四級考試英語長篇閱讀習(xí)題(一)

　　B.The measures，which have been introduced in about 18 states，lie at the heart of an effort to expand to the state level the battle over fossil fuel and renewable energy.The new rules would trim or abolish climate mandates--including those that require utilities to use solar and wind energy,as well as proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules that would reduce carbon emissions from power plants.

　　C.But the campaign—despite its backing from powerful groups such as Americans for Prosperity—has run into a surprising roadblock：the growing political clout of renewable-energy interests，even in rock-ribbed Republican states such as Kansas.

　　D. The stage has been set for what one lobbyist called“trench warfare”as moneyed interests on both sides wrestle over some of the strongest regulations for promoting renewable energy.And the issues are likely to surface this fall in the midterm elections，as well，with Califomia billionaire Tom Steyer pouring money into various gubernatorial(州長的)and state and federal legislative races to back candidates who support tough rules curbing pollution.

　　E.The multi-pronged conservative effort to roll back regulations，begun more than a year ago，is supported by a loose，well.funded confederation that includes the U.S.Chamber of 　Commerce，the National Association of Manufacturers and conservative activist groups such as Americans for Prosperity,a politically active nonprofit organization founded in part by brothers 　David and Charles Koch.These groups argue that existing government rules violate free-market principles and will ultimately drive up costs for consumers.

　　F.The proposed measures are similar from state to state.In some cases，the legislative language matches or closely resembles model bills and resolutions offered by the American Legislative Exchange Council(ALEC)，a free-market.oriented group of state lawmakers underwritten in part by Exxon Mobil，Koch Industries，Duke Energy and Peabody Energy.“Now more than ever is the time for states to lead the way,”ALEC’s top officials told its members at a meeting in December.

　　G.The coalition campaigns have achieyed only symbolic victories in a few states.Nonbinding resolutions critical of the EPA power plant proposals have been approved in Alabama，Georgia，Nebraska，West Virginia and Wyoming.Three other states--Louisiana.Missouri and Ohio—are weighing legislation similar to the ALEC model.

　　H.Only one of the 18 state legislatures has approved a more substantive measure that would replace the EPA’s power plant rules.And even that bill.in Kentucky,could backfire by giving up a chance for the state to design its own program and forcing it to accept a federal compliance program.

　　I.“Clean energy is beginning to become mainstream，”said Gabe Eisner,executive director of the Energy and Policy Institute，a clean-energy think tank in Washington.“Renewable energy is popular and has increased political power now,”but，he added，“that power is still eclipsed by the resources of the fossil fuel industry.”

　　A surprisingly tough fight

　　J.Kansas might be the best place to see how these dynamics are unfolding.

　　K.The state was a promising choice for a foray(攻擊)against rules known as renewable-energy standards.which set minimum levels of renewable-energy use by electric utilities.Variations of these rules have been adopted in about 30 states.even though Congress did not pass a federal version of the requirement.In Kansas，a law passed in 2009 requires utilities to use wind and solar power to generate at least 15 percent of their electricity bv 2016 and 20 percent by 2020.

　　L.The coalition seeking the repeal of the renewable mandate had all the ingredients for success.Financial.muscle came from the Kansas Chamber of Commerce，which lobbied heavily for repeal.In addition，the state is home to Koch Industries，the Koch brothers’Wichita-based energy conglomerate(集團(tuán)).The state representative for Wichita，Republican Dennis Hedke，has called the company“one of the greatest success stories in the world”and said“they are making very positive contributions.”Hedke

　　chairs the state House’s Energy and Environment Committee.

　　M.Koch Industries，along with the utility industry’s Edison Electric Institute and the nation’s biggest coal company,Peabody Energy,have supported ALEC.which advised state lawmakers on repeal strategy.

　　N.“Koch has consistently opposed all subsidies and mandates across the board.especially as it relates to energy policy,”Philip Ellendea president and chief operating officer of Koch Companies Public Sector,said in a statement，citing the company’s opposition to the renewable fuel standard，wind production tax credit and ethanol(乙醇)mandate.“Government should not mandate the allocation or use of natural resources and raw materials in the production of goods.”

　　O.The ideological case was supported by conservative think tanks.Kansans for Liberty supposed repeal.and the state branch of Americans for Prosperity told supporters that“green energy mandates replace the free-market with bureaucratic government oversight，driving up costs for hard—working Kansas families.”The national group has spent$300.000 in the state pushing for the rollback of renewable standards.

　　P.Connections to key Kansas politicians also were stron9.Both the Kansas state Senate’s president.Susan Wagle，and the speaker of the state House，Ray Merrick，are members of the ALEC board and backed repeal.“The repeal of the RPS[Renewable Portfolio Standards]fits in line with the goals of the organization，”said Wagle，who said she joined ALEC in the 1990s in connection with her opposition to health-care reforln led by Hillary Rodham Clinton.then the first lady.

　　Q.Moreover’the Kansas economy relies heavily on fossil fuels.The state iS the nation’s 10th.1argest producer of crude oil and l 2th-largest of natural gas，according to the federal Energy Information Administration.In 2013，coal-fired power plants provided 61 percent of the state’s electricity,well above the national average.But the strong winds that blow across Kansas have carried new interests into the state.Kansas ranks sixth in the country in wind output，which jumped by a third last year and equaled 19 percent of the state’s electricity,the EIA says.

　　R. The growing number of wind farms not only generates power but royalties for landowners.Dorothy Barnett，executive director of the Climate and Energy Project，said that Kansas landowners receive more than$1 3 million a year.“This issue is an issue that touches rural Kansans，and we have a lot of rural Kansas legislators，”she said.

　　46.Resolutions with no binding force which are picky about the EPA power plant proposals have been accepted in many states such as Alabama and Georgia.

　　47.It is hopeful to gain success if Kansas is chosen as the foray against the rules of renewable-energy standards which minimize the renewable-energy use by power plants.

　　48.Koch Company’s Philip Ellender cited the company’s opposition to the renewable rules to approve its objection to all energy-policy-concerning subsidies and mandates，and advised that government let go of the allocation or use of materials used in goods production.

　　49.The issue is a problem that concerns the benefits of people in the rural Kansas，and we have a great many lawmakers from rural parts of Kansas.

　　50.The requirement to abolish the RPS complies with the organization’s targets.

　　51.The methods adopted by the l 8 states are the kernel of the attempts to level up the battle between fossil fuel and renewable energy.

　　52.The stage is established for the so-called“Wench warfare”，for the monetary benefits of both parts have been violated by the most powerful rules to spread renewable energy.

　　53.The league which requires abolishing the renewable mandate had all the factors to achieve success.

　　54.However,the winds that sweep across Kansas have brought new benefits to the state.

　　55.The all-sided efforts which roll back the renewable rules have been backed by a confederation with abundant capital，the members of which go against the existing govemment rules.

　　四級考試英語長篇閱讀習(xí)題答案

　　46.Resolutions with no binding force which are picky about the EPA power plant proposals have been accepted in many states such as Alabama and Georgia.那些對EPA電力公司的建議很挑剔的，不具有約束力的決議得到了阿拉巴馬和佐治亞等州的支持。

　　47.It is hopeful to gain success if Kansas is chosen as the foray against the rules of renewable-energy standards Which minimize the renewable-energy use by power plants.如果選擇堪薩斯州來攻擊那些規(guī)定了電力公司可再生能源最低使用量的可再生能源準(zhǔn)則的話，取得成功是很有希望的。

　　【解析】 K)

　　48.Koch Company’s Philip Ellender cited the company’s oppose to the renewable rules to approve its objection to all energy-policy-concerning subsidies and mandates，and advised that government let go of the allocation or use of materials used in goods production.科氏公司的菲利普•埃蘭多引用了該公司對可再生能源規(guī)則的反對來證明其對所有與能源政策有關(guān)的資助與授權(quán)的異議，并且提議政府應(yīng)該放開在商品生產(chǎn)中對材料的分配及使用。

　　【解析】 N)

　　49.The issue is a problem that concerns the benefits of people in the rural Kansas，and we have a great many lawmakers from that part.這個問題是一個關(guān)系到堪薩斯州農(nóng)村地區(qū)人們利益的問題，而且我們有很多立法人員都是從該地區(qū)來的。

　　【解析】 R)

　　50.The requirement to abolish the RPS complies with the organization’s targets.廢除RPS的要求與該組織的目標(biāo)一致。

　　【解析】 P)

　　51.The methods adopted by the 18 states are the kemel of the attempts to level up the battle between fossil fuel and renewable energy.已有18個州采納的這些措施是努力抬高化石燃料和可再生能源之間斗爭的關(guān)鍵。

　　52.The stage is established for the so-called“gench warfare”，for the monetary benefits of both parts have been violated by the most powerful rules to spread renewable energy.由于雙方的金錢利益都受到了推廣可再生能源的最強(qiáng)規(guī)則的侵犯，這個舞臺就成了為所謂的“陣地戰(zhàn)”準(zhǔn)備的。

　　53.The league which requires abolishing the renewable mandate had all the factors to achieve success.要求廢止可再生能源規(guī)定的同盟擁有取得成功所需的一切要素。

　　54.However,the winds that sweep across Kansas have brought new benefits to the state.然而，橫掃過堪薩斯的強(qiáng)風(fēng)為該州帶來了新的利益。

　　55.The all-sided efforts which roll back the renewable rules have been backed by a confederation with abundant capital，the members of which go against the existing government rules.這些回滾可再生能源規(guī)則的全面努力得到了一個資金充足的聯(lián)盟的支持，這個聯(lián)盟中的成員都反對現(xiàn)存的政府規(guī)定。

　　【解析】 E)