priority. Wind power is no longer just about cleaner electricity. It is also about fuel prices, national security, and whether countries can keep the lights on during an energy crisis.

China’s Wind Power Bet Pays Off

Level 4 Source: nytimes.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

Wide illustrated landscape of green agricultural fields, canals, power lines, and multiple wind turbines fading into a hazy blue-gray sky.
Wind turbines in China.

The war in Iran is putting pressure on oil and gas supplies from the Persian Gulf. Many Asian countries buy much of their fuel from that region, so they are worried about higher prices and possible shortages. China imports huge amounts of oil and gas, but it has one advantage: it has spent years building wind power.

Across China, wind turbines now stand on hills, in deserts, and near the coast. Long power lines carry electricity from windy western regions to busy factories and cities in the east. Last year, China installed more wind power capacity than the rest of the world combined. Chinese companies are also selling more turbines and parts overseas.

This investment now looks smart. For China, renewable energy is not only about climate change. It is also about energy security. If more electricity comes from wind and solar power, the country is less exposed when oil and gas prices rise.

Wind power, however, cannot be built overnight. Unlike solar panels, which can be installed quickly, wind farms take time. Each turbine needs a large foundation, a windy location, calm weather during construction, and power lines that can carry the electricity to cities and factories. Wind farms at sea are even harder to build, but they can produce steady power close to coastal cities.

China’s wind boom also brings problems. Some people living near turbines complain about noise, especially at night. One resident near Yancheng said the turbines run for many hours and affect people’s sleep.

This moment shows why renewable energy has become a national priority. Wind power is no longer just about cleaner electricity. It is also about fuel prices, national security, and whether countries can keep the lights on during an energy crisis.

Speaker: British Male  Duration: 2:09  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

The war in Iran is putting (1) on oil and gas supplies from the Persian Gulf. Many Asian countries buy much of their fuel from that region, so they are worried about higher prices and possible shortages. China imports huge amounts of oil and gas, but it has one advantage: it has spent years building wind power.

Across China, wind turbines now stand on hills, in deserts, and near the coast. Long power lines carry electricity from windy western regions to busy factories and cities in the east. Last year, China installed more wind power (2) than the rest of the world combined. Chinese companies are also selling more turbines and parts overseas.

This investment now looks smart. For China, renewable energy is not only about climate change. It is also about energy (3) . If more electricity comes from wind and solar power, the country is less exposed when oil and gas prices rise.

Wind power, however, cannot be built (4) . Unlike solar panels, which can be installed quickly, wind farms take time. Each turbine needs a large (5) , a windy location, calm weather during construction, and power lines that can carry the electricity to cities and factories. Wind farms at sea are even harder to build, but they can produce steady power close to coastal cities.

China’s wind boom also brings problems. Some people living near turbines complain about (6) , especially at night. One resident near Yancheng said the turbines run for many hours and affect people’s sleep.

This moment shows why renewable energy has become a national priority. Wind power is no longer just about cleaner electricity. It is also about fuel prices, national security, and whether countries can keep the lights on during an energy (7) .

Main Idea

Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.

Main Idea

Choose one:

  • China’s long investment in wind power is helping it handle global fuel risks more safely. Correct answer
  • China’s wind expansion is increasing its power at home and its turbine sales overseas.
  • China’s wind boom shows that renewable energy can bring new building and local problems.
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • China installed more wind power capacity last year than the rest of the world combined.
    The second paragraph says China installed more wind power capacity last year than the rest of the world combined.
  • Wind farms can usually be built faster than solar panels.
    The fourth paragraph says the opposite: solar panels can be installed quickly, while wind farms take time.
  • Some people living near turbines say the noise affects their sleep.
    The fifth paragraph says one resident near Yancheng complained that the turbines run for many hours and affect people’s sleep.

True or False

1. China installed more wind power capacity last year than the rest of the world combined. TRUEFALSE True

2. Wind farms can usually be built faster than solar panels. TRUEFALSE False

3. Some people living near turbines say the noise affects their sleep. TRUEFALSE True

Multiple Choice

1. Why are many Asian countries worried about the war in Iran?

   a) China has spent years building more wind power.

   b) They buy much of their fuel from the Persian Gulf.Correct

   c) Wind farms at sea are even harder to build than wind farms on land.

   d) Long power lines carry electricity from western China to eastern cities.

2. What have Chinese companies been doing overseas?

   a) Carrying electricity from western China to factories and cities in the east

   b) Installing more wind power capacity across China

   c) Selling more turbines and partsCorrect

   d) Building wind farms at sea near coastal cities

3. Why is renewable energy important to China beyond climate change?

   a) It helps reduce the country’s exposure when oil and gas prices rise.Correct

   b) It helps China expand wind power and sell more turbines overseas.

   c) It helps produce steady power close to coastal cities.

   d) It helps deal with local complaints about turbine noise.

4. Why can wind farms at sea still be useful even though they are harder to build?

   a) They can use the same kind of power lines that move electricity across China.

   b) They can be added quickly when countries need more power.

   c) They can reduce some complaints from people living near turbines at night.

   d) They can produce steady power close to coastal cities.Correct

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. Puth) pressure on oil and gas supplies

2. Importg) oil and gas

3. Sellf) turbines and parts

4. Carrye) electricity

5. Needd) a large foundation

6. Buildc) wind farms

7. Affectb) people's sleep

8. Keepa) the lights on

a) the lights on

b) people's sleep

c) wind farms

d) a large foundation

e) electricity

f) turbines and parts

g) oil and gas

h) pressure on oil and gas supplies

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. China was smart to invest in wind power early because it gives the country more energy security.

    To me, / But, / For example, / Because of that,

    To me, China was smart to invest in wind power early because it gives the country more energy security.

  2. I wouldn't want to live near wind turbines the noise could affect my sleep at night.

    and / because / but / so

    I wouldn't want to live near wind turbines because the noise could affect my sleep at night.

  3. A country that imports a lot of fuel can be hit by problems far away. local wind and solar can matter so much.

    Also, / Because of that, / For example, / But,

    A country that imports a lot of fuel can be hit by problems far away. Because of that, local wind and solar can matter so much.

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. Wind power B. it gives countries C. security. D. more energy E. because F. is useful

    Wind power is useful because it gives countries more energy security.

  2. A. Compared with B. take longer C. wind farms D. solar, E. to build F. steady power. G. but H. can give

    Compared with solar, wind farms take longer to build but can give steady power.

  3. A. but B. energy security C. matters, D. just as much. E. cheap energy F. matters G. I get why

    I get why cheap energy matters, but energy security matters just as much.

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you think China was smart to invest in wind power? Why or why not?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind power?
  3. What natural resources does your country have a lot of?
  4. What does your country need to import from other countries?
  5. How dependent is your country on imported oil and gas?
  6. What kinds of renewable energy are growing in your country?
  7. Do you think governments should invest more in wind and solar power? Why or why not?
  8. Would you want to live near wind turbines? Why or why not?
  9. What happens to ordinary people when fuel prices rise quickly?
  10. Some people think cheap energy is more important than clean energy. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Answers China’s Wind Power Bet Pays Off / Level 4

Think Ahead: a

Listening: (1) pressure, (2) capacity, (3) security, (4) overnight, (5) foundation, (6) noise, (7) crisis

Main Idea: China’s long investment in wind power is helping it handle global fuel risks more safely.

True or False:

  1. True. The second paragraph says China installed more wind power capacity last year than the rest of the world combined.
  2. False. The fourth paragraph says the opposite: solar panels can be installed quickly, while wind farms take time.
  3. True. The fifth paragraph says one resident near Yancheng complained that the turbines run for many hours and affect people’s sleep.

Multiple Choice: b, c, a, d

Vocabulary:

  1. Put: pressure on oil and gas supplies
  2. Import: oil and gas
  3. Sell: turbines and parts
  4. Carry: electricity
  1. Need: a large foundation
  2. Build: wind farms
  3. Affect: people's sleep
  4. Keep: the lights on

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Opinion. 2) Reason. 3) Result.

  1. To me,
  2. because
  3. Because of that,

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. Wind power is useful because it gives countries more energy security.
  2. Compared with solar, wind farms take longer to build but can give steady power.
  3. I get why cheap energy matters, but energy security matters just as much.

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