18．Think about the different ways that people use wind．You can use it to fly a kite or to sail a boat．Wind is one of our cleanest and richest power sources，as well as one of the oldest．Evidence shows that windmills（风车） began to be used in ancient Iran back in the seventh century BC．They were first introduced to Europe during the 1100s，when armies returned from the Middle East with knowledge of using wind power．
For many centuries，people used windmills to grind（磨碎） wheat into flour or pump water from deep underground．When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s，people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity．This allowed them to have electric lights and radio．However，by the 1940s when electricity was available to people in almost all areas of the United States，windmills were rarely used．
During the 1970s，people started becoming con cerned about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity．People also realized that the supply of coal and gas would not last forever．Then，wind was rediscovered，though it means higher costs．Today，there is a global movement to supply more and more of our electricity through the use of wind．
24．From the text we know that windmillsC．
A．have rarely been used since electricity was discovered
B．have a history of more than 2，800 years
C．used to supply power to radio in remote areas
D．were invented by European armies
25．What was a new use for wind power in the late 19gh century？C
A．Sailing a boat．
B．Grinding wheat into flour．
C．Producing electricity．
D．Pumping water from underground．
26．One of the reasons wind was rediscovered in the 1970s is thatB．
A．it is one of the oldest power sources
B．wind power is cleaner
C．it was cheaper to create energy from wind
D．the supply of coal and gas failed to meet needs
27．What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows？B
A．The advantages of wind power．
B．The global trend towards producing power from wind．
C．The worldwide movement to save energy．
D．The design of wind power plants．
分析 本文介绍了风能及风能运用的情况．在能源短缺的今天，作为最为洁净、丰富的风能，一定会对我们的生活作出极大的贡献．
解答 CCBB
24．C 细节理解题．根据第二段的第二句"When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s．people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity．This allowed them to have electrie lights and radio．"可知，十九世纪末有了电之后，偏僻地区的人们就利用风车发电，于是人们就有了电灯和收音机，因此选择C项．根据第一段的"…windmills began to be used in ancient Iran back in the seventh century BC"可知，A项错误；B项错在more than；根据末段句子可知，尽管成本较高，人们依然使用风能提供电力，因此D项错误．
25．C 细节理解题．根据第二段句子"When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s，people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity．"可知，人们最初利用风车磨面或抽水，十九世纪末有了电之后，人们又用其发电，因此选择C项．
26．B 推理判断题．根据最后一段"people started becoming concerned about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity"可知，二十世纪七十年代，人们注重环保，而且认识到煤和气的短缺；而风能的特点是洁净、丰富和历史悠久，但是成本较高．综合选择B项最佳．
27．B 推理判断题．根据末段句子"Today，there is a global movement to supply more and more of our electricity through the use of wind"可知：现在全球已越来越多地使用风力发电，所以下一段应该要进一步推广使用风力发电，这是一种总体的能源发展趋势．接下来作者应该谈论利用风能发电的情况，因此选择B项．
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力，做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句，和题干进行比较，再做出正确的选择．在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实，要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断．
