B2 English test 7 – Text with multiple-choice gaps

There is increasing concern over the impact of road transport on climate change. Never in human history 1 are carbon levelshave carbon levels beencarbon levels arecarbon levels have been so high. 2 It is reportedit is reportingit has reportedit reports that over 36 billion tons of carbon were released into the atmosphere, and 14% of these 3 to saysay thatsayare said to come from vehicles. That's the main reason why 4 It istherethere seemsIt seems to be a great deal of interest in finding alternative fuels, and electric vehicles could offer a solution. 5 UtilisingTo utiliseUtilisedUtilise 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 6 in order forsuch asin order forso that it to run. Thus, the car’s total emissions depend on 7 how is electricity generated how do people generate electricityhow electricity is generated how is generated electricity locally. In 8 most of thethe most ofthe most of themost of countries where electric cars are widely in use today, electricity is generated in a relatively clean way. 9 In factConsequentlyHoweverAdditionally, the total carbon emissions from an electric vehicle remain lower than those of a conventional one, 10 evenexceptespeciallyactually 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 11 was bound towas going towouldwere to change.

Another problem is the lithium required to manufacture the batteries, 12 asbutalthoughso 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.

13 IncidentallyAnywayIn factAll in all, electric vehicles do have the potential to reduce carbon emissions. However, they don’t offer a complete solution 14 due tobecausedespitein case of the damaging impacts of electricity generation and mining. 15 What is neededIt is neededThere needsWhat needs is a coordinated approach by all these industries to work together in protecting our environment.