Question

Sunny countries are often poor. A shame, then, that solar power is still quite expensive. Eight19, a British company by Cambridge University, has, however, invented a novel way to get round this. In return for a deposit of around $10 it is supplying poor Kenyan families with a solar cell able to generate 2.5 watts of electricity, a battery that can deliver a three amp（安培）current to store this electricity, and a lamp whose bulb is a light-emitting diode（二极管）.The firm thinks that this system, once the battery is fully charged, is enough to light two small rooms and to power a mobile-phone charger for seven hours. Then, next day, it can be put outside and charged back up again. 

The trick is that, to be able to use the electricity, the system's keeper must buy a scratch card—for as little as a dollar—on which is printed a reference number. The keeper sends this reference, plus the serial number of the household solar unit, by SMS to Eight19. The company's server will respond automatically with an access code to the unit.

Users may consider that they are paying an hourly rate for their electricity. In fact, they are paying off the cost of the unit. After buying around $80 worth of scratch cards—which Eight19 expects would take the average family around 18 months—the user will own it. He will then have the option of continuing to use it for nothing, or of trading it in for a bigger one, perhaps driven by a 10-watt solar cell.

In that case, he would go then through the same process again, paying off the additional cost of the upgraded kit at a slightly higher rate. Users would therefore increase their electricity supply steadily and affordably.

According to Eight19's figures, this looks like a good deal for customers. The firm believes the average energy-starved Kenyan spends around $10 a month on oil—enough to fuel a couple of smoky lamps—plus $2 on charging his mobile phone in the market-place. Regular users of one of Eight19's basic solar units will spend around half that, before owning it completely. Meanwhile, as the cost of solar technology falls, it should get even cheaper.

1.What should the user do when the electricity in the battery is used up?

A．Recharge it outside.                     B．Buy another solar cell.

C．Return it to the company.                 D．Buy a scratch card.

2.How much would users pay for the cell and scratch cards before they own a 2.5-watt solar cell?

A．Around $10.       B．Around $80.       C．Around $180.      D．Around $90.

3.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ________.

A．Kenyan families would find it difficult to afford the solar cell

B．the company will make a great profit from selling solar cells

C．few Kenyan families use mobile phones for lack of electricity

D．using the solar cell would help Kenyan families save money

4.What might be the most suitable title for the passage?

A．Solar Energy: Starting from Scratch.

B．Eight19: a creative British Company.

C．Kenyan Families: Using Solar Energy for Free.

D．Poor Countries: Beginning to Use Solar Energy.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.A

2.D

3.D

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述的是Eight19,这家英国的公司所采用的使用太阳能的一种新的方法。

1.A 细节题。根据文章第一段最后一句Then, next day, it can be put outside and charged back up again.可知没有电了，你可以把它放在外面重新充电，故A正确。

2.D 细节题。根据文章1,3段After buying around $80 worth of scratch cards—which Eight19 expects would take the average family around 18 months—the user will own it. 和In return for a deposit of around $10 it is supplying poor Kenyan families with a solar cell able to generate 2.5 watts of electricity可知在你拥有这些之前，你要花费90元。故D正确。

3.D 推断题。根据文章最后一段The firm believes the average energy-starved Kenyan spends around $10 a month on oil—enough to fuel a couple of smoky lamps—plus $2 on charging his mobile phone in the market-place. Regular users of one of Eight19's basic solar units will spend around half that, before owning it completely. Meanwhile, as the cost of solar technology falls, it should get even cheaper.可知这样做会让太阳能的成本降低，会给肯尼亚的人来到好处。故D正确。

4.A 主旨大意题。根据文章主题段第一段内容可知本文讲述的是Eight19,这家英国的公司所采用的使用太阳能的一种新的方法。故A正确。

考点：考查新闻报告类短文阅读

点评：本文讲述的是Eight19,这家英国的公司所采用的使用太阳能的一种新的方法。本文主要考查推理题。在解题时要立足已知，推断未知。立足现在，猜测未来。不能主观臆想，凭空想象，随意揣测，更不能以自己的观点代替作者的观点;要把握句、段之间的逻辑关系，了解语篇的结构。要体会文章的基调，揣摸作者的态度，摸准逻辑发展的方向，悟出作者的弦外之音。