Nuclear power stations are massive and complex structures. They are designed to
withstand earthquakes and violent storms. They include many special safety devices
and systems that help to protect the plant, the people working in it and the public,
even in the event of a serious accident. However, in spite of the preventive measures,
accidents have occurred, for instance, at Three Mile Island in the USA and at
Chernobyl in the former USSR. These accidents have raised questions in the minds of
many people about the use of nuclear energy to produce electricity.
Therefore, some years ago scientists started to consider an alternative source of
electrical energy----sunlight. Using sunlight as a source of energy offers considerable
advantages. Light from the sun is practically inexhaustible; in other words, sunlight
cannot be used up. It is available everywhere. Besides, changing sunlight into electrical energy does not demand fuel such as coal or oil. The system of converting
solar energy into electrical energy would do very little damage to the environment.
【題組】47. The word plant in the first paragraph refers to the ________________.
(A) nuclear power station
(B) violent storm
(C) preventive measure
(D) safety device