Natural gas use for power generation rose this summer because of hot w

Question

Natural gas use for power generation rose this summer because of hot weather-driven electricity demand for air conditioning coupled with low natural gas prices. According to Bentek Energy, estimated daily natural gas use to produce electric power (also called power burn) averaged 26.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) so far in 2012 (Jan 1–Aug 15), up 24% compared to the same period for 2011. Bentek Energy, which has been estimating power burn since January 2005, said that 17 of the 25 highest days of power burn since 2005 occurred this summer between June 28 and August 9. The two main drivers of the increased use of natural gas at power plants this year are weather and a structural shift toward generating more electricity from natural gas-fired power plants.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported the warmest first half of the year since 1895 in 28 states, and that heat continued in July and August. U.S. population-weighted cooling degree days (CDDs), a measure of cooling requirements, averaged 26% higher than the 30-year average from January 1 through August 15, and has been consistently above average for most of the year. Regionally, CDDs in the Midwest, where hot, dry weather was particularly severe, were 59% above their 30-year average, with the Northeast, South, and West at 43%, 18%, and 14%, respectively, above their corresponding averages.

In April 2012, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that monthly shares of coal- and natural gas-fired generation were equal for the first time. This is a result of several factors, including:

■ lower natural gas prices, the result of new drilling technologies, growing production, a large increase in proved reserves, and robust natural gas infrastructure additions over the last several years 
■ power plant efficiencies, with newer natural gas units more efficient than older coal units and rising capacity factors of natural gas-fired units 
■ Coal unit retirements, expecting almost 9,000 MW of coal-fired capacity to be retired in 2012, with additional retirements in subsequent years    1 
 1. Which of the following most accurately summarizes the main point of the passage?

a. It is clear by how much energy we are burning that the earth’s weather patterns are becoming increasingly warmer. 
b. Coal units are not as efficient or cost-effective as natural gas sources. 
c. The Northeast and Midwest are going to become warmer and warmer each year. 
d. Due to weather and lower natural gas prices, power plants are using natural gas more than ever as an energy source. 
e. The earth is running out of efficient ways to produce electricity as it gets warmer and warmer, creating a precarious predicament.

2 
 2. According to the passage, Bentek Energy is responsible for

a. an alliance with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to strategize what to do about the energy crisis. 
b. gathering and collecting data that will assess the use of natural gases. 
c. newer natural gas units that are more efficient than older coal units. 
d. the leveling of the playing field between coal and natural gas. 
e. bringing up public consciousness about the amount of power being used.

3 
 3. Based on the passage, which of the following statements can be inferred regarding the earth’s future weather patterns?

a. Eventually all life will either adapt to hotter conditions or become extinct. 
b. There will not be enough energy left on the planet to accommodate the drastic differences in weather. 
c. If it continues to grow warmer, a parallel rise in energy use will occur, accounted for by air conditioning. 
d. The West is the best region to live in for moderate weather conditions. 
e. Hurricanes and typhoons will become more devastating and increase in occurrence.

4 
 4. The purpose of the last sentence of the first paragraph is to

a. refute the facts that Bentek Energy keeps delivering. 
b. emphasize the central idea of the passage. 
c. present a new point of view to be discussed. 
d. segue into a new discussion of more interest to the author. 
e. deliver a hopeful message regarding the increased use of power.

5 
 5. Based on the information provided by the passage, which would most likely reflect the author’s attitude regarding natural gas usage?

a. dreamy 
b. objective 
c. hollow 
d. complimentary 
e. elegiac

6 
 6. Which of the following pairs most resembles the relationship between coal and natural gas as presented in the passage?

a. a hard-wired chandelier and a table lamp 
b. a kick drum and a drum machine 
c. a video rental store and a streaming video system 
d. an electrical outlet and a generator 
e. a bicycle and a skateboard

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 253 Date: 24-Jun-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

ryanstarr · Accepted Answer

Let me say first off that I agree--a lot of this passage is purely objective, and especially early on, the author doesn't betray any sort of a preference for natural gas. It's only toward the end (when the passage changes to bullet points) that the author is complimentary about natural gas. It's not complimentary in a traditional sense--try calling someone "robust" and see how complimented they feel--but basically the author says only good things about natural gas at this point, mentioning the lower prices, robust infrastructure, greater efficiency, etc. Imagine a stranger came up to you and said all those things--would you think the stranger was being objective about gas? Or would it seem more like the stranger was trying to sell you the gas?

If I'd been able to choose my own answer, I'd want an answer like  positive  or  optimistic , but for these answer choices,  complimentary  comes the closest.

paragamrutkar · Answer

Why is the author's attitude complimentary (D)? 
The author has stated facts about the increase in natural gas usage for power generation. Hence, I think the attitude is objective (B).

Its_me_aka_ak · Answer

Why is Q6 C and not E?
Actually, I got confused and went for E.
Both things in both options can substitute for each other, so what is the exact reasoning used?

Its_me_aka_ak · Answer

Hi,  Its_me_aka_ak

This is how I approached this Q:
Look at this very sentence:
"power plant efficiencies, with  newer natural gas  units more efficient  than older coal units  and rising capacity factors of natural gas-fired units"

You will notice, marked in bold states the differentiation point between Natural gas and Coal i.e. new and old way of doing the same work.

looking back at the options:
a. a hard-wired chandelier and a table lamp (  Both have different objectives, cannot be compared. )
b. a kick drum and a drum machine ( Same as A )
c. a video rental store and a streaming video system (  Defines the new vs old that seeks similar objective .)
d. an electrical outlet and a generator ( Complementary sources )
e. a bicycle and a skateboard ( Same as A )

Actually, your reasoning for evaluating B confuses me, but the reasoning behind C provides me with an insight that now I see what the difference is. thanks bro

Natural gas use for power generation rose this summer because of hot w

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Natural gas use for power generation rose this summer because of hot w

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615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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