Since 1980, the use of wind to produce electricity has been growing rapidly. In 1994 there were nearly 20,000 wind turbines worldwide, most grouped in clusters called wind farms that collectively produced 3,000 megawatts of electricity. Most were in Denmark (which got 3 percent of its electricity from wind turbines) and California (where 17,000 machines produced 1 percent of the state’s electricity, enough to meet the residential needs of a city as large as San Francisco). In principle, all the power needs of the United States could be provided by exploiting the wind potential of just three states—North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas.
Large wind farms can be built in six months to a year and then easily expanded as needed. With a moderate to fairly high net energy yield, these systems emit no heat-trapping carbon dioxide or other air pollutants and need no water for cooling; manufacturing them produces little water pollution. The land under wind turbines can be used for grazing cattle and other purposes, and leasing land for wind turbines can provide extra income for farmers and ranchers.
Wind power has a significant cost advantage over nuclear power and has become competitive with coal-fired power plants in many places. With new technological advances and mass production, projected cost declines should make wind power one of the world’s cheapest ways to produce electricity. In the long run, electricity from large wind farms in remote areas might be used to make hydrogen gas from water during periods when there is less than peak demand for electricity. The hydrogen gas could then be fed into a storage system and used to generate electricity when additional or backup power is needed.
Wind power is most economical in areas with steady winds. In areas where the wind dies down, backup electricity from a utility company or from an energy storage system becomes necessary. Backup power could also be provided by linking wind farms with a solar cell, with conventional or pumped-storage hydropower, or with efficient natural-gas-burning turbines. Some drawbacks to wind farms include visual pollution and noise, although these can be overcome by improving their design and locating them in isolated areas.
Large wind farms might also interfere with the flight patterns of migratory birds in certain areas, and they have killed large birds of prey (especially hawks, falcons, and eagles) that prefer to hunt along the same ridge lines that are ideal for wind turbines. The killing of birds of prey by wind turbines has pitted environmentalists who champion wildlife protection against environmentalists who promote renewable wind energy. Researchers are evaluating how serious this problem is and hope to find ways to eliminate or sharply reduce this problem. Some analysts also contend that the number of birds killed by wind turbines is dwarfed by birds killed by other human-related sources and by the potential loss of entire bird species from possible global warming. Recorded deaths of birds of prey and other birds in wind farms in the United States currently amount to no more than 300 per year. By contrast, in the United States an estimated 97 million birds are killed each year when they collide with buildings made of plate glass, 57 million are killed on highways each year; at least 3.8 million die annually from pollution and poisoning; and millions of birds are electrocuted each year by transmission and distribution lines carrying power produced by nuclear and coal power plants.
The technology is in place for a major expansion of wind power worldwide. Wind power is a virtually unlimited source of energy at favorable sites, and even excluding environmentally sensitive areas, the global potential of wind power is much higher than the current world electricity use. In theory, Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Russia, and the United Kingdom could use wind to meet all of their energy needs.
Paragraph 1: Since 1980, the use of wind to produce electricity has been growing rapidly. In 1994 there were nearly 20,000 wind turbines worldwide, most grouped in clusters called wind farms that collectively produced 3,000 megawatts of electricity. Most were in Denmark (which got 3 percent of its electricity from wind turbines) and California (where 17,000 machines produced 1 percent of the state’s electricity, enough to meet the residential needs of a city as large as San Francisco). In principle, all the power needs of the United States could be provided by exploiting the wind potential of just three states—North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas.
1. Based on the information in paragraph 1, which of the following best explains the term wind farms?
○Farms using windmills to pump water
○Research centers exploring the uses of wind
○Types of power plant common in North Dakota
○Collections of wind turbines producing electric power
Paragraph 2: Large wind farms can be built in six months to a year and then easily expanded as needed. With a moderate to fairly high net energy yield, these systems emit no heat-trapping carbon dioxide or other air pollutants and need no water for cooling; manufacturing them produces little water pollution. The land under wind turbines can be used for grazing cattle and other purposes, and leasing land for wind turbines can provide extra income for farmers and ranchers.
2. The word “emit” in the passage is closest in meaning to
○use
○require
○release
○destroy
Paragraph 3: Wind power has a significant cost advantage over nuclear power and has become competitive with coal-fired power plants in many places. With new technological advances and mass production, projected cost declines should make wind power one of the world’s cheapest ways to produce electricity. In the long run, electricity from large wind farms in remote areas might be used to make hydrogen gas from water during periods when there is less than peak demand for electricity. The hydrogen gas could then be fed into a storage system and used to generate electricity when additional or backup power is needed.
Paragraph 4: Wind power is most economical in areas with steady winds. In areas where the wind dies down, backup electricity from a utility company or from an energy storage system becomes necessary. Backup power could also be provided by linking wind farms with a solar cell, with conventional or pumped-storage hydropower, or with efficient natural-gas-burning turbines. Some drawbacks to wind farms include visual pollution and noise, although these can be overcome by improving their design and locating them in isolated areas.
3. Based on the information in paragraph 3 and paragraph 4, what can be inferred about the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas mentioned at the end of paragraph 1?
○They rely largely on coal-fired power plants.
○They contain remote areas where the winds rarely die down.
○Over 1 percent of the electricity in these states is produced by wind farms.
○Wind farms in these states are being expanded to meet the power needs of the United States.
4. According to paragraph 3, which of the following is true about periods when the demand for electricity is relatively low?
○These periods are times when wind turbines are powered by hydrogen gas.
○These periods provide the opportunity to produce and store energy for future use.
○These periods create storage problems for all forms of power generation.
○These periods occur as often as periods when the demand for electricity is high.
5. In paragraph 4, the author states that in areas where winds are not steady
○power does not reach all customers
○wind farms cannot be used
○solar power is more appropriate
○backup systems are needed
6. According to paragraph 4, what can be inferred about the problems of visual pollution and noise associated with wind farms?
○B(yǎng)oth problems affect the efficiency of wind farms.
○Possible solutions are known for both problems.
○Wind power creates more noise than visual pollution.
○People are more concerned about visual pollution than noise.
Paragraph 5: Large wind farms might also interfere with the flight patterns of migratory birds in certain areas, and they have killed large birds of prey (especially hawks, falcons, and eagles) that prefer to hunt along the same ridge lines that are ideal for wind turbines. The killing of birds of prey by wind turbines has pitted environmentalists who champion wildlife protection against environmentalists who promote renewable wind energy. Researchers are evaluating how serious this problem is and hope to find ways to eliminate or sharply reduce this problem. Some analysts also contend that the number of birds killed by wind turbines is dwarfed by birds killed by other human-related sources and by the potential loss of entire bird species from possible global warming. Recorded deaths of birds of prey and other birds in wind farms in the United States currently amount to no more than 300 per year. By contrast, in the United States an estimated 97 million birds are killed each year when they collide with buildings made of plate glass, 57 million are killed on highways each year; at least 3.8 million die annually from pollution and poisoning; and millions of birds are electrocuted each year by transmission and distribution lines carrying power produced by nuclear and coal power plants.
7. The phrase “this problem” in the passage refers to
○Interference with the flight patterns of migrating birds in certain areas
○B(yǎng)uilding ridge lines that are ideal for wind turbines
○The killing of birds of prey by wind turbines
○Meeting the demands of environmentalists who promote renewable wind energy
8. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
○Hawks, falcons, and eagles prefer to hunt along ridge lines, where wind turbines can kill large numbers of migratory birds.
○Wind turbines occasionally cause migratory birds to change their flight patterns and therefore may interfere with the areas where birds of prey prefer to hunt.
○Some of the best locations for large wind farms are places that may cause problems for migrating birds and birds of prey.
○Large wind farms in certain areas kill hawks, falcons, and eagles and thus might create a more ideal path for the flight of migratory birds.
9. In paragraph 5, why does the author give details about the estimated numbers of birds killed each year?
○To argue that wind farms should not be built along ridge lines
○To point out that the deaths of migratory birds exceed the deaths of birds of prey
○To explain why some environmentalists oppose wind energy
○To suggest that wind turbines result in relatively few bird deaths
10. The phrase “amount to” in the passage is closest in meaning to
○can identify
○change
○are reduced by
○total
Paragraph 6: The technology is in place for a major expansion of wind power worldwide. Wind power is a virtually unlimited source of energy at favorable sites, and even excluding environmentally sensitive areas, the global potential of wind power is much higher than the current world electricity use. In theory, Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Russia, and the United Kingdom could use wind to meet all of their energy needs. Wind power experts project that by the middle of the twenty-first century wind power could supply more than 10 percent of the world’s electricity and 10-25 percent of the electricity used in the United States.
11. The word “project” in the passage is closest in meaning to
○estimate
○respond
○argue
○plan
12. Which of the following statements most accurately reflects the author’s opinion about wind energy?
○Wind energy production should be limited to large wind farms.
○The advantages of wind energy outweigh the disadvantages.
○The technology to make wind energy safe and efficient will not be ready until the middle of the twenty-first century.
○Wind energy will eventually supply many countries with most of their electricity.
Paragraph 1: Since 1980, the use of wind to produce electricity has been growing rapidly. █In 1994 there were nearly 20,000 wind turbines worldwide, most grouped in clusters called wind farms that collectively produced 3,000 megawatts of electricity. █Most were in Denmark (which got 3 percent of its electricity from wind turbines) and California (where 17,000 machines produced 1 percent of the state’s electricity, enough to meet the residential needs of a city as large as San Francisco). █In principle, all the power needs of the United States could be provided by exploiting the wind potential of just three states—North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas. █
13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
Some companies in the power industry are aware of this wider possibility and are planning sizable wind-farm projects in states other than California.
Where would the sentence best fit?
14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
In the future, wind power is likely to become a major source of the world’s energy supply.
Answer Choices
○Wind farms have already produced sufficient amounts of electricity to suggest that wind power could become an important source of electric power.
○Wind power has several advantages, such as low pollution and projected cost declines, compared to other energy sources.
○Responding to environmentalists concerned about birds killed by wind turbines, analysts point to other human developments that are even more dangerous to birds.
○The wind energy produced by just a small number of states could supply all of the power needs of the United States.
○Although wind power is not economical in areas with steady winds, alternative wind sources can be used to simulate wind power.
○Smaller countries, which use less electricity than large countries, are especially suited to use wind power to meet all their energy needs.
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參考答案:
1. ○ 4
2. ○ 3
3. ○ 2
4. ○ 2
5. ○4
6. ○ 2
7. ○ 3
8. ○ 3
9. ○4
10. ○4
11. ○1
12. ○2
13. ○4
14. Wind farms have already…
Wind power has several advantages…
Responding to environmentalists...
風(fēng)力發(fā)電的運(yùn)用從1980年起一直迅猛增長。1994年,世界各地有近2萬臺(tái)風(fēng)力渦輪機(jī),大量風(fēng)力渦輪機(jī)集中在一起組成風(fēng)力發(fā)電場,可共同發(fā)電3 000兆瓦。風(fēng)力發(fā)電廠主要集中在丹麥和美國加利福尼亞州,丹麥全國電力的3%來源于風(fēng)力發(fā)電,美國加州風(fēng)力發(fā)電廠17 000臺(tái)渦輪機(jī)的發(fā)電量占全州電量的1%,足以滿足舊金山這種大城市的居住用電需求。全美的電力需求基本上都可以通過挖掘北達(dá)科他州、南達(dá)科他州和得克薩斯州的風(fēng)力發(fā)電潛力來滿足。
大型風(fēng)力發(fā)電場可在6個(gè)月至1年內(nèi)建成,隨后可根據(jù)需要隨時(shí)擴(kuò)建。發(fā)電廠里的設(shè)備在產(chǎn)出中等至極高凈電能的同時(shí),不僅做到了溫室氣體二氧化碳和其他空氣污染物的零排放,并且無需用水對設(shè)備進(jìn)行降溫;同時(shí),風(fēng)力發(fā)電基本不會(huì)造成水資源污染。風(fēng)力渦輪機(jī)的所在地還可用于放牛等其他用途,農(nóng)場主和牧場主可以通過土地出租供風(fēng)力發(fā)電來增加額外收入。
風(fēng)力發(fā)電和核電站發(fā)電相比具有明顯的成本優(yōu)勢,在很多地方與燃煤發(fā)電也不相上下。隨著新技術(shù)的進(jìn)步和大規(guī)模生產(chǎn),預(yù)期的成本下降會(huì)使風(fēng)力發(fā)電成為世界上成本最低的發(fā)電方式。未來,偏遠(yuǎn)地區(qū)的大型風(fēng)力發(fā)電廠發(fā)電量高于用電高峰需求量時(shí),多出的電量可能會(huì)為從水中制造氫氣提供支持。氫氣可以存儲(chǔ)起來,在需要額外或后備電源時(shí)用來發(fā)電。
在風(fēng)源穩(wěn)定的地區(qū),風(fēng)力發(fā)電是最經(jīng)濟(jì)。在風(fēng)源不足的地方,需要穩(wěn)定的備用電力來源,如電力公司、能量儲(chǔ)存系統(tǒng)、太陽能電池、傳統(tǒng)水力發(fā)電機(jī)和抽水蓄能,或者燃燒天然氣的高效渦輪機(jī)。雖然風(fēng)力發(fā)電會(huì)帶來視覺污染和噪音,不過這些缺陷都可以通過設(shè)計(jì)的改善以及把它們安排在偏僻地點(diǎn)來彌補(bǔ)。
某些區(qū)域的大型風(fēng)力發(fā)電場很可能會(huì)影響候鳥的飛行方式,它們殺害了大型猛禽(尤其是老鷹、獵鷹和鷹),這些猛禽喜歡沿著山脊線一帶捕食,而這一帶也是風(fēng)力渦輪機(jī)的理想之所。針對風(fēng)力渦輪機(jī)對猛禽造成傷害的這一事實(shí),主張保護(hù)野生動(dòng)物的環(huán)保主義者和主張發(fā)展再生能源的環(huán)保主義者各持己見。研究人員還在對這個(gè)問題的嚴(yán)重程度進(jìn)行評估,他們希望能想辦法來消除或著大幅減少這個(gè)問題。有的分析家評論認(rèn)為,由風(fēng)力渦輪機(jī)導(dǎo)致的鳥類的死亡數(shù)目和由其他人為原因造成的死亡數(shù)目以及整個(gè)鳥類可能因全球變暖中而死亡數(shù)目相比是少之又少。據(jù)記載,美國風(fēng)力發(fā)電廠傷害的猛禽和其他禽鳥的死亡數(shù)量每年不超過300只。相比之下,在美國估計(jì)每年有9 700萬禽鳥由于碰撞到建筑物的厚玻璃板而死亡,5 700萬禽鳥死在高速公路上,至少有380萬禽鳥死于污染和中毒,每年數(shù)以百萬計(jì)的禽鳥在燃煤電廠和核電廠的輸電和配電線纜上觸電致死。
促使全球范圍內(nèi)風(fēng)力發(fā)電應(yīng)用擴(kuò)張的技術(shù)已經(jīng)到位。在合適的地點(diǎn),風(fēng)力發(fā)電幾乎用之不盡取之不竭,即使排除這些環(huán)境敏感地區(qū),全球潛在的風(fēng)力發(fā)電量遠(yuǎn)高于目前的世界耗電總量。理論上來說,阿根廷、加拿大、智利、中國、俄羅斯和英國可以利用風(fēng)力來滿足他們所有的能源需求。風(fēng)力發(fā)電專家估計(jì),在21世紀(jì)中葉,全球超過10%的電力,及美國10%~25%的電力需求都可通過風(fēng)力發(fā)電來滿足。