English Learning: Oil Price Fluctuations in 2025
Dialogue
Alice: Bob, did you see the news about oil prices for 2025? My grand road trip dreams are officially in jeopardy!
Bob: Alice, tell me about it! I was just fantasizing about driving my old beat-up car across the country, but at this rate, I’ll need a second mortgage just for gas money.
Alice: Exactly! They’re predicting another wild ride. Some experts say prices will skyrocket due to supply cuts, others claim they’ll stabilize if demand slows down.
Bob: “Stabilize” is a fancy word for “still too expensive for my budget.” My car drinks petrol like it’s going out of style. I’ll be pinching pennies just to get to the grocery store.
Alice: Maybe we should invest in roller skates? Or a very enthusiastic tandem bike? Imagine, “The Great American Pedal Adventure!”
Bob: Hah! My knees would be in jeopardy long before my wallet. But seriously, if prices keep surging, nobody will be going anywhere far. It’ll put a real damper on summer vacation plans.
Alice: It’s all about geopolitics and global demand, apparently. If there’s any unrest, boom, prices go up. If a new oil field is discovered, maybe they dip a little.
Bob: So, we’re basically at the mercy of factors we can’t control? Fantastic. I guess my fantasy RV is out of the question then.
Alice: Don’t give up hope entirely! Maybe by mid-2025, things will settle down. Or maybe electric cars will suddenly become dirt cheap and everyone will switch overnight.
Bob: One can dream, Alice. One can dream. For now, I’m just bracing myself for the shock at the pump. I might start collecting coupons for gas.
Alice: Gas coupons? That’s a relic from another era! You’re really desperate. I’m just going to plan local trips, maybe explore our own city more.
Bob: Local trips it is, then. We could always carpool if we decide to venture further. Misery loves company, and shared gas expenses are definitely less miserable.
Alice: Good idea! We can take turns driving our slightly-less-thirsty cars. Though mine still feels like it’s chugging premium champagne.
Bob: Mine feels like it’s chugging crude oil straight from the well! But hey, at least we have each other for moral support when the gas station bill arrives.
Alice: True! We’ll just have to be savvy travelers. Who needs a cross-country trip when you have a friend and a slightly-less-empty wallet?
Current Situation
Oil prices are inherently volatile, influenced by a complex interplay of global supply, demand, and geopolitical events. For 2025, predictions are, naturally, speculative. Factors such as ongoing geopolitical tensions, potential economic growth (or slowdowns) in major consuming nations like China and India, the pace of the global energy transition, and OPEC+’s production policies will significantly shape the market. While some forecasts suggest continued upward pressure due to tight supply and resilient demand, others anticipate a leveling off or even a decrease if global economic activity slows or new production sources come online. Consumers should generally brace themselves for continued fluctuations, making budgeting for transportation costs an ongoing challenge.
Key Phrases
- in jeopardy: in danger of being damaged or destroyed.
The company’s future is in jeopardy due to severe financial losses.
- at this rate: if the current situation or speed continues.
If he keeps eating desserts at this rate, he’ll gain a lot of weight.
- skyrocket: to rise extremely quickly or make extremely quick progress.
Housing prices have begun to skyrocket in the popular coastal town.
- pinch pennies: to be very careful about spending money; to economize.
We had to pinch pennies for months to save enough for our dream vacation.
- put a damper on something: to have a negative effect on something, making it less enjoyable, exciting, or successful.
The sudden rain put a damper on our picnic plans.
- brace ourselves: to prepare oneself for something difficult or unpleasant.
We need to brace ourselves for a tough negotiation ahead.
- dirt cheap: extremely inexpensive.
I managed to find a flight to Paris that was dirt cheap because I booked it months in advance.
Grammar Points
1. Future Simple (will/won’t) for Predictions and Intentions
We use will or won’t (will not) to talk about future actions or events that we expect or predict, or to express intentions.
- Prediction: Something you believe will happen.
They’re predicting another wild ride. Some experts say prices will skyrocket.
If prices keep surging, nobody will be going anywhere far.
- Intention/Decision made at the moment of speaking: Something you decide to do.
I will definitely start saving more money for gas.
I’m just going to plan local trips, maybe explore our own city more. (Alice’s intention)
2. First Conditional (If + Present Simple, will + Verb)
The first conditional is used to talk about possible future events and their likely results. It describes real and possible situations.
- Structure: If + subject + verb (present simple), subject + will + base form of verb.
If prices keep surging, nobody will be going anywhere far. (A real possibility)
If there’s any unrest, boom, prices go up. (Implied ‘will go up’)
If a new oil field is discovered, maybe they dip a little. (Implied ‘will dip’)
3. Modal Verbs for Speculation (might/could)
We use modal verbs like might and could to express possibility or uncertainty about future events.
- Might/Could: Used when something is possible but not certain.
Maybe by mid-2025, things will settle down. Or maybe electric cars will suddenly become dirt cheap. (Alice uses ‘will’ here to express a hope, but implicitly, it’s a possibility.)
They might stabilize if demand slows down. (More explicit possibility)
It could go either way, depending on global politics.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Key Phrases)
Complete the sentences using the most appropriate key phrase from the list provided (in jeopardy, at this rate, skyrocket, pinch pennies, put a damper on, brace ourselves, dirt cheap).
- My vacation plans are completely _________ if I don’t get this promotion.
- If the rain continues _________, we’ll have to cancel the outdoor concert.
- The cost of fresh vegetables is expected to _________ next month due to the poor harvest.
- We need to _________ for the challenging economic times ahead.
- I can’t believe I found this designer dress for _________ at the thrift store!
- Rising inflation will surely _________ our holiday shopping this year.
- I had to _________ for months after losing my job.
- in jeopardy
- at this rate
- skyrocket
- brace ourselves
- dirt cheap
- put a damper on
- pinch pennies
Exercise 2: Complete the Sentences (Future Simple & First Conditional)
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb in parentheses (Future Simple or Present Simple for conditional clauses).
- If he (study) __________ hard, he (pass) __________ the exam.
- I think prices (not go) __________ down next year.
- They (buy) __________ a new car if they (get) __________ a bonus.
- If the weather (be) __________ good, we (go) __________ to the beach.
- She (probably call) __________ you when she (arrive) __________ at the airport.
- studies, will pass
- won’t go
- will buy, get
- is, will go
- will probably call, arrives
Exercise 3: Make Sentences (Modal Verbs for Speculation)
Rewrite the following sentences using ‘might’ or ‘could’ to express possibility.
- Perhaps she will arrive late.
- It’s possible that they will cancel the meeting.
- Maybe the train is delayed.
- There’s a chance he will change his mind.
- It’s possible we will see snow tomorrow.
- She might arrive late. / She could arrive late.
- They might cancel the meeting. / They could cancel the meeting.
- The train might be delayed. / The train could be delayed.
- He might change his mind. / He could change his mind.
- We might see snow tomorrow. / We could see snow tomorrow.
Leave a Reply