Solar radiation is a renewable energy resource that has been used by

Question

Solar radiation is a renewable energy resource that has been used by humanity in all ages. Passive solar technologies were used by ancient civilizations for warming habitations and for water heating, and, in the Renaissance, the concentration of solar radiation was extensively studied. The discovery of photovoltaic effect by Becquerel in 1839 and the creation of the first photovoltaic cell in the early 1950s opened entirely new perspectives on the use of solar energy for the production of electricity. Since then, the evolution of solar technologies continues at an unprecedented rate.

However, global generation of solar electricity is still small compared to the potential of this resource . The current cost of solar technologies and their intermittent nature make them hardly competitive in an energy market dominated by cheap fossil fuels. From a scientific and technological viewpoint, the great challenge is finding new solutions for solar energy systems to become less capital intensive and more efficient. Many research efforts are addressing these problems. Low cost and high-efficiency photovoltaic device concepts are being developed. Solar thermal technologies are reaching a mature stage of development and have the potential of becoming competitive for large energy supply. Intermittency is being addressed with extended research efforts in energy storage devices, such as batteries, and thermal storage devices. All these are valuable routes for enhancing the competitiveness and performance of solar technologies.   1 
 1. Which of the following, if true, would least clearly help address the concern cited in the highlighted text?

A. Efficient energy retaining batteries are developed.
B. Solar thermal technologies providing large energy supply are deployed.
C. Inexpensive, high efficiency photovoltaic devices are manufactured.
D. The cost of traditional fuels increases.
E. Highly-promising thermal storage devices are successfully tested in laboratories.

2 
 2. The passage suggests that the author would be most likely to agree over which of the following?

A. Ancient civilizations were aware of photovoltaic effect.
B. Creation of a photovoltaic cell is a time-consuming process.
C. Creation of the first photovoltaic cell was a benchmark event for solar technology.
D. Current photovoltaic devices can efficiently supply large volumes of energy.
E. Thermal storage devices reduce the cost of photovoltaic cells.

3 
 3. In the passage, the author is primarily interested in

A. tracing the history of solar energy
B. discussing history, challenges, and potential advancements of solar technologies
C. comparing the competitiveness of solar technologies with that of cheap fossil fuels
D. indicating specific improvements needed in current solar technologies
E. arguing for continued research in the field of solar technologies

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vasu1104 · Answer

passage 1= introduction of solar radiation and evolution of solar technologies. 
 passage 2= talks about problems with solar electricity and mentions the steps to address those problems.

Q=1. 
 A,B,C,E all are mentioned except D. nothing has been mentioned about D and particularly about traditional fuels getting increased.

Q-2. 
 A. Ancient civilizations were aware of photovoltaic effect.
passage only mentions ancient civilizations were being aware of solar tech but nothing about photovoltaic effect.

B. Creation of a photovoltaic cell is a time-consuming process.
nothing has been mentioned about process and its timing. reject

C. Creation of the first photovoltaic cell was a benchmark event for solar technology.
  perfect. as the passage says creation of first photovoltaic cell opened new perspective and since then evolution continues at unprecedented rate. 
 D. Current photovoltaic devices can efficiently supply large volumes of energy.
no info.
E. Thermal storage devices reduce the cost of photovoltaic cells.
no, only about them reaching mature stage in development and about potential. not about cost. out.

Q-3.
 passage 1 introduce the concept and passage 2 starts with problem associated with it and then mention some potential solution . 
 only B defines that

Dereno · Answer

1. Which of the following, if true, would least clearly help address the concern cited in the highlighted text?

If we read the second paragraph- the entire passage is speaking how the concern highlighted can be addressed.

Current cost of solar technology and its intermittent nature are acting as hindrance preventing solar power to make a giant leap.

A. Efficient energy retaining batteries are developed.

B. Solar thermal technologies providing large energy supply are deployed.

C. Inexpensive, high efficiency photovoltaic devices are manufactured.

D. The cost of traditional fuels increases .

E. Highly-promising thermal storage devices are successfully tested in laboratories.

Except for option D , all other options were well discussed as possible solutions to address the concerns in second paragraph. Hence,  D is the answer .

2. The passage suggests that the author would be most likely to agree over which of the following?

A. Ancient civilizations were aware of photovoltaic effect.

Just they have applied the principles of a scientific method, we cannot presume that they were aware of it. Hence, Wrong.

B. Creation of a photovoltaic cell is a time-consuming process.

No where in the passage was the term time consuming used in regard for photovoltaic cell creation. Hence, wrong.

C. Creation of the first photovoltaic cell was a benchmark event for solar technology.

The end of first para clearly states this theme and resonates with the authors thinking. Hence, correct answer.

D. Current photovoltaic devices can efficiently supply large volumes of energy.

Not mentioned by author, hence irrelevant and wrong.

E. Thermal storage devices reduce the cost of photovoltaic cells.

Thermal storage devices reduces the cost to store solar energy and not photovoltaic cells. Hence, wrong.

Option C

3. In the passage, the author is primarily interested in

A. tracing the history of solar energy
 B. discussing history, challenges, and potential advancements of solar technologies 
C. comparing the competitiveness of solar technologies with that of cheap fossil fuels
D. indicating specific improvements needed in current solar technologies
E. arguing for continued research in the field of solar technologies

The author begins with a historical note, followed by the challenges and then potential advancements that can be done in solar technology. So,  option B  is correct.

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Mind-map   
   
  To mention the history of solar energy   spanning across centuries   (Paragraph 1)  
  To discuss problems with and research efforts related to the progress of solar technologies (Paragraph 2)  
  
 = = = = = = = = = =

1.   Which of the following, if true, would least clearly help address the concern cited in the highlighted text?

a.   Efficient energy retaining batteries are developed. 
 b.   Solar thermal technologies providing large energy supply are deployed. 
 c.   Inexpensive, high   efficiency   photovoltaic devices are manufactured. 
  d.     The cost of traditional fuels increases.  
 e.   Highly-promising thermal storage devices are successfully tested in laboratories.

Highlight Required:     However, global generation of solar electricity is still small compared to the potential of this resource

Question Type: Inference

D is the best choice.   
  
   Video explanation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRvWFna0yyA

2.   The passage suggests that the author would be most likely to agree over which of the following?

a.   Ancient civilizations were aware of photovoltaic effect. 
 b.   Creation of a photovoltaic cell is a time-consuming process. 
  c.     Creation of the first photovoltaic cell was a benchmark event for solar technology.  
 d.   Current photovoltaic devices can efficiently supply large volumes of energy. 
 e.   Thermal storage devices reduce the cost of photovoltaic cells.

Question Type: Fact

Explanation:

Each answer choice needs to be carefully evaluated in light of the information presented in the passage.

A. The passage states that “Passive solar technologies were used by ancient civilizations for warming habitations and for water heating”; the passage mentions that ancient civilizations passively used solar energy, but   there is no mention of ancient civilizations’ knowledge of photovoltaic effect  ; as stated later in the paragraph, “The discovery of photovoltaic effect by Becquerel” took place in “1839”; it is incorrect to state that ancient civilizations were aware of photovoltaic effect; because the passage makes no suggestion that would lead to the statement in the answer choice, it can be stated that the author is not likely to agree with the statement mentioned in this answer choice.

B.   The passage does not mention any information related to the creation of photovoltaic cell  . Further, the first paragraph mentions that “The discovery of photovoltaic effect by Becquerel in 1839 and the creation of the first photovoltaic cell in the early 1950s opened entirely new perspectives on the use of solar energy for the production of electricity”; although the passage mentions that there is a gap of about a century between the discovery of photovoltaic effect and the creation of the first photovoltaic cell,   there is no reference to why such a gap exists  ; it is incorrect to infer that the gap exists because the “creation of a photovoltaic cell is a time-consuming process”, as the answer choice mentions. Because the passage makes no suggestion that would lead to the statement in the answer choice, it can be stated that the author is not likely to agree with the statement mentioned in this answer choice.

C.  Correct.  The first paragraph mentions that the creation of the first photovoltaic cell “  opened entirely new perspectives on the use of solar energy  ” and that “Since then, the evolution of solar technologies continues at an unprecedented rate”; it can be inferred that the author believes that the creation of the first photovoltaic cell was a benchmark event for solar technology, as mentioned in the answer choice.

D. The second paragraph mentions “many research efforts” regarding solar technologies and states that “Low cost and high- efficiency photovoltaic device concepts are being developed” and “Solar thermal technologies are reaching a mature stage of development and have the potential of becoming competitive for large energy supply”;   the high-efficiency photovoltaic device are still “concepts” and large energy supplying solar technologies are in “development”  ; the passage makes no suggestion that “current photovoltaic devices can efficiently supply large volumes of energy”, as the answer choice mentions; because the passage makes no suggestion that would lead to the statement in the answer choice, it can be stated that the author is not likely to agree with the statement mentioned in this answer choice.

E. The second paragraph mentions “many research efforts” regarding solar technologies and states that “Low cost and high- efficiency photovoltaic device concepts are being developed” and “Intermittency is being addressed with extended research efforts in energy storage devices, such as batteries, and thermal storage devices”;   the passage mentions thermal storage devices in the context of “intermittency” and not “the cost of photovoltaic cells”  ; because the passage makes no suggestion that would lead to the statement in the answer choice, it can be stated that the author is not likely to agree with the statement mentioned in this answer choice.

C is the best choice.   
  
 = = = = = = = = = =
   
   3.   In the passage, the author is primarily interested in

a. tracing the history of solar energy
 b. discussing history, challenges, and potential advancements of solar technologies 
c. comparing the competitiveness of solar technologies with that of cheap fossil fuels
d. indicating specific improvements needed in current solar technologies
e. arguing for continued research in the field of solar technologies

Question Type: Structure

Explanation:

As the mind-map suggests, the first paragraph mentions the history of solar energy spanning across centuries, and the second paragraph discusses the problems with and research efforts related to the progress of solar technologies.   As a whole, the passage is interested in the history, challenges, and improvements related to solar technologies  . The answer choice that does justice to this summary is the correct answer choice.

A. As the mind-map suggests, the first paragraph deals with the history of solar energy spanning across centuries; however,   the discussion on history is only a part of the passage   and cannot be considered the primary interest of the author. As the mind-map suggests, the first paragraph mentions the history of solar energy spanning across centuries, and the second paragraph discusses the problems with and research efforts related to the progress of solar technologies; as a whole, the passage is interested in the history, challenges, and improvements related to solar technologies. Incorrect.

B.  Correct.  As the mind-map suggests, the first paragraph mentions the history of solar energy spanning across centuries, and the second paragraph discusses the problems with and research efforts related to the progress of solar technologies;   as a whole, the passage is interested in the history, challenges, and improvements related to     solar technologies  ; in other words, discussing history, challenges, and potential advancements of solar technologies, as the answer choice mentions, is the primary concern in the passage.

C. The second paragraph mentions that “The current cost of solar technologies and their intermittent nature make them hardly competitive in an energy market dominated by cheap fossil fuels”; although the passage makes a reference to the competitiveness of solar technologies and fossil fuels,   the reference is a passing reference and not representative of the overall scope of the passage  . As the mind-map suggests, the first paragraph mentions the history of solar energy spanning across centuries, and the second paragraph discusses the problems with and research efforts related to the progress of solar technologies; as a whole, the passage is interested in the history, challenges, and improvements related to solar technologies.

D. The second paragraph mentions that “global generation of solar electricity is still small compared to the potential of this resource” because “The current cost of solar technologies and their intermittent nature make them hardly competitive in an energy market dominated by cheap fossil fuels” and “the great challenge is finding new solutions for solar energy systems to become less capital intensive and more efficient”; the passage subsequently mentions “many research efforts” that are “addressing these problems”; although the passage discusses current challenges and research efforts to overcome these challenges,   the passage doesn’t “indicate specific improvements”, as the answer choice suggests  . Moreover,   the discussion on improvements is not representative of the overall scope of the passage  . As the mind-map suggests, the first paragraph mentions the history of solar energy spanning across centuries, and the second paragraph discusses the problems with and research efforts related to the progress of solar technologies; as a whole, the passage is interested in the history, challenges, and improvements related to solar technologies.

E. The second paragraph mentions “many research efforts” that are addressing the problems associated with current solar technologies and discusses “Low cost and high efficiency photovoltaic device concepts”, “Solar thermal technologies”, “energy storage devices”, and “thermal storage devices”; although the author mentions specific research efforts,   the reference relates to the second half of the passage and is not representative of the overall scope of the passage.   Further, the term “arguing for” would necessitate a persuading tone with evidence stated in support of why continued research is required; no such treatment is present in the passage; so, it cannot be stated that the author “argues for continued research in the field of solar technologies”. As the mind-map suggests, the first paragraph mentions the history of solar energy spanning across centuries, and the second paragraph discusses the problems with and research efforts related to the progress of solar technologies; as a whole, the passage is interested in the history, challenges, and improvements related to solar technologies.

B is the best choice.

Solar radiation is a renewable energy resource that has been used by

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Solar radiation is a renewable energy resource that has been used by

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