Burning issue of herbal fuel Gapped Summary 2000 AS UE

Burning issue of herbal fuel

Gapped Summary

2000 AS UE

Burning issue of herbal fuel

•1. Scientist•Ramar Pillai•Herbs into fuel•Conspiracy•Cheap

•2. First – amazing•Then – fraud•Hometown ppl. believe

•3. History of discovery•How•secret

•4. In HK•Demonstration

•5. % fuel•Economical

•6. Produce in HK?

Ramar Pillai is a self-taught scientist from the (48) state of Tamil, who claims he can turn (49) into (50).



•3. History of discovery•How•Secret




Ramar Pillai is a self-taught scientist from the (48) state of Tamil Nadu, who claims he can turn (49) into (50).

• 48. Paragraph 1• “In Tamil Nadu in the

south of India, the only state where the fuel is sold, motor scooter owners …”

• Tamil Nadu is a state in the south of India.

• (48) will be two words describing what kind of state Tamil Nadu is.

• (48) South/Southern Indian

Ramar Pillai is a self-taught scientist from the (48) state of Tamil Nadu, who claims he can turn (49) into (50).

• (49)/(50) Paragraph 1• “… the Tamil Nadu

school dropout … trying to find a backer for his ‘secret’ method of turning herbs into fuel.”

• What does he claim to be able to do?

• (49) herbs• (50) fuel

Mr. Pillai discovered the secret more that 20 years ago on a (51) when he accidentally set fire to a leaf.







Mr. Pillai discovered the secret more than 20 years ago on a (51) when he accidentally set fire to a leaf.

• (51) paragraph 3• “He says he

discovered the properties of the mystery ‘herb’ during a school picnic in 1978. … he liked playing with matches and was surprised to see a leaf burn.”

• 1978 was a little more than 20 years before this exam.

• (51) school picnic

He dropped out of school and spent many years looking for the leaf and working on the (52) in order to be able to produce fuel.







He dropped out of school and spent many years looking for the leaf and working on the (52) in order to be able to produce fuel.

• Paragraph 3• “He decided to leave

school and claims to have roamed the jungle for 10 years before finding the plant, and then toiled tirelessly in his home-made laboratory to perfect his formula.”

• Working on the (52) = toiled tirelessly in his laboratory to perfect his formula

• (52) formula

Apart from water and some readily-available (53), there are two necessary secret ingredients needed to make the fuel – the (54) and a (55)







Apart from water and some readily-available (53), there are two necessary secret ingredients needed to make the fuel – the (54) and a (55)

• Paragraph 3• “The recipe requires

water, the mystery plant, the correct quantities of a number of common chemicals, …, plus a secret catalyst.”

• Readily-available = common

• (53) chemicals• Two ingredients are

missing: the mystery plant and a secret catalyst.

• (54) and (55) both only have one blank, so we should omit the adjectives.

• (54) plant• (55) catalyst

When these are combined, a mixture is initially produced which will burn – although it is not very (56). If left for a few days, the fuel content can rise significantly.







When these are combined, a mixture is initially produced which will burn – although it is not very (56). If left for a few days, the fuel content can rise significantly.

• Paragraph 5• “Given several days,

he said, the purity improves dramatically to more than 95%.”

• If the purity improves dramatically, we can assume that it isn’t very pure at first.

• Will a noun or adjective follow “very”?

• (56) pure

… studies … have shown that the fuel is cheaper and purer than normal petrol, and that engines which use the fuel do not need to be (57).







… studies … have shown that the fuel is cheaper and purer than normal petrol, and that engines which use the fuel do not need to be (57).

• Paragraph 5• “… a report …

concluded after a test that the fuel was more economical than regular petrol when used in an unmodified engine, …”

• Do not need to be (57) = an unmodified engine

• (57) modified

When he first made his breakthrough, because of its potential importance, Mr. Pillai had to be guarded by the (58).







When he first made his breakthrough, because of its potential importance, Mr. Pillai had to be guarded by the (58).

• Paragraph 2• “…Indian scientists

announced he had made an amazing breakthrough and officials from his home state accorded him police protection.”

• Who guarded/protected him?

• (58) police

Subsequent studies by the Indian Government, however, have resulted in Mr Pillai’s work being labelled a (59).







Subsequent studies by the Indian Government, however, have resulted in Mr Pillai’s work being labelled a (59).

• Paragraph 2• First they say that Mr

Pillai used hollowed out spoon filled with petrol in his experiment. Then they say:

• “A statement from the Department was later tabled … branding Mr. Pillai a fraud.”

• “branding” = “labelled”• If you say that Mr.

Pillai is a fraud, you can say the same thing about his work.

• (59) fraud

Indeed, the Indian Government stated that, in his demonstrations, Mr. Pillai used a hollowed-out (60).







Indeed, the Indian Government stated that, in his demonstrations, Mr. Pillai used a hollowed-out (60).

• Paragraph 2• “A spoon Mr Pillai

insisted on using to stir the mixture was discovered to have been hollowed out and filled with petrol.”

• What was hollowed out?

• (60) spoon

Back in Tamil Nadu, however, Mr Pillai is regarded as something of a (61), especially by those who ride (62).







Back in Tamil Nadu, however, Mr Pillai is regarded as something of a (61), especially by those who ride (62).

• Paragraph 2• “He has become a folk

hero to motorists, producing 1,000 litres a day before hordes of cheering spectators.”

• How do they see Mr Pillai?

• (61) hero

• Motorists are people who drive cars, trucks, motorbikes or any other kind of vehicle.

• Find a vehicle that collocates well with “ride”.

• “Scooter riders …continue to have faith in him…”

• (62) scooters

He produces a thousand litres of fuel a day which is then sold to (63) at less than half the (64) price.







He produces a thousand litres of fuel a day which is then sold to (63) at less than half the (64) price.

• Paragraph 1• “…motor scooter

owners queue up to buy it a 10 rupees (HK$2.15) a litre, 15 rupees less than the cost of petrol.”

• He sells it to “motor scooter owners”, but we only have one blank.

• (63) motorists/people/ customers/etc.

• 10 rupees/litre is a discounted or special price.

• What kind of price is 25 rupees/litre?

• (64) regular

The demonstration took place at the office of his (65), Charles Cheung, with Mr Pillai surrounded by his family and friends.







The demonstration took place at the office of his (65), Charles Cheung, with Mr Pillai surrounded by his family and friends.

• Paragraph 4• “…Charles Cheung,

the managing director of Amalgamated CNG Vehicles, the agency which is backing Mr Pillai in Hong Kong.”

• What is his (Mr Pillai’s) relationship with Mr Cheung?

• (65) partner/backer/ etc.

Their presence was necessary in case the formula was (66), since M Pillai hasn’t yet got a (67) for his formula.







Their presence was necessary in case the formula was (66), since M Pillai hasn’t yet got a (67) for his formula.

• Paragraph 4• “… a retinue of family and

friends looked on, making sure his formula did not fall into the wrong hands.”

• How can use one word to express “fall into the wrong hands”?

• (66) stolen

• (67) can be found in paragraph 3.

• “Mr Pillai says he has applied for a patent for his fuel and, until he receives it, refuses to reveal the plant used.”

• Why does Mr. Pillai need to be sure nobody will steal his idea?

• (67) patent

The demonstration appeared to be successful because the poorly-ventilated office was soon filled with (68).







The demonstration appeared to be successful because the poorly-ventilated office was soon filled with (68).

• Paragraph 4• After drawing off the

oil, Mr Pillai demonstrated that it burned vigorously, as searing, eye-watering fumes filled the room.”

• What filled the room?• (68) fumes/smoke

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Burning issue of herbal fuel Gapped Summary 2000 AS UE