Asignificant breakthrough has recently occurred in the race to produce clean energy. Scientists at a laboratory in the United States were able to create a fusion reaction that produced more energy than was required to make it. Experts around the world agree that this incredible development proves that fusion power can one day be a practical energy option.
Fusion power is a type of nuclear energy source like fission power, which is currently a common source of energy across the globe. While fission power involves splitting a large atom to produce energy, fusion power creates energy by combining smaller atoms together. It makes energy the same way the Sun and stars do. One important thing to note is that fusion power doesn¡¦t create harmful long-term radioactive waste and is unlikely to cause dangerous power plant meltdowns like fission power. That¡¦s why fusion power has been described as the ¡§holy grail¡¨ of sustainable energy.
Despite this critical development, there are still many obstacles to get over before fusion power becomes a reality. For one thing, the energy produced in the above- mentioned experiment was just enough to boil a few water kettles. It is incredibly difficult to sustain a fusion reaction.
Temperatures need to be higher than the Sun¡¦s center, and the pressure should also be greater than the Earth¡¦s atmosphere before atoms will merge, not to mention the costs of building and maintaining all the highly-technical equipment. Still, many in the scientific community are optimistic about what the future of fusion power holds.
1. What can we learn about the experiment that realized fusion power?
(A) It was not recognized by the scientific field.
(B) It tried to split apart two atoms to produce energy.
(C) It has achieved something that has never happened before
(D) It produced energy that can be put into commercial use soon.
2. Why is fusion power considered a better option than fission power?
(A) Fission power is more difficult to generate .
(B) Fusion power is less likely to cause a power plant disaster.
(C) Fission power plants need more energy to operate properly.
(D) Fusion power requires a lot less energy to produce than fission power.
3. Which of the following is NOT a current challenge regarding fusion power?
(A) The necessary equipment is expensive and difficult to maintain.
(B) The pressure required in the process should be extremely high.
(C) Temperatures need to get very hot for it to work.
(D) The risk of an explosion is quite high.
µª®×: 1.C 2.B 3.D
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