单选题
A Battle is Looming over Renewable Energy, and Fossil Fuel Interests are Losing

    A. In state capitals across the country, legislators are debating proposals to roll back environmental rules, prodded by industry and advocacy groups eager to curtail (缩减) regulations aimed at curbing greenhouse gases.
    B. The measures, which have been introduced in about 18 states, lie at the heart of an effort to expand to the state level the battle over fossil fuel and renewable energy. The new rules would trim or abolish climate mandates—including those that require utilities to use solar and wind energy, as well as proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules that would reduce carbon emissions from power plants.
    C. But the campaign—despite its backing from powerful groups such as Americans for Prosperity—has run into a surprising roadblock: the growing political clout of renewable-energy interests, even in rock-ribbed Republican states such as Kansas.
    D. The stage has been set for what one lobbyist called 'trench warfare' as moneyed interests on both sides wrestle over some of the strongest regulations for promoting renewable energy. And the issues are likely to surface this fall in the midterm elections, as well, with California billionaire Tom Steyer pouring money into various gubernatorial (州长的) and state and federal legislative races to back candidates who support tough rules curbing pollution.
    E. The multi-pronged conservative effort to roll back regulations, begun more than a year ago, is supported by a loose, well-funded confederation that includes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and conservative activist groups such as Americans for Prosperity, a politically active nonprofit organization founded in part by brothers David and Charles Koch. These groups argue that existing government rules violate free-market principles and will ultimately drive up costs for consumers.
    F. The proposed measures are similar from state to state. In some cases, the legislative language matches or closely resembles model bills and resolutions offered by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a free-market-oriented group of state lawmakers underwritten in part by Exxon Mobil, Koch Industries, Duke Energy and Peabody Energy. 'Now more than ever is the time for states to lead the way,' ALEC's top officials told its members at a meeting in December.
    G. The coalition campaigns have achieved only symbolic victories in a few states. Nonbinding resolutions critical of the EPA power plant proposals have been approved in Alabama, Georgia, Nebraska, West Virginia and Wyoming. Three other states—Louisiana, Missouri and Ohio—are weighing legislation similar to the ALEC model.
    H. Only one of the 18 state legislatures has approved a more substantive measure that would replace the EPA's power plant rules. And even that bill, in Kentucky, could backfire by giving up a chance for the state to design its own program and forcing it to accept a federal compliance program.
    I. 'Clean energy is beginning to become mainstream,' said Gabe Elsner, executive director of the Energy and Policy Institute, a clean-energy think tank in Washington. 'Renewable energy is popular and has increased political power now,' but, he added, 'that power is still eclipsed by the resources of the fossil fuel industry.'
    A surprisingly tough fight
    J. Kansas might be the best place to see how these dynamics are unfolding.
    K. The state was a promising choice for a foray (攻击) against rules known as renewable-energy standards, which set minimum levels of renewable-energy use by electric utilities. Variations of these rules have been adopted in about 30 states, even though Congress did not pass a federal version of the requirement. In Kansas, a law passed in 2009 requires utilities to use wind and solar power to generate at least 15 percent of their electricity by 2016 and 20 percent by 2020.
    L. The coalition seeking the repeal of the renewable mandate had all the ingredients for success. Financial muscle came from the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, which lobbied heavily for repeal. In addition, the state is home to Koch Industries, the Koch brothers' Wichita-based energy conglomerate (集团). The state representative for Wichita, Republican Dennis Hedke, has called the company 'one of the greatest success stories in the world' and said 'they are making very positive contributions.' Hedke chairs the state House's Energy and Environment Committee.
    M. Koch Industries, along with the utility industry's Edison Electric Institute and the nation's biggest coal company, Peabody Energy, have supported ALEC, which advised state lawmakers on repeal strategy.
    N. 'Koch has consistently opposed all subsidies and mandates across the board, especially as it relates to energy policy,' Philip Ellender, president and chief operating officer of Koch Companies Public Sector, said in a statement, citing the company's opposition to the renewable fuel standard, wind production tax credit and ethanol (乙醇) mandate. 'Government should not mandate the allocation or use of natural resources and raw materials in the production of goods.'
    O. The ideological case was supported by conservative think tanks. Kansans for Liberty supported repeal, and the state branch of Americans for Prosperity told supporters that 'green energy mandates replace the free-market with bureaucratic government oversight, driving up costs for hard-working Kansas families.' The national group has spent $300,000 in the state pushing for the rollback of renewable standards.
    P. Connections to key Kansas politicians also were strong. Both the Kansas state Senate's president, Susan Wagle, and the speaker of the state House, Ray Merrick, are members of the ALEC board and backed repeal. 'The repeal of the RPS [Renewable Portfolio Standards] fits in line with the goals of the organization,' said Wagle, who said she joined ALEC in the 1990s in connection with her opposition to health-care reform led by Hillary Rodham Clinton, then the first lady.
    Q. Moreover, the Kansas economy relies heavily on fossil fuels. The state is the nation's 10th-largest producer of crude oil and 12th-largest of natural gas, according to the federal Energy Information Administration. In 2013, coal-fired power plants provided 61 percent of the state's electricity, well above the national average. But the strong winds that blow across Kansas have carried new interests into the state. Kansas ranks sixth in the country in wind output, which jumped by a third last year and equaled 19 percent of the state's electricity, the EIA says.
    R. The growing number of wind farms not only generates power but royalties for landowners. Dorothy Barnett, executive director of the Climate and Energy Project, said that Kansas landowners receive more than $13 million a year. 'This issue is an issue that touches rural Kansans, and we have a lot of rural Kansas legislators,' she said.
问答题     Resolutions with no binding force which are picky about the EPA power plant proposals have been accepted in many states such as Alabama and Georgia.
 
【正确答案】G
【答案解析】联系上下文可知,这些非约束性的决议对EPA关于发电厂的建议感到不满,而且这些决议也得到了阿拉巴马,佐治亚,内布拉斯加等州的支持。本题是对该句的同义转换。故选G。
问答题     It is hopeful to gain success if Kansas is chosen as the foray against the rules of renewable-energy standards which minimize the renewable-energy use by power plants.
 
【正确答案】K
【答案解析】根据上下文可知,堪萨斯州主要依靠化石燃料发展经济,因此对规定了发电厂最低可再生能源使用量的可再生能源标准的反对声也较高,在选择该地区的话很有希望成功。本题是对该句的同义转换。故选K。
问答题     Koch Company's Philip Ellender cited the company's opposition to the renewable rules to approve its objection to all energy-policy-concerning subsidies and mandates, and advised that government let go of the allocation or use of materials used in goods production.
 
【正确答案】N
【答案解析】结合上下文可知,科氏公司公共部门的部长兼运营长菲利普·埃兰多援引公司的例子发表声明证明了该公司特别反对一切跟能源政策有关的资助和授权,并指出政府应该放任在生产中对材料的使用。本题是对该段话的大意概括。故选N。
问答题     The issue is a problem that concerns the benefits of people in the rural Kansas, and we have a great many lawmakers from rural parts of Kansas.
 
【正确答案】R
【答案解析】由该段可知,堪萨斯州风力电厂数量日益增多不仅关系到发电量,也关系到了土地拥有者的利益。这一问题已经涉及到堪萨斯州农村地区居民的利益,而且立法人员中有很多人是来这些地区的。本题是对该句的同义转换。故选R。
问答题     The requirement to abolish the RPS complies with the organization's targets.
 
【正确答案】P
【答案解析】结合上文可知,韦格尔是废除规定的支持者同时也是ALEC的成员,ALEC是以自由市场为导向的团体,因此也要求废除规定,因为这些规定与自由市场准则相抵触。本题是对该句的同义转换。故选P。
问答题     The methods adopted by the 18 states are the kernel of the attempts to level up the battle between fossil fuel and renewable energy.
 
【正确答案】B
【答案解析】结合下文可知,为了将化石燃料和可再生能源之间的战争抬升到州级层面,被18个州采用的这些回滚环境规定的措施是关键因素。本题是对该句的同义转换。故选B。
问答题     The stage is established for the so-called 'trench warfare', for the monetary benefits of both parts have been violated by the most powerful rules to spread renewable energy.
 
【正确答案】D
【答案解析】结合上文可知,一些推广可再生能源的强硬规则损害了双方的金钱利益(支持可再生能源方和反对可再生能源方),因而这个舞台就成了“堑壕战”的基地。本题是对该句的同义转换。故选D。
问答题     The league which requires abolishing the renewable mandate had all the factors to achieve success.
 
【正确答案】L
【答案解析】根据下文可知,要求废除规定的联盟得到了各大化石燃料公司的支持,并且有充足的资金支撑,甚至得到了堪萨斯州议员的拥护,因而很有可能取得成功。本题是对该句的同义转换。故选L。
问答题     However, the winds that sweep across Kansas have brought new benefits to the state.
 
【正确答案】Q
【答案解析】根据本段话第二句可知,横扫堪萨斯州的强风为该州带来了强大的风能,使该州的风能输出及风力发电量都有所上升,是一种新的利益。本题是对该句的同义转换。故选Q。
问答题     The all-sided efforts which roll back the renewable rules have been backed by a confederation with abundant capital, the members of which go against the existing government rules.
 
【正确答案】E
【答案解析】该段话指出,这种全面的回滚规定的努力得到了由美国商会、NAM、以及AFP这些团体组成的联盟的支持,虽然松散但资金充足。并且这些团体都反对现行的与自由市场原则相背离的政府规定。本题是对该段意思的概括。故选E。