Debate over the use of Renewable energy
Ausubel of Rockefeller University in New York, US. says the key renewable energy sources, including sun, wind and biofuels, would all require vast 1 of land if developed up to large scale production 1 unlike nuclear power. That land would be far better left alone 2, he says. Renewables look attractive when they are quite 2 . But if we start producing renewable energy on a large scale, the fallout is going to be horrible. Instead, Ausubel argues 3 renewed development of nuclear.
Ausubel draws his conclusions by analysing the amount of energy renewables, natural gas and nuclear can produce in terms of power per square metre of land used3. Moreover, he claims that as renewable energy use increases, this measure of efficiency4 will 4 as the best land for wind, biofuels, and solar power gets used up.
Using biofuels to obtain the 5 amount of energy as a 1000 megawatt nuclear power plant would require 2500 square kilometres of farm 6 , Ausubel says. We should be sparing land for nature5, not using it as pasture for cars and trucks, he adds.
Solar power is much more efficient than biofuel in terms of the area of land 7 , but it would still require 150 square kilometres of photovoltaic cells to 8 the energy production of the 1000 MW nuclear plant. In another example, he says meeting the 2005 US electricity demand via wind power alone would need 780,000 square kilometres, an area the size of Texas.
However, several experts are highly critical 9 Ausubels conclusions. John Turner of the US governments National Renewable Energy Laboratory says that 10 the US got all of its power from solar energy, it would still need less than half the amount of land that has been paved over for highways. Further, it need not 11 additional land. The US could get a quarter of its energy just from covering rooftops of 12 buildings, he says.
According to Turner, the same dual use also applies to wind power6. The footprint for wind7 is only 5% of the land that it 13 . Farmers can still farm the land that the turbines are on8. Turner says looking solely at land use is an oversimplification of the 14 . Im not sure Id want to build one of these nuclear plants in Afghanistan9, but we could 15 put in wind and solar power, he adds.
词汇:
renewable adj. 可再生的
n. 可再生能源 photovoltaic adj. 光电的
rooftop n. 屋顶
biofuel n 生物燃料 footprint n. 足迹,影响区域
fallout n. 余波,结果 turbine n. 涡轮机
megawatt n. 兆瓦
pasture n. 牧场,牧地 Oversimplification n. 过于简单化
注释:
1. if developed up to large scale production:如果开发达到大规模的程度。 if developed up to large scale production = if developed up to large scale production
2.That land would be far better left alone:保留那一片土地远比使用它为好。 left alone 是别动它的意思。如:
Leave him alone. He can solve the problem himself.
3.Ausubel draws his conclusions by analysing the amount of energy renewables, natural gas and nuclear can produce in terms of power per square metre of land used:Ausubel 用每平方公尺土地与产生的能量的比率这一方法,对可再生能源、天然气和核电厂发出多少能量进行分析,从而得出他的结论。 renewables, natural gas and nuclear can produce in terms of power per square metre of land used 是定语从句,修饰 the amount of energy, 关系动词 that 省略。in terms of 是 按照,依据。如:
We cannot measure everything in term of money.
5.We should be sparing land for nature:我们应该将土地留给自然。spare 是免去,免遭。如:
Call him and you will spare a visit.
6.the same dual use also applies to wind power:同样的双重利用土地 也适用于风力发电
7.The footprint for wind:风力发电占用的土地。footprint 在此的意思是影响区。wind 实际上指的是风力发电。
8.Farmers can still farm the land that the turbines are on:农民在涡轮机占用的土地上仍然可以耕种。 Farmers can still farm the land that the turbines are on = Farmers can still farm the land on which the turbines are
9.Im not sure Id want to build one of these nuclear plants in Afghanistan:我确定不了我是否还想在阿富汗建立一个这样的核电厂。这是一种委婉的英语表达方式 ,其真正要表达的意思是:我不想在阿富汗建立一个这样的核电厂。
练习:
1.A) figures B) amounts C) numbers D) digits
2. A) small B) huge C) little D) vast
3. A) at B) over C) for D) against
4. A) expand B) minimize C) enlarge D) decrease
5. A) same B) similar C) alike D) identical
6. A) region B) site C) area D) land
7. A) leased B) cultivated C) used D) purchased
8. A) patch B) match C) catch D) fetch
9. A) in B) with C) of D) on
10. A) even if B) only if C) what if D) as if
11. A) lock up B) take up C) give up D) step up
12. A) towering B) interesting C) nicelooking D) existing
13. A) surrounds B) contains C) includes D) covers
14.A) issue B) stuff C) summary D) suggestion
15. A) doubtfully B) supposedly C) certainly D) honestly
国际英语资讯:UN chief deplores failure to implement UN resolution on Syria
国际英语资讯:30,000 civilians evacuate from Eastern Ghouta Saturday: state media
国际英语资讯:Palestine, UN launch 539 mln USD appeal to aid Palestinians
斯洛文尼亚总理辞职
国际英语资讯:Feature: Civilians evacute Syrias Eastern Ghouta after six-year siege
国际英语资讯:Syrias Assad visits frontline area in Eastern Ghouta
Me, in Ten Years 十年后的我
World Consumer Rights Day 消费者权益日
美国国防部长马蒂斯突访喀布尔
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: EU, Britain reach Brexit transition deal ahead of EUs spring summit
More Than A Family 胜似亲人
The Most Difficult Language to Learn 最难学的语言
英特使:刺杀前俄间谍行动绝非“普通犯罪”
国际英语资讯:Top U.S. commander pledges U.S. support for Israels security
White Day 白色情人节
首相: 神经毒剂袭击案“很可能”是俄罗斯所为
国内英语资讯:Vice premier calls for high-quality development in Chongqing
国际英语资讯:Global scientists give accolades to Hawkings accomplishments
国际英语资讯:Russians begin voting for presidential election
国际英语资讯:Feature: Fukushimas forgotten souls
库尔德武装誓言将成为土耳其军队的“恶梦”
前韩国总统李明博因腐败案接受问话
The Meaning of Women’s Day 妇女节的意义
Telling Lies 撒谎
国际英语资讯:Israeli PM blamed for seeking snap elections to survive corruption investigations
美司法部长开除联调局二把手麦凯布
国际英语资讯:Eurozone to unlock 5.7-bln-euro loan to Greece
国际英语资讯:Bulgaria, Austria call for better protection of EU borders
国际英语资讯:Qatar accuses UAE of repeated airspace violations
国际英语资讯:Roundup: Merkel narrowly re-elected as German chancellor for fourth term