地特四等
113年
[一般行政] 法學知識與英文(包括中華民國憲法、法學緒論、英文)
第 48 題
📖 題組：
The history of windmills, from ancient grain grinders to modern wind turbines, illustrates a long journey of innovation and adaptation. The earliest windmills used sturdy reed mats for blades on horizontal axes in the 600s. Starting in the 14th century, Dutch engineers utilized windpumps to reclaim land from low-lying valleys. However, the advent of the Industrial Revolution marked a decline in windmill use, as the need for more reliable energy sources grew to power the burgeoning factory system. The steam engine emerged as a pivotal invention during this era, offering the consistent power necessary for mass production. The transition to electricity generation saw the creation of wind turbines in Europe and North America, with the first wind turbine lighting up James Blyth’s home in Scotland in 1887 and the first grid-connected turbine in Vermont in 1941. Despite their potential, wind energy became overshadowed by fossil fuels due to their reliability and abundance. Yet, the Oil Crisis of the 1970s, alongside environmental concerns, reignited interest in wind as a sustainable energy source, leading to the establishment of the world’s first wind farm in New Hampshire. Currently, wind farms are a common sight in various locales, from the U.S. Midwest’s agricultural landscapes to California’s Alta Wind Energy Center, the nation’s largest wind farm. Internationally, Brazil, Russia, India, and China are rapidly expanding their wind energy capacity, with China’s Gansu Wind Farm set to produce an impressive 20,000 megawatts. Likewise, developing regions in Africa and Southeast Asia are investing in wind technology, with Kenya’s Lake Turkana Wind Power project poised to supply electricity to countless homes and businesses. This evolution from traditional windmills to contemporary wind farms underscores a global shift towards renewable energy, highlighting wind power’s significant role in meeting modern energy demands while addressing environmental challenges.
The history of windmills, from ancient grain grinders to modern wind turbines, illustrates a long journey of innovation and adaptation. The earliest windmills used sturdy reed mats for blades on horizontal axes in the 600s. Starting in the 14th century, Dutch engineers utilized windpumps to reclaim land from low-lying valleys. However, the advent of the Industrial Revolution marked a decline in windmill use, as the need for more reliable energy sources grew to power the burgeoning factory system. The steam engine emerged as a pivotal invention during this era, offering the consistent power necessary for mass production. The transition to electricity generation saw the creation of wind turbines in Europe and North America, with the first wind turbine lighting up James Blyth’s home in Scotland in 1887 and the first grid-connected turbine in Vermont in 1941. Despite their potential, wind energy became overshadowed by fossil fuels due to their reliability and abundance. Yet, the Oil Crisis of the 1970s, alongside environmental concerns, reignited interest in wind as a sustainable energy source, leading to the establishment of the world’s first wind farm in New Hampshire. Currently, wind farms are a common sight in various locales, from the U.S. Midwest’s agricultural landscapes to California’s Alta Wind Energy Center, the nation’s largest wind farm. Internationally, Brazil, Russia, India, and China are rapidly expanding their wind energy capacity, with China’s Gansu Wind Farm set to produce an impressive 20,000 megawatts. Likewise, developing regions in Africa and Southeast Asia are investing in wind technology, with Kenya’s Lake Turkana Wind Power project poised to supply electricity to countless homes and businesses. This evolution from traditional windmills to contemporary wind farms underscores a global shift towards renewable energy, highlighting wind power’s significant role in meeting modern energy demands while addressing environmental challenges.
What was the primary purpose of the earliest windmills?
- A Grinding grain.
- B Pumping water.
- C Generating electricity.
- D Producing steam power.
思路引導 VIP
當你面對描述一項工具「演進史」的文章時，最原始的用途通常會出現在敘述的開端。請試著在文章第一句話中尋找：在人類還沒有發展出工業、電力系統或複雜水利工程的古代社會，最迫切需要藉由大自然力量協助解決的「基礎糧食處理需求」是什麼？
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AI 詳解
AI 專屬家教
恭喜你精確地抓住了文章的核心細節！在地方特考四等的英文閱讀測驗中，這類針對「發展起源」或「首要功能」的細節理解題是非常經典的起手式。你能從繁雜的資訊中迅速定位出關鍵訊息，展現了優異的閱讀穩定度。
歷史演進的細節定位
本文首句便開門見山地提到風車的歷史是從「古代的磨坊（grain grinders）」演進到現代的風力發電機。雖然文中後續提到了 14 世紀荷蘭人將其用於抽水（pumping water），以及 19 世紀末開始用於發電（generating electricity），但題幹明確詢問的是「最早（earliest）」的用途，因此對應到文章開頭提及的磨碎穀物，選項 (A) 正是正確答案。
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