单选题
The science behind solar (太阳的) energy is not new. But Sheridan Community Schools is the first school district in Indiana to be completely solar-powered. The district finished installing solar panels (太阳能板) for all three of its schools in 2016. Some of the panels can turn to follow the sun across the sky.
Sheridan"s solar push is part of a trend. In 2008, fewer than 1,000 schools used solar power. By 2014, there were 3,727 schools with solar panels in the US. This data comes from a report by the Solar Foundation, an organization that promotes the use of solar power. Roxie Brown, a program director there, says that the number of schools with solar panels has continued to rise since 2014.
(79)
Solar power has some obvious advantages over other energy sources.
Sunlight is a renewable (可再生的) resource, which means it won"t run out. Solar panels don"t harm the environment. Also, sunlight is free. So by using solar power, schools can save money on energy costs over time.
But switching to solar power isn"t always easy. Solar panels can be expensive to install. Sheridan Community Schools had to borrow money to pay for its solar transition. (80)
The panels also take up space.
But for many schools, going solar is worth it.
The use of solar energy can also help students learn about electricity and environmental issues. Teachers at schools that use solar power often
incorporate
it into their science lessons. The kids talk about it in the classroom. Then they can look at it in action. According to Brown, the educational impact of solar panels is "the most compelling reason" for schools to install them.
Brown hopes the panels will give Sheridan students a global perspective. "The world is bigger than the boundaries of their school district," he says. "They"re doing things to help the world as a whole."
单选题
Sheridan Community Schools consists of ______ schools.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析]
内容概要
本文介绍了谢里丹地区太阳能事业的发展。文中提到了太阳能的优势，以及其安装问题。更进一步地指出太阳能的使用还可以帮助学生了解电力和环境问题。
参考译文
太阳能技术背后的科技并不是新的。但是谢里丹社区学校是印第安那州第一个完全由太阳能供电的学区。2016年，该地区完成了全部三所学校太阳能板的安装。其中一些太阳能板的朝向可以随着太阳的方向而变动。
谢里丹社区的太阳能是该事业蓬勃发展的一部分。2008年，只有不到1000所学校使用太阳能供电。截止到2014年，美国有3727所学校配有太阳能板。这项数据来自太阳能基金会的一份报告，该基金会是一个推广太阳能利用的组织。洛克希·布朗是该基金会的项目主任，他说，自2014年起，配有太阳能板的学校数量持续上升。
与其他能源相比，太阳能有一些明显的优势。太阳光是一种可再生能源，这就意味着它永不会枯竭。太阳能板不会破坏环境。同时，太阳光也是免费的资源。因此，通过使用太阳能，学校可以节省能源成本。
但是太阳能的转换并不容易。安装太阳能板价格昂贵。谢里丹的社区学校不得不借钱来支付其高昂的费用。太阳能板还占空间，但对于许多学校来说，这也物超所值了。
太阳能的使用还可以帮助学生了解电力和环境问题。使用太阳能的学校的老师经常把它纳入他们的科学课程中。学生们在课堂上讨论太阳能，接着便可以实际观看。据布朗所说，学校安装太阳能板最令人信服的理由是它的教育影响。
布朗期望这些太阳能板可以为谢里丹的学生提供全球性的视角。他说：“这个世界比学校的边界还要大，他们也正在做一些事情，以帮助整个世界。”
定位
第一段第三句话“The district finished installing solar panels for all three of its schools in 2016.”
答案详解
细节题。题干问的是“谢里丹社区有几所学校?”根据定位句：2016年，该地区完成了全部三所学校太阳能板的安装。可以得知该社区有三所学校。故选B。
单选题
According to the passage, solar energy has the following benefits EXCEPT that ______.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析]
定位
第三段“Solar power has some obvious advantages over other energy sources. Sunlight is a renewable resource, which means it won"t run out. Solar panels don"t harm the environment. Also, sunlight is free. So by using solar power. schools can save money on energy costs over time.”
答案详解
细节题。题干问的是“根据全文，除了哪一项，其他都是太阳能的优势?”根据该段可知太阳能具有以下优势：可再生、不会破坏环境、节省资金。而C项太阳能板容易保养，文中并未提及，故选C。
单选题
The word incorporate in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to ______.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析]
定位
倒数第二段第二句话“Teachers at schools that use solar power often incorporate it into their science lessons.”
答案详解
词汇题。题于问的是“第五段中incorporate的含义最接近以下哪一项?”incorporate本意为“包含，吸收，合并”，A项意思是“达到”；B项意思是“改善，提高”；C项意思是“改变，转向”；D项意思是“包含，包括”。分析句意，这里应该是学校老师们会将太阳能的使用问题纳入到他们的科学课程当中。故选D。
单选题
According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析]
定位
第二段第二、三句话“In 2008, fewer than 1,000 schools used solar power. By 2014, there were 3,727 schools with solar panels in the US.”
答案详解
细节题。题干问的是“根据文章，下面哪一项表述不正确?”根据定位句“2008年，只有不到1000所学校使用太阳能供电。截止到2014年，美国有3727所学校配有太阳能板。”可知，2008年，不足1000所学校使用太阳能板，故选C。
单选题
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?