TPO 22 Integrated Writing Task

The article states that ethanol is not a good replacement for gasoline based on arguments by critics and the passage provides three reasons. However, the professor thinks that ethanol is a good alternative and he explains why the arguments in the article are not convincing.

First , the reading claims that ethanol fuel would not help to solve global warming as ethanol releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when it is burned for fuel. Even though professor agrees with the emission of carbon dioxide, he explains why that will not add to the global warming. According to the professor to produce ethanol , plants need to be grown and these plants absorbs carbon dioxide as one of its nutrients. Therefore ethanol will not have net positive emission of carbon dioxide.

Second, the passage shows that the production of ethanol will reduce the amount of plants available for other uses cases like food for farm animals. The professor refutes this point by saying that they can use plants that are not eaten by animals to produce the fuel. This is because the basic ingredient required is cellulose and it is a common material in most of the plant cells.

Third , the reading says that ethanol fuel will never be able to compete with gasoline on price. However, professor believes otherwise. While accepting the fact that current lower price are due to government tax subsidies, he argue that these tax reductions will not be required as the production increase due to demand. Professor also state an experimental results which shows that the production increase causes reduction of production cost.