1、Unit 5 What an adventure.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 effe
2、cts 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 environm
3、ent. 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. S
4、ome 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
5、 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
6、 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
7、 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。1Which of the following best explains “hazardous” underlined in paragraph 2?AInexpensive.BDangerous.CIneffective.DAbnormal.解析：词义猜测题。根据画线词前的“However, some poisonous materials and chemicals are
8、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：B2What influence can large solar power plants have on the locations?APolluting the ground water.BProtecting the habitats
9、 of plants and animals.CDamaging the local natural balance.DAttracting 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：C3What does the last
10、 paragraph mainly tell us?ADifferent areas receive different amount of solar energy.BHow to convert solar energy into useful energy.CThe relationship between solar energy collection and the sunlight.DSome 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
11、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
12、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.七选五For the first time in a hundred years Japans population is declining. In the past 5 years it went down by 1 million people. Currently, there are 127 million people living in Japan. _1_Japan has had one of the lowest birth rate
13、s in the world for many years. Although the government has tried to persuade Japanese women to have more children, this has had little effect. On average, every Japanese woman has 1.4 babies. _2_ Population experts have stated that the country needs a birth rate of at least 1.8 to stop population de
14、cline._3_ Because of the strict law, practically few can come to the country to live there. The government has been thinking about adjusting Japanese immigration rules, but this is not popular among the people._4_ Japans growing population has been a driving force behind its economy. In the future,
15、there will be fewer people in the workforce and they will have to support millions of older citizens and pay for their pensions. The costs of health care will also increase as the population gets older.Population decrease is not evenly distributed across the country. While large cities like Tokyo ar
16、e experiencing strong growth, people are leaving the rural, remote areas of the country. _5_AAnother reason for Japans population decrease is immigration.BEspecially younger workers are moving away, leaving the older population behind.CPopulation decrease in Japan will have a great influence on its
17、future development.DIn addition, women are marrying at a later age and do not want to give up their jobs.EExpensive living costs for many Japanese are also leading to a decreasing population.FAccording to UN reports, Japan will lose a third of its population by the end of the century.GJapans low bir
18、th rate means that the country will face financial problems in the next decades.本文是一篇说明文，文章介绍了日本人口衰减趋势、原因、所带来的经济问题以及人口衰减的区域分布情况。1F解析：选项前两句分别说明了日本过去五年人口衰减的情况和现在的人口数，本选项承接前两句说明日本人口未来的衰减趋势，所以选用F选项。2D解析：本选项承接上一句说明日本生育率低的另一个原因女性结婚迟并且不想放弃工作，所以选用D选项。3A解析：本段承接上一段，主要说明了日本人口衰减的另一个原因其移民政策，所以选用A选项。4G解析：由本段的关键信息词“economy”“pensions”和“The costs of health care”可知本段主要说明了日本人口衰减趋势所带来的经济问题，所以选用G选项。5B解析：本段说明日本偏远地区人口衰减情况偏远地区年轻工人外流，留下老人，所以此处选用B选项。