Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is natural heat from the interior of the Earth that is converted to heat buildings and generate electricity. The idea of harnessing Earth's internal heat is not new. As early as 1904, geothermal power was used in Italy. Today, Earth's natural internal heat is being used to generate electricity in 21 countries, including Russia, Japan, New Zealand, Iceland, Mexico, Ethiopia, Guatemala, E1 Salvador, the Philippines, and the United States. Total worldwide production is approaching 9,000 MW (equivalent to nine large modern coal-burning or nuclear power plants)--double the amount in 1980. Some 40 million people today receive their electricity from geothermal energy at a cost competitive with that of other energy sources. In E1 Salvador, geothermal energy is supplying 30% of the total electric energy used. However, at the global level, geothermal energy supplies less than 0.15% of the total energy supply.
Geothermal energy may be considered a nonrenewable energy source when rates of extraction are greater than rates of natural replenishment. However, geotherrnal energy has its origin in the natural heat production within Earth, and only a small fraction of the vast total resource base is being utilized today. Although most geothermal energy production involves the tapping of high heat sources, people are also using the low-temperature geothermal energy of groundwater in some applications.
Geothermal Systems

The average heat flow from the interior of the Earth is very low, about 0.06 W/m².

This amount is trivial compared with the 177 W/m² from solar heat at the surface in the United States. However, in some areas, heat flow is sufficiently high to be useful for producing energy. For the most part, areas of high heat flow are associated with plate tectonic boundaries. Oceanic ridge systems (divergent plate boundaries) and areas where mountains are being uplifted and volcanic island arcs are forming (convergent plate boundaries are areas where this natural heat flow is anomalously high.

On the basis of geological criteria, several types of hot geothermal systems (with temperatures greater than about 80℃, or 176℉) have been defined, and the resource base is larger than that of fossil fuels and nuclear energy combined. A common system for energy development is hydrothermal convection, characterized by the circulation of steam and/or hot water that transfers heat from depths to the surface.

单选题 In paragraph 1, the author introduces the concept of geothermal energy by ______.

A、 explaining the history of this energy source worldwide
B、 arguing that this energy source has been tried unsuccessfully
C、 comparing the production with that of other energy sources
D、 describing the alternatives for generating electric power

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】

单选题 What is true about geothermal energy production worldwide? ______

A、 Because it is a new idea, very few countries are developing geothermal energy sources.
B、 Only countries in the Southern Hemisphere are using geothermal energy on a large scale.
C、 Until the cost of geothermal energy becomes competitive, it will not be used globally.
D、 Geothermal energy is already being used in a number of nations, but it is not yet a major source of power.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】

单选题 The word "approaching" in the passage is closest in meaning to ______.

A、 hardly
B、 mostly
C、 nearly
D、 briefly

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】

单选题 The word "that" in the passage refers to ______.

A、 electricity
B、 cost
C、 energy
D、 people

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】

单选题 In paragraph 2, the author states that geothermal energy is considered a nonrenewable resource because ______.

A、 the production of geothermal energy is a natural process
B、 geothermal energy comes from the Earth
C、 we are not using very much geothermal energy now
D、 we could use more geothermal energy than is naturally replaced

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】

单选题 Which of the sentences below best expresses the information in the highlighted statement in the passage? The other choices change the meaning or leave out important information.

A、 High heat is the source of most of the geothermal energy but low heat groundwater is also used sometimes.
B、 Even though low temperatures are possible, high heat is the best resource for energy production for groundwater.
C、 Both high heat and low heat sources are used for the production of geothermal energy from groundwater.
D、 Most high heat sources for geothermal energy are tapped from applications that involve low heat in groundwater.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】

单选题 According to paragraph 3, the heat flow necessary for the production of geothermal energy ______.

A、 is like solar heat on the Earth's surface
B、 happens near tectonic plate boundaries
C、 must always be artificially increased
D、 may be impractical because of its location

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】

单选题 The word "considerable" in the passage is closest in meaning to ______.

A、 large
B、 dangerous
C、 steady
D、 unexpected

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】

单选题 In paragraph 5, the author mentions the atmospheric pollution and waste products for fossil fuel and nuclear power ______.

A、 to introduce the discussion of pollution caused by geothermal energy development and production
B、 to contrast pollution caused by fossil fuels and nuclear power with pollution caused by geothermal energy
C、 to argue that geothermal production does not cause pollution like other sources of energy doC. to discourage the use of raw materials and chemicals in the production of energy because of pollution

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】

单选题 According to paragraph 6, the production of geothermal energy in Hawaii is controversial for all of the following reasons EXCEPT ______.

A、 the volcanoes in Hawaii could be disrupted by the rapid release of geothermal energy
B、 the rainforest might be damaged during the construction of the geothermal energy plant
C、 the native people are concerned that geothermal energy is disrespectful to their cultural traditions
D、 some Hawaiians oppose using geothermal energy because of their religious beliefs

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】

单选题 What is the author's opinion of geothermal energy?

A、 Geothermal energy has some disadvantages, but it is probably going to be used in the future.
B、 Geothermal energy is a source that should be explored further before large-scale production begins.
C、 Geothermal energy offers an opportunity to supply a significant amount of power in the future.
D、 Geothermal energy should replace water power in the production of electricity for the United States.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】

单选题 Look at the four squares,

and

A、 Square Ａ.
B、 Square Ｂ.
C、 Square Ｃ.
D、 Square Ｄ.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】

填空题 Directions: Complete the table by. matching the phrases on the left with the headings on the right. Select the appropriate answer choices and drag them to Fossil Fuels or Geothermal Energy. TWO of the answer choices will NOT be used. This question is worth 4 points.
Fossil Fuels
·______
·______
·______
Geothermal Energy
·______
·______
·______
·______

[A] Radioactive waste materials must be buried.
[B] Only a small amount of electricity is currently generated.
[C] Transportation of raw materials is usually very costly.
[D] Cultural beliefs question the use of this natural resource.
[E] Gas emissions and disposal ites are problematic.
[F] Water treatment problems occur as a result.
[G] It is a renewable resource for power.
[H] Refinement of chemicals is necessary.
[I] Air pollution is a by-product of the process.