You are going to read a newspaper article. Six paragraphs have been removed from the article. Choose from the paragraphs A-G the one which fits each gap. There is an example and one extra paragraph which you do not need to use. Wind of Change The world’s biggest wind farms are currently being constructed off the coast of Britain after a major policy decision by the government to invest time and money in renewable forms of energy. When the entire project is finished, it is estimated that almost ...
You are going to read a newspaper article. Six paragraphs have been removed from the article. Choose from the paragraphs A-G the one which fits each gap. There is an example and one extra paragraph which you do not need to use.
Wind of Change
The world’s biggest wind farms are currently being constructed off the coast of Britain after a major policy decision by the government to invest time and money in renewable forms of energy. When the entire project is finished, it is estimated that almost eight percent of the electricity that the country needs will be generated in this way.
For example: (0)…D…
The wind farms themselves will consist of towers with fan-like blades at the top, arranged in groups of as many as 300. As these blades are turned by the wind, they generate electricity. The towers are tall enough to ensure that there will always be enough wind, even on the calmest days, to turn the rotor blades. The electricity generated from these turbines is fed by underground cable to the mainland, where it is incorporated into the national grid.
(81)………
The reason for the delay is due to a conservative approach to new technology as well as economic considerations. Governments are notoriously reluctant to embrace new technology which has not yet proved itself, fearing that if it were to fail, the electorate would blame them. Moreover, until recently it was cheaper to generate electricity by traditional methods. However, now that fossil fuels are becoming more expensive - and the cost of mining them is also rising - the balance has shifted.
(82)………
The way ahead is not without its problems, however. There have been a large number of complaints about wind farms on land, with critics maintaining that the tall towers and gigantic blades are an eyesore. Appearance is less likely to be a problem with offshore wind farms since they will be far enough from the coast to be virtually invisible unless the weather is exceptionally clear.
(83)………
Environmental organizations hope that the government's commitment to wind power will encourage the use of other "green" methods of producing electricity, though some technologies are less likely to be developed than others, at least in this country. The British Isles enjoy relatively few sunny days, so solar energy is hardly going to be a great success here.
(84)………
It now appears likely that funds will be made available for the necessary research, especially since the British government has made it clear that it sees no future for nuclear power. Existing nuclear power stations are to be phased out gradually, though the government has been wary of providing precise dates for decommissioning.
(85)………
In the meantime, it is encouraging to note that energy solutions which would have seemed unlikely, not to say laughable, just a few decades ago are finally starting to make an impact. It is to be hoped that this trend will continue.
(Heinle Exam Essentials CAE Practice Tests, 2nd edition)
Missing paragraphs:
A. The most striking aspect of the project is the simplicity of the fundamental idea. Indeed, it seems odd that the principle, which has, after all, been applied to power windmills for thousands of years, has only very recently been used successfully to generate electricity on a large scale.
B. There has been little attempt up to now to persuade the general public that wind power is the technology of the future. The government no doubt hopes that when the towers are in place and people realize they are neither a threat to the environment nor aesthetically ugly, attitudes will change.
C. Some form of water power would seem a far more likely candidate for development, with tides off the coast of Britain being strong and, of course, regular. As has been the case with wind power, sizeable investment will be needed in order to produce the required technology, but the potential is certainly there.
D. This is in line with the target the government set itself of producing ten percent of Britain's electricity from renewable - wind power being the most significant of these - by the year 2010. Environmental groups have hailed the government's commitment and are claiming that the future is definitely looking greener as far as energy is concerned.
E. It has been pointed out by those who fear the terrible consequence of an accident that this is only a small step in the right direction. Even when the existing power stations are shut down, the huge problem of disposing of the radioactive materials from them will still have to be solved.
F. Another cause for concern is voiced by wildlife organizations, fearful that migrating birds could crash such as Denmark suggests this is unlikely, but the government has promised to monitor the progress of a pilot scheme at present in operation off the coast of Wales.
G. Britain is not being particularly revolutionary in placing its trust in wind power. In fact, there is very little risk involved. The country is fortunate when it comes to this particular source of energy - it has a great deal of wind all year round. In a few years Britain may well become a world leader in offshore wind exploitation.