(四)(2011·安徽高考)

　　Think about the different ways that people use the wind.You can use it to fly a kite or to sail a boat.Wind is one of our cleanest and richest power sources (來源), as well as one of the oldest.Evidence shows that windmills (風車) began to be used in ancient Iran back in the seventh century BC.They were first introduced to Europe during the 1100s, when armies returned from the Middle East with knowledge of using wind power.

　　For many centuries, people used windmills to grind (磨碎)  wheat into flour or pump water from deep underground.When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s, people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity.This allowed them to have electric lights and radio.However, by the 1940s when electricity was available to people in almost all areas of the United States, windmills were rarely used.

　　During the  1970s, people started becoming concerned about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity.People also realized that the supply of coal and gas would not last forever.Then, wind was rediscovered, though it means higher costs.Today, there is a global movement to supply more and more of our electricity through the use of wind.

　　1．From the text we know that windmills ________.

　　A．were invented by European armies

　　B．have a history of more than 2,800 years

　　C．used to supply power to radio in remote areas

　　D．have rarely been used since electricity was discovered

　　2．What was a new use for wind power in the late 19th century?

　　A．Sailing a boat.

　　B．Producing electricity.

　　C．Grinding wheat into flour.

　　D．Pumping water from underground.

　　3．One of the reasons wind was rediscovered in the 1970s is that ________.

　　A．wind power is cleaner

　　B．it is one of the oldest power sources

　　C．it was cheaper to create energy from wind

　　D．the supply of coal and gas failed to meet needs

　　4．What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?

　　A．The advantages of wind power.

　　B．The design of wind power plants.

　　C．The worldwide movement to save energy.

　　D．The global trend towards producing power from wind.

　　答案與解析

　　1．C　細節理解題。根據第二段的“When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s, people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity. This allowed them to have electric lights and radio.”可推出，C項符合題意。

　　2．B　細節理解題。根據第二段的“When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s, people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity.”可知，B項符合題目要求。

　　3．A　細節理解題。根據第三段的“people started becoming concerned about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity”可知，A項符合題意。

　　4．D　推理判斷題。第三段最后已提出現在全球已越來越多地使用風力發電，所以下一段應該要進一步推廣使用風力發電，這是一種總體的能源發展趨勢。故D項正確。