NUCLEAR POWER

Nuclear power is the subject of much c___________ around the world. Despite the fact that it is a clean and efficient source of electricity, it comes with some very serious risks. Today, there are over 400 nuclear power plants in operation worldwide, and energy / like / as /  get / France /    as / 77 / percent / much / of / their / countries  from this source. Few people fully understand the mechanism that   A  s this energy source. In many ways, it is similar to more t_________ sources such as coal-fired power plants. Both nuclear and coal-fired plants rely on pressurized ________ to      A    electric generators. The controversy surrounding nuclear power stems from how this steam is produced — the process of nuclear fission.

The term nuclear fission refers simply to the __________ of an atom. It occurs regularly in nature, albeit much more slowly than in power plants, and is the reason we call certain elements “radioactive.”  In the case of power plants, the substance that is used is uranium-235, which is unique among the different types of uranium in that it can undergo induced fission — nuclear fission that is created by human intervention under artificial conditions.  Q01 An atom of uranium-235 releases a great deal of energy when  it?  absorbs a neutron from outside itself. In less than a second, the neutron creates unstable / stable conditions within the atom that cause a very sudden reaction. When the atom bursts apart, energy is released and heat is created. In the presence of other uranium-235 atoms, the particles released by the first instance of fission cause fission in the surrounding atoms, creating a _______ reaction that results in the release of massive amounts of energy. (= Nuclear power plant induce fission in uranium by introducing a neutron that d_____________ the uranium atom until it breaks apart.)

However, this is not the same energy that is used to powering / power homes and businesses.  Q03(C)  The purpose of fission reactions is simply to create heat. This is used to heating / heat a store of water to its boiling point so that it rapidly evaporates, letting _____ steam. The steam is the real source of the power, since, like the water in a hydroelectric dam, the force of its movement sets in motion a series of electric generators that ultimately produce the plant’s energy.  Q03(A)  After the electricity is produced, the steam goes through a cooling phase and is released into the atmosphere by way of giant concrete towers. The steam released from these cooling towers does not contain harmful radiation, as the water never comes into ________ with the radioactive materials in the plant.

A    Q03(B)  Admittedly(명백히), nuclear power faces a big problem when it comes to the _________ of the spent uranium. (= creating nuclear power produces nuclear w________.)  B   Once the element is no longer useful for production, it must be thrown away or stored somewhere, and though its radioactivity is diminished? through use in the plant, it is still a dangerous and deadly substance.   C  Properly / Improperly stored uranium can contaminate the ground and the water supply around it, posing a serious threat to public health.   D   Only after tens of thousands of years of natural  B  will the uranium reach ________ that are safe again.  Q03(D)   Q04  For this reason, radioactive waste is stored in secure facilities under the strict _________ of experts, where it is allowed to cool and   B  without threatening the environment. As the number of nuclear power plants grows, and the waste they produce increases / decreases, storing nuclear waste becomes a serious problem with nuclear power.

1. stem from = derive from               fission = division, split

induced = guided                        instance = example

intervention = interference           contaminate = pollute

decay = decomposition

어휘 |  controversy 논란    in operation 가동 중인    mechanism 원리    coal-fired 화력에 의한    pressurized (액체, 기체가) 압축된 generator 발전기    nuclear fission 핵분열    splitting 분열, 분리    occur 발생하다    albeit 비록 ~이기는 하지만    radioactive 방사능의 neutron 중성자    unstable 불안정한    reaction 반응    burst apart 산산조각나다    chain reaction 연쇄반응    release 방출하다 boiling point 끓는점    evaporate 증발하다    let off 내보내다    hydroelectric 수력 발전의    ultimately 최종적으로    radiation 방사선 admittedly 인정하건대    disposal 처리, 폐기    diminish 줄어들게 하다    improperly 제대로, 부적절하게    contaminate 오염시키다 pose a threat 위협을 가하다    secure 안전한    supervision 관리, 감독