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While fossil fuels - coal, oil, gas – still generate roughly 85 percent of the world’s energy supply, it’s clearer than ever that the future belongs to renewable sources such as wind and solar. The move to renewable is picking up momentum around the world: They now account for more than half of new power sources going on line.
Some growth stem from a commitment by governments and farsighted businesses to fund cleaner energy sources. But increasingly the story is about the plummeting prices of renewables, especially wind and solar. The cost of solar panels has dropped by 80 percent and the cost of wind turbines by close to one-third in the past eight years.
In many parts of the world renewable energy is already a principal energy source. In Scotland, for example, wind turbines provide enough electricity to power 95 percent of homes. While the rest of the world takes the lead, notably China and Europe, the United States is also seeing a remarkable shift. In March, for the first time, wind and solar power accounted for more than 10 percent of the power generated in the US, reported the US Energy Information Administration.
President Trump has underlined fossil fuels – especially coal – as the path to economic growth. In a recent speech in Iowa, he dismissed wind power as an unreliable energy source. But that message did not play well with many in Iowa, where wind turbines dot the fields and provide 36 percent of the state’s electricity generation – and where tech giants like Microsoft are being attracted by the availability of clean energy to power their data centers.
The question “what happens when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t s shine?” has provided a quick put-down for skeptics. But a boost in the storage capacity of batteries is making their ability to keep power flowing around the clock more likely.
The advance is driven in part by vehicle manufacturers, who are placing big bets on battery-powered vehicles. Although electric cars are still a rarity on roads now, this massive investment could change the picture rapidly in coming years.
While there’s a long way to go, the trend lines for renewables are spiking. The pace of change in energy sources appears to be speeding up – perhaps just in time to have a meaningful effect in slowing climate change. What Washington does – or doesn’t do – to promote alternative energy may mean less and less at a time of a global shift in thought.
26. The word “plummeting” (Line 3, Para.2) is closest in meaning to______.
A. stabilizing
B. changing
C. falling
D. rising
试题类型:词义理解题
解题思路:根据题干定位到第二段第三句。而解答这类词义题的关键是有上下句加本句去推理。有本句可知这里是价格plummeting,再根据下句成本下降(drop)可以推出这个词也应该是“下降”之意,故C为正确答案。
干扰排除:A选项stabilizing(稳定)、B选项changing(变化)以及D选项rising(上升)均与原文不符,故排除。
27. According to Paragraph 3, the use of renewable energy in America_____.
A. is progressing notably
B. is as extensive as in Europe
C. faces many challenges
D. has proved to be impractical
试题类型:具体信息题
解题思路:根据题干定位段落以及关键词the use of renewable energy和America直接定位到第三段第三句和第四句。第三句指出美国正经历一个非凡的转变;第四句指出美国的风能和太阳能等可再生能源占总生产能源的比例已经超过了10%,由此可知在美国可再生能源进展显著,故正确答案为A.
干扰排除:由第三句可知,欧洲在可再生能源使用方面是领先的,所以B选项is as extensive as in Europe(和欧洲一样广泛)排除;C选项faces many challenges(面临很多挑战)未提及,以及D选项has proved to be impractical(被证明为不实际的)与原文相反,故排除。
28. It can be learned that in Iowa, ____.
A. wind is a widely used energy source.
B. wind energy has replaced fossil fuels
C. tech giants are investing in clean energy
D. there is a shortage of clean energy supply
试题类型:具体信息题
解题思路:根据题干关键词Iowa定位到第四段第二句和第三句。该第二句仅提到Iowa,没有讲这里的情况,跳过。第三句讲到这里到处都有涡轮机,并且这些涡轮机提供了该州36%的电能,由此可以得出这里风能使用广泛,故正确答案为D.
干扰排除:第三句并未提及风能代替了化石燃料,且从36%的比例我们也知道并未完全代替,所以B选项wind energy has replaced fossil fuels(风能代替了化石燃料)排除;第三句提到了科技巨头,但只是说他们被这里随时可以获得清洁能源来为他们的数据中心功能所吸引,并未提及他们要投资,故C选项tech giants are investing in clean energy(科技巨头正投资清洁能源)排除;D选项there is a shortage of clean energy supply(这里清洁能源供应不足)与原文相反,排除。
29. Which of the following is true about clean energy according to Paragraphs 5 & 6?
A. Its application has boosted battery storage.
B. It is commonly used in car manufacturing.
C. Its continuous supply is becoming a reality.
D. Its sustainable exploitation will remain difficult.
试题类型:具体信息题
解题思路:第五段第二句指出电池储存能力的提升使得使用风能或太阳能全天候供电成为可能,故正确选项为C.
干扰排除:第五段有提到电池储存能力提高,但并未提到是清洁能源的应用提高了其储存能力,故A选项Its application has boosted battery storage.(它的应用已经提升了电池储存能力)排除;第六段最后一句指出电动汽车在马路上依然罕见,因此B选项It is commonly used in car manufacturing.(它已经在汽车制造业广泛使用)排除;第五段和第六段对清洁能源的情景均持乐观态度,故D选项Its sustainable exploitation will remain difficult.(它的可持续开发将依然困难)与原文相反,故排除。
30. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that renewable energy____.
A. will bring the US closer to other countries
B. will accelerate global environmental change
C. is not really encouraged by the US government
D. is not competitive enough with regard to its cost
试题类型:推理引申题
解题思路:最后一段最后一句指出美国采取的行动,后又补充了一句:就算美国无所作为,但在这样一个全球思维转变的时代,这已经越来越无关紧要了,再加上前文曾提到过特朗普不支持风能,由此可以得出美国政府是不支持可再生能源的,故正确答案为C.
干扰排除:最后一段提到可再生能源的使用已经是一个不断加快的趋势,并且会对减缓气候变化产生重大影响,故B选项will accelerate global environmental change(会加快全球环境变化)与原文相反,故排除;A选项will bring the US closer to other countries(将使美国与其他国家联系更紧密)以及D选项is not competitive enough with regard to its cost(在成本反面竞争力不够)未提及,故排除。