Question

【题目】阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。

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 afford ably.

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】The underlined word “get round” in the first paragraph can be replaced by _______ .

A. make use of B. come up with

C. look into D. deal with

【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 $90. D. Around $180.

【3】It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ____________.

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

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

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

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

【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】D

【2】C

【3】B

【4】A

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要讨论的是英国的一家公司对太阳能的一种新的运作的方法。

【1】D 推理题。根据文章1,2行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.可知这些有阳光的国家通常都比较贫穷，现在英国的这家公司找到一个方法来处理这一问题，故D项正确。

【2】C细节题。根据文章1,3段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,和After buying around $80 worth of scratch cards—which Eight19 expects would take the average family around 18 months—the user will own it. 作为存款约10美元的回报，该公司为贫穷的肯尼亚家庭提供能够产生2.5瓦电力的太阳能电池….在购买（Eight19期望将花费平均每个家庭18个月左右且）价值约80美元的刮刮乐后，用户将拥有它，说明一共要付90美元，故C正确。

【3】B 推断题。根据文章最后一段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. 可知，这看起来对用户来说是一个很好的协议，该公司认为，肯尼亚的平均能源匮乏，肯尼亚人每月花费在石油上花费约10美元，足以燃烧许多煤油灯，在市场上对其手机额外加收2美元。说明肯尼亚人也可以从中获益，故B正确。

【4】A 主旨大意题。本文主要讨论的是英国的一家公司对太阳能的一种新的运作的方法，故A正确。