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 renewables is picking up momentum around the world: They now account for more than half of new power sources going on line.
Some growth stems from a commitment by governments and farsighted Business to fund cleaner energy sources. But increasingly the stories 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 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 electric 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 a time of a global shift in thought.
1.The word "plummeting"(Line 3,Para.2) is closest in meaning to（ ）.
2.According to Paragraph 3, the use of renewable energy in America （ ）.
3.It can be learned that in Iowa, （ ）.
4.Which of the following is true about clean energy according to Paragraphs 5&6?
5.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that renewable energy（ ）.
问题1选项
A.stabilizing
B.changing
C.falling
D.rising
问题2选项
A.is progressing notably
B.is as extensive as in Europe
C.faces many challenges
D.has proved to be impractical
问题3选项
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
问题4选项
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.
问题5选项
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
第1题:C
第2题:A
第3题:A
第4题:C
第5题:C
第1题:
【选项释义】
The word “plummeting” (Line 3, Para.2) is closest in meaning to _____. 单词“plummeting”（第2段第3行）的意思最接近_____。
A. stabilizing A. 稳定
B. changing B. 改变
C. falling C. 下降
D. rising D. 上升
【答案】C
【考查点】词义推测题。
【解题思路】第二段第二句提到关键词，下文中第三句解释到“在过去的八年里，太阳能电池板的成本下降了80%，风力涡轮机的成本下降了近三分之一”，可知the plummeting prices of renewables是说再生能源价格大幅下降。因此C选项“下降”符合题意。
【干扰项排除】
A、B、D选项不符合词义，属于曲解原文。
第2题:
【选项释义】
According to Paragraph 3, the use of renewable energy in America _____. 根据第三段，美国对可再生能源的使用_____。
A. is progressing notably A. 进展明显
B. is as extensive as in Europe B. 和欧洲一样广泛
C. faces many challenges C. 面临许多挑战
D. has proved to be impractical D. 已经被证明是不切实际的
【答案】A
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】定位到第三段三、四句“尽管世界上很多国家在再生能源利用方面处于领先地位，但是很明显中国、欧洲和美国（the United States）也在进行转变（a remarkable shift）；今年三月美国某机构的报道第一次指出风能和太阳能在所有能源中的使用率已经远远超过10%”，由此可知选项A符合原文。
【干扰项排除】
B、C、D选项原文没有提及，属于无中生有。
第3题:
【选项释义】
It can be learned that in Iowa, _____. 可以了解到，在爱荷华州，_____。
A. wind is a widely used energy source A. 风是一种广泛使用的能源
B. wind energy has replaced fossil fuels B. 风能已经取代了化石燃料
C. tech giants are investing in clean energy C. 科技巨头正在投资清洁能源
D. there is a shortage of clean energy supply D. 清洁能源供应短缺
【答案】A
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】定位到第四段第二、三句“在最近爱荷华州（Iowa）的一次演讲中，他认为风能是一种不可靠的能源。但这一信息在爱荷华州的许多人中并不受欢迎。在爱荷华州，风力涡轮机（wind turbines）遍布农田，提供了该州36%的发电量”，由此可知，选项A符合原文。
【干扰项排除】
B、C、D选项原文没有提及，属于无中生有。
第4题:
【选项释义】
Which of the following is true about clean energy according to Paragraphs 5&6? 根据第5段和第6段，关于清洁能源，下列哪一项是正确的？
A. Its application has boosted battery storage. A. 它的应用提高了电池的存储能力。
B. It is commonly used in car manufacturing. B. 它通常用于汽车制造。
C. Its continuous supply is becoming a reality. C. 它的持续供应正在成为现实。
D. Its sustainable exploitation will remain difficult. D. 可持续开发仍将是困难的。
【答案】C
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干定位到原文第五段第二句“电池存储量的提升使得能源可以昼夜使用”，因此可知，选项C符合原文。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“它的应用提高了电池的存储能力”，与原文第五段第二句提到的不一致，因果倒置了，属于曲解原文；
B选项“它通常用于汽车制造”，原文第六段第二句“电动汽车如今还是很少（a rarity）出现在道路上”可知清洁能源还未在汽车制造业普遍使用，该选项属于曲解原文；
D选项原文没有提及，属于无中生有。
第5题:
【选项释义】
It can be inferred from the last paragraph that renewable energy _____. 从最后一段可以推断，可再生能源_____。
A. will bring the US closer to other countries A. 会拉近美国与其他国家的距离
B. will accelerate global environmental change B. 会加速全球环境变化
C. is not really encouraged by the US government C. 美国政府不鼓励
D. is not competitive enough with regard to its cost D. 在成本方面不够有竞争力
【答案】C
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】定位到末段最后一句“在全球思想转变时期，华盛顿（Washington）对于新能源推广的行为越来越没有意义”，因此可知选项C正确。
【干扰项排除】
A、D选项原文没有提及，属于无中生有；
B选项“会加速全球环境变化”，与原文最后一段倒数第二句提到的“slowing climate change”不符，属于曲解原文。
【参考译文】
尽管化石燃料——煤炭、石油和天然气——仍占全球约85%的能源供应，但比以往任何时候都更清楚的是，未来属于风能和太阳能等可再生能源。全球转向可再生能源的势头正在增强：它们现在占到新能源的一半以上。
部分增长源于政府和有远见的企业对资助清洁能源的承诺。但有关可再生能源，尤其是风能和太阳能价格暴跌的报道也越来越多。在过去八年里，太阳能电池板的成本下降了80%，风力涡轮机的成本下降了近三分之一。
在世界许多地方，可再生能源已经成为主要能源。例如，在苏格兰，风力涡轮机提供的电力足以为95%的家庭供电。在世界其他地区，尤其是中国和欧洲率先使用可再生能源的同时，美国也在发生着显著的变化。据美国能源信息署报告，今年3月，风能和太阳能发电首次占到美国发电量的10%以上。
特朗普总统强调，化石燃料，尤其是煤炭，是经济增长的必由之路。最近在爱荷华州的一次演讲中，他将风能斥为不可靠的能源。但这一信息并没有得到爱荷华州许多人的欢迎，那里的风力涡轮机星罗地布，提供了该州36%的发电量，而像微软这样的科技巨头正被清洁能源的可用性所吸引，为他们的数据中心供电。
“风不吹、太阳不照的时候会发生什么？”这个问题让持怀疑态度的人提供了一个快速的反驳。但是，电池存储容量的提高使其更有可能全天候保持电力供应。
推动这一进步的部分原因是汽车制造商对电池驱动的电动汽车下了大赌注。虽然电动汽车现在在道路上还很罕见，但这种大规模投资可能会在未来几年迅速改变这一局面。
虽然还有很长的路要走，但可再生能源的趋势线正在飙升。能源变革的步伐似乎正在加快：或许，这正是对减缓气候变化产生重大影响的好时机。华盛顿在推广替代能源方面的作为或不作为，可能意味着全球思想转变的时间越来越短。
【出处】《基督科学箴言报》2017.6.26
