The demand for electricity in certain countries has been projected

The following passage was written in the mid-1990s.

The demand for electricity in certain countries has
been projected recently to grow by 50 percent by the
year 2010. Unfortunately, the increased use of fossil
fuels to generate this electricity may ultimately damage
(5) human and environmental health. For example,
emissions of air pollutants in these countries are
expected to double over the next 25 years, even if
energy is used efficiently, so that local urban air quality
will likely deteriorate. Renewable sources of
(10) electricity, such as solar radiation, wind, and
waterpower, are possible solutions to the problems
caused by increasing demand for electricity. Unlike
fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are available in
virtually all geographic regions, and they allow
(15) electricity production without dangerous environ-
mental pollutants. Additionally, these sources can usually be
located closer to consumers than can plants that use
fossil fuels, thus reducing transmission and distribution
costs. Technologies for the successful long-term
(20) exploitation of these resources, however, are not
always implemented successfully.

In rural Brazil, for example, millions of citizens do
not have electricity, and the lack of necessary
infrastructure has limited efforts to provide it. In 1992,
(25) an energy agency from the United States developed a
joint project with two Brazilian states to install 800
household solar electrical systems and train local
personnel to service them. Under the project’s terms,
local utilities install, maintain, and own the systems,
(30) and collect fees from users. Backers hoped the project
would attract enough private investment for substantial
expansion throughout Brazil. But the project directors
rejected the relatively high bids of local Brazilian
companies to produce the solar collectors and thus
(35) missed an opportunity to stimulate local production.
Consequently, a short-term savings in start-up costs
precluded the long-term benefits deriving from the
development of local production capacity and
technological skill, which eventually would have led to
(40) independence from costly foreign expertise. As a
result, participating utilities can generate only enough
income to cover operating and maintenance costs,
which makes further investment and expansion
unlikely. Thus, the movement toward a sustainable,
(45) rural electricity system in Brazil remains stalled.

But some efforts have avoided these pitfalls. In the
mid-1980s, a Danish energy agency helped agencies in
India build three modern wind turbine plants and
gradually develop local technical capacity. Local
(50) participants were trained in planning, operation,
maintenance, and construction of turbines. Indian firms
subsequently began manufacturing turbines and, as
more locally manufactured equipment became
available, Indian utilities were able to increase their use
(55) of wind energy profitably. The success of these small
projects spurred enthusiasm; Indian utilities were soon
ordering more equipment and private investment in
wind energy surged. Because the Danish agency,
unlike its U.S. counterpart, recognized the importance
(60) of local involvement at all levels, the project has a
good chance of remaining competitive and profitable
for the long run.

1. Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?

(A) While some later efforts to implement renewable energy systems have been plagued and eventually halted by economic conflicts, early renewable energy projects relying more heavily on local involvement enjoyed a larger degree of success.
(B) Investors in renewable energy projects should consider not only financial factors but also the potential gains in human and environmental health from using this technology—gains that are not always readily measurable.
(C) Renewable energy sources represent a promising means for addressing many countries’ energy demands and environmental concerns, but the necessary technologies can be implemented most effectively in countries that have continuing access to foreign investment or expertise.
(D) Though renewable energy sources represent a promising means for meeting the rising energy demands of certain countries, the exploitation of these resources is unlikely to succeed unless long-term, local participation at all levels is seen as integral to renewable energy projects.
(E) Certain types of renewable energy sources, such as wind-generated electricity systems, are more likely to be successful than other types, but continued investment and experimentation are necessary to establish which renewable energy projects will succeed.


2. Based on the information in the passage, with which one of the following statements regarding solar electrical systems would the author be most likely to agree?

(A) Despite previous difficulties, these systems can be implemented profitably in many countries.
(B) Though these systems do not produce pollutants, they must be seen as an impractical substitute for fossil-fuel systems.
(C) These systems would be more effectively employed in densely populated areas than in rural areas.
(D) These systems are more costly to install, operate, and maintain than are wind-energy systems.
(E) Until the long-term functioning of these systems is demonstrated, they cannot be considered a viable type of energy technology.


3. The author mentions which one of the following in the passage?

(A) a specific example of an energy-generating system that relies on fossil fuels
(B) an example of a project that successfully utilized the local manufacture of equipment
(C) an example of the added transmission costs incurred by a specific fossil-fuel energy plant
(D) the approximate size of a community that can be served by a modern wind turbine plant
(E) the approximate number of years it takes to develop local technical capacity to generate energy from renewable sources


4. The author’s attitude toward the directors of the Brazil project can most accurately be described as

(A) disapproving of their heavy dependence on private investment
(B) surprise at their lack of faith in the quality of local technological expertise
(C) critical of their lack of foresight in overemphasizing the importance of reducing short-term costs
(D) outrage at their favoring profit over humanitarian goals
(E) doubtful of their desire to implement a successful solar electrical system in Brazil


5. In the passage, the author is primarily concerned with

(A) summarizing the reasons why renewable energy resources should be used and explaining why certain promising technologies cannot be implemented profitably
(B) arguing for the advantages of renewable energy resources and illustrating with examples what factors will favor their successful implementation
(C) illustrating the advantages of adopting renewable energy resources by summarizing how they have been implemented in the past
(D) comparing and contrasting two types of renewable energy technology and giving examples of the benefits and drawbacks of each
(E) discussing two types of renewable energy resources and analyzing why one is more easily implemented than the other


6. The author’s discussion in lines 5–9 is intended primarily to

(A) substantiate the claim that the demand for electricity will climb 50 percent by the year 2010
(B) undermine the claim that efficient energy use is an effective means of addressing environmental problems caused by increased energy demand
(C) specify the time frame within which it will be necessary to develop renewable energy technology
(D) offer evidence for the claim that fossil fuels are a problematic source of electricity
(E) foreshadow a claim concerning the need for localized involvement in environmentally sound technological development


7. Which one of the following, if true, would most call into question the author’s assertion in the last sentence of the passage?

(A) The profitability of the India project was due primarily to temporary subsidies from the Indian government.
(B) The Danish energy agency invested more funds in the India project than the U.S. agency invested in the Brazil project.
(C) Indian firms are not required to limit user fees charged to consumers.
(D) Environmental pollutants are produced in the manufacture of some equipment used in wind turbines.
(E) New technology is poised to decrease sharply the level of pollutants produced by fossil-fuel plants.