2018全国英语等级考试二级阅读试题（11）

　　With petroleum reserves (石油储量) decreasing，the search is on to replace gas with a cleaner，greener alternative.Though much eco-talk has centered on biofuels from corn and soybeans，the biofuel that looks more likely to replace petroleum comes from a most unlikely source：algae (藻类).

　　Algae，like corn，soybeans，and other crops，grow via photosynthesis (光合作用) and can be processed into fuel oil.However，they yield 30 times more energy than land crops such as soybeans，according to the U.S.Department of Energy.Many algae species also can grow in saltwater and polluted water-while corn and soy require arable land and fresh water that will be in short supply as the world's population balloons.

　　“If you replaced all the diesel (柴油) in the U.S.with soy biodiesel，it would take half the land mass of the U.S.to grow those soybeans，”says Matt Caspari，chief executive of Aurora Biofuels，a Berkeley，Calif.-based private firm that specializes in algae oil technology.On the other hand，the Energy Department says that if algae fuel replaced all the petroleum fuel in the United States，it would require 15,000 square miles，which is a few thousand miles larger that Maryland (12,407 square miles)，the 42nd state in land area.

　　Another bonus：Because algae can be grown just about anywhere in a closed space，they 're being tested at several power plants across the nation as a carbon absorber.Smokestack emissions (烟囱排放物) can be pumped directly into the ponds，feeding the algae while keeping greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.

　　Although processing technology for algae fuel—also known as “oilgae” in some environmentalist circles—is improving，it's still years away from reaching your local gas pump.“It's just a question of cost，because no large-scale facilities have been built yet，” Caspari says.

　　小题1:The underlined word “yield” in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by “________”.A.controlB.require

　　C.produceD.grow

　　小题2:Compared with corn and soybeans，algae ________.A.may pollute water and soil

　　B.can grow in poor conditions

　　C.provide much less energy

　　D.need more special care

　　小题3:According to Paragraph 3，one of the advantages of algae fuel is that ________.A.it can be used more widely

　　B.it is more easy to produce

　　C.it needs much less land

　　D.it costs much less money

　　小题4:What do we learn about algae from Paragraph 4?A.Algae help protect the environment.

　　B.People can grow algae anywhere.

　　C.Fish can get more oxygen from algae.

　　D.Algae produce less waste.

　　参考答案及解析

　　小题1:C

　　小题2:B

　　小题3:C

　　小题4:A

　　小题1:C　[词义理解题。此处根据这句话的意思可以推断出它们产生的能量比大豆之类的农作物要多30倍。因此答案C正确。]

　　小题2:答案　B　[细节推断题。根据第二段第三句的can grow in saltwater and polluted water和require arable land and fresh water可知，玉米和大豆需要有良好的环境才能生长，而藻类在较差的环境下也能够生长。]

　　小题3:答案　C　[细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句On the other hand...the 42nd state in land area可知，如果藻类燃料全部代替美国的石油燃料，所需土地比马里兰州的面积多一些，而该州面积仅居全美国第42位。联系本段第一句的it would take half the land mass of the U.S. to grow those soybeans可知，生产藻类燃料仅需很少的土地。]

　　小题4:答案　A　[推理判断题。根据第四段第二句Smokestack emissions can...of the atmosphere 可知，烟囱排放物能够直接排入养殖着藻类的池塘，既向藻类提供了养料，又防止了温室气体污染大气。可见，藻类对保护环境有利。]