WRITING TASK 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The diagram below shows how uranium is used in the production of nuclear power. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. You should write at least 150 words.

The process illustrates how nuclear energy is produced with uranium as a starting point.

Overall

, it can be seen that all process involves six steps. It all starts with uranium extraction from the earth and ends with the final product being recycled or not. First of all, Uranium, which is a radioactive element, is mined from the earth by skilled workers wearing the correct protection.

Secondly

, the extracted mineral is converted by chemical reactions, into a more potent and useful ore, the U-235.

This

last

one is converted into pellets that are used as fuel in nuclear plants to generate electricity.

After

this

, it takes about four years to spend all the produced fuel or until it becomes useless.

Next,

there are two possible stages to follow. Some fuel can be recycled and used again in a new cycle or it is not functional anymore and become nuclear waste.

Finally

,

this

nuclear waste is kept in sealed containers and buried for several years.