Read the following text and answer the questions 1-2.
Countries of the world rely heavily on petroleum, coal and natural gas for their energy sources. There are two major types of energy sources: renewable and non-renewable. Hydro-carbon or fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of energy. Reliance on them poses real big problems. First, fossil fuels such as oil, coal, gas, etc. are finite energy resources and the world eventually will run out of them. Secondly, they will become too expensive in the coming decades and too damaging for the environment to repair. Thirdly, fossil fuels have direct polluting impacts on earth’s environment causing global warming. In contrast, renewable energy sources such as, wind and solar energy are constantly and naturally replenished and never run out.
Most renewable energy comes either directly or indirectly from the sun. Sunlight or solar energy can be used for heating and lighting homes, for generating electricity and for other commercial and industrial uses.
The sun’s heat drives the wind and this wind energy can be captured with wind turbines to produce electricity. Then the wind and the sun’s heat cause water to evaporate. When this water vapour turns into rain or snow and flows downhill into rivers or streams, its energy can be captured as hydroelectric energy.
Along with the rain and snow, sunlight causes plants to grow. Plants produce biomass which again can be turned into fuels such as fire wood, alcohol, etc. identified as bioenergy.
Scientists have identified Hydrogen as another form of renewable energy source. It is the most abundant element in nature. But it does not exist separately as a gas. It is always combined with other elements, such as with oxygen to make water. Hydrogen, separated from another element, can be burned as a fuel to produce electricity.
Our Earth’s interior contains molten lava with tremendous heat. This heat inside the Earth produces steam and hot water which can be tapped as geothermal energy to produce electricity, for heating home, etc.
Ocean energy comes from several sources. Ocean’s force of tide and wave can be used to produce energy. The surface of the ocean gets more heat from the sun than the ocean depths. This temperature difference can be used as energy source too.
1. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1´7=7
(a) Renewable energy is derived from a/an......source.
(i) undefined (ii) finite
(iii) infinite (iv) limited
(b) What does the expression 'the world eventually will run out of them' mean?
(i) The world will face severe crisis of renewable energy resources
(ii) Fossil fuels will no more be available in the world some day
(iii) People of all the countries will undergo the crisis of all forms of energy
(iv) Excessive population will give rise to severe deadlock in regular activities of mankind
(c) Which of the following is opposite in meaning to the word 'replenish' in the passage?
(i) empty (ii) recollect
(iii) adjoin (iv) alternate
(d) Renewable and non-renewable energies differ in respect of their¾
(i) size (ii) strength
(iii) functions (iv) sources and amount
(e) What is geothermal energy?
(i) heat from deep within the earth
(ii) heat from deep within the sky
(iii) flows downhill
(iv) hydroelectric energy
(f) Solar energy belongs to¾ energy.
(i) renewable (ii) micro
(iii) non-renewable (iv) macro
(g) Which source of energy is liable for greenhouse effect?
(i) non-renewable energy (ii) renewable energy
(iii) alternative energy (iv) hydro-carbon energy
2. Answer the following questions. 2´5=10
(a) What do the most countries depend on for energy?
(b) Why will the non-renewable energy resources run out?
(c) What will happen to the non-renewable energy resources in the coming decades?
(d) Why are the renewable energy sources limitless? Explain in brief.
(e) Which resources should we use to produce energy? Why should we use that?
