Oil and Water in the Middle East

Student Research Packet

Essential Question: How do water and oil affect the people and economies of the Middle East?

Directions: Read each passage. Use the information to answer the questions. You may highlight important facts and use the vocabulary to help you.

Reading 1: Why Is Water Scarce in the Middle East?

A Region with Limited Freshwater

The Middle East is a region with many dry areas. Much of the land has a desert climate, which means it receives very little rain. Some places may go for long periods without rainfall.

Freshwater is water that people can use for drinking, farming, and other needs. In many parts of the Middle East, there is not enough freshwater to meet everyone's needs.

Why Is Water Hard to Find?

There are several reasons why water is scarce:

1. Dry climate: Many areas receive little rain. Hot temperatures can also cause water to evaporate quickly.

2. Few rivers and lakes: Some countries have very few sources of freshwater. Rivers and lakes are important for people, animals, and farms.

3. Growing populations: As more people live in an area, they need more water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and other daily activities.

4. Farming: Farmers need water to grow crops. In dry areas, they may use irrigation to bring water to their fields.

5. Climate change: Changes in weather patterns can lead to less rainfall and longer periods of drought in some places.

How Does Water Scarcity Affect People?

When there is not enough water, people may have trouble getting the water they need. Farmers may grow fewer crops. This can affect food supplies and jobs.

Water shortages can also make it harder for cities and communities to meet the needs of their growing populations.

Important Vocabulary

- Freshwater: Water that is not salty and can be used by people.

- Water scarcity: Not having enough water to meet people's needs.

- Drought: A long period with little or no rain.

- Irrigation: Bringing water to crops.

- Evaporation: When liquid water changes into water vapor.

Check Your Understanding

1. Why do many parts of the Middle East have limited freshwater?

Table summary: The provided table is empty and contains no data to summarize.

2. Name two reasons why water is scarce in the Middle East.

Table summary: The provided table is empty and contains no data to summarize.

3. How can water shortages affect farmers?

Table summary: The provided table contains no data.

Reading 2: How Can Countries Get More Water?

Finding New Ways to Get Freshwater

Many countries in the Middle East need more freshwater. Because some areas receive very little rain, countries have found different ways to provide water for people, farms, and businesses.

One important solution is called desalination.

What Is Desalination?

Desalination is the process of removing salt from seawater. The water in the ocean is too salty for people to drink. Desalination plants use special equipment to remove the salt and produce freshwater.

The freshwater can then be treated and sent through pipes to homes, businesses, and other places.

Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates use desalination to help meet their water needs.

Other Ways to Increase Water Supplies

- Dams: Dams hold water in reservoirs. The stored water can be used for drinking, farming, and other needs.

- Irrigation: Irrigation brings water to crops. This helps farmers grow food in places where there is not enough rain.

- Water conservation: Water conservation means using water carefully and avoiding waste. For example, people can fix leaking pipes, take shorter showers, and use water wisely when watering plants.

What Are the Challenges?

Desalination can provide a reliable source of freshwater, but it also has challenges.

• Desalination plants can be expensive to build and operate.

• The process uses a lot of energy.

• Removing salt creates very salty water called brine.

• Brine must be managed carefully to reduce harm to the environment.

Desalination is helpful, but countries still need to protect freshwater supplies and use water wisely.

Important Vocabulary

- Desalination: Removing salt from seawater to make freshwater.

- Conservation: Using a resource carefully and avoiding waste.

- Reservoir: A place where water is stored.

- Brine: Very salty water left over after desalination.

- Freshwater supply: Water available for people and other uses.

Check Your Understanding

1. What is desalination?

2. Name one way countries can increase or save their water supply.

3. Why can desalination be helpful to countries in the Middle East?

4. What is one challenge of desalination?

Reading 3: Why Is Oil Important in the Middle East?

A Valuable Natural Resource

Oil is a natural resource found deep underground. It is also called petroleum or crude oil.

Oil is important because it can be turned into many useful products. These include gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel. Oil is also used to make some plastics and other products.

Several countries in the Middle East have large oil supplies. Some important oil-producing countries include Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.

Oil and Jobs

Oil creates jobs in many different industries. People work to find oil, drill for it, transport it, and process it.

Other jobs are connected to the oil industry. For example, people may work in construction, transportation, engineering, or business services.

Oil can help countries build roads, schools, hospitals, and other important buildings. However, the amount of money available for these projects depends on many factors, including how much oil a country sells and how it manages its money.

Oil and Trade

Countries that produce more oil than they need may sell it to other countries. Selling goods to other countries is called exporting.

Many countries around the world use oil for transportation, manufacturing, and energy. This creates demand for oil from the Middle East.

For example, a country may export oil to another country that needs fuel for cars, trucks, factories, or airplanes.

Oil and the Economy

Oil can bring large amounts of money into a country's economy. This money may come from selling oil to other countries.

Oil money can help pay for government services, roads and transportation, schools, hospitals, jobs, and businesses.

However, not every person benefits equally from oil wealth. Countries must decide how to use their oil income and how to support their people.

Important Vocabulary

- Natural resource: Something found in nature that people use.

- Petroleum: Another name for oil.

- Oil-producing country: A country that removes oil from the ground.

- Export: To sell goods to another country.

- Economy: The system of jobs, businesses, trade, and money in a place.

Check Your Understanding:

1. Why is oil an important natural resource?

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2. Name two countries in the Middle East that produce oil.

3. How does oil help create jobs?

4. How can selling oil help a country's economy?

Reading 4: What Challenges Come with Depending on Oil?

Oil Can Help an Economy—but It Can Also Create Problems

Oil Can Help an Economy

Oil can bring a lot of money into a country. Countries that produce and sell oil may use that money to build roads, schools, hospitals, and businesses.

Oil can also provide jobs for people who work in the energy industry and related businesses. However, depending too much on oil can create problems.

Challenge 1: Oil Prices Can Change

The price of oil does not always stay the same. Prices can rise or fall because of changes in supply, demand, or world events.

When oil prices are high, a country may earn more money from selling oil. When oil prices fall, a country may earn less money. This can make it harder for the government to pay for services and projects.

Challenge 2: Pollution

Producing and using oil can cause pollution.

For example, oil spills can harm water and wildlife; burning oil releases gases into the air; and oil production can affect land and ecosystems.

Pollution can harm people, animals, and the environment.

Challenge 3: Depending on One Resource

Some countries depend heavily on oil to earn money. This can be risky because oil supplies and prices can change.

If a country depends mostly on oil, it may have trouble paying for important services when oil income decreases.

Finding Other Ways to Make Money:

Some Middle Eastern countries are working to diversify their economies. Diversification means developing different types of businesses and industries instead of depending on only one resource.

Countries may invest in tourism, technology, manufacturing, transportation, renewable energy, and education.

Renewable energy comes from sources that can be naturally replaced, such as sunlight and wind.

Developing new industries can help countries create more jobs and build stronger economies for the future.

Important Vocabulary

Oil price: The amount of money people pay for oil.

Pollution: Harmful substances that enter the environment.

Diversification: Developing different types of businesses and industries.

Renewable energy: Energy from sources that can be naturally replaced.

Economy: The jobs, businesses, trade, and money in a place.

Check Your Understanding:

1. Why can changing oil prices be a problem for a country?

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2. What is one way oil can cause pollution?

3. What does it mean to diversify an economy?

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4. Name one industry a country could develop besides oil.

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Making Connections

Use information from the four readings to complete the chart.

Table summary: The impact of Water and Oil on people and the economy. For Water, the focus is on its importance to people and how it affects the economy. Similarly, for Oil, the table details its effects on both the surrounding population and the economy.

Final Thinking Question

Which resource has a greater impact on people and the economy in the Middle East: water or oil?

Highlight one: Water Oil

I chose ___ _ because...

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One fact from the readings that supports my answer is...

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Helpful Word Bank

freshwater · water scarcity · drought · irrigation · desalination · conservation · oil · exports · economy · jobs · pollution · diversification · renewable energy