Exercises

Smoke and mirrors

Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post

There has been lots of talk recently about the negative effects that global warming has on the environment. One enterprising individual has turned the problem into a successful business. Read the story from the Bangkok Post to find out about his ingenious idea.

Smoke rises over Sila Sutharat�s roadside stall in the Muang district of Phetchaburi, as succulent chickens sizzle away under the searing sunlight. The sun is reflected onto the chickens by a towering wall of small mirrors that stand opposite the grilling frame.

Sila, 50, said that he got the idea for his solar barbecue from a childhood science experiment that used a magnifying glass to burn paper. He realised that many mirrors reflecting sunlight onto a single spot would generate enough heat to cook food.

HOT IDEA

When the idea hit him, Sila built a large panel with many small mirrors attached to it. The panel is curved to focus the sun�s rays onto the grilling area.

After setting up his solar barbecue, all Sila needed were marinated chickens and a pair of goggles to protect his eyes from the sun�s glare.

The solar panel is positioned to face the morning sunlight, which allows him to roast chickens from 7 am to 11 am. Each chicken needs a little more than 10 minutes to cook.

Sila said that on a sunny morning he can roast up to 50 chickens, each weighing around 1.6 kilogrammes. He sells them for 160 baht each.

QUICK BURNER

Sila�s idea of harnessing solar energy to roast chicken was realised in 1992, when he opened his shop for business. It was a humble roadside stall back then, but Sila now roasts suckling pigs as well as chickens.

The hand-made solar panel cost 30,000 baht to build, and each mirror is adjustable. The sunlight from the panel takes only six seconds to start cooking whatever is placed on the grill.

UP TO MOTHER NATURE

Sila believes that his sun-seared chickens taste every bit as good as those grilled over charcoal. There is, however, a downside to running a business at the mercy of the weather.

On a cloudy day, the chickens take twice as long to cook. The biggest problem is rain, which forces Sila to close his stall.

Exercise

Read the story. Then, answer the following multiple-choice questions.

1. What does Sila use to cook his chickens?

a. A magnifying glass.
b. Charcoal.
c. A panel of mirrors.
d. None of the above.

2. What does Sila use to protect his eyes?

a. Glasses.
b. Goggles.
c. A magnifying glass.
d. All of the above.

3. How long does it take to cook each chicken?

a. 10 minutes.
b. Six seconds.
c. Six minutes.

	enterprising (adj): having the ability to think of new projects or new ways of doing things and make them successful ingenious (adj): very suitable for a particular purpose and resulting from clever new ideas succulent (adj): containing a lot of juice and tasting good searing (adj): so strong that it seems to burn you generate (v): to produce or create something marinate (v): to soak food in herbs and/or sauce before cooking it to give it more flavour glare (n): a very bright, unpleasant light harness (v): to control and use the force or strength of something to produce power or to achieve something humble (adj): not large or special in any way