Will Biofuels Really Work?|生质燃料可行吗？

　　

by Jeremy Beacock

Is biomass really a fuel of the future?

生物质能真是未来燃料的明日之星吗？

Many people know that climate changes caused by fossil fuels are one of the major threats to the environment. Others believe that the world is _(1)_ these same fossil fuels which are essential for powering our modern lifestyles. As a result, the world seems set for an environmental or economic _(2)_. However, biofuels, fuels made from plants, could be an answer to both problems. Biofuels come from a variety of sources like corn or sugar cane, and because of this, biofuels are truly a(n) _(3)_ energy source.

_(4)_ biofuels are gathered, they can be burned in power stations in place of fossil fuels to generate electricity. If there are enough biofuels _(5)_, this can be very effective. The largest biofuel power station in the US provides enough energy for 6,000 homes. Biofuels can also take the form of liquids such as biodiesel (生质柴油), which can be used as fuel for _(6)_.

However, the solutions to Earth's problems are not so simple because there are some problems with biofuels. Studies show that burning biofuels _(7)_ air pollution. What's more, growing enough plants for biofuels to fuel an energy-hungry world leaves less land for growing food crops. In addition, claiming new land for producing biofuels can _(8)_ the destruction of natural environments, such as rainforests.

_(9)_ all these disadvantages, biofuels are seen as a fuel of the future. Many major companies are investigating its potential, and some countries are already _(10)_ land to grow biofuel crops. While it may not be the cure-all answer we need for our energy problems, biofuels could certainly be one part of the solution.

(A) available   (B) lead to (C) crisis  (D) Once    (E) transportation

(F) putting aside   (G) renewable   (H) Despite (I) increases   (J) running out of

　　许多人都了解化石燃料引起的气候变迁是对环境造成威胁的主因之一。有些人相信全球正在耗尽这些提供现代生活形态动力所需的化石燃料。因此，这世界似乎就要面临环境或是经济的危机。然而，由植物提炼的生质燃料可能是这两个问题的解决之道。生质燃料的来源众多，像玉米和甘蔗等皆是，因此生质燃料的确是种可再生的能源。

　　生质燃料一经收集后，就能代替化石燃料在发电厂燃烧产生电力。如果可用的生质燃料够多，就能产生很大的效益。美国最大的生质燃料发电厂就提供足够 6 千户家庭使用的能源。生质燃料也能以像是生质柴油这样的液态形式出现，作为交通运输工具的燃料。

　　然而，地球问题的解决之道不会这么简单，因为生质燃料存在着一些问题。研究显示燃烧生质燃料会增加空气污染。再者，要种植足够的植物提炼生质燃料，进而提供燃料给能源需求量极高的世界，会使得种植食用农作物的土地变少。此外，动用新土地以制造生质燃料可能会导致像雨林等自然环境的破坏。

　　尽管生质燃料存在这些缺点，它仍被视为一种未来的燃料。许多大公司正着手调查生质燃料的潜力，而有些国家甚至已挪出土地种植可提炼生质燃料的农作物。或许这并非是解决能源问题的万灵丹，但生质燃料绝对是部份的解决方法。

标准答案:   1. (J)  2. (C)  3. (G)  4. (D)  5. (A)
   6. (E)  7. (I)  8. (B)  9. (H)  10. (F)

For Your Information

根据一项新的研究结果，每年高达几十万吨的西瓜因瑕疵或是形状怪异而遭到丢弃。最近美国科学家发现了这个美味多汁的夏日宠儿，除了食用以外还有另一种截然不同的作用。他们发现西瓜还可以制造生质燃料乙醇。

萃取化合物之后剩余的西瓜汁液即可让它发酵并制成清洁能源乙醇。尽管相较于其他生质作物，西瓜可产出的生质燃料非常有限，每公顷 8.4 吨滞销的西瓜约可生产每公顷 220 公升的乙醇。与原本只能当作肥料使用或遭到丢弃的命运相比，这项发现不仅能提供乙醇燃料为农场自用，还可以为农民带来额外的收入。（数据源：http://e-info.org.tw/node/46825）