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 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 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 at a time of a global shift in thought.

　　26.【题干】The word "plummeting" (Line 3, Para 2) is closest in meaning to_____.

　　【选项】

　　A.stabilizing

　　B.changing

　　C.falling

　　D.rising

　　【答案】C

　　【解析】这是一道词义句意题，要想知道plummeting 的意思，首先要回到原文找线索，即plummeting所在的句子以及上下句，由原文可知，plummeting所在句子是在说现在例如风能和太阳能这样的可再生资源的价格的问题，plummeting是修饰可再生资源的价格的，接着二段最后一句就在用具体数字来证明可再生资源的成本在下降，如太阳能成本下降了百分之八十，风能也降到三分之一，由此可知，可再生资源的成本在下降，plummeting的含义是下降的意思。所以选择C falling.下载考研万题库 观看逐题权威视频解析

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　　27.【题干】According to Paragraph 3,the use of renewable energy in America______.

　　【选项】

　　A.is progressing notably

　　B.is as extensive as in Europe

　　C.faces many challenges

　　D.has proved to be impractical

　　【答案】A

　　【解析】这是一道具体细节题，根据题干关键词定位至第三段第三句及第四句，意思是“在中国和欧洲等国家已经领先时，美国也在见证着巨大的改变。根据美国能源信息局报道，三月份，美国首次使用风能和太阳能产生了超过百分之十以上的能源。”这足以说明在美国，可再生能源的使用正在取得显著地进步。所以答案是A.下载考研万题库 观看逐题权威视频解析

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　　28.【题干】It can be learned that in Iowa,_____.

　　【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

　　【答案】A

　　【解析】这是一道细节推断题，根据题干关键词定位至第四段第三句，在爱荷华州，风力涡轮机点缀着这个州并提供了此州百分之三十六的电能，并且还吸引了像微软这样的科技巨头公司。因此可判断，在爱荷华州，风能是一种广泛使用的能源。所以答案是A.下载考研万题库 观看逐题权威视频解析

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　　29.【题干】Which of the following is true about clean energy according to Paragraphs 5&6?

　　【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

　　【答案】C

　　【解析】这是一道是非细节题，根据题干给出的段落位置，5-6两段和主题词clean energy，回到原文的第5-6段，这两段都不长，第五段出现了But后讲到电池容量的提升a boost in the storage，与A选项不符，并不是因果关系，故排除;B选项说道广泛用在制造业也不符合原文第六段第一句;而D选项和原文第六段最后一句是语义相反的，故也排除;正确选项C是和这句话语义一致的，也是和全文主题一致的，故为正确答案。下载考研万题库 观看逐题权威视频解析

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　　30.【题干】It can be inferred from the last paragraph that renewable energy_____.

　　【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 with regard to its cost

　　【答案】C

　　【解析】这是一道细节推断题，题干问“根据最后一段可以推断出来可再生能源怎么了”，回到原文最后一段第一句就表明尽管还有很长一段路要走，可再生能源发展的趋势在增强。后面也提到改变的节奏在加快，对slowing气候变化有meaningful effect，所以可以看出B选项accelerate...是不对的，D选项中提到的价格不具有竞争力不在本段当中，也应排除。剩下的两个选项都提到了美国，就应该重点看最后一句，最后一句提到华盛顿政府做或不做什么都may mean less and less...所以可以看出美国不应该是和其他国家更近，排除A，所以选C，美国不是真正支持可再生能源的。下载考研万题库 观看逐题权威视频解析

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