首页在线考试章节闯关谁正在考试学习应用
您的位置:在线考试首页>章节闯关>专业八级>阅读理解>政治经济类> 第1关
  • 00:00:00
已做0项(正确0项,错误做0项)/共104项,剩余104项未作答
结束作答
阅读理解
收藏纠错
The United States produced more crude oil in October than it imported for the first time since early 1995, as domestic shale oil output continued to surge and U.S.consumption of petroleum products remained relatively flat, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.The figures mark a milestone in the rebound of U.S.oil production since drillers started using a combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to unlock oil previously trapped in layers of shale rock in states such as North Dakota and Texas.At the same time, gains in automobile fuel efficiency and other areas have been curbing U.S.oil consumption.The trend is expected to continue for another decade as U.S.domestic oil supplies grow and reliance on imports shrinks, easing one of the main sources of pressure on global oil markets.
For now, however, the United States remains the world's biggest oil-consuming nation and the largest importer of crude oil.Moreover, global crude oil prices remain high by historic measures.U.S.crude oil production reached 7.74 million barrels a day in October, down slightly from September because of disruptions from Tropical Storm Karen, but up 17 percent from the year before.Aside from September, U.S, production in October was the highest level of any month since May 1989.Net crude oil imports in October fell to 7.57 million barrels a day, down from 7.92 million barrels in September and down 8 percent from the year before.
The White House sought to take credit for the figures.It issued a statement calling them “a result of both increased production and administration policies like increased fuel economy standards that cut oil consumption, cut carbon pollution, and cut consumer bills.”
Economists welcomed the figures.“It highlights the reversal of fortune in our energy sector, that we are increasingly energy independent and prospects are good that we'll be more energy independent going forward,” said Mark M.Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics.“It's one of the reasons to be optimistic about our growth prospects.” Zandi added that rising domestic oil production “means a smaller trade and current account deficit, which is a big plus for the economy.We'll be less sensitive to increases in global oil prices.” According to figures compiled by Zandi, the oil import bill as a percentage of the gross domestic product in the third quarter of this year was lower than any quarter since 1986.The firm estimates that shale oil output will result in an $ 80 billion reduction in imports this year.
Frank Verrastro, senior vice president and energy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the milestone was important, although he warned that higher costs, geological variations and constrained exploration budgets at many independent drillers could make it a “challenge” to meet expectations for future crude oil output growth.
The turnaround in U.S.oil fortunes has been rapid.Five years ago, U.S.oil production hit a 62-year low.Since then, domestic production has increased by more than 50 percent.Prices remain high.This is the third consecutive year in which the price has hovered above $ 105 a barrel for crude oil produced by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.The U.S.benchmark for crude oil, West Texas Intermediate, has tumbled to about $ 95 a barrel, down from $ 110 a barrel in September, but that is still high by historic standards.Some oil analysts note that prices would be even higher without the increase in U.S.production, which has helped offset oil disruptions in Libya, Iraq and Nigeria and sanctions on Iran.
1
Which of the following factors leads to U.S.oil production milestone?
A.Improvement on automobile fuel efficiency.
B.Federal policies on oil consumption.
C.New technology of extracting oil.
D.Gains on energy independence.
本题答案:
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • 参考答案:C
  • 系统解析:
    细节题。文章第一段首句即点明美国十月份的石油产量很高,接下来第二句提到了通过使用水平钻井和水力压裂相结合的方法来开采先前埋藏在北达科他州和德克萨斯州等州地下页岩层中的石油。由此可知,新的采油技术是提高石油产量的主要因素,因此[C]为正确答案。文章第一段第三句提到了汽车燃油效率对石油消费起了遏制作用,但这仅对稳定石油消费起作用,而不能对产量起作用,故排除[A];第三段提到白宫的行政政策,并说明这里的行政政策指的是提高燃油经济标准的政策,同样,提高燃油经济标准与提高石油产量之间并没有直接的关系,故排除[B];第四段第二句提到了能源的独立性,但这是石油产量提高的后果,而不是原因,故排除[D]。
2
It can be learned from the statistics in the 2nd paragraph that
A.oil production is greatly affected by natural factors.
B.U.S.produced more oil and imported less in October than it did in September.
C.the consumption of oil in the U.S.forms a great pressure on global oil market.
D.U.S.has a high level of oil production and less import of it.
本题答案:
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • 参考答案:D
  • 系统解析:
    推断题。文中第二段的数据分为两个方面,一方面表明了美国石油产量的上升,另一方面表明了美国石油进口量的下降,因此[D]为正确答案。虽然第二段第三句提到由于受热带风暴的影响,十月份美国石油产量有所下降,但后面的数字说明了美国的石油产量依然很高,由此可知,本段的数字并不是为了说明石油生产受自然因素影响,故排除[A];由第二段第三句中的“down slightly from September”可知,十月份的石油产量其实不如九月份高,因此排除[B];第一段结尾提到美国的石油消耗是国际石油市场的主要压力来源之一,但第二段的数字并没有提到对国际石油市场的压力,故排除[C]。
3
Which of the following statements contains a metaphor?
A.A.U.S.consumption of petroleum products remained relatively flat...
B.B.to unlock oil previously trapped in layers of shale rock in states...
C.C.The White House sought to take credit for the figures.
D.D.The turnaround in U.S.oil fortunes has been rapid.
本题答案:
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • 参考答案:B
  • 系统解析:
    修辞题。四个选项中,仅有[B]中的“unlock”和“trap”两个词使用了暗喻的修辞手法,将石油比喻成“被锁在”地下的物品,需要“解锁”,因此[B]为正确答案。[A]、[C]和[D]中的单词使用都是其本义,故均排除。
4
What is the role of the 4th and 5th paragraphs in the development of the topic?
A.To further illustrate the trend of oil production in the U.S.
B.To provide supportive evidence for the trend of oil production.
C.To explain how the present condition come into being.
D.To give professional viewpoint on the present condition.
本题答案:
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • 参考答案:D
  • 系统解析:
    篇章题。根据题干提示定位到第四、五段。文章第四段开头即说明本段所给出的是经济学家对美国石油产量与消耗状况的态度,第五段提到的弗兰克也是一位专家,该段主要讲述了他对这一情况的看法。因此,第四、五两段是针对美国石油行业的现状所给出的专家意见,故[D]为正确答案。[A]“进一步说明美国石油生产的趋势”、[B] “为石油生产趋势提供有利的证据”和[C]“解释为什么美国会出现目前的状况”均可排除。
5
What is the main idea of the passage?
A.The White House improves U.S.oil production.
B.U.S.oil production changes global oil prices.
C.U.S.oil production reaches milestone.
D.The rapid change in U.S.shale oil production.
本题答案:
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • 参考答案:C
  • 系统解析:
    主旨题。文章第一段第一句点明美国的原油产量超过其进口量,这种情况自1995年以来还是首次出现,接着第二句说这是美国石油产量反弹的里程碑;第二段是以数字说明美国目前的石油生产情况;第三段中虽然提到白宫试图将功劳揽在自己身上,但也从一个侧面阐明了这一现象出现的原因;第四段和第五段是经济学家们对这一现象的态度,其中第五段借弗兰克的口,再次提到了里程碑这一说法;最后一段依然是在分析美国的油价。由此可见,整篇文章都是围绕美国石油生产的里程碑展开,故[C]为正确答案。白宫认为自己是美国石油可喜现状的功臣,这只是文章的部分内容,不能概括本文主旨,故排除[A];文章第二段第二句和第六段第四句分别提到了国际石油价格居高不下,但并没有说明美国的石油生产会使国际石油价格发生变化,故排除[B];虽然文章第一段就提到美国页岩油的产量大幅上涨,但从第二段开始,文章更多的是在讨论美国整体的石油生产,而不是集中讨论页岩油的变化,故排除[D]。
我的笔记
提交纠错
请输入您发现的错误详情用户: