C. READING
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES
Fossil fuels are the cause of many problems. They create terrible pollution which leads to global warming. Many wars are fought to control oil and gas fields. Fossil fuels are also nonrenewable resources. They will be exhausted someday. Societies around the world suffer when fuel shortages occur.
Can solar power completely replace fossil fuels? Solar power is clean, safe, and inexpensive. But the idea of replacing fossil fuels with solar power alone is totally unrealistic. Current solar cell technology is not advanced enough. Solar cells are not dependable. They are useless in cloudy and rainy weather as well as at night. Also, they take up too much space. Then they fail to produce sufficient amounts of power.
The soft energy path is a good alternative to fossil fuel reliance. The soft energy path is an energy conservation plan. It is an alternative to the hard energy path. Hard energy is defined as harmful and nonrenewable. Fossil fuels and nuclear power are included. On the other hand, soft energy is defined as renewable and environmentally safe energy. Solar and wind power are soft energy. Biofuel and geothermal energy are also included.
There are many proponents of the soft energy path. They believe the solution lies in new energy production methods. The first step is to practice careful conservation in our use of hard energy technologies. Then, many new soft energy sources will be phased into use as soft energy technology improves.
Some critics claim this will damage all energy production. They feel fossil fuels are important. They want to control as much oil production as possible. They think fossil fuel consumption is good for industry.
Countries such as Canada and Sweden are taking the soft energy path. Canada is currently lessening its reliance on gasoline. In the next few years, all gasoline will contain a percentage of biofuel. Sweden has committed to decrease its reliance on oil by 40%. It says it can do this before the year 2020.
51. According to the passage, which of the following is true about the soft energy path?
A. It is an energy conservation plan.
B. It is harmful and nonrenewable fuel.
C. It is useless in cloudy and rainy weather.
D. It is biofuel and geothermal energy.
52. According to paragraph 6, all of the following are true EXCEPT:
A. The soft energy path has been adopted by Canada and Sweden.
B. Canada is trying to use less gasoline every year.
C. All gasoline in Canada will contain some biofuel in a few years.
D. Sweden will cut down on the consumption of oil by 90% in the future.
53. The word exhausted in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. wasted
B. used up
C. worn out
D. burned
54. In stating that many soft energy sources will be phased into use, the author means that they will
A. be an alternative to the hard energy path
B. be used gradually
C. be adopted by Sweden and Canada
D. damage all energy production
