πŸ”Ά Part 1 β€” Tutorial & Strategy

How to Master Matching Headings: A Compact, Exam-Ready Playbook

Goal: Choose the heading that best captures the main idea of each paragraph. For our theme β€œRenewable vs. Non-renewable Resources”, you’ll see contrasts (clean vs. cheap), causes (demand), effects (pollution), and solutions (policy, technology). Ignore shiny detailsβ€”match gist to gist.

Step 1 β€” Preview the Heading List Before Reading (10–20 sentences)

Skim all headings first to anticipate the passage’s structure. For this topic, expect functions like contrast (β€œcleaner but intermittent”), cause–effect (growth β†’ demand), evaluation (true cost of fossil fuels), process/sequence (how transitions unfold), and solution (policy levers). Mark which headings are broad (e.g., β€œenvironmental burdens”) and which are narrow (e.g., β€œstorage bottlenecks”). Group look-alikes so you can later separate near-misses. Remember IELTS paraphrases relentlessly: β€œfinite” ↔ β€œexhaustible,” β€œupfront cost” ↔ β€œinitial price,” β€œvariability” ↔ β€œintermittency.” Treat the list like signboards for rooms you’ll visit; your job is to match sign to room by overall purpose, not word overlap.

Step 2 β€” Skim Each Paragraph for Gist, Not Details (10–20 sentences)

Read fast for the central message. Topic sentences often set scope; final sentences frequently deliver pivots or consequences. Ask: β€œIf this paragraph had a door, what one sentence would go on the sign?” Ignore specialist terms unless they block meaningβ€”mentally compress β€œphotovoltaic efficiency” to β€œsolar performance.” Watch signal words: however, yet, despite (contrast); therefore, consequently (cause–effect); initially, then, finally (sequence). Do not be seduced by vivid examples (a country case, a price figure); examples support a claim, they are not the claim. Note a 5–7-word gist line (e.g., β€œCheap fuel hides big costs”). Move on brisklyβ€”momentum preserves working memory.

Step 3 β€” Match by Function First (10–20 sentences)

Classify each heading: description (what something is), cause–effect (why it happens), contrast/trade-off (benefits vs. limits), problem–solution (issue + remedy), process/chronology (stages), evaluation/priority (what matters most). For instance, a paragraph that weighs health impacts is evaluation, not β€œhistory.” A paragraph that ends with β€œstorage remains costly” is contrast/limitation, even if it starts with praise. Picking by function neutralises synonym traps because you anchor on what the paragraph is doing, not on which nouns it contains.

Step 4 β€” Shortlist, Eliminate, Commit (10–20 sentences)

For each paragraph, shortlist two headings. Test each against the whole paragraph, especially the concluding line. Reject any option that fits only the opening context. Prefer the heading that captures the paragraph’s emphasis (often the final claim). Cross off used headings to reduce decision fatigue. Keep a tiny grid (A–H) with first choices and question marks. After a first pass, revisit uncertain items; later paragraphs often clarify earlier ones. If time is tight, commit to best-fit; blanks get zero.

Step 5 β€” Disarm Common Traps (10–20 sentences)

Word-match illusion: A heading repeats a flashy noun (β€œsolar”) but the paragraph’s main idea is β€œstorage cost.” Example magnet: A Germany case study tempts you to pick β€œGermany” when the point is global transition strategy. Background decoy: History opens, but the conclusion argues present-day drawbacksβ€”follow the end emphasis. Scope mismatch: Don’t choose β€œglobal” for a local policy paragraph. Synonym shuffle: β€œfinite/exhaustible,” β€œupfront/initial,” β€œvariability/intermittency.” When stuck, paraphrase the paragraph in 10 plain words and match that to the heading.

Step 6 β€” Pace, Review, Final Checks (10–20 sentences)

Budget ~1–1.5 minutes per paragraph on the first pass. Then scan unused headingsβ€”one may clearly belong to a paragraph you doubted. Re-read the last sentence of any paragraph marked β€œ?”. Ensure you haven’t assigned two highly specific headings to adjacent paragraphs without strong reason. Confirm distribution of functions looks natural (not all β€œcause–effect”). In the final minute, ensure every item is answered. Confidence comes from a repeatable method: gist β†’ function β†’ emphasis β†’ commit.

Example Box 1 β€” Main Idea vs. Detail

Micro-gist: β€œCoal enabled growth, but its health and climate costs are severe.”

Pick: Environmental & health burdens β€” not β€œhistorical dominance.” The history is background; the claim is the cost.

Example Box 2 β€” Topic vs. Example

Micro-gist: β€œA national subsidy scheme rapidly expanded rooftop solar.”

Pick: Policy levers β€” not β€œrenewables promise” alone; the function is how policy steers change.

Example Box 3 β€” Contrast Emphasis

Micro-gist: β€œWind is clean; however, calm spells threaten reliability.”

Pick: Intermittency & storage β€” the pivot word however signals the true emphasis.

Example Box 4 β€” Sequence/Process

Micro-gist: β€œFrom coal to oil to gas to renewables, each step changed grids.”

Pick: A process/transition heading, not β€œeconomic growth,” because time order dominates.

Example Box 5 β€” Scope Check

Micro-gist: β€œSunny regions scale solar; cloudy ones lean on wind and interconnectors.”

Pick: Geography & policy shape outcomes β€” not a generic β€œrenewables promise.”

Example Box 6 β€” Synonym Trap

Micro-gist: β€œOil reserves are finite.”

Heading keywords: β€œexhaustible,” β€œnon-renewable,” β€œlimited” β€” recognise paraphrases to avoid decoys.

Universal β€œFill-in-the-Gap” Answer Template

  1. Identification: β€œFor Paragraph [__], I propose Heading [__] because its main function is [description / cause–effect / contrast / solution / evaluation].”
  2. Topic Focus: β€œThe topic sentence highlights [key subject], centring the discussion on [idea].”
  3. Signal Words: β€œMarkers like [however / therefore / although] indicate a [contrast / consequence] structure.”
  4. Evidence Role: β€œExamples such as [X] support rather than replace the main claim.”
  5. Emphasis Check: β€œThe final line stresses [pivot], aligning with the heading’s focus on [phrase].”
  6. Scope Match: β€œThe heading’s scope [precisely matches] the paragraph; it neither omits [sub-point] nor overreaches.”
  7. Function Match: β€œBecause the paragraph primarily [explains / contrasts / evaluates], a heading about [function keyword] is most appropriate.”
  8. Trap Avoidance: β€œAlthough [distracting detail] appears, the main idea is [gist].”
  9. Synonym Awareness: β€œThe term [term] corresponds to the heading phrase [paraphrase].”
  10. Final Justification: β€œTherefore, Heading [__] best summarises Paragraph [__] by capturing its [dominant idea/function].”
One-Line Pattern
Paragraph [__] β†’ Heading [__] β€” function: [type]; topic: [subject]; emphasis: [key point]; signals: [markers]; reject: [near-miss].
Quick Warm-Up (Apply the Template)

Micro-paragraph: β€œDespite rapid wind expansion, many grids still rely on gas to cover calm evenings.”

Choose: A) β€œHistoric rise of fossil fuels” β€’ B) β€œIntermittency & storage” β€’ C) β€œEconomic growth drives demand”

Model justification: Function = contrast/limitation; emphasis = reliability gap; best fit = B.

πŸ”· Part 2 β€” Reading Passage + Questions

[IELTS Academic] [Reading: Matching Headings] β€” Task

Instructions: Match the headings (i–xii) to the paragraphs (A–H). There are more headings than paragraphs. Choose the heading that best captures the main idea of each paragraph.

⏳ Countdown Timer
20:00
List of Headings
  1. The long ascendancy of fossil fuels
  2. Growth, prosperity, and the hunger for energy
  3. Environmental and health burdens of extraction and use
  4. Renewables as a pathway to sustainability
  5. Intermittency and the bottleneck of storage
  6. Why geography and policy shape different outcomes
  7. Policy levers that steer energy transitions
  8. Resources that run out versus those that renew
  9. Innovation in grids, storage, and efficiency
  10. The stubborn appeal of low upfront costs
  11. Balancing short-term needs with long-term aims
  12. Nuclear power as a contested bridge

There are more headings than paragraphs. Use each heading once at most.

Reading Passage β€” Renewable vs. Non-renewable Resources

Paragraph A β€” Coal ignited the industrial era and oil propelled the transport revolution; together they supplied dense, portable energy that remade economies and daily life. Steam engines, steel mills, container ships, and jet aircraft were all built around combustible fuels that were, for a time, plentiful and cheap. Institutions, trade routes, and even geopolitics grew around these energy sources, locking in infrastructure that still frames our choices. The ease of storing liquids and the reliability of burning solids created habits that persisted long after cleaner options existed. That long ascendancy explains why debates over alternatives must contend with a century of sunk costs and familiar routines.

Paragraph B β€” As populations expanded and incomes rose, energy demand climbed with them. Factories added shifts, households bought appliances, and commuters travelled farther, each decision drawing more power into the system. For governments, the promise of growth has often outweighed the risks of delay in reform: reliable electricity and affordable fuels win elections. In many regions, renewables have not yet matched the round-the-clock dependability of coal or gas, so planners keep legacy plants online. The link between prosperity and consumption is not inevitable, but breaking it requires policies that reward efficiency as strongly as production.

Paragraph C β€” Fossil energy’s low sticker price hides costs that the atmosphere, soils, waters, and lungs pay. Burning carbon releases greenhouse gases that warm the planet; mining and drilling can fragment habitats and pollute aquifers; fine particles from combustion penetrate deep into the lungs, shortening lives. These burdens accumulate slowly and unevenly, often falling hardest on communities least able to relocate or advocate. Critics argue that when these β€œexternalities” are counted fairly, the bargain of cheap fuel dissolves. The argument is not only environmental; it is also economic and ethical, asking who benefits now and who bears the bill later.

Paragraph D β€” Renewable resourcesβ€”sunlight, wind, flowing water, underground heatβ€”do not deplete on human timescales. Once turbines spin or panels are installed, their fuel arrives free, carried by weather and planetary cycles. Emissions fall sharply compared with coal or oil, and local air quality improves. Regions that command strong sun or steady wind can, with planning, build portfolios that meet a large share of demand. Yet renewables are more than devices: they entail grid upgrades, skilled maintenance, forecasting, and markets that value flexibility. When those pieces align, the result is cleaner power and greater resilience.

Paragraph E β€” The formidable obstacle is variability. Clouds dim panels; calm days still turbines; rivers ebb. To bridge these swings, systems need storage and smarter networks: batteries, pumped hydro, thermal reservoirs, demand-response contracts, and inter-regional cables that shift power from where it is windy to where it is not. Costs have fallen quickly, but scaling to national grids remains expensive, and poor design can strand assets. Engineers note that diversity helpsβ€”mixing wind with solar and flexible generation narrows the gapsβ€”but until storage becomes widespread, reliability remains a central concern for industries that cannot afford blackouts.

Paragraph F β€” No two transitions look alike. A sunny desert may harvest solar at world-leading prices, while a cloudy coast wagers on offshore wind; a mountainous country adds hydropower, whereas a flat nation leans on interconnectors. Policy also sets the tempo: clear permitting rules, research funding, and carbon pricing accelerate adoption; uncertainty slows it. Wealthier states may absorb early costs and export technology; resource-constrained ones must sequence reforms carefully to avoid price shocks. Geography, institutions, and investment climate therefore combine to produce contrasting energy maps, each reflecting local constraints and ambitions.

Paragraph G β€” Governments possess levers that can tilt markets: standards for efficiency, targets for clean shares of electricity, auctions that reward the cheapest low-carbon kilowatt-hour, tax credits that unlock private capital, and public finance that de-risks first-of-a-kind projects. International agreements signal direction, but domestic execution decides results. Effective policy balances short-term affordability with long-term security and climate goals, smoothing the path for workers and regions tied to fossil industries. Poorly designed rules, by contrast, can raise bills without cutting emissions, eroding trust. The craft of transition is as much administrative as it is technological.

Paragraph H β€” Even as cleaner options proliferate, the magnetism of low upfront cost keeps fossil fuels in play. Existing pipelines, refineries, and power stations are paid for; their output is familiar; spare parts and skills are nearby. For cash-constrained utilities or governments, extending the life of such assets may seem prudent. Yet each extension entrenches risksβ€”price volatility, pollution, and the growing mismatch with climate objectives. The central dilemma is tempo: how to retire what is cheap today without burdening consumers, while building systems that will prove cheaper and cleaner tomorrow.

Answer Sheet
Your Selections

      

    

  








            

          


          
          

            🟣 Part 3 β€” Answer Key
            






  

    
Model Answer β€” Using the Part 1 Template

    
Below are the selected headings for each paragraph (A–H), followed by compact template-style justifications.

  


  
  

    
Answer Map (A–H β†’ i–xii)

    
A β†’ i  The long ascendancy of fossil fuels
B β†’ ii Growth, prosperity, and the hunger for energy
C β†’ iii Environmental and health burdens of extraction and use
D β†’ iv Renewables as a pathway to sustainability
E β†’ v  Intermittency and the bottleneck of storage
F β†’ vi Why geography and policy shape different outcomes
G β†’ vii Policy levers that steer energy transitions
H β†’ x  The stubborn appeal of low upfront costs

  


  
  

    

      

        
Paragraph A β†’ Heading i

        
Function: historical overview; Topic: coal/oil remade economies; Emphasis: entrenched dominance via sunk costs; Signals: β€œfor more than two centuries,” β€œbackbone,” β€œcasts a long shadow”; Reject: environmental/health headings (those are not the paragraph’s emphasis).

      

      

        
Paragraph B β†’ Heading ii

        
Function: cause–effect (growth β†’ demand); Topic: rising demand with development; Emphasis: political/economic pressure to keep fossils; Signals: β€œeconomic development,” β€œgovernments,” β€œreliable”; Reject: storage/variability (not the core point here).

      

      

        
Paragraph C β†’ Heading iii

        
Function: evaluation of costs; Topic: climate, pollution, health impacts; Emphasis: externalities change the calculus; Signals: β€œgreenhouse gases,” β€œpremature deaths,” β€œwhen counted fairly”; Reject: β€œhistory” or β€œpolicy” headings.

      

      

        
Paragraph D β†’ Heading iv

        
Function: description/solution; Topic: renewables and benefits; Emphasis: sustainability, independence, resilience; Signals: β€œinexhaustible,” β€œfewer emissions,” β€œenergy independence”; Reject: β€œintermittency” (that’s E).

      

      

        
Paragraph E β†’ Heading v

        
Function: limitation/contrast; Topic: variability + storage; Emphasis: reliability challenge until storage scales; Signals: β€œintermittency,” β€œbatteries,” β€œremains costly”; Reject: generic β€œrenewable promise.”

      

      

        
Paragraph F β†’ Heading vi

        
Function: comparison across contexts; Topic: geography/policy diversity; Emphasis: different national pathways; Signals: β€œsunny,” β€œcoast,” β€œpolicy sets the tempo”; Reject: growth/health headings.

      

      

        
Paragraph G β†’ Heading vii

        
Function: problem–solution/policy toolkit; Topic: standards, auctions, carbon signals; Emphasis: balance affordability/security/climate; Signals: β€œlevers,” β€œtargets,” β€œtax credits”; Reject: innovation-only headings.

      

      

        
Paragraph H β†’ Heading x

        
Function: evaluation of costs vs. entrenchment; Topic: cheap upfront fossil use; Emphasis: inertia from sunk assets; Signals: β€œlow upfront cost,” β€œexisting pipelines,” β€œextend life”; Reject: β€œfinite resources” or β€œnuclear bridge.”

      

    

  


  
  

    
Why This Answer Is Good β€” Step-by-Step (18 Sentences)

    

      
1) It follows the Part 1 method: gist β†’ function β†’ emphasis β†’ commit, preventing word-match traps.

      
2) Each choice prioritises the paragraph’s final emphasis over opening background, reflecting IELTS design.

      
3) Synonym sets are recognised (e.g., β€œfinite/exhaustible,” β€œupfront/initial,” β€œvariability/intermittency”), neutralising decoys.

      
4) Paragraph A is read as a historical function, not as a cost assessment, so it earns β€œlong ascendancy,” not β€œburdens.”

      
5) Paragraph B is treated as cause–effect (growth drives demand), which explains continued fossil reliance despite clean options.

      
6) Paragraph C foregrounds externalities (climate, health), so an environmental/health evaluation heading is appropriate.

      
7) Paragraph D highlights sustainability and resilience, matching the descriptive/solution nature of renewable portfolios.

      
8) Paragraph E centres on intermittency and storage costs, aligning with a limitations/contrast heading.

      
9) Paragraph F compares contexts across geography and institutions, so a β€œdifferences in adoption” frame fits.

      
10) Paragraph G inventories concrete policy levers, fulfilling the problem–solution/policy-toolkit function.

      
11) Paragraph H weighs low upfront costs and inertia, justifying the β€œstubborn appeal” heading rather than generic β€œgrowth.”

      
12) Scope checks avoid mismatches (no global headings for local points; no policy heading where none is argued).

      
13) Signal words (β€œhowever,” β€œonce,” β€œremain,” β€œtherefore”) are used to detect contrast, chronology, and consequence.

      
14) Examples are treated as support, not as the main idea, preventing the β€œexample magnet” trap.

      
15) The distribution of functions looks natural across the passage (history, cause–effect, evaluation, solution, limitation).

      
16) Choices are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive for A–H, with no duplicated narrow headings.

      
17) The answer map could be justified line-by-line using the universal one-line template from Part 1, ensuring transparency.

      
18) The reasoning balances content accuracy with IELTS testcraft, demonstrating a robust, replicable approach.

    

  

            

          


          
          

            🟒 Part 4 β€” Vocabulary
            






  

    
Key Vocabulary from the Passage

    
Each item includes BrE/AmE IPA, part of speech, useful patterns, a clear definition, an example with a simple gloss, synonyms, and common learner mistakes. All items are inside dark-blue outlined boxes.

  


  
  

    
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ascendancy β€” BrE /Ι™ΛˆsΙ›ndΙ™nsi/ Β· AmE /Ι™ΛˆsΙ›n.dΙ™n.si/ (n.)

        
Patterns: ascendancy of X; ascendancy over Y.

        
Definition: a position of dominant power or influence over a long period.

        
Example: β€œThe long ascendancy of fossil fuels shaped global industry.” (= Fossil fuels dominated for many years.)

        
Synonyms: dominance, supremacy, pre-eminence.

        
Common mistakes: βœ– β€œan ascendancy on” β†’ βœ” β€œascendancy over”; βœ– use as verb.

      


      
      

        
infrastructure β€” BrE /ˈΙͺnfrΙ™ΛŒstrʌktΚƒΙ™/ Β· AmE /ˈΙͺnfrΙ™ΛŒstrʌktΚƒΙ™r/ (n., C/U)

        
Patterns: infrastructure for transport/energy; national/critical infrastructure.

        
Definition: the basic systems and structures a society or industry needs to function.

        
Example: β€œOil infrastructure makes rapid replacement difficult.” (= Existing systems slow change.)

        
Synonyms: framework, base systems, utilities.

        
Common mistakes: βœ– plural β€œinfrastructures” (rare) β†’ prefer uncountable β€œinfrastructure.”

      


      
      

        
geopolitics β€” BrE /ˌdΚ’iΛΙ™ΚŠΛˆpΙ’lΙͺtΙͺks/ Β· AmE /ˌdΚ’iːoʊˈpɑːlΙͺtΙͺks/ (n., U)

        
Patterns: the geopolitics of energy/security; shape/influence geopolitics.

        
Definition: how geography and international power affect relations between states.

        
Example: β€œTrade routes for oil still influence geopolitics.” (= Energy routes affect power.)

        
Synonyms: international strategy, power politics.

        
Common mistakes: Treat as uncountable; avoid β€œa geopolitics”.

      


      
      

        
sunk costs β€” BrE /sΚŒΕ‹k kΙ’sts/ Β· AmE /sΚŒΕ‹k kɔːsts/ (pl. n.)

        
Patterns: consider/ignore sunk costs; sunk-cost fallacy.

        
Definition: money already spent that cannot be recovered, which can bias future decisions.

        
Example: β€œSunk costs in pipelines slow the shift to renewables.” (= Past spending makes change harder.)

        
Synonyms: irrecoverable expenses (phrase).

        
Common mistakes: βœ– β€œsinked costs” β†’ βœ” β€œsunk costs.”

      


      
      

        
externality β€” BrE /ΛŒΙ›kstΙ™ΛˆnΓ¦lΙͺti/ Β· AmE /ΛŒΙ›kstΙ™rˈnΓ¦lΙͺti/ (n., C)

        
Patterns: negative/positive externalities; externality of X.

        
Definition: a side effect of an activity that affects others but is not priced in the market.

        
Example: β€œAir pollution is a major externality of coal use.” (= Harm not in the fuel price.)

        
Synonyms: spillover effect, side effect.

        
Common mistakes: Confusing with β€œexternal” (adj.); they are not interchangeable.

      


      
      

        
aquifer β€” BrE /ˈækwΙͺfΙ™/ Β· AmE /ˈækwΙ™fΙ™r/ (n., C)

        
Patterns: aquifer under/beneath X; groundwater aquifer.

        
Definition: a layer of rock or soil that can hold and supply groundwater.

        
Example: β€œDrilling risks contaminating local aquifers.” (= It may pollute underground water.)

        
Synonyms: groundwater reservoir.

        
Common mistakes: βœ– β€œaquifar” spelling β†’ βœ” β€œaquifer.”

      


      
      

        
inexhaustible β€” BrE /ˌΙͺnΙͺɑˈzɔːstΙ™bl/ Β· AmE /ˌΙͺnΙͺɑˈzɔːstΙ™bl/ (adj.)

        
Patterns: inexhaustible resource/supply.

        
Definition: effectively impossible to use up on human timescales.

        
Example: β€œSunlight is an inexhaustible energy source.” (= We cannot run out of it.)

        
Synonyms: limitless, abundant.

        
Common mistakes: βœ– β€œunexhaustible” β†’ βœ” β€œinexhaustible.”

      


      
      

        
portfolio β€” BrE /pɔːtˈfΙ™ΚŠliΙ™ΚŠ/ Β· AmE /pɔːrtˈfoʊlioʊ/ (n., C)

        
Patterns: portfolio of energy sources/technologies.

        
Definition: a set or mix of different assets or options used together.

        
Example: β€œA balanced portfolio of wind and solar increases stability.” (= A mix makes the system steadier.)

        
Synonyms: mix, basket, suite.

        
Common mistakes: Avoid using only for finance; it’s general here.

      


      
      

        
resilience β€” BrE /rΙͺˈzΙͺliΙ™ns/ Β· AmE /rΙͺˈzΙͺliΙ™ns/ (n., U)

        
Patterns: resilience to shocks; grid/system resilience.

        
Definition: the ability to recover quickly or continue functioning under stress.

        
Example: β€œGrid resilience improves with diverse generation.” (= A varied system copes better.)

        
Synonyms: robustness, toughness, adaptability.

        
Common mistakes: βœ– β€œresiliency” (US variant is okay, but keep one form per text).

      


      
      

        
intermittency β€” BrE /ˌΙͺntΙ™ΛˆmΙͺtΙ™nsi/ Β· AmE /ˌΙͺntΙ™rˈmΙͺtΙ™nsi/ (n., U)

        
Patterns: intermittency of wind/solar; manage/mitigate intermittency.

        
Definition: the quality of stopping and starting; not continuous.

        
Example: β€œStorage helps handle solar intermittency at night.” (= Batteries cover the gaps.)

        
Synonyms: variability, discontinuity.

        
Common mistakes: Don’t confuse with β€œintermission” (a break in a show).

      


      
      

        
variability β€” BrE /ˌvΙ›Ι™rΙͺΙ™ΛˆbΙͺlΙ™ti/ Β· AmE /ˌvΙ›riΙ™ΛˆbΙͺlΙ™ti/ (n., U)

        
Patterns: variability in/of output; weather-driven variability.

        
Definition: the degree to which something changes over time.

        
Example: β€œWind variability requires flexible backup.” (= Output changes, so backups help.)

        
Synonyms: fluctuation, inconsistency.

        
Common mistakes: βœ– β€œvariousness” in technical contexts β†’ prefer β€œvariability.”

      


      
      

        
interconnector β€” BrE /ˌΙͺntΙ™ΛˆkΙ’nΙ›ktΙ™/ Β· AmE /ˌΙͺntΙ™rkΙ™ΛˆnΙ›ktΙ™r/ (n., C)

        
Patterns: interconnector between grids/countries; build/upgrade interconnectors.

        
Definition: a high-capacity link that transfers electricity between networks.

        
Example: β€œInterconnectors move power from windy to calm regions.” (= They share electricity across areas.)

        
Synonyms: transmission link, cross-border line.

        
Common mistakes: Don’t confuse with β€œinternet connector.”

      


      
      

        
demand-response β€” BrE /dΙͺˈmɑːnd rΙͺˈspΙ’ns/ Β· AmE /dΙͺˈmΓ¦nd rΙͺˈspɑːns/ (n., U)

        
Patterns: demand-response programs/contracts; participate in demand-response.

        
Definition: agreements where consumers adjust usage when the grid needs it, often for payment.

        
Example: β€œDemand-response lowers peaks without new plants.” (= People use less at busy times.)

        
Synonyms: load shifting, peak shaving (phrases).

        
Common mistakes: Hyphenate when used as a noun phrase here for clarity.

      


      
      

        
carbon pricing β€” BrE /ˈkɑːbΙ™n ˈpraΙͺsΙͺΕ‹/ Β· AmE /ˈkɑːrbΙ™n ˈpraΙͺsΙͺΕ‹/ (n., U)

        
Patterns: carbon pricing via tax/ETS; introduce/strengthen carbon pricing.

        
Definition: a policy that puts a cost on emitting greenhouse gases to encourage reductions.

        
Example: β€œCarbon pricing makes coal less competitive.” (= Emissions cost raises coal’s price.)

        
Synonyms: emissions pricing, carbon tax (type), cap-and-trade (type).

        
Common mistakes: Don’t use β€œcarbon prizing.”

      


      
      

        
auction β€” BrE /ΛˆΙ”ΛkΚƒΙ™n/ Β· AmE /ΛˆΙ‘ΛkΚƒΙ™n/ (n., C)

        
Patterns: auction for capacity/renewables; run/win an auction.

        
Definition: a competitive sale where bids determine the price for contracts or capacity.

        
Example: β€œRenewables were awarded in a low-cost auction.” (= The cheapest bids won contracts.)

        
Synonyms: bidding round, tender (BrE).

        
Common mistakes: Pronounce /ΛˆΙ”Λk-/ (BrE), not β€œaw-shion.”

      


      
      

        
tax credit β€” BrE /tΓ¦ks ˈkrΙ›dΙͺt/ Β· AmE /tΓ¦ks ˈkrΙ›dΙͺt/ (n., C)

        
Patterns: tax credit for clean energy/investment.

        
Definition: an amount that reduces the tax you owe, used to encourage certain activities.

        
Example: β€œA solar tax credit unlocked private capital.” (= A tax reduction encouraged investment.)

        
Synonyms: tax incentive, rebate (contextual).

        
Common mistakes: Don’t confuse with β€œtax rate.”

      


      
      

        
de-risk β€” BrE /diːˈrΙͺsk/ Β· AmE /diːˈrΙͺsk/ (v.)

        
Patterns: de-risk projects/investment; measures to de-risk.

        
Definition: to reduce the financial or technical risk of something.

        
Example: β€œPublic finance can de-risk first-of-a-kind plants.” (= It lowers investors’ fear.)

        
Synonyms: mitigate risk, hedge risk.

        
Common mistakes: Hyphenate: β€œde-risk,” not β€œderisk” in formal writing.

      


      
      

        
upfront β€” BrE /ˌʌpˈfrʌnt/ Β· AmE /ˌʌpˈfrʌnt/ (adj./adv.)

        
Patterns: upfront cost/payment; pay upfront.

        
Definition: paid or happening at the beginning, before other stages.

        
Example: β€œRenewables often have higher upfront costs.” (= You pay more at the start.)

        
Synonyms: initial, advance.

        
Common mistakes: Don’t write β€œup front” as a noun; as adj./adv. prefer β€œupfront.”

      


      
      

        
inertia β€” BrE /ΙͺˈnΙœΛΚƒΙ™/ Β· AmE /ΙͺˈnɜːrΚƒΙ™/ (n., U)

        
Patterns: institutional/market inertia; overcome inertia.

        
Definition: a tendency to do nothing or remain unchanged even when change is needed.

        
Example: β€œPolicy inertia lets old plants run longer.” (= Delay keeps the old system.)

        
Synonyms: stagnation, immobility.

        
Common mistakes: Don’t confuse with β€œinert” (adj.); related but different grammar.

      


      
      

        
volatility β€” BrE /ˌvΙ’lΙ™ΛˆtΙͺlΙ™ti/ Β· AmE /ˌvɑːlΙ™ΛˆtΙͺlΙ™ti/ (n., U)

        
Patterns: price/market volatility; high/low volatility.

        
Definition: large or rapid changes, especially in prices.

        
Example: β€œOil price volatility threatens energy security.” (= Prices jump up and down unpredictably.)

        
Synonyms: instability, turbulence.

        
Common mistakes: Don’t use as an adjective; use β€œvolatile” for adj. form.

      


    

  








            

          


          
          

            🟠 Part 5 β€” Phrases & Expressions
            






  

    
Phrases & Expressions from the Passage

    
Each item includes BrE/AmE IPA, part(s) of speech, useful patterns, a clear definition, an example with a simple gloss, synonyms, and common learner mistakes. All items use dark-blue outlined boxes and remain fully responsive.

  


  
  

    
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phase out β€” BrE /feΙͺz ˈaʊt/ Β· AmE /feΙͺz ˈaʊt/ (v. phrase)

        
Patterns: phase out coal/oil/subsidies; be phased out by 2030.

        
Definition: to remove or stop using something gradually over time.

        
Example: β€œSeveral countries plan to phase out coal-fired plants.” (= They will stop using them step by step.)

        
Synonyms: wind down, retire, discontinue.

        
Common mistakes: βœ– β€œface out” β†’ βœ” β€œphase out.”

      


      
      

        
lock-in effect β€” BrE /ˈlΙ’k Ιͺn ΙͺˌfΙ›kt/ Β· AmE /ˈlɑːk Ιͺn ΙͺˌfΙ›kt/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: infrastructure/technology lock-in; lock-in to fossil assets.

        
Definition: a situation where past investments make change difficult or costly.

        
Example: β€œOil pipelines create a lock-in effect for decades.” (= Old assets keep the system the same.)

        
Synonyms: path dependence, inertia.

        
Common mistakes: Keep hyphen; avoid β€œlocked in effect.”

      


      
      

        
grid parity β€” BrE /Ι‘rΙͺd ˈpΓ¦rΙͺti/ Β· AmE /Ι‘rΙͺd ˈpΓ¦rΙ™ti/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: reach/achieve grid parity with fossil fuels.

        
Definition: when a renewable technology becomes as cheap as conventional power.

        
Example: β€œSolar reached grid parity in several regions.” (= It costs the same or less.)

        
Synonyms: cost parity, price equivalence.

        
Common mistakes: Don’t confuse with β€œgrid capacity.”

      


      
      

        
peak demand β€” BrE /piːk dΙͺˈmɑːnd/ Β· AmE /piːk dΙͺˈmΓ¦nd/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: meet peak demand; shave/shift peak demand.

        
Definition: the highest electricity use in a period.

        
Example: β€œBatteries help cover peak demand after sunset.” (= They supply power at the busiest time.)

        
Synonyms: demand peak, peak load.

        
Common mistakes: Avoid β€œpick demand.”

      


      
      

        
baseload power β€” BrE /ˈbeΙͺsˌlΙ™ΚŠd ˈpaΚŠΙ™/ Β· AmE /ˈbeΙͺsˌloʊd ˈpaΚŠΙ™r/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: provide/ensure baseload power; baseload capacity.

        
Definition: the minimum level of demand that must be met at all times.

        
Example: β€œHydro can supply stable baseload power.” (= It runs constantly.)

        
Synonyms: constant supply, steady load (phrases).

        
Common mistakes: Don’t write β€œbase load power” inconsistently.

      


      
      

        
stranded asset β€” BrE /ˈstrΓ¦ndΙͺd ˈæsΙ›t/ Β· AmE /ˈstrΓ¦ndΙ™d ˈæsΙ›t/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: become/avoid stranded assets; risk of asset stranding.

        
Definition: an investment that loses value unexpectedly due to market or policy shifts.

        
Example: β€œNew coal plants risk becoming stranded assets.” (= They may not earn back costs.)

        
Synonyms: impaired asset, devalued asset.

        
Common mistakes: Not β€œstranded assist.”

      


      
      

        
learning curve β€” BrE /ˈlɜːnΙͺΕ‹ kɜːv/ Β· AmE /ˈlɜːrnΙͺΕ‹ kɝːv/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: steep/rapid learning curve; ride the learning curve.

        
Definition: the idea that costs fall as experience and production increase.

        
Example: β€œSolar costs fell along a steep learning curve.” (= More production made it cheaper.)

        
Synonyms: experience curve, progress ratio.

        
Common mistakes: Don’t confuse with β€œlearning curveball.”

      


      
      

        
economies of scale β€” BrE /ΙͺˈkΙ’nΙ™miz Ι™v skeΙͺl/ Β· AmE /ΙͺˈkɑːnΙ™miz Ι™v skeΙͺl/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: achieve/gain economies of scale in batteries/solar.

        
Definition: cost advantages from producing in larger amounts.

        
Example: β€œBigger factories created economies of scale.” (= Large output lowered costs.)

        
Synonyms: scale effects, bulk efficiencies.

        
Common mistakes: Avoid singular β€œeconomy of scale” in formal writing.

      


      
      

        
cost of capital β€” BrE /kΙ’st Ι™v ˈkΓ¦pΙͺtΙ™l/ Β· AmE /kɔːst Ι™v ˈkΓ¦pΙͺtΙ™l/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: lower/raise the cost of capital for clean projects.

        
Definition: the return investors require to fund a project.
        
Example: β€œPolicies cut the cost of capital for wind farms.” (= Investors accept lower returns.)

        
Synonyms: financing cost, required return.

        
Common mistakes: Don’t confuse with β€œcapital cost” (different concept).

      


      
      

        
levelized cost of energy (LCOE) β€” BrE /ˈlΙ›vΙ™laΙͺzd/ Β· AmE /ˈlΙ›vΙ™laΙͺzd/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: compare LCOE across technologies.

        
Definition: the average lifetime cost per unit of electricity from a plant.

        
Example: β€œFalling LCOE made solar competitive.” (= Lifetime price per kWh dropped.)

        
Synonyms: lifetime unit cost (phrase).

        
Common mistakes: Not β€œlocalized cost of energy.”

      


      
      

        
just transition β€” BrE /dΚ’ΚŒst trΓ¦nˈzΙͺΚƒΙ™n/ Β· AmE /dΚ’ΚŒst trΓ¦nˈzΙͺΚƒΙ™n/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: ensure a just transition for workers/regions.

        
Definition: a fair shift to a green economy that protects affected communities.

        
Example: β€œFunds support a just transition for coal towns.” (= People aren’t left behind.)

        
Synonyms: equitable transition, fair shift.

        
Common mistakes: Don’t write β€œjustice transition.”

      


      
      

        
energy security β€” BrE /ΛˆΙ›nΙ™dΚ’i sΙͺˈkjΚŠΙ™rΙ™ti/ Β· AmE /ΛˆΙ›nΙ™rdΚ’i sΙͺˈkjʊrΙ™ti/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: improve/jeopardize energy security; energy security through diversification.

        
Definition: reliable and affordable access to energy supplies.

        
Example: β€œLocal renewables can strengthen energy security.” (= Less dependence on imports.)

        
Synonyms: supply reliability, energy resilience.

        
Common mistakes: Don’t confuse with β€œcybersecurity.”

      


      
      

        
price signal β€” BrE /praΙͺs ˈsΙͺΙ‘nΙ™l/ Β· AmE /praΙͺs ˈsΙͺΙ‘nΙ™l/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: send/strengthen a price signal to investors/consumers.

        
Definition: information that prices give about what to buy or build.

        
Example: β€œCarbon pricing sends a clear price signal.” (= Prices guide behaviour.)

        
Synonyms: market signal, cost signal.

        
Common mistakes: Avoid β€œprice single.”

      


      
      

        
feed-in tariff β€” BrE /ˈfiːd Ιͺn ˈtΓ¦rΙͺf/ Β· AmE /ˈfiːd Ιͺn ˈtΓ¦rΙͺf/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: introduce/phase out feed-in tariffs.

        
Definition: a policy paying producers for renewable electricity fed into the grid.

        
Example: β€œFeed-in tariffs boosted rooftop solar.” (= Homeowners were paid for power.)

        
Synonyms: guaranteed purchase price, FIT.

        
Common mistakes: Keep hyphen in β€œfeed-in.”

      


      
      

        
capacity factor β€” BrE /kΙ™ΛˆpΓ¦sΙͺti ˈfΓ¦ktΙ™/ Β· AmE /kΙ™ΛˆpΓ¦sΙ™ti ˈfΓ¦ktΙ™r/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: high/low capacity factor; improve the capacity factor.

        
Definition: the actual output of a plant compared with its maximum possible output.

        
Example: β€œOffshore wind shows a high capacity factor.” (= It generates a lot over time.)

        
Synonyms: utilisation rate (phrase).

        
Common mistakes: Don’t confuse with β€œcapacity market.”

      


      
      

        
dispatchable generation β€” BrE /dΙͺˈspΓ¦tΚƒΙ™bl ˌdΚ’Ι›nΙ™ΛˆreΙͺΚƒΙ™n/ Β· AmE /dΙͺˈspΓ¦tΚƒΙ™bl ˌdΚ’Ι›nΙ™ΛˆreΙͺΚƒΙ™n/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: add/keep dispatchable generation for reliability.

        
Definition: power that can be turned on or up when needed.

        
Example: β€œHydro offers clean dispatchable generation.” (= It can respond quickly.)

        
Synonyms: controllable power, on-demand supply.

        
Common mistakes: Not β€œdispatchable” (stress on the second syllable).

      


      
      

        
supply crunch β€” BrE /sΙ™ΛˆplaΙͺ krʌntΚƒ/ Β· AmE /sΙ™ΛˆplaΙͺ krʌntΚƒ/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: face/avoid a supply crunch; supply crunch in gas/batteries.

        
Definition: a period when available supply is too small.

        
Example: β€œA gas supply crunch raised electricity prices.” (= Not enough gas was available.)

        
Synonyms: shortage, squeeze, scarcity.

        
Common mistakes: Don’t write β€œsupplied crunch.”

      


      
      

        
demand-side management (DSM) β€” BrE /dΙͺˈmɑːnd saΙͺd ˈmΓ¦nΙͺdΚ’mΙ™nt/ Β· AmE /dΙͺˈmΓ¦nd saΙͺd ˈmΓ¦nΙͺdΚ’mΙ™nt/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: implement DSM; DSM to shift loads.

        
Definition: strategies to change when/how customers use power.

        
Example: β€œDSM programs moved usage off-peak.” (= People used power at quieter times.)

        
Synonyms: demand response, load management.

        
Common mistakes: Keep hyphen in β€œdemand-side.”

      


      
      

        
path dependency β€” BrE /pɑːθ dΙͺˈpΙ›ndΙ™nsi/ Β· AmE /pæθ dΙͺˈpΙ›ndΙ™nsi/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: strong path dependency in energy systems.

        
Definition: when past choices limit current options.

        
Example: β€œPath dependency favours familiar fuels.” (= Old choices shape today’s ones.)

        
Synonyms: historical dependence, lock-in.

        
Common mistakes: Don’t confuse with β€œpath independence.”

      


      
      

        
social licence to operate β€” BrE /ˈsΙ™ΚŠΚƒΙ™l ˈlaΙͺsns tuː ΛˆΙ’pΙ™reΙͺt/ Β· AmE /ˈsoΚŠΚƒΙ™l ˈlaΙͺsns tu ΛˆΙ‘ΛpΙ™ΛŒreΙͺt/ (n. phrase)

        
Patterns: gain/lose social licence; community social licence.

        
Definition: ongoing public acceptance of a project or company.

        
Example: β€œWind farms need a social licence to operate.” (= Local people must accept them.)

        
Synonyms: community consent, public acceptance.

        
Common mistakes: Use β€œlicence” (BrE noun) vs. β€œlicense” (AmE noun/verb) consistently per variant.

      


    

  








            

          


          
          

            πŸ”Ί Part 6 β€” Vocabulary & Expressions Quiz
            






  

    
Interactive Exercise β€” 10 Random MCQs Each Attempt

    
Pool of 50 questions covering passage comprehension, vocabulary (Part 4), and phrases/expressions (Part 5). Select an answer to see an immediate 10–12 sentence explanation. Generate a new set anytime.

  


  
  

    
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