第一段
①While 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. ②The move to renewables is picking up momentum around the world：They now account for more than half of new power sources going on line.
单词&词组
fossil fuel 化石燃料
roughly ad. 粗略地，大致上
renewable a. 可再生的，可恢复的
momentum n. 势头
account for （数量、比例上）占
go on line 在运转，在运行
本段翻译
尽管化石燃料——煤炭、石油、天然气——仍约占世界能源总供应量的85%，但未来属于风能、太阳能等可再生能源这一点要比以往任何时候都更明朗。向可再生能源转型正在全球范围内升温：目前，可再生能源占据正在使用的新能源的一半以上。
第二段
①Some growth stems from a commitment by governments and farsighted businesses to fund cleaner energy sources.②But increasingly the story is about the plummeting prices of renewables，especially wind and solar.③The 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.
单词&词组
stem from 出自，来源于
commitment n. 承诺
farsighted a. 有远见的
plummeting a. 直线下降的，暴跌的
solar panel 太阳能电池板
wind turbine 风力涡轮机
本段翻译
部分增长源于政府以及有远见的企业对更清洁能源承诺的资金支持。不过越来越多的说法是，源于可再生能源的价格暴跌，尤其是风能和太阳能。过去8年间，太阳能电板的成本下降了80%，风力涡轮机的成本下降了近三分之一。
第三段
①In many parts of the world renewable energy is already a principal energy source.②In Scotland，for example，wind turbines provide enough electricity to power 95 percent of homes.③While the rest of the world takes the lead，notably China and Europe，the United States is also seeing a remarkable shift.④In 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.
单词&词组
principal a. 最重要的，主要的
take the lead 取得领先地位
notably ad. 尤其是，特别地
remarkable a. 显著的
本段翻译
在世界很多地区，可再生能源已成为主要能源。比如，在苏格兰，风力涡轮机能为95%的家庭提供充足的电力。在其他国家领先之际，尤其是中国和欧洲，美国也迎来了显著的转变。据美国能源情报署报道，3月美国风能、太阳能发电比重首次超过10%。
第四段
①President Trump has underlined fossil fuels-especially coal-as the path to economic growth.②In a recent speech in Iowa，he dismissed wind power as an unreliable energy source.③But 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.
单词&词组
economic growth 经济增长；经济成长
unreliable 不可靠的 ; 不能信赖的
energy source 能量来源
本段翻译
特朗普总统强调化石燃料——尤其煤炭——作为经济发展的路径。在爱荷华州的最近一次演讲中，他将风能摒弃为不可靠的能源。但这个说法在爱荷华州并不怎么被群众买账，该州的风力涡轮机遍布田野并且供应该州36%的发电量——微软等技术巨擘也被这里能为其数据中心供电的清洁能源的易获得性吸引。
第五段
①The question “ what happens when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine?” has provided a quick put-down for skeptics.②But a boost in the storage capacity of batteries is making their ability to keep power flowing around the clock more likely.
单词&词组
put-down n. 贬损的话，奚落的话
skeptic n. 持怀疑态度的人
advance n. 进步，进展
本段翻译
虽说怀疑论者机智地以“如果不刮风、不出太阳，会发生什么?”这一问话予以奚落，但是，电池存储容量的提升正使其更有可能能够昼夜不停地持续供电。
第六段
①The advance is driven in part by vehicle manufacturers，who are placing big bets on battery-powered electric vehicles.
②Although electric cars are still a rarity on roads now, this massive investment could change the picture rapidly in coming years.
单词&词组
be a rarity 极为罕见
本段翻译
这一进展一定程度上是由汽车制造商推动的，他们在电池供电的电动汽车上下了大赌注。尽管现在道路行驶中电动汽车依然鲜见，但是这笔巨额投资可能会在未来几年迅速改变这一局面。
第七段
①While there’s a long way to go，the trend lines for renewables are spiking.
②The pace of change in energy sources appears to be speeding up—perhaps just in time to have a meaningful effect in slowing climate change.
③What Washington does-or doesn’t do-to promote alternative energy may mean less and less at a time of a global shift in thought.
单词&词组
trend line 趋势线
meaningful a. 有意义的，重要的
speed up 加速
alternative energy 替代能源
本段翻译
尽管长路漫漫，但是可再生能源的趋势线在快速上扬。能源的变化速度似乎在加快——或许正好能够给减缓气候变化带来积极影响。在全球思想转型之际，无论华盛顿在推动可替代性能源中做什么或不做什么，其影响将愈来愈小。
五道题
26.The word “plummeting”(Line 2，Para.2)is closest in meaning to_______
[A]stabilizing
[B]changing
[C]falling
[D]rising
27.According to Paragraph 3，the use of renewable energy in America ______ .
[A]is progressing notably
[B]is as extensive as in Europe
[C]faces many challenges
[D]has proved to be impractical
28.It can be learned that in Iowa , _______ .
[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
29.Which of the following is true about clean energy according to Paragraphs 5&6?
[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.
30.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that renewable energy_______
[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 enough with regard to its cost
参考答案
CAACC
答案解析
26、将被考词所在句(②句) 与其前后文(①③句) 结合可知：一、②句借But表明与①句间转折关联，即②句意在转承①句“可再生能源发展的部分原因：政府及有远见企业所承诺的资金支持”指出“更为主要的原因：的价格， 尤其是风能和太阳能”；二、③句借solar panels、windturbines照应②句renewables， especially wind and solar形成例证关联， 即， ③句以“太阳能电板、风力涡轮机成本分别下降80%、近三分之一”例证②句“的价格”。由此不难得知plummeting意指“正在下降的， 正在降低的”，即[C]正确。
27、第三段③句指出：在其他国家(尤其中国、欧洲)领先之际，美国也迎来显著改变；④句进而解释：3月美国风能、太阳能发电占比首次超过10%。由此可见，美国可再生能源的应用也正在取得显著进步，[A]正确。
28、根据in Iowa可直接定位至第四段②③句。其中②句指出特朗普在爱荷华州直接将风能摒弃为不靠谱能源，③句前半句转而指出这一说法在爱荷华州并不被买账，后半句随即呈现该州实际情况：风力涡轮机遍布田野并且供应该州36%的发电量。由此可见，[A]正确。
29、第五段②句指出“电池存储容量的提升使得连续不断供电变得更为可能”，意即“可再生能源有望实现持续供应”，故[C]正确。
30、文末句“在全球思想转型之际，无论华盛顿(美国政府代称)在推动可替代能源(此处代指可再生能源)中做什么或不做什么，其对全球可再生能源不可阻挡强劲之势的影响力愈来愈小”实际暗藏文意为“不管美国政府鼓励不鼓励可再生能源发展，其全球发展势头都势不可挡”，言外之意亦即“美国政府并未真正鼓励可再生能源发展”，故[C]正确。
