Question

C

As every computer owner knows, when their machines run a complex program they get pretty hot. In fact, cooling the processors can be expensive, especially when you're dealing with huge banks of computer servers. But what if that energy could heat private homes? A Dutch energy firm aims to do just that.

Data centers of large Internet firms, such as Google, Apple, Microsoft and others, contain thousands of computer servers. As they process information they generate enormous amounts of heat requiring cooling towers that dissipate it into the atmosphere.

A Dutch firm thinks paying for electricity to run the servers and then paying again to cool them is a waste of energy.

Boaz Leupe, CEO of the start-up Nerdalize, says it’s actually quite simple.

"We don't actually have to build the data center, which saves a lot of costs in infrastructure and we don't have the cooling overhead, plus that you have the environmental benefit, that the kilowatt hour you are using is used twice, once to heat the home and once to compute the clients task without the cooling overhead," says Leupe.

The company developed what it calls an e-Radiator, a computer server that also works as an alternative heating source. Leupe says that five Dutch homeowners are experimentally using them in their homes.

“We reimburse the electricity the server uses, and that we can do because of the computer clients on the other side, and, in that way, home owners actually get heating for free, and computer users don't have to pay for the overhead of the data center,” says Leupe.

One of the participants in the year-long experiment, Jan Visser, says the amount of heat produced by e-Radiator depends on the work being done by the server’s processors so it cannot be used as the primary source. But he is ready to try it.

“If it gives good enough warmth, you can use less of your existing central heating, and there is the chance for a home owner to pay less bills.”

Nerdalize says e-Radiators generate temperature of up to 55 degrees Celsius and could save up to $440 in annual heating costs.

1.Which one is true according to the passage？

A. It is expensive to deal with huge banks of computer servers.

B. A Dutch energy firm attempted to heat private homes.

C. Computer servers generate large quantities of heat.

D. The cooling tower is a waste of energy.

2.The underlined phrase “overhead” in the third paragraph probably means______.

A. daily cost B. fixture

C. forehead D. method

3.What is NOT true about e-Radiator according to the passage?

A. It is a computer server used as an alternative heating source.

B. It has been launched onto the market.

C.It is environmentally friendly.

D. It can save users’ money.

4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage ?

A. A New Kind of Data Servers

B. Data Servers Could Heat Private Homes

C. How to Heat the Private Homes with Computers

D. An Alternative Heating Source

Answer 1

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文介绍电脑服务器产生很多热量，要驱散这些热量需要很多能源，一家荷兰能源公司利用服务器热量为住宅供热。

1.】细节题：根据文章第二段的句子：As they process information they generate enormous amounts of heat requiring cooling towers that dissipate it into the atmosphere.可知电脑处理器会产生大量的热量。故答案为C。

2.】猜词题：根据文章第五段的句子：which saves a lot of costs in infrastructure and we don't have the cooling overhead,可知overhead是日常开销的意思，故答案为A。

3.】推理题：根据第六段的句子：Leupe says that five Dutch homeowners are experimentally using them in their homes.可知这种设备还只是试验阶段.故选B。

4.】主旨题：根据文章内容： 可知本文介绍电脑服务器产生很多热量，要驱散这些热量需要很多能源，一家荷兰能源公司利用服务器热量为住宅供热。故答案为B。

考点：考查环保类短文