Passage Two
Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage:
A breakthrough (突破) in the provision of energy from the sun for the European Economic Community (EEC) could be brought froward by up to two decades, if a modest increase could be provided in the EEC's research effort in this field, according to the senior EEC scientists engaged in experiments in solar energy at EEC's scientific laboratories at Ispra, near Milan.
The senior West German scientist in charge of the Community's solar energy programme, Mr. Joachim Gretz, told journalists that at present levels of research spending it was most unlikely that solar energy would provide as much as three per cent of the Community's energy requirements even after the year 2000. But he said that with a modest increase in the present sums, devoted by the EEC to this work it was possible that the breakthrough could be achieved by the end of the next decade.
Mr. Gretz calculates that if solar energy only provided three per cent of the EEC's needs, this could still produce a saving of about a billion pounds in the present bill for imported energy each year. And he believes that with the possibility of utilizing more advanced technology in this field it might be possible to satisfy a much bigger share of the Community's future energy needs.
At present the EEC spends about $2.6 millions a year on solar research at Ispra, one of the EEC's official joint research centres, and another $3 millions a year in indirect research with universities and other independent bodies.
26. The phrase "be brought forward" (Line 2, Para. 1) most probably means "______".
(A) be expected (C) be advanced
(B) be completed (D) be introduced
27. Some scientists believe that a breakthrough in the use of solar energy depends on ______.
(A) sufficient funding (C) advanced technology
(B) further experiments (D) well-equipped laboratories
28. According to Mr. Gretz, the present sum of money will enable the scientists to provide _____.
(A) more than 3% of the EEC's needs after the year 2000
(B) only 3% of the EEC's needs before the year 2000
(C) less than 3% of the EEC's needs before the year 2000
(D) 3% of the EEC's needs after the year 2000
29. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? ______
(A) The EEC spends one billion pounds on imported energy each year.
(B) At the present level of research spending, it is difficult to make any significant progress in the provision of energy from the sun.
(C) The desired breakthrough could be obtained by the end of the next decade if investment were increased.
(D) The total yearly spending of the EEC on solar energy research amounted to almost 6 million.
30. The application of advanced technology to research in solar energy ______.
(A) would lead to a big increase in research funding
(B) would make it unnecessary to import oil
(C) would make it possible to meet the future energy needs of the EEC
(D) would provide a much greater proportion of the Community's future energy needs
Passage Three
Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage:
Just seven years ago, the Jarvik-7 artificial heart was being cheered as the model of human
creativeness. The sight of Barney Clark-alive and conscious after trading his diseased heart for a
metal-and-plastic pump-convinced the press, the public and many doctors that the future had
arrived. It hadn't. After monitoring production of the Jarvik-7, and reviewing its effects on the
150 or so patients (most of whom got the device as a temporary measure) the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration concluded that the machine was doing more to endanger lives than to save
them. Last week the agency cancelled its earlier approval, effectively banning (禁止) the device.
The recall may hurt Symbion Inc., maker of the Jarvik-7, but it won't end the request for
an artificial heart. One problem with the banned mode is that the tubes connecting it to an external
power source created a passage for infection. Inventors are now working on new devices that
would be fully placed, along with a tiny power pack, in the patient's chest. The first sample
products aren't expected for another 10 or 20 years. But some people are already worrying that
they'll work-and that America's overextended health-care programs will lose a precious
$2.5 billion to $5 billion a year providing them for a relatively few dying patients. If such
expenditures (开支) cut into funding for more basic care, the net effect could actually be a decline
in the nation's health.
31. According to the passage, the Jarvik-7 artificial heart proved to be _____.
(A) a technical failure
(B) a technical wonder
(C) a good life-saver
(D) an effective means to treat heart disease
32. From the passage we know that Symbion Inc. _____.
(A) has been banned by the government from producing artificial hearts
(B) will review the effects of artificial hearts before designing new models
(C) may continue to work on new models of reliable artificial hearts
(D) can make new models of artificial hearts available on the market in 10 to 20 years
33. The new models of artificial hearts are expected _____.
(A) to have a working life of 10 or 20 years
(B) to be set fully in the patient's chest
(C) to be equipped with an external power source
(D) to create a new passage for infection
34. The word "them" in Line 7, Para. 2 refers to _____.
(A) doctors who treat heart diseases
(B) makers of artificial hearts
(C) America's health-care programs
(D) new models of artificial hearts
35. Some people feel that _____.
(A) artificial hearts are seldom effective
(B) the country should not spend so much money on artificial hearts
(C) the country is not spending enough money on artificial hearts
(D) America's health-care programs are not doing enough for the nation's health