1. (2021·南开模拟) 阅读理解

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology have-in just two years-nearly doubled the number of materials known to have potential for use in solar fuels.

They did so by developing a process that promises to speed the discovery of commercially viable (商业可行性) generation of solar fuels that could replace coal, oil, and other fossil fuels.

Solar fuels, a dream of clean-energy research, are created using only sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. Researchers are exploring a range of possible target fuels, but one possibility is to produce hydrogen by splitting water.

Each water molecule (分子) consists of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. The hydrogen atoms are extracted, and then can be reunited to create highly flammable hydrogen gas or combined with CO 2 to create hydrocarbon fuels, creating a plentiful and renewable energy source. The problem, however, is that water molecules do not simply break down when sunlight shines on them-if they did, the oceans would not cover most of the planet. They need a little help from a solar-powered catalyst (催化剂).

To create practical solar fuels, scientists have been trying to develop low-cost and efficient materials that perform the necessary chemistry using only visible light as an energy source.

A new method was developed through a partnership between the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP) and Berkeley Lab's Materials Project, using resources at the Molecular Foundry and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSCC). JCAP focused on developing a cost-effective method of turning sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into fuel. It is led by Caltech with Berkeley Lab as a major partner. The Materials Project is a program based at Berkeley Lab that aims to remove the guesswork from materials design in a variety of applications.

"What is particularly significant about this study, which combines experiment and theory, is that in addition to identifying several new compounds for solar fuel applications, we can also learn something new about the basic electronic structure of the materials themselves." says Neaton, the director of the Molecular Foundry.

1. （1） What can we learn from the first two paragraphs of the passage?

   A . Some scientists promise to speed the discovery of commercially viable generation of solar fuels. B . Some scientists have found twice as much solar fuel. C . Some scientists found new materials in solar fuels that could replace traditional fuels. D . Some scientists have used two types of solar fuel in just two years.
3. （2） According to the passage, what can we do to create a plentiful and renewable energy source?

   A . Use only sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. B . Extract hydrogen atoms from water molecule. C . Create hydrocarbon fuels from water molecule. D . Explore possible target fuels.
5. （3） A solar-powered catalyst can be used for ________.

   A . creating a new energy source. B . breaking down water molecules. C . creating highly flammable hydrogen gas. D . reuniting hydrogen atoms extracted from water molecule.
7. （4） What can be concluded from the last paragraph?

   A . The study will identify some solar fuels. B . Scientists can learn about the basic electronic structure of the new compounds. C . The study involves new theory and relative experiment. D . The most importance of the study is to find some solar fuel applications.
9. （5） What does the passage focus on?

   A . New materials could turn water into the fuel of the future. B . A new method was developed to create a renewable fuel. C . A program that aims to split water and create a clean-energy research. D . Solar fuels are a dream of clean-energy.