When hydrogen(氢气) burns, the only by-product is water—which is why hydrogen has been an attractive zero-carbon energy source for decades. Yet the traditional process for producing hydrogen, in which fossil fuels are exposed to steam, is not even remotely zero-carbon. Hydrogen produced this way is called gray hydrogen; if the CO2 is captured and sequestered (封存), it is called blue hydrogen.
Green hydrogen is different. It is produced through electrolysis (电解), in which machines split water into hydrogen and oxygen, with no other by-products. Historically, electrolysis required so much electricity that it made little sense to produce hydrogen that way. The situation is changing for two reasons. First, significant amounts of excess renewable electricity have become available at grid(输电网)scale; rather than storing excess electricity in arrays of batteries, the extra electricity can be used to drive the electrolysis of water, “storing” the electricity in the form of hydrogen. Second, electrolyzers are getting more efficient.
Current renewable technologies such as solar and wind can decarbonize (脱碳) the energy sector by as much as 85 percent by replacing gas and coal with clean electricity. Other parts of the economy, such as shipping and producing, are harder to electrify because they often require fuel that is high in energy density (密度) or heat at high temperatures. Green hydrogen has potential in these sectors. The Energy Transitions Commission, an industry group, says green hydrogen is one of four technologies necessary for meeting The Paris Agreement goal of decreasing more than 10 gigatons of carbon dioxide a year from the most challenging industrial sectors, among them mining, construction and chemicals.
Although green hydrogen is still on the early stage of its development, countries—especially those with cheap renewable energy—are investing in the technology. Australia wants to export hydrogen that it would produce using its plentiful solar and wind power, Chile has plans for hydrogen in the country’s dry north, where solar electricity is abundant. China aims to put one million hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles on the road by 2030. All of which is why, earlier this year, Goldman predicted that green hydrogen will become a $ 12-tilion market by 2050.
1. What do we know about green hydrogen?| A．It can be made from fossil fuels. |
| B．It can be extracted from blue hydrogen. |
| C．It consumes little electricity when produced. |
| D．It releases nothing except water when burning. |
| A．Enough electricity and efficient device |
| B．The extending life and capacity of batteries |
| C．The lower cost of different clean energies |
| D．Financial support from all sectors of society |
| A．The potential of current green energy |
| B．The necessity of reducing carbon dioxide |
| C．The advantages of green hydrogen |
| D．The results of using wind and solar power |
| A．worried | B．optimistic | C．doubtful | D．pessimistic |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】So many things can keep you from seeing your loved ones in person, from busy schedules to long distances to a rather unexpected pandemic.
A new study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, found that communication interactions that included voice, like a phone call or video chat, created stronger social bonds than communication through typing, like text messaging or email. In the study, researchers used various experiments to estimate connectedness. In one, they asked 200 people to make predictions about what it would be like to reconnect with an old friend by email or by phone and then assigned people at random to do one or the other.
Sabrina Romanoff, a Harvard trained clinical psychologist based in New York City, says
| A．“Texting corresponds information exactly in the way people intend.” |
| B．“In reality, texting can make it hard to determine the true meaning behind a conversation.” |
| C．People held the view that a phone call was really awkward and reconnected with their friends by email. |
| D．Fortunately, thanks to modern technology, the people we miss are often only a phone call or text message away. |
| E．According to science, if you want to feel more connected to the people you're talking to, you should call them instead of texting. |
| F．In another experiment, the researchers had strangers connect by either texting, talking over video chat, or talking using only audio. |
| G．Although people anticipated that a phone call would be more awkward, hearing someone's voice actually made the experience better. |
【推荐2】The Internet, search engines, virtual worlds. Have you ever got the feeling that you’re living in a science fiction?
Well, indeed you are.
For more than a century, inventors have been driven to create what sci-fi writers have imagined long before. Buck Rogers inspired a generation of scientists excited about space exploration. Ray Bradbury predicted home-theater systems. William Gibson dreamed up the Internet while writing Neuromancer on a typewriter. Not long after him, Neal Stephenson predicted virtual worlds in his 1991 novel Snow Crash. One of his readers was Philip Rosedale, who loved it so much that he wanted to build a virtual world based on it.
By the late 1990s, technology caught up to the novel, and Rosedale built the virtual world Second Life based on the “Metaverse” from the novel. With 1 million active users, Second Life offers virtual shops, bars, houses and even virtual television studios with virtual celebrities (名人) on virtual talk shows.
“I think it is pretty much what I imagined,” Stephenson says. “I just shoot for the stars, while he makes great things happen.”
But Snow Crash is a dark book. The world in the novel is filled with criminals, violence and environmental problems.
“Science fiction not only puts stars in our hands, it also helps us see the meaning of our work,” Philip Rosedale admits. “It makes it possible for us to see what all of our efforts could eventually lead to.”
In fact, most science fiction authors admit that their work is usually cautionary (警示性的). “While the inventors are rushing ahead and excited about this possibility or that possibility, we’re always standing there warning, ‘Hang on just a second. Let’s think about this a little more’” author William Gibson says. “But most of them will ignore you because they think they already know all things about any given hot topic of the day. But if you can convince them that you’re talking about a planet millions of miles away and hundreds of years in the future or the past, you can actually get them to examine more closely what’s going on right now.”
1. Who was inspired by Neal Stephenson’s work?| A．Buck Rogers. | B．Ray Bradbury. |
| C．William Gibson. | D．Philip Rosedale. |
| A．It is a very violent virtual world. |
| B．It is not based on his fiction strictly. |
| C．He is satisfied with the “Metaverse”. |
| D．More activities should be added to it. |
| A．Sci-fi writers are much wiser than inventors. |
| B．Most inventors do not respect sci-fi writers. |
| C．Sci-fi can help inventors to think more carefully. |
| D．People can easily get excited about the inventions. |
| A．Book review. | B．Technology. |
| C．Economy. | D．Psychology. |
【推荐3】Antioxidants (抗氧化剂) are found naturally inn plants like blueberries, blackberries, and red cabbage. Scientists believe antioxidants may help prevent heart disease and help fight against diseases like diabetes. But tomatoes naturally only have a small amount of antioxidants in them.
British scientist Cathie Martin wanted to see if she could create tomatoes with lots of antioxidants by changing the DNA of a tomato plant.
A plant developed from specially created DNA is known as a GMO, or “genetically modified organism”. For hundreds of years, farmers have created new kinds of plants by mixing existing plants together using natural methods. GMO plants are different because the plants’ DNA has been changed by scientists. Scientists who do this usually think they’re improving the plants in some way.
After working on developing purple tomatoes for years, Dr. Martin’s experiment worked. Soon her plants were producing small purple tomatoes. Though the color is unusual, what’s really special about the tomatoes is that they have very high levels of antioxidants. Even better, the tomatoes remained fresh almost twice as long as normal tomatoes. Soon, Dr. Martin and other scientists created a company to promote the tomatoes.
The company tested its tomatoes on mice that were likely to get cancer. The mice who were fed the purple tomatoes lived about 30% longer than the mice who were fed normal tomatoes. Though that’s good news, experiments on mice don’t always predict what effects on humans will be like.
And GMO products weren’t popular with customers. Many people were scared by the idea that the foods weren’t “natural”. There are still questions about the effects of GMO crops on the environment and other plants, but most scientists agree that food from GMO crops is safe to eat.
On September 7, the government approved a GMO plant designed to target human health. Dr. Martin and her company plan to introduce the tomatoes at farmers’ markets across the US in 2023. They also hope to sell the seeds to people who want to grow their own.
1. What is the function of paragraph 1?| A．To define a concept. |
| B．To bring in the topic of the text. |
| C．To add background information. |
| D．To introduce the benefits of antioxidants. |
| A．Their medical value. | B．Their delicious flavor. |
| C．Their proper size. | D．Their pleasant color. |
| A．They are expensive to buy. |
| B．They are intended for animals. |
| C．They are thought to be harmful. |
| D．Their appearance isn’t appealing. |
| A．Opposed. | B．Unclear. | C．Positive. | D．Concemed. |
【推荐1】To save the environment, we must all join in — and nobody knows this better than 70-year-old grandmother Pat Smith who spent 2018 cleaning up litter from 52 beaches in Cornwall on the United Kingdom’s south coast.
Smith set out in January, 2018 to carry out her New Year’s resolution of making her community a better and cleaner place. The ambitious goal came to her after she watched a documentary on plastic pollution the previous year, and she knew she couldn’t just sit by.
Often, volunteers would join her in her efforts, including her grandchildren, or she would join hands with other campaigners such as Wayne Dixon, who is walking around the UK coast as an ambassador for Keep Britain Tidy.
During her beach cleans, Smith was sometimes mistaken for doing community service! She said, “People don’t understand I’ve been doing this voluntarily. We should all take responsibility for picking up the litter as well as ensuring we don’t drop litter in the first place.
Even before her beach cleanups, Smith had begun her first environmental campaign to eliminate plastic straws (吸管) in her city of Cornwall . To date, she has encouraged 600 local companies to stop using unnecessary plastic. In an effort to make her hometown an example for the plastic-free movement in the United Kingdom, she founded The Final Straw Cornwall in the summer of 2017. “I founded the Final Straw to try and raise awareness of the disastrous damage we are doing to our oceans from our casual consumption of single-use plastics. I feel I have a responsibility to my children and grandchildren to do something about it.” She said.
Her resolution year may be over but this environmentally conscious grandma continues her quest (追求). “A lot of the rubbish I’ve picked up consists of everyday items,” said Smith. “These things are used by all of us and it is shocking to find them polluting our beautiful beaches. Please let’s try to be more thoughtful in this coming year. I’m driven to try and protect our living planet for my children and grandchildren and I will continue to do everything in my power to achieve that.”
1. What led to Smith’s New Year’s resolution of cleaning her community?| A．Community service. |
| B．A film or television program. |
| C．Various ocean protection campaigns. |
| D．Serious pollution in her community. |
| A．She was forced to do that. |
| B．She just pretended to be caring. |
| C．She actually did only a little work. |
| D．She wouldn’t stick to the work for long. |
| A．set an example to other aged people |
| B．stop her local companies from producing plastic straws |
| C．keep her promise to her children and grandchildren |
| D．make people conscious of the plastic-related environmental problem |
| A．It’s everyone’s duty. |
| B．It’s as hard as people think. |
| C．Prevention is more important than protection. |
| D．The younger generation don’t care about it enough. |
| A．Proud. | B．Happy. | C．Stressed. | D．Determined. |
【推荐2】The Art of Recycling
Recycling is not new. Many civilizations have reused objects. However, recycling is more important today because there is more pollution and fewer natural resources.
Many art projects are shown at outdoor art and music festivals. Many cities even have festivals specifically for recycled art.
Museums also exhibit recycled art. A museum in Texas allowed visitors to add to the art on display. The project was called the “Recycle Reef (珊瑚礁).” The background looked like an ocean reef, and people added to the “reef” with the recycled materials provided.
Have you made something using paper towel tubes or water bottles? If so, you’ve made recycled art.
| A．Not all recycled art is big, though. |
| B．Almost anything can be recycled into art. |
| C．Recycled art often says something about our world. |
| D．They even recycled the exhibit after the show ended. |
| E．Some people might recycle cans and bottles at home. |
| F．Others bring home plastic and cardboard that can be recycled. |
| G．The artists used over 53, 000 recycled water bottles to make the cloud. |
【推荐3】Before you throw that old cell phone in the trash, or hide it away in a drawer, think again. There are actually many ways to deal with a mobile phone that you are no longer using.
First, you should be aware that in many places, throwing away cell phones is actually illegal because the batteries, especially in very old phones, can contain poisonous metals.
Many schools and local charities now have recycling programs. And they do make a little bit on each donation.
You might also want to hang onto any accessories(配件)that you have.
| A．You certainly don’t need to pay to recycle an old cell phone |
| B．There are better places to get rid of them than your trash can |
| C．Things like chargers or covers can often be used with your new phone |
| D．Local charities have contributed a lot in repairing unwanted phones |
| E．As people move to bigger and better phones |
| F．The saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure certainly applies |
| G．If you can’t find a large cell phone recycling program in your area |
【推荐1】The biggest risk to UK forests over the next 50 years is a “catastrophic” collapse of their ecosystems, according to a group of experts. The group of 42 researchers were asked to identify the issues that would have the greatest impact on UK forests in the next half-century. The list was topped by “catastrophic forest ecosystem collapse”, the prospect of a number of risks, from droughts and floods to storms and pests. If action is not taken, the ecosystem will no longer function effectively.
This is the first “horizon scanning” exercise — a technique to identify relatively unknown threats, opportunities, and new trends — of UK forests. The aim is to help researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and society in general, better prepare for the future and address threats before they become critical.
Experts define such a collapse as a “sudden, long-lasting and widespread change in ecosystem state that has major negative impacts on biodiversity and key ecosystem services”. Those ecosystem services include clean air and water. Some species could be pushed to extinction. “Forest collapse will have significant short-and long-term influences on the forest, and wider environment, economy and society,” the researchers said.
The UK is one of the least forested countries in Europe, with 13 percent of land being forested, compared with a European average of 46 percent. The government has a UK tree-planting goal of 30,000 hectares by 2025, but is widely expected to miss it.
A spokesman for the Department for Environment said,“ We will continue to work with partners to tackle the challenges and opportunities raised in today’s report to ensure our trees and woodlands remain healthy, so they can support habitats and a range of wider environmental benefits.”
The Times revealed this year that more than 400,000 trees planted in England to make up for road projects had died since 2018. Experts think an increase in dry spring s and hot summers has made tree aftercare harder.
1. What’s the purpose of the researchers’ making the list?| A．To apply more serious laws. | B．To search for potential opportunities. |
| C．To learn about the overall situation. | D．To get an insight into natural disasters. |
| A．Its definition. | B．Its process. | C．Its consequences. | D．Its causes. |
| A．Short-sighted. | B．Time-consuming. | C．Intolerable. | D．Impractical. |
| A．It depends on climate. | B．It has a long way to go. |
| C．It is bound to be a failure. | D．It needs support from all over the world. |
【推荐2】Must-read Books that Are Hitting the Big Screen This Year
The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman
Starring: Jessica Chastain and Johan Heldenbergh
Release Date: July 31, 2017
This true story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Ackerman artfully retells the story of Jan and Zabinski and how they used their zoo to save over three hundred people from the Nazis. After their zoo was bombed, they managed to hide people in animal cages, giving animal names to their guests and human names to their animals. This is one story we truly hope lives up to the hope on film.
The Lost City of Z by David Grann
Starring: Sienna Miller and Robert Pattinson
Release Date: August 14,2017
Looking for adventure? This story is just what you need. The book(and film) tells the tale of British explorer Percy Fawcett and how he ventured into the Amazon jungle in 1925, never to return. It's an enchanting mystery that we can’t wait to see play out on screen.
The Dinner by Herman Koch
Starring: Richard Gere and Rebecca Hall
Release Date: October 5,2017
We always say we'd do absolutely anything for our kids, right? The story begins with two couples politely, eating dinner together, avoiding a conversation about their children who have committed a horrific act. As the story goes on, you'll see just how far these parents will go to protect the ones they love.
The Circle by Dave Eggers
Starring: Emma Watson and Patton Oswalt
Release Date: November 28,2017
A young woman, Mae, is hired to work for a powerful Internet company and Feels like she's hit the job jackpot. The facility is very advanced, lively, and a bit wild. Mae's story begins as one of ambition but soon turns into a heart-racing story of suspense.
1. Why did Jan and Zabinski put people in animal cages?| A．To offer them living places | B．To treat them as animals |
| C．To avoid being bombed | D．To hide from the Nazis |
| A．Emma Watson | B．Rebecca Hall |
| C．Sienna Miller | D．Jessica Chastain |
| A．In July | B．In August |
| C．In October | D．In November |
| A．The Zookeeper's Wife | B．The Lost City of Z |
| C．The Dinner | D．The Circle |
【推荐3】Satellites are an important part of our ordinary lives. For example, the information for weather forecasts is sent by satellite. Some satellites have cameras which take photographs of the earth to show how clouds are moving. Satellites are also used to connect our international phone calls.
Computer connections of the World Wide Web and Internet also use satellites. Many of our TV programmes come to us through satellites. Airplane pilots also sometimes use a satellite to help them find their exact location.
We use satellites to send television pictures from one part of the world to another. They are usually 35,880 kilometers above the equator. Sometimes we can see a satellite in the sky and it seems to stay in the same place. This is because it is moving around the world at 11,000 kilometers an hour —exactly the same speed that the earth rotates. A satellite must orbit the earth with its antennae(天线) facing the earth. Sometimes, it moves away from its orbit. So there are little rockets on it which are used to put the satellite back in the right position. This usually happens about every five or six days.
Space is not empty! Every week, more and more satellites are sent into space to orbit the earth. A satellite usually works for about 10~12 years. Satellites which are broken are sometimes repaired by astronauts or sometimes brought back to earth to be repaired. Often, very old or broken satellites are left in space to orbit the earth for a very long time. This is very serious because some satellites use nuclear power and they can crash into each other.
1. Which of the following is NOT done by satellites according to the passage?| A．Sending information for weather forecast. |
| B．Taking photographs of the earth. |
| C．Sending TV pictures. |
| D．Providing food for airplane pilots. |
| A．35,880 kilometers per hour. | B．335,880 kilometers per hour. |
| C．11,000 kilometers per hour. | D．110,000 kilometers per hour. |
| A．A satellite. | B．A little rocket. |
| C．A satellite seems to stay in the same place in the sky. | D．The satellite puts the rockets in the right position. |
| A．A satellite usually works for about 10~12 years. |
| B．Every time a satellite gets broken, it is brought back to the earth to be repaired. |
| C．A broken satellite is never left in space. |
| D．They often crash into each other. |
