The New Yorker -1(News Based RC) | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) - CAT PDF Download

We've prepared a reading exercise based on an article from The New Yorker, a respected source known for its rich content. After reading, there are questions to test your understanding and critical thinking.
This exercise is beneficial for practicing reading comprehension with news articles. Reading newspapers helps you digest information faster, understand quickly, and improve your vocabulary. Our curated exercise focuses on popular news topics to enhance your skills.

Reading Comprehension

The energy landscape is undergoing a transformative shift, with the emergence of a new system that could revolutionize the energy grid. In Vermont, Josh Castonguay, the vice-president of innovation at Green Mountain Power utility, oversees a unique power plant that isn't a conventional power plant. It's an online network of 4,500 electric storage batteries, spread across over 3,000 homes, along with residential rooftop solar panels, smart water heaters, and EV chargers. These assets are part of the utility's network, allowing the company to control the devices to use less power during critical moments.
This system enables Castonguay to prepare for energy demands based on weather forecasts. For instance, before a storm, he can ensure that storage batteries are fully charged, or preheat water heaters in the morning to save power for air conditioners during hot afternoons. This approach, where homes and businesses become energy suppliers and storage nodes, is a significant shift from traditional power generation and distribution models.
Green Mountain Power is leading this initiative and plans to install storage batteries in 270,000 homes and businesses over the next decade. This concept is gaining traction nationwide, with companies like Sunrun and Swell Energy following suit. These companies aggregate household power and storage, selling the energy to utilities as dispatchable power. This model not only offers a more reliable and resilient grid but also promises a more affordable one, potentially saving billions in power system costs.
The Department of Energy's report on virtual power plants (V.P.P.s) highlights the potential of these systems to handle 20% of peak power demand by 2030, at a significantly lower cost than traditional power plants. The integration of electric vehicles, which can be plugged into the system for power or extra storage, further enhances this potential.
This shift in the electric grid mirrors the evolution of America's broadcast communications system, where every person can now become a content producer. The demand for electricity is expected to soar as the fight against climate change intensifies, necessitating the electrification of almost everything. The integration of household batteries and appliances into the energy system is crucial for managing this industrial transition.
Q1: What is the primary function of the unique power plant overseen by Josh Castonguay in Vermont?
(a) To generate electricity using traditional methods
(b) To serve as an online network of electric storage batteries and solar panels
(c) To solely focus on solar panel production
(d) To provide a backup power source for emergencies

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Q2: How does the new energy system benefit the grid during peak demand times?
(a) By shutting down non-essential services
(b) By using stored energy from batteries and reducing power usage
(c) By relying solely on traditional power plants
(d) By increasing electricity prices to discourage usage

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Q3: What is the projected impact of virtual power plants (V.P.P.s) by 2030 according to the Department of Energy's report?
(a) They will replace all traditional power plants
(b) They will handle 20% of peak power demand at a lower cost
(c) They will lead to an increase in electricity prices
(d) They will become obsolete due to new technology

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Q4: What is the significance of integrating electric vehicles into the new energy system?
(a) They will replace the need for household batteries
(b) They solely serve as a mode of transportation
(c) They can be used for power or extra storage in the system
(d) They will increase the dependency on fossil fuels

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