Ⅰ.阅读理解
Solar energy systems & power plants do not produce air pollution, water pollution, or greenhouse gases. Using solar energy can have a positive, indirect effect on the environment, when solar energy replaces or reduces the use of other energy sources that have larger effects on the environment.
However, some poisonous materials and chemicals are used to make the photovoltaic (光电池的) cells that convert sunlight into electricity. Some solar thermal (保热的) systems use potentially hazardous liquids to transfer heat. Leaks of these materials could be harmful to the environment. US environmental laws regulate the use and settlement of these types of materials.
As with any type of power plant, large solar power plants can affect the environment near their locations. The placement of the power plant may have longterm effects on the habitats of native plants and animals. Some solar power plants may require water for cleaning solar collectors and concentrators or for cooling turbine generators. Using large volumes of ground water or surface water in some dry locations may affect the ecosystems that depend on these water resources. In addition, the beam of concentrated sunlight a solar power tower creates can kill birds and insects that fly into the beam.
The amount of solar energy that the earth receives each day is many times greater than the total amount of all energy that people consume each day. However, on the surface of the earth, solar energy is a variable and irregular energy source. The amount of sunlight and the intensity of sunlight varies by time of day and location. Weather and climate conditions affect the availability of sunlight daily and on a seasonal basis. The type and size of a solar energy collection and conversion system determines how much of the available solar energy we can convert into useful energy.
本文是一篇说明文，介绍了太阳能发电的潜在弊端以及影响太阳能收集量的几个因素。
1．Which of the following best explains “hazardous” underlined in paragraph 2?
A．Inexpensive. B．Dangerous.
C．Ineffective. D．Abnormal.
解析：词义猜测题。根据画线词前的“However, some poisonous materials and chemicals are used to make the photovoltaic (光电池的) cells that convert sunlight into electricity.”可知，然而，一些有毒的材料和化学物质被用来制造将阳光转化为电能的光伏电池，因此画线词所在句指的是一些太阳能保温系统使用潜在危险的液体来传递热量，由此可知画线词词义为“危险的”，故B项正确。
答案：B
2．What influence can large solar power plants have on the locations?
A．Polluting the ground water.
B．Protecting the habitats of plants and animals.
C．Damaging the local natural balance.
D．Attracting birds and insects to the area.
解析：细节理解题。根据第三段中的“The placement of the power plant may have longterm effects on the habitats of native plants and animals.”可知，大型太阳能发电厂的选址可能会对当地动植物的栖息地产生长期的影响，也就是会破坏当地自然平衡，故C项正确。
答案：C
3．What does the last paragraph mainly tell us?
A．Different areas receive different amount of solar energy.
B．How to convert solar energy into useful energy.
C．The relationship between solar energy collection and the sunlight.
D．Some factors that influence the amount of solar energy collection.
解析：主旨大意题。根据最后一段中的“However, on the surface of the earth, solar energy is a variable and irregular energy source. The amount of sunlight and the intensity of sunlight varies by time of day and location. Weather and climate conditions affect the availability of sunlight daily and on a seasonal basis.”可知，在地球表面，太阳能是一种可变的和不规则的能源，阳光的量和强度随着一天的时间和地点而变化，天气和气候条件影响每日和季节性的阳光供应，由此可知，本段主要介绍的是影响太阳能收集量的几个因素，故D项正确。
答案：D
