英语博客(A cup of English):013 Do you have gas?

　　Do you have gas?
Beginners.
What kind of a question is that? Are you talking about my body or my car? Well, actually, I am talking about your car. Gas, or petrol, as it is called in England, is a big subject at the moment. Driving a car has become really expensive. Oil prices all over the world are high. Many people have stopped using their cars and are going to work or school by bus or by bicycle. Many cars in the United States are big and use alot of gas, so, in order to save money, some people are selling their vehicles and buying smaller ones. It is a good idea. Oil comes from many countries, but mainly the Middle East, Russia, and Venezuela. Perhaps the oil prices will come down soon. Millions of people hope so.
Grammar notes.
Verbs. Present continuous has -ing ending. Exs: talking, driving, using.
Tens/ hundreds/ thousands / millions of + subject. Ex: millions of people.
Useful expressions: all over the world/ place/ country etc; to go by bus/ train/ airplane/ car/ bike/ boat etc.
Advanced.
It is quite depressing to pay a fortune every time you fill the car up with gas. But that is the circumstance for now. Everyone is feeling it. The high gas prices have made most people rethink their budgets and their real need for driving. When gas was cheap, it was easy to make a quick trip to the store just to buy an item or two. Not anymore. Planning ahead to buy most things in one place has become a priority¹ for more and more people. It makes sense. Why waste money and time? A little forethought can prevent the losses. Alternative energy sources like biofuels, and electricity from solar, wind, and thermal² energy, seem very attractive at the moment. Wouldn't it be wonderful to clean up our air and water supplies, and have cheaper energy? I suppose it is just a question of time until we have these energy sources at our disposal. There is, apparently³, still an awful lot of gas available to us. Will we, as nations, invest in these 'smart' choices, or will we first wait until the oil has run out?
Grammar notes.
Common sayings: everyone is feeling it /feeling the pinch; to make a trip to the store; it makes sense; it is a question of time; an awful lot of ......
Related vocab: energy sources; electricity; gas; petroleum⁴; solar panels⁵; wind power; hydrofuels; biofuels; thermal energy; nuclear power plants; hydro-electric dams.
Wouldn't/ shouldn't/ couldn't = conditional⁶ tense to hypothesize and add a question.

1 priority   

n.优先处理的事，居先，优先（权）

参考例句：

• The development of the national economy is a top priority.发展国民经济是应予以最优先考虑的事。
• Things should be taken up in order of priority.办事应有个先后次序。

2 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

5 panels   

镶板( panel的名词复数 )； 面； （门、墙等上面的）嵌板； 控制板

参考例句：

• One of the glass panels in the front door was cracked. 前门的一块方玻璃破裂了。
• Make sure the panels are treated with a wood preservative. 确保镶板用木材防腐剂处理过。

6 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。