After Fukushima, Nations Put Nuke Plant Development On Hold
April/ 6/ 2011
By Zulima Palacio
Just a few months ago, experts were talking about the "renaissance" of the nuclear power industry. After more than two decades of relatively safe operations and with public demands growing for clean, carbon-free power plants, many nations, including the United States, seemed ready to embrace nuclear energy as a clean, safe and efficient alternative to fossil-fuels. And then came the March 11th earthquake and tsunami that severely damaged the Fukushima-Daiichi reactor complex in Japan. Worldwide, countries like China with active nuclear power projects put them on hold for review, while Germany and several other countries simply canceled them. Overnight, new doubts have arisen about the future of nuclear power.
核電廠在超過20年的安全營運，與大眾積極要求乾淨與無碳的的前提下，專家們幾個月前還在討論核能產業的復興運動，許多像美國等的大國似乎已經準備好要採用較無汙染、安全、與高效能的核電取代石油燃料。但是自從日本311大地震與海嘯重創福島第一核電廠的核子反應爐設施，中國等若干國家就將其核電廠計畫暫停並且重新審核，德國與其他國家更直接取消計畫，核能的未來一夜之間充滿了新的變數。
I. Reading skills--Multiple choice:
1. Which of the following causes the slow development or possible cancellation of the nuclear power plan in the U.S.?
A) people’s objection and the government’s budget shortage
B) the possibility of radiation leaks and the demand of other sources of clean and renewable energy
C) the accident of radiation leaks happened in Boston and the US government’s prohibition
D) the damage of nuclear power plant in Japan and the fear of strong earthquakes
2. The supporters of nuclear power think that mishaps of nuclear power plants happen____.
A) once and for all
B) all the time
C) from time to time
D) once in a blue moon
3. Which of the following statements about building a nuclear power plant is TRUE?
A) The approval from the government is always very tedious and time-consuming.
B) Despite what happened in Fukushima, the number of new nuclear power plant goes up rapidly.
C) The cost of building a nuclear plant is actually quite economical.
D) All the governments world wide call their nuclear power plans off after the incident in Fukushima.
4. What is NOT considered as one of forms of the non-fossil fuel energy?
A) nuclear energy
B) wind power
C) solar energy
D) fire power
5. In the ending of this report, how does the report sound like regarding the future of nuclear energy?
A) optimistic
B) pessimistic
C) doubtful
D) encouraging
II. Listening skills--transcribing:
聽力檔案
"Nuclear power currently __6__about 14 percent of all global electricity; and the simple reality is that if we were to __7__ further nuclear development in the near term that would place a great burden on additional fossil fuel __8__," said Ebinger.
"One small pellet in reactor fuel is __9__ one ton of coal," said Heymer. "And there are normally between 80 to 100 railroad cars full of coal that are__10__ in a power plant each day."
Answers:
1-5：B、D、A、D、C、
6-10：accounts for、forego、utilization、equivalent to、burned
Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/science-technology/After-Fukushima-Nations-Put-Nuke-Plant-Development-On-Hold-119361329.html
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