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　　While fossil fuels-coal, oil, gas-still generate roughly 85 percent of the world’s energy supply, it's cleaner 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 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 such as Facebook, Microsoft, and Google 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 train 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

　　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

　　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

　　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.

　　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.

　　答案及解析：

　　26. 選C. falling

　　定位到文章的第二段，根據最后一句知道價格是在下降，所以對應的是falling。

　　27. 選A. is progressing notably

　　定位到第二段的倒數一二兩句，雖然世界其他地方處于領先位置，特別是中國和歐洲，美國見證了一個顯著的轉變。三月，風能和太陽能首次占比超過了美國所產能源的10%。可知美國是取得了顯著的進步。

　　28. 選A. wind is a widely used energy source

　　定位到第四段最后一句, 根據 where wind turbines dot the fields and provide 36 percent of the state’s electricity generation可知，風能在Iowa應用廣泛。

　　29. 選C. Its continuous supply is becoming a reality

　　第五段中But后面提到電池儲存容量的增加使得能量流動變得更加可能，第六段的最后一句可知，雖然電動汽車現在在路上很少見，但是這種大量的投資在接下來的幾年中可以很快改變這種情況。

　　30. 選C. is not really encouraged by the US government

　　根據題干renewable energy可以定位到出題點在最后一句話，且句中Washington可完美替換選項C中US government，所以選擇C。

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