阅读试题

The oldest and most common source(来源) of renewable energy known to man, biomass is one of the most important forms of energy production in the United States and elsewhere. Since such a wide variety of biomass materials is everywhere - from trees and grasses to agricultural and city - life wastes - biomass promises to play a continuing role in providing power and heat for millions of people around the world.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists(UCS), biomass is a kind of renewable energy source that produces no carbon dioxide(二氧化碳), because the energy it contains comes from the sun. When plant matter is burned, it gives off the sun's energy. In this way, biomass serves as a sort of natural battery(电池) for storing the sun's energy. As long as biomass is produced continuously - with only as much grown as is used--- the "battery" lasts forever.

According to the Energy Information Administration, biomass has been one of the leading renewable energy sources in the United States for several years running through 2007, making up between 0.5 and 0.9 percent of the nation's total electricity supply. In 2008 - although the numbers aren't all in yet - wind power probably took over first place because of the rapid development of wind farms across the country.

Producing power from biomass helps reduce some 11 million tons of carbon dioxide each year. Some homeowners also try to make their own heat by using biomass materials. Such practice may save homeowner's money, but it also produces a lot of pollution. So, the best way is to encourage power plants to use it.

阅读试题

72. Why is biomass considered as "a sort of natural battery"?

A. It burns merely plant matter.

B. It keeps producing electricity.

C. It stores the energy from the sun.

D. It produces zero carbon dioxide.

73. We learn from the text that in 2008 ______.

A. Wind power would be the leader of renewable energy.

B. there was a rapid growth of electricity production

C. biomass might become the main energy source

D. 0.5~0.9% of power supply came from biomass

74. Why does the author encourage power plants to use biomass?

A. To prevent the waste of energy.

B. To increase production safety.

C. To reduce pollution.

D. To save money.

75. Where does the text probably come from?

A. A research plan.　　

B. A science magazine　　

C. A book review.　　

D. A business report.

参考译文

生物量是人类所知的最古老最常见的可再生能源的来源，它是美国和其他地方能源生产最重要的形式之一。因为这样一个种类繁多的生物质材料无处不在，从树木、草场到农业和城市生活废弃物，生物质能在为全世界数以百万计的人提供电力和热力方面仍起到重要作用。

根据美国关心世事的科学家联合会调查显示，生物质是一种可再生能源的来源，且不产生二氧化碳，因为它蕴含着来自太阳的能量。当植物燃烧时，它会释放出太阳的能量。通过这种方式，生物质可以作为一种天然电池来存储太阳的能量。只要生物质不断生产，并且只要边生产的能量尽可能比边利用的能量多，那么这种“电池”就会是永恒的。

根据美国能源信息管理局数据显示，在美国，生物质能一直是领先的可再生能源，其领先地位持续多年直到2007年，且它占全国总电力供给量的比例在0.9%和0.5%之间。2008年，尽管这些数字还不齐全，但由于全国风力发电场的快速发展，风力发电可能会接替它第一的位置。

每年由生物质能发电而帮助减少了大约1100万吨的二氧化碳。一些房主也试图利用生物质材料来制造热能。这种做法能够节省房主的开支，但也会产生许多污染。所以，最好的方法还是鼓励发电厂使用它。

答案解析

72. C 考查细节理解。C项是对biomass (生物质)储存太阳能的特点的形象描 述。根据第二

段中的"biomass is a kind of produces no carbon dioxide (二氧化碳) , because the energy it contains comes from the sun. When plant matter is burned, it gives off the sun's energy. In this way, biomass serves as a sort of natural battery(电池) for storing the sun's energy."可知，生物质是一种不产生二氧化碳的可再生能源，因为其能源来自于太阳，当生物质燃烧的时候，它释放太阳能。因此，生物质具备了一种储存太阳能的电池的功能。

73. A 考查细节理解。根据文章第三段最后一句"In 2008 - although the numbers aren't all in yet - wind power probably took over first place because of the rapid development of wind farms across the country.”尽管是不完全统计，由于全国各地风力发电厂的快速发展，风力发电可能占据了首位。文中的took over first place与选项A中的would be the leader同义，故选A。

74. C 考查作者观点。文章最后一段提到一些家庭想自行利用"生物质"取暖，这种做法可以省钱，但是也会产生大量污染，所以作者说最好的方法是鼓励发电厂来利用生物质发电。

75. B 考查推理判断。从整篇文章的特点可知，该文介绍了可再生能源"生物质"，与"科普"有关，所以，该文最有可能取自"科普杂志"。