The energy contained in rock within the earth’s crust represents a nearly unlimited energy source, but until recently commercial retrieval has been limited to underground hot water and/or steam recovery systems. These-systems have been developed in areas of recent volcanic activity, where, high rates of heat flow cause visible eruption of water in the form of geysers and hot springs. In other areas, however, hot rock also exists near the surface but there is insufficient water present to produce eruptive phenomena. Thus a potential hot dry rock (HDR) reservoir exists whenever the amount of spontaneously produced geothermal fluid has been judged inadequate for existing commercial systems.
As a result of the recent energy crisis, new concepts for creating HDR recovery systems — which involve drilling holes and connecting them to artificial reservoirs placed deep within the crust — are being developed. In all attempts to retrieve energy from HDR’s, artificial stimulation will be required to create either sufficient permeability or bounded flow paths to facilitate the removal of heat by circulation of a fluid over the surface of the rock.
The HDR resource base is generally defined to include crustal rock that is hotter than 150℃, is at depths less than ten kilometers, and can be drilled with presently available equipment. Although wells deeper than ten kilometers are technically feasible, prevailing economic factors will obviously determine the commercial feasibility of wells at such depths. Rock temperatures as low as 100°C may be useful for space heating; however, for producing electricity, temperatures greater than 200°C are desirable.
The geothermal gradient, which specifically determines the depth of drilling required to reach a desired temperature, is a major factor in the recoverability of geothermal resources. Temperature gradient maps generated from oil and gas well temperature depth records kept by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists suggest that tappable high-temperature gradients are distributed all across the United States. (There are many areas, however, for which no temperature gradient records exist.)
Indications are that the HDR resource base is very large. If an average geothermal temperature gradient of 22°C per kilometer of depth is used, a staggering 13,000,000 quadrillion B. T. U.’ s of total energy are calculated to be contained in crustal rock to a ten kilometer depth in the United States. If we conservatively estimate that only about 0.2 percent is recoverable, we find a total that is comparable to the estimated resource base of all the coal remaining in the United States. The remaining problem is to balance the economics of deeper, hotter, more costly wells and shallower, cooler, less expensive wells against the value of the final product, electricity and/or heat.
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to( ).
2. The passage would be most likely to appear in a( ).
3. According to passage, an average geothermal gradient of 22°C per kilometer of depth can be used to( ).
4. It can be inferred from the passage that the availability of temperature-depth records for any specific areas in the United States depends primarily on the( ).
5. According to the passage, in all HDR recovery systems fluid will be necessary in order to allow( ).
6. According to the passage, if the average geothermal gradient in an area 22°C per kilometer of depth, which of the following can be reliably predicted?
I. The temperature at the base of a 10-kilometer well will be sufficient for the production of electricity.
II. Drilling of wells deeper than 10 kilometers will be economically feasible.
III. Insufficient water is present to produce emotive phenomena.
7. Which of the following would be the most appropriate title for the passage?
问题1选项
A.alert readers to the existence of HDRs as an available energy source
B.document the challenges that have been surmounted in the effort to recover energy from HDRs
C.warn the users of coal and oil that HDRs are not an economically feasible alternative
D.encourage the use of new techniques for the recovery of energy from underground hot water and steam
E.urge consumers to demand quicker development of HDR resources for the production of energy
问题2选项
A.petrological research report focused on the history of temperature-depth records in the United States
B.congressional report urging the conservation of oil and natural gas resents in the United States
C.technical journal article concerned with the recoverability of newly identified energy sources
D.consumer report describing the extent and accessibility of remaining coal resources
E.pamphlet designed to introduce homeowners to the advantages of HDR space-heating systems
问题3选项
A.balance the economics of HDR energy retrieval against that of underground hot water or steam recovery systems
B.determine the amount of energy that will be used for space heating in the United States
C.provide comparisons between hot water and HDR energy sources in the United States
D.revise the estimates on the extent of remaining coal resources in the United States
E.estimate the total HDR resource base in United States
问题4选项
A.possibility that HDR’ s may be found in that area
B.existence of previous attempts to obtain oil or gas in that area
C.history of successful hot water or steam recovery efforts in that area
D.failure of inhabitants to conserve oil or gas reserves in that area
E.use of coal as a substitute for oil or gas in that area
问题5选项
A.sufficient permeability
B.artificial simulation
C.drilling of holes
D.construction of reservoirs
E.transfer of heat
问题6选项
A.I only
B.II only
C.I and II only
D.II and III only
E.I, II and III
问题7选项
A.Energy from Water Sources: The Feasibility of Commercial Systems
B.Geothermal Energy Retrieval: Volcanic Activity and Hot Dry Rocks
C.Energy Underground: Geothermal Sources Give Way to Fossil Fuels
D.Tappable Energy for America’s Future: Hot Dry Rocks
E.High Geothermal Gradients in the United States: Myth or Reality?
第1题:E
第2题:C
第3题:E
第4题:B
第5题:E
第6题:A
第7题:D
第1题:
【选项释义】
The primary purpose of the passage is to _____. 这篇文章的主要目的是_____。
A. alert readers to the existence of HDRs as an available energy source A. 提醒读者注意HDR作为一种可用能源的存在
B. document the challenges that have been surmounted in the effort to recover energy from HDRs B. 记录在努力从HDR中回收能源的过程中所克服的挑战
C. warn the users of coal and oil that HDRs are not an economically feasible alternative C. 警告煤炭和石油的使用者,HDR不是一个经济上可行的替代品
D. encourage the use of new techniques for the recovery of energy from underground hot water and steam D. 鼓励使用从地下热水和蒸汽中回收能源的新技术
E. urge consumers to demand quicker development of HDR resources for the production of energy E. 敦促消费者去要求更快地开发用于能源生产的HDR资源
【考查点】主旨大意题
【解题思路】本文是一篇说明文。纵览全文,作者第一段提出了潜在的干热岩(HDR)储层,第二段提出了HDR回收系统的新概念,并在三、四段指出了一些开采上的限制性问题,如技术、经济因素以及地温梯度等,最后一段指出HDR的资源基础非常大。可知全文都在介绍HDR和其开采使用上的方法和困难,且根据文章最后一段“如果我们保守估计,只有大约0.2%是可回收的,我们发现的总量与美国所有剩余煤炭的估计资源基础相当。剩下的问题是,在更深、更热、成本更高的井和更浅、温度更低、成本更低的井的经济效益与最终产品、电力和/或热量的价值之间进行平衡。”可推知文章告诉读者HDR能创造巨大价值,但在其开发和经济上的平衡上有一定的困难,故我们要去解决这些问题从而使HDR能被使用起来,故E选项正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项只在第一段提到,概括范围小,不能用于总结全文;
B选项在中间段落提到,但篇幅小,不能用于总结全文;
C选项,文章最后一段提到:如果我们保守估计,只有大约0.2%是可回收的,我们发现的总量与美国所有剩余煤炭的估计资源基础相当。可知HDR对于煤炭和石油来说是一个经济上可行的替代品,属于曲解原文;
D选项,文章第一段提到:地壳内岩石中的能量是一种几乎无限的能源,但直到最近,商业回收还仅限于地下热水和/或蒸汽回收系统。可知作者对商业回收还仅限于地下热水和/或蒸汽回收系统是不满的,更不用说去倡导使用了,属于曲解原文。
第2题:
【选项释义】
The passage would be most likely to appear in a _____. 这篇文章最有可能出现在_____。
A. petrological research report focused on the history of temperature-depth records in the United States A. 侧重于美国温度-深度记录历史的岩石学研究报告
B. congressional report urging the conservation of oil and natural gas resents in the United States B. 敦促保护美国石油和天然气资源的国会报告
C. technical journal article concerned with the recoverability of newly identified energy sources C. 关于新发现能源的可回收性的技术期刊文章
D. consumer report describing the extent and accessibility of remaining coal resources D. 描述剩余煤炭资源的范围和可及性的消费者报告
E. pamphlet designed to introduce homeowners to the advantages of HDR space-heating systems E. 旨在向房主介绍HDR空间加热系统优势的小册子
【考查点】推理判断题
【解题思路】本文旨在提醒读者HDR可作为可利用能源,并列举了在从HDRs中恢复能源的努力中所克服的挑战,所以,这篇文章可能出现在C项“关于新发现能源的可回收性的技术期刊”上。
【干扰项排除】A、B、D、E选项不符合文章主旨,且不能根据文中信息推理出来。
第3题:
【选项释义】
According to passage, an average geothermal gradient of 22°C per kilometer of depth can be used to _____. 根据文章,每公里深度的平均地热梯度为22℃,可用于_____。
A. balance the economics of HDR energy retrieval against that of underground hot water or steam recovery systems A. 平衡HDR能量回收与地下热水或蒸汽回收系统的经济性
B. determine the amount of energy that will be used for space heating in the United States B. 确定在美国用于空间供暖的能源量
C. provide comparisons between hot water and HDR energy sources in the United States C. 对美国的热水和HDR能源进行比较
D. revise the estimates on the extent of remaining coal resources in the United States D. 修改对美国剩余煤炭资源范围的估计
E. estimate the total HDR resource base in United States E. 估计美国的HDR资源总量
【考查点】推理判断题
【解题思路】根据题干关键词average geothermal gradient of 22°C per kilometer of depth定位至最后一段一、二句:Indications are that the HDR resource base is very large. If an average geothermal temperature gradient of 22°C per kilometer of depth is used, a staggering 13,000,000 quadrillion B. T. U.’s of total energy are calculated to be contained in crustal rock to a ten-kilometer depth in the United States.(有迹象表明,高比率医疗资源基数非常大。如果按照每公里深度22°C的平均地温梯度来计算,那么在美国10公里深处的地壳岩石中所含的总能量将达到惊人的130万万亿热计量单位。)可推知每公里深度的平均地热梯度为22℃,可用于估计美国的HDR资源总量,故E项符合文意。
【干扰项排除】A、B、C、D选项不能根据文中信息推理出来。
第4题:
【选项释义】
It can be inferred from the passage that the availability of temperature-depth records for any specific areas in the United States depends primarily on the _____. 从这文章中可以推断出,美国任何特定地区的温度-深度记录的可用性主要取决于_____。
A. possibility that HDR’s may be found in that area A. 在该地区可能发现HDR的可能性
B. existence of previous attempts to obtain oil or gas in that area B. 以前在该地区是否有获取石油或天然气的尝试
C. history of successful hot water or steam recovery efforts in that area C. 该地区的热水或蒸汽回收工作的成功历史
D. failure of inhabitants to conserve oil or gas reserves in that area D. 居民在该地区保护石油或天然气储备的失败
E. use of coal as a substitute for oil or gas in that area E. 在该地区使用煤炭作为石油或天然气的替代物
【考查点】推理判断题
【解题思路】根据题干定位到第四段第二句:Temperature gradient maps generated from oil and gas well temperature depth records kept by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists suggest that tappable high-temperature gradients are distributed all across the United States(由美国石油地质学家协会保存的油气井温度-深度记录生成的温度梯度图表明可开发的高温梯度分布在美国各地)。可推知该地区有保存的油气井温度-深度记录生成的温度梯度图,则代表美国石油地质学家在该地区做过获取石油或天然气的尝试,因此B选项符合文意。
【干扰项排除】A、C、D、E选项不能根据文中信息推理出来。
第5题:
【选项释义】
According to the passage, in all HDR recovery systems fluid will be necessary in order to allow _____. 根据这段话,在所有的HDR回收系统中,为了使_____,液体将是必要的。
A. sufficient permeability A. 足够的渗透性
B. artificial simulation B. 人工模拟
C. drilling of holes C. 钻孔
D. construction of reservoirs D. 储层的建设
E. transfer of heat E. 热量传递
【考查点】事实细节题
【解题思路】由题干关键词fluid定位至第二段第二句:In all attempts to retrieve energy from HDR’s, artificial stimulation will be required to create either sufficient permeability or bounded flow paths to facilitate the removal of heat by circulation of a fluid over the surface of the rock(在所有试图从HDR中回收能量的尝试中,都需要人工增产来创造足够的渗透性或有边界的流动路径,以便通过岩石表面的流体循环来清除热量),由此可知,流体是用来散除热量的,故选E项。
【干扰项排除】A、B、C、D选项不符合原文信息,属于曲解原文。
第6题:
【选项释义】
According to the passage, if the average geothermal gradient in an area 22°C per kilometer of depth, which of the following can be reliably predicted? 根据这段话,如果一个地区的平均地热梯度为每千米深度22℃,那么以下哪项可以可靠地预测?
I. The temperature at the base of a 10-kilometer well will be sufficient for the production of electricity. I. 10公里井底的温度将足够用于生产电力。
II. Drilling of wells deeper than 10 kilometers will be economically feasible. II. 在经济上,钻探超过10公里深的井将是可行的。
III. Insufficient water is present to produce emotive phenomena. III. 没有足够的水来产生情绪化的现象。
A. I only A. 只有I
B. II only B. 只有II
C. I and II only C. 只有I和II
D. II and III only D. 仅限II和III
E. I, II and III E. I、II和III
【考查点】推理判断题
【解题思路】根据题干关键词定位至第五段。这一段讲HDR的resource base(资源储量)非常大,然后用22℃的情况对能源进行估计(说明能源很多)。最后一句说,remaining problem剩下的问题是如何平衡深、热、高成本井和浅、冷、低成本井的经济效益,以及最终产品、电或热的价值。再看选项:I根据这段内容,言下之意energy充足,发电完全可能(剩下唯一需要考虑的是投入成本),故正确。II因为还有投入成本需要考虑,当然不是economically feasible,不对。III这一段没提到,直接排除。因此,答案选A项。
【干扰项排除】B、C、D、E选项根据解析可知属于曲解原文。
第7题:
【选项释义】
Which of the following would be the most appropriate title for the passage? 以下哪项是这段话最合适的标题?
A. Energy from Water Sources: The Feasibility of Commercial Systems A. 来自水源的能源:商业系统的可行性
B. Geothermal Energy Retrieval: Volcanic Activity and Hot Dry Rocks B. 地热能源的回收:火山活动和热干岩
C. Energy Underground: Geothermal Sources Give Way to Fossil Fuels C. 地下的能源:地热资源让位于化石燃料
D. Tappable Energy for America’s Future: Hot Dry Rocks D. 美国未来的可利用能源:热干岩
E. High Geothermal Gradients in the United States: Myth or Reality? E. 美国的高地热梯度:神话还是现实?
【考查点】主旨大意题
【解题思路】本文讲述了HDR能源在美国的发现及应用前景,通篇的关键词为HDR。故D项最适合做文章的标题。
【干扰项排除】A、B、C、E不符合文章主旨内容,故不能用作标题。