You are going to read a newspaper article which discusses alternative power systems for vehicles.
For questions 20-34, choose from
CAE
the sections of the article (A-F).
TES
Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.
TPAPER 1 Reading Part 1
PAPER 2 Writing Part 2
Part 3
PAPER 3 Use of English
Part 4
PAPER 4 Listening
PAPER 5 Speaking
In which section of the article are the following mentioned?
the advantages of conventional cars 20..............
a more compact version of existing technology 21..............
a willingness to invest in new technologies 22..............
limitations concerning where a vehicle can be used 23..............
a power source associated with a space programme 24..............
recycling waste products 25..............
a negative aesthetic impression 26..............
laws that encourage the development of new technologies
27..............
the inability to transport many people 28..............
devices that function best when conditions are constant
29..............
the rate of acceleration of a vehicle 30..............
the possibility of returning to a source of power used in the past
31..............
the existence of a market for a certain type of vehicle
32..............
the ability to switch from one power source to another
33..............
a car that is expensive to buy, and that has relatively low
34..............
running costs
CAE Test 8 ► PAPER 1 Reading ►► Part 4
172
Vehicles of the Future
A The motor industry is finally showing some serious electricity: batteries may have come a long way, but
interest in developing cost-effective and they are still bulky and have to be charged for long
environmentally-friendly technologies to power periods. The latest completely electric car, for example,
vehicles, as can be seen by the amount of money they has a top speed of 60 kph and a range of 60 kilometres.
are spending on research and development. There are It takes 6 hours to charge the battery fully. But the
some sound reasons for this: nowadays a significant makers claim this is perfectly acceptable for city
number of people would prefer to buy a vehicle that did driving, when people are unable to go much faster or
not emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere or further in any case. Many cities provide benefits such
pollute the environment in other ways. But there are as free parking for drivers of electric cars. But these
other forces at work in the industry as well. vehicles are virtually confined to urban settings, which
Governments throughout the world are demanding is off-putting, and most people find electric cars have a
restrictions on gas emissions, and the goals they have toy-like appearance which is definitely not appealing.
set can only be met in the long run if conventional cars Moreover, environmentalists point out that while the
with internal combustion engines are phased out and car itself may not emit poisonous fumes, as is the case
replaced by vehicles that run on alternative power with petrol-driven vehicles, this is of little real benefit
sources. Naturally, public opinion is ultimately behind to the environment if the electricity used to drive the
legislation like this, which is aimed at protecting the car has been generated by coal or oil power stations, as
environment. Governments, after all, need to respond to is generally the case.
the wishes of their voters.
D First developed for use in missions to the moon, fuel
B For the last few decades innovators have been coming cells appear to be the most serious challenger to the
up with ideas for alternative power sources for internal combustion engine as an alternative source of
automobiles, though so far none has had a significant energy for both mobile and stationary applications. A
appeal for consumers. The alternative technologies we fuel cell uses relatively straightforward technology that
have at present arc lagging far behind the petrol- converts chemical energy into electrical energy with
guzzling internal combustion engine in terms of speed benign by-products. In fact, the only byproducts are
and the distance that can be travelled before refuelling. water, which is harmless, and heat. The other advantage
But what does the future hold? At present a hybrid car is that fuel cells have no complex moving parts that
propelled by a combination of an electric motor and need to be cooled or lubricated. But rather than
petrol engine may be the best compromise for those replacing the internal combustion engine as the source
who want to help save the planet and still have the of power for the vehicle itself, the fuel cell - in the view
convenience of a car. When you start the hybrid car and of some manufacturers - will only replace the battery
when you are driving normally, power is provided by and alternator, supplying electricity to vehicle systems,
the electric motor, which works with a battery. operating independently of the engine. The actual drive
However, when the battery starts to go flat, the petrol power for the vehicle itself would still be provided by
engine starts automatically and drives a generator to the combustion engine. However, while fuel cells
recharge the battery. Similarly, when the car needs extra certainly hold a great deal of promise, there are some
power - in order to accelerate, for instance - the petrol drawbacks. They need a steady supply of hydrogen,
engine provides that power. This vehicle performs which needs to be extracted from some source, such as
respectably, though not spectacularly: it can go from 0 methanol gas, and this process can be cumbersome. In
to about 100 kph in around 10 seconds, has a top speed one model that uses fuel cells, the reformer required to
of 165 kph, and below average fuel consumption. extract the hydrogen from methanol takes up so much
space that the vehicle can only seat the driver and one
c And what of cars powered solely by electricity? Here the passenger.
main stumbling block has always been storing the
173 CAE Test 8 ►► PAPER 1 Reading ►►
Part 4
E Another possibility is represented by turbines. Gas technology is new, and environmentalists argue that a
turbines have long been considered a possible mobile gas car will produce only a little less carbon dioxide
and smaller stationary power source, but their use has than petrol-driven vehicles.
been limited for a variety of reasons, including cost,
complexity and size. These large turbines shine when in F In the meantime, various compromises are being
steady-state applications but are not as efficient when employed as temporary measures. For example, most
speed and load are continually changing. However, a diesel cars can now be converted to run on biodiesel
new generation of turbines - microturbines - has been fuel, which is made from used vegetable oils and animal
developed in large measure for use in vehicles. They are fats. However, the envừonment lobby is not convinced
small, high-speed engine systems that typically include that biodiesel helps cut local air pollution by any
the turbine, compressor and generator in a single unit significant amount. Many experts believe that the
with all the other vital components and control ultimate solution to the problem of reducing dangerous
electronics. A different possibility in terms of energy emissions ultimately lies with electric vehicles once the
supply for cars is household gas. A special device battery technology has improved. Some experts even
installed in a garage can compress the gas, which is believe that the future may lie with steam cars, and
then fed into the car. A gas car is cheaper to run, as well since the first genuine ‘automobile’ - a vehicle capable
as being cleaner than a conventional car. On the other of moving itself - was powered by steam more than two
hand, the vehicle itself is expensive because the centuries ago, it could be that the wheel is coming full
cừcle.
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174
