Reading Comprehension: Energy for the Future

Reading Comprehension: Energy for the Future

Read each slide and answer the questions. Click on the pictures in each question to see the text.

Solar Energy

Solar energy comes from the sun. There are two types: active solar energy and passive solar energy.

Multiple Choice

Where does solar energy come from?

• the sun

• the moon

• water

• volcanoes

Active Solar Energy

Active solar energy uses special technology to capture the sun's rays. The two types are photovoltaic cells (PV cells or solar cells) and mirrors. They focus sunlight in a specific spot to generate electricity. PV cells last for a long time and are efficient. 

Multiple Choice

Why is there an apostrophe in the word "sun's" in this paragraph?

• because there is more than one sun

• because the rays come from the sun, so the apostrophe is showing possession

• because "sun's" is a contraction of "sun" and "is"

Multiple Select

What are the TWO (2) types of special technology used to capture the sun's rays? Choose TWO (2) answers!

• photovoltaic cells (PV cells or solar cells)

• generate electricity

• mirrors

• efficient

Multiple Choice

What does "generate" mean in this paragraph?

• make, produce, or create

• rays

• prevent

• technology

Passive Solar Energy

Passive solar energy does not use special equipment. Energy comes from natural sunlight. One example is building a house so that it faces the sun more often. More sun means more heat. 

Multiple Choice

How can we build a house to use passive solar energy?

• Build it with bricks.

• Build it in a dark, shady spot.

• Build it so that it faces the sun more often.

• Build it with no windows or doors.

Multiple Choice

Why would you want to build a house that faces the sun more often?

• to make the air conditioner work better

• to keep it from flooding

• to get more heat from the sun

• to use more equipment

Can we use only solar power?

Solar power cannot be used as the only power source in a community. It can be expensive to install PV cells or build structures that use passive solar technology. 

Also, it is difficult to say when we will get sunshine. The sunlight we get depends on where we live, the season and the time of the day. 

Multiple Choice

What is the answer to the question in the heading of this section?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Based on what you read earlier, what are PV cells? Go back to slide #4 if you need to!

• pioneer valley cells

• purple violet cells

• very pretty cells

• photovoltaic cells

Wind Power

Throughout history, people have used the wind's energy. Ancient Egyptians made boats powered by the wind more than 5,000 years ago. In 200 B.C., people used windmills to grind grain in the Middle East and pump water in China. 

Multiple Choice

Using context clues, what does the word "Ancient" mean in this paragraph?

• a type of boat

• from a very long time ago

• the Middle East

• power

Multiple Choice

Ancient Egyptians made boats more than 5,000 years ago. What were the boats powered by?

• large gasoline engines

• water

• bicycles

• the wind

Multiple Select

What did people use windmills for in 200 B.C.? Choose TWO (2) answers!

• to grind grain

• to style their hair

• to order food

• to pump water

Wind Power Today

Today, we use wind turbines. Turbines are towers with two or three blades at the top. The wind turns the blades. The blades turn a generator inside the tower. The generator creates electricity. Turbines do not release pollutants into the air. 

Groups of wind turbines are known as wind farms. Wind farms can be found near farmland, on mountains, and even in the ocean. 

Multiple Choice

According to this paragraph, what happens FIRST?

• The wind turns the blades.

• The blades turn a generator inside the tower.

• The generator creates electricity.

• We use the electricity from the generator.

Multiple Choice

How many pollutants do wind turbines release into the air?

• millions per minute

• only a few

• none

• 1,000

Multiple Choice

What do we call groups of wind turbines?

• wind farms

• wind stores

• wind friends

• wind factories

Can we use only wind power?

If winds are steady, we get cheap electricity. But wind speed depends on the location, time of day and weather. So we cannot rely on it fully. Also, wind turbines are dangerous for bats and birds. They can crash into them.

Multiple Choice

What is the answer to the question in the heading of this paragraph?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Select

What does wind speed depend on? Choose THREE (3) correct answers.

• location

• time of day

• weather

• wind turbines

Multiple Select

Choose TWO (2) animals that wind turbines are dangerous for.

• chimpanzees

• bats

• elephants

• birds

Other Power Sources

There are many other sources of renewable energy we can use. Geothermal energy uses hot water from underground to heat houses. We can also get energy by burning biomass, which is material that comes from plants or animals. Finally, we can get inexpensive energy from hydroelectric power plants. Water is forced through tunnels in large dams to turn huge turbines and generate electricity.

Multiple Select

Which THREE (3) types of renewable energy are mentioned in this paragraph? Choose THREE (3) answers!

• geothermal

• biomass

• hydroelectric

• nuclear

Energy for the Future

All of these renewable energy technologies are clean sources of energy that are much better for the environment than nonrenewable energy. Renewable energy will not run out. Ever. Other sources of energy are finite and will some day be gone. If we want to have electricity in the future, we must start creating more renewable energy technology today!

Multiple Choice

What is a benefit of renewable energy?

• It is much better for the environment than nonrenewable energy.

• It will not run out. Ever.

• Renewable energy will give us electricity long into the future.

• All of the above.