PART 3

READING PASSAGE 3

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.

NUCLEAR FUSION: THE KEY TO LIMITLESS CLEAN ENERGY?

A. In December 2022, scientists at a laboratory in California announced a major breakthrough in nuclear fusion research. For the first time ever, scientists had managed to produce a nuclear fusion reaction that generated more energy than it consumed. The result was hailed as a major step forward in the development of nuclear fusion as a new source of energy. But what is nuclear fusion, and why is it so important?

B. When we think of nuclear power, we usually think of nuclear fission, the process of splitting the nucleus of an atom into two or more smaller nuclei. This is the reaction that occurs in nuclear power stations today. However, nuclear fission has a number of disadvantages. The fuel used is radioactive, and there is always a risk of nuclear accidents, such as the one that occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986. In addition, nuclear fission produces radioactive waste, which remains dangerous for thousands of years and is difficult to dispose of safely. Nuclear fusion, on the other hand, is the process of fusing two atomic nuclei together to form a single heavier nucleus. This is the process that occurs in the sun and other stars. The reaction releases a huge amount of energy, and the fuel used is not radioactive. This makes nuclear fusion a potentially limitless source of clean energy.

C. The potential benefits of nuclear fusion are enormous. It could provide a virtually limitless supply of clean energy, with none of the problems associated with nuclear fission. It could help to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and therefore help to combat climate change. It could also provide energy security, as the fuel used in nuclear fusion is abundant and widely available. However, there are significant challenges to be overcome before nuclear fusion can become a viable source of energy.

D. One of the biggest challenges is the high temperature and pressure required to achieve nuclear fusion. In order to fuse atomic nuclei together, they must be heated to temperatures of millions of degrees Celsius. This requires a huge amount of energy, and it is difficult to find materials that can withstand such high temperatures. In addition, the nuclei must be held together at high pressure for a long enough time to allow the fusion reaction to occur. This is difficult to achieve, as the high temperature and pressure tend to cause the nuclei to fly apart.

E. Another challenge is the cost of nuclear fusion research. The equipment and research required to achieve nuclear fusion are extremely expensive, and the cost of research and development is high. This has led to concerns that nuclear fusion may not be economically viable, and that the money spent on research could be better spent on other forms of clean energy.

F. Despite these challenges, there has been significant progress in nuclear fusion research in recent years. Scientists have developed a number of different approaches to achieving nuclear fusion, and have made significant advances in understanding the physics of the process. The recent breakthrough in California is just one example of the progress that has been made.

G. One of the most promising approaches to achieving nuclear fusion is the use of magnetic confinement. In this approach, a plasma of hydrogen nuclei is confined within a magnetic field and heated to the required temperature. The magnetic field helps to keep the nuclei close together, increasing the chances of fusion occurring. This approach has been used in a number of experimental fusion reactors, and has shown promise in achieving the conditions required for nuclear fusion.

H. Another approach is inertial confinement, in which a small pellet of hydrogen fuel is compressed and heated using lasers or other forms of energy. The compression and heating cause the nuclei to fuse together, releasing energy. This approach has also shown promise, and has been used in a number of experimental fusion reactors.

I. Despite the progress that has been made, there is still a long way to go before nuclear fusion can become a viable source of energy. Scientists need to find ways to achieve the required temperature and pressure more efficiently, and to develop materials that can withstand the extreme conditions. They also need to find ways to reduce the cost of nuclear fusion research, such as by having cheaper, more durable materials for some components like the first wall and divertors.

J. In conclusion, nuclear fusion has the potential to be a virtually limitless source of clean energy, with none of the problems associated with nuclear fission. However, there are significant challenges to be overcome before it can become a viable source of energy. Scientists need to find ways to achieve the required conditions more efficiently, and to reduce the cost of research. Despite these challenges, there has been significant progress in nuclear fusion research in recent years, and the recent breakthrough in California is just one example of this progress. With continued research and development, nuclear fusion could become a major source of energy in the future.

Questions 27-32

Reading Passage 3 has ten paragraphs, A-J.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A-J, in boxes 27-32 on your answer sheet.

27.ABCDEFGHIJ . a description of the method used by stars to generate energy

28.ABCDEFGHIJ . a description of the process used to produce energy in nuclear power plants today

29.ABCDEFGHIJ . an explanation of the advantages of nuclear fusion over nuclear fission

30.ABCDEFGHIJ . a reference to the difficulty of achieving the conditions required for nuclear fusion

31.ABCDEFGHIJ . a reference to a nuclear fusion experiment that has been successful

32.ABCDEFGHIJ . a mention of the need to find a way of making nuclear fusion research more affordable

Questions 33-35

Complete the summary using the list of words, A-K, below.

Write the correct letter, A-K, in boxes 33-35 on your answer sheet.

MAGNETIC CONFINEMENT

In the magnetic confinement approach, a 33.ABCDEFGHIJK is placed inside a magnetic field and heated. This method has been employed in various experimental34.ABCDEFGHIJK , showing potential for generating fusion energy.

INERTIAL CONFINEMENT

In the inertial confinement approach, a small pellet of hydrogen fuel is compressed and heated using lasers or other forms of energy. This extreme compression and heat triggers a nuclear reaction during which the 35.ABCDEFGHIJK are fused together, releasing a significant amount of energy.

Questions 36-40

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?

In boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet, write

36.TRUEFALSENOT GIVEN . The California experiment was the first time nuclear fusion had ever been achieved.

37.TRUEFALSENOT GIVEN . Nuclear fusion could help to reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels.

38.TRUEFALSENOT GIVEN . The fuel used in nuclear fusion is rare and hard to find.

39.TRUEFALSENOT GIVEN . The high cost of nuclear fusion is solely attributed to its equipment.

40.TRUEFALSENOT GIVEN . The basic physics behind nuclear fusion is more advanced than scientists once thought.