The passage discusses the transformation of human energy use from self-sufficient, renewable sources to reliance on fossil fuels during the Industrial Revolution. Initially, communities relied on plants, animals, and natural elements for energy. However, starting in the 1700s, the discovery of coal, oil, and natural gas provided a new, abundant energy source that significantly changed life. These fossil fuels were formed from ancient organic matter over millions of years, but their uneven distribution across the globe has led to ongoing inequalities and influenced industrialization. The text emphasizes how modern life is heavily dependent on machines powered by these energy sources, contrasting it with life before industrialization.
The transformation of the world
Try to imagine your life without any machines working for you. Make a list of the machines in your house. You might be surprised how many there are. Now imagine young people who grew up before machines. How did they move from place to place? How did they communicate? What foods did they eat?
At one time, human communities provided most of their own energy. They ate plants and animals to fuel their bodies, burned wood for warmth and cooking, and used domestic animals for help with chores. Windmills and waterwheels captured some extra energy, but little could be saved. All life depended on the energy the Sun sent to the Earth.
However, in the 1700s, everything started to change with the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Now, people found an extra source of energy that could work for them. That source was fossil fuels-coal, oil, and natural gas. These fuels had been forming from the remains of plants and animals from much earlier geologic times. When they were burned, they released energy. originally from the Sun, that had been stored underground for hundreds of millions of years.
Take coal, for example. This useful fuel was formed when huge trees from the Carboniferous period (345 to 280 million years ago) fell and were covered with water, so that oxygen and bacteria could not decay them. As other materials covered them over time, they were compressed into dark, carbonic, burnable rock. Oil and gas were made from a similar recipe, formed over 100 million years ago from tiny animal skeletons and plant matter that fell to the bottom of seas or were buried in sediment. The weight of water and soil compressed this organic matter until it turned into the oil and gas that we now use for energy.
While coal, oil, and gas are relatively common on Earth, they are not evenly distributed. Some places have much
more than others because of the diverse ecosystems that existed long ago. This uneven distribution of suddenly
valuable resources, essential for industrialization, led to inequalities around the world that are still felt today. Make a short gist for this
5 answers
Make it into 6 sentences
The passage explores the shift from self-sufficient energy sources to dependence on fossil fuels during the Industrial Revolution. Initially, human communities relied on plants, animals, and natural elements for energy. Starting in the 1700s, the discovery of coal, oil, and natural gas provided abundant energy, significantly transforming daily life. These fossil fuels were formed from ancient organic matter over millions of years. Their uneven distribution across the globe has led to ongoing inequalities that continue to affect societies today. The text highlights how modern life is deeply reliant on machines powered by these energy sources, contrasting it with the simpler, pre-industrial way of living.
Make it into 3 sentences
The passage highlights the transition from self-sufficient energy sources to reliance on fossil fuels during the Industrial Revolution, which began in the 1700s. This shift resulted in significant transformations in daily life, as coal, oil, and natural gas—formed from ancient organic matter—provided abundant and powerful energy. However, the uneven distribution of these resources has led to enduring global inequalities that continue to shape societies today.
6 answers