Comprehension .- Intermediate [ 25 ]

[ 25 ] Comprehension . 

[  25  ] Intermediate 

Read the following , then answer the questions below :

                      Scientists have recently turned their attention to natural sources of energy : the sun , the sea , the wind and the springs . Of these the sun seems the most promising source for the future . Houses have already been built which are heated entirely by solar energy . Experiments are being carried out at the University of Arizona on ways of storing solar energy on a large scale . To satisfy a large part of the energy needs a country like America , huge power stations covering 5.000 square miles would have to be built . While experiments in generating energy from the sea and the wind are interesting neither can be considered an obvious solution to a future energy crisis : the first because a lot of energy is needed to generate energy from the sea and the second because the amount of energy generated from wind would satisfy only a small percentage of a nation’s needs .

                    Another source of energy , which could be more widely used is that generated by hot water or steam from under the earth [ it is called geothermal energy ] . This form of energy is already being used in New Zealand , Iceland , Russia and very successfully in Italy, where it generates a quarter of the nation’s electricity .

                 Many scientists are optimistic that new ways of generating large amounts of energy will be successfully developed , but at the same time they fear the consequences . If the world population goes on increasing a its present rate , we may in fifty years’ time be burning up so much energy that we would damage the earth’s atmosphere . By raising the temperature of the atmosphere , we could melt the Arctic and Antarctic ice-caps and change the pattern of vegetable and animal life throughout the world – a frightening possibility .

A-] Answer the following questions :

1-] What are the natural sources of energy ?

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2-] What is the University of Arizona doing ?

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3-] Why is energy from the sea and the wind can be a solution to a future energy crisis ?

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4-] In what way is burning up so much energy dangerous ?

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B-] Choose the correct answer :

1-] The frightening possibility is

A-] the increase in generating energy . B-] the solar energy is not enough .             C-] changing the pattern of vegetable and animal life in the world .                       D-] generating geothermal energy .

2-] The increase in the world population leads to

A-] consumption of so much energy . B-] generating large amounts of energy .

C-] failure to store solar energy . D-] non-pollution of the environment .

3-] One of the disadvantages of solar energy is

A-] the need to generate it during daylight . B-] storing it on a large scale .

C-] the need to huge power stations covering large areas . D-] it does not pollute the environment .