Solar and Wind Energy R+Q

Which TWO of the following are CENTRAL ideas of the solar energy article?

• 1. Energy generated by solar grew by a third in 2015, more than for any other power source.

• 2. Some big businesses have made splashy announcements, including Apple's plan to spend $850 million on solar power.

• 3. Greenpeace says solar "could meet the world's energy demands many times over."

• 4. The biggest question is ultimately political: what countries are willing to pay now for an energy source that may be cheaper and will undoubtedly be cleaner in the long run.

Which of the following statements accurately represents the relationship between the article's CENTRAL ideas?

• Global output from photovoltaics, panels that convert light directly into electricity, has increased 40 percent every year for the past decade; thus, the industry is drawing almost half the funds committed to renewable energy.

• In the U.S., Congress reached a budget deal that extended tax credits for wind and solar power for five years; this is due to the fact that the solar credit had been set to expire at the end of 2016.

• Already, 43 of the 50 states have adopted renewable power goals; for example, California's target is 50 percent of power by 2020, up from about 20 percent now.

• Fossil fuel backers say photovoltaic power will never be a practical source because it can't work when the sun doesn't shine and because it's too expensive; for example, solar power's cost is now almost double the cost of the same energy from coal.

Who would find the graphic "Here Comes the Sun" MOST helpful?

• California lawmakers, to prove that 50 percent power is possible by 2020

• Oil companies, to help decide about investing in solar panels

• Greenpeace, to support its statement about solar meeting world energy demands

• U.S. Congress, to justify the extension of solar tax credits

Which of the following topics discussed in the article is emphasized by the diagram of the solar panel?

• It emphasizes the difficulty in marketing solar energy because the solar panel was designed to be used in space.

• It emphasizes solar energy's biggest problem by showing that the solar panel cannot store electricity to use at night.

• It emphasizes the cost of solar energy by showing the complexity of the solar panel.

• It emphasizes the increase in solar energy by showing the improvements made to solar panels.

Read the following sentence from the section "Wind Farms." 

Scientists and engineers are developing a wind turbine that would be tethered to the ground like a kite, but float thousands of meters in the air to capture jet streams' energy for electricity.

How does the analogy help the reader to understand the potential turbine?

• It elaborates on the technical reference to the "jet stream."

• It provides a visual that clarifies the meaning of the word "tethered."

• It creates a sense of nostalgia about a childhood activity.

• It illustrates the specific movement of wind at high altitudes.

Read the following phrases from the section "Windmills And The Evolution Of Wind Energy." 

1. harnessed the energy 

2. credited with designing 

3. massive engineering feat 

How do these phrases contribute to the tone of the article?

• They convey a sense of anxiety about the future of world wind power.

• They convey a sense of compassion for failed efforts at wind power.

• They convey a sense of admiration for developments involving wind power.

• They convey a sense of surprise that wind power has been so effective.

Image 3 shows that the main rotor and generator in the turbine are located near the ground. Based on the article, what is the explanation for this detail?

•  They can be damaged by strong winds higher up.

• The vertical-axis turbine has unusually shaped blades.

• This makes maintenance easier and less expensive.

• There are many placed close together on wind farms.

Which of the following ideas is emphasized in the article, but NOT in any of the images included?

• the basic design and parts of the most common type of wind turbine 

•  the clustering of hundreds of wind turbines close together in remote areas 

• the use of a specific tool to determine whether a site is good for wind turbines 

• the widespread development of wind energy technology around the world