1．Across countryside，non-food crops are growing alongside wheat．Some are used in new alternatives to plastics and other materials，but others will simply be burned．
Burning crops is becoming more popular because it is good for the planet．Doing so is also cheaper than burning fossil fuels．As more land is devoted to non-food crop production，the economics of crops for fuel are likely to become even more favorable．
Humans have been burning such biomass-organic materials from plants or animals-since they discovered fire．But that burning fossil fuels could have catastrophic consequences has brought biomass back into fashion．
Even allowing for emissions（排放） of carbon dioxide from fuel used in planting，harvesting，processing and transporting biomass fuel，replacing fossil fuel with biomass can typically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90per cent．
Power stations around the world are experimenting with forms of biomass to add to their coal or oil，with encouraging results．Indeed，power companies could profit by turning to biomass，especially when the subsidies（补助） many governments offer for using renewable energy are taken into account．
Farmers can benefit from growing biomass．In Europe，the reduction of subsidies for certain crops is exposing farmers to market forces．Instead of being paid for whatever they produce，farmers must seek a clear demand for their product．Many believe that the demand for alternatives to fossil fuels could be just such a driver．
But while biomass offers a variety of potential alternatives，the world's infrastructure（基础设施） has developed around burning fossil fuels to such a stage that switching to biomass involves a change in conception that many companies have not accepted．
Also，there are problems with using biomass．Although most coal-fired power stations could take a small amount of their fuel from biomass without significant adjustment，few are built to run on biomass alone．Burning some forms of biomass also causes environmental problems．Oils and waste can be smelly，while wood produces smoke unless burned properly．
The supply chains for fossil fuels are set up well，but those for biomass are just the beginning．Sources of supply for biomass rely on farm production and can therefore be less reliable．They are necessarily limited and it wouldn't make sense to turn a very large amount of valuable agricultural land away from food crops．But as the world adjusts to the need to control greenhouse gas emissions，these problems may receive more attention．
67．What do we know about biomass？C
A．It is a useful way of burning crops．
B．It is a new alternative to be used widely．
C．It is plant and animal matter used to provide power．
D．It is a popular approach to fighting against pollution．
68．What are the advantages of using biomass？D
a．It gives off less greenhouse gases．
b．It helps farmers receive subsidies for what they produce．
c．It has met the clear demand for energy．
d．It has brought subsidies for some power companies．
e．It is cheaper than burning fossil fuels．
A．a，b，c B．b，c，d C．c，d，e D．d，e，a
69．For coal-fired power stations，C．
A．more effective ways to use biomass have been tried
B．using renewable energy has become their daily task
C．burning biomass alone would require considerable changes
D．setting up dependable supply channels needs governments'support
70．What is the author's attitude towards biomass fuels？A
A．Objective．B．Sceptical．C．Disapproving．D．Defensive．
分析 本文属于说明文阅读，作者通过这篇文章主要向我们讲述了使用生物质能的各种好处及其生物质现在并没有得到广泛运用的原因，同时作者相信在不久的将来肯定能够解决这些问题，生物质能也会被广泛的运用．
解答 67．C．细节理解题．根据文章第二段Humans have been burning such biomass-organic materials from plants or animals，人类从植物或动物身上燃烧这样的生物质能，可知，生物质能是一种通过燃烧植物或是动物来获取能量的东西，故选B．
68．D．细节理解题．根据文章第一段Doing so is also cheaper than burning fossil fuels．；biomass can typically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90 percent．；Farmers can benefit from growing biomass．In Europe，the reduction of subsidies for certain crops is exposing farmers to market forces可知生物质能的好处是价格便宜，排放温室气体少，能够使农民获得政府的补助，故选D．
69．C．推理判断题．根据文章Although most coal-fired power stations could take a small amount of their fuel from biomass without significant adjustment，few are built to run on biomass alone，可知电厂可以使用一部分生物质能，但基本不存在完全依赖生物质能的电厂，因此推测依靠煤发电的电厂如果用生物质能的话需要相当大的改变，故选C．
70．A．推理判断题．从全文来看，作者并没有推崇也没有反对这种能源，只是以非常客观的态度说明了它的使用情况，故选A．
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．
