Renewable Energy Resources

Answer choices

1. A

   Correct69% picked this

   Despite previous difficulties, these systems can be implemented profitably in

   Why this is right

   This is one of those tough answers where you can't really find any line of text that feels like a good match. Instead, you have to come at it from the perspective of the author's stance in the passage (as well as come at it from the perspective of, "Even if I can't prove this answer from the text, it still seems like the best available answer"). This answer combines our author's two sentiments about solar power: 1. Renewable sources such as solar are possible solutions to the problems caused by increasing demand for electricity. 2. The failure of solar power in Brazil wasn't because of an inherent problem with solar power but because the outsiders who were trying to establish solar power systems in Brazil were too shortsighted when it came to rejecting the overpriced services of local Brazilian companies (the author thinks that it would have been worth paying their rates, even if it increased short-term costs, because in the long run, the development of local expertise would have been worth it). The final sentence of the passage helps us support this answer as well: Because the Danish agency, unlike its US counterpart (which handled the solar power project in Brazil), recognized the importance of local involvement at all levels, the project has a good change of remaining competitive and profitable for the long run. The author thinks that solar can work and be a viable / profitable form of energy. She thinks the failed project in Brazil has an important lesson about involving local companies, but she still has optimism about the technology itself. Thus, she would agree to the idea that, "Despite the difficulties we had establishing solar electrical systems in Brazil, [if we learn our lesson about involving local companies] this technology could be profitable in many countries."

   Skill tested: Author Opinion · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

   69%
2. B

   Contradicted: impractical substitute1% picked this

   Though these systems do not produce pollutants, they must be seen as an impractical substitute

   This goes against the author's stance in the 1st paragraph that solar radiation is a possible solution to the problems created by increased energy demand.

   1%
3. C

   Unsupported Comparison: dense vs. rural6% picked this

   These systems would be more effectively employed in densely populated areas than

   This answer is essentially grabbing the wrong takeaway from the failed attempt to establish solar energy in Brazil. The author never said it failed because they tried to set it up in rural Brazil, rather than in densely populated Brazil. She said it failed because the foreign project directors didn't engage local Brazilian companies and thereby build up local expertise.

   6%
4. D

   Unsupported Comparison: more costly7% picked this

   These systems are more costly to install, operate, and maintain than

   The author never makes any direct comparison between the costs of solar and the costs of wind. This answer, like (C), would be blaming the failed attempt to establish solar energy in Brazil on the wrong thing. The author wasn't saying that solar in Brazil failed while wind in India succeeded because solar is more expensive to install and run than is wind. She blamed the difference between the Brazil failure and the Indian success story on whether or not locals were engaged to participate in learning and building these new energy systems.

   7%
5. E

   Too Strong16% picked this

   Until the long-term functioning of these systems is demonstrated, they cannot be considered a viable

   Too Strong: cannot be considered viable Contradicted, if anything This goes against the author's stance in the 1st paragraph that solar radiation is a possible solution to the problems created by increased energy demand. Calling solar "a possible solution" definitely implies that it is a viable type of energy technology.

   16%