Name________________________________Class____________________Date____________________

Skills Worksheet
Active Reading
Section: Renewable Energy Today
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
Solar cells, also called photovoltaic cells, convert the suns energy
into electricity. Solar cells were invented more than 120 years ago,
and now they are used to power everything rom calculators to
space stations. Solar cells have no moving parts, and they run on
nonpolluting power rom the sun. So why dont solar cells meet all
o our energy needs! " solar cell produces a very small electrical
current.
So meeting the needs o a small city would re#uire covering
hundreds o acres with solar panels. Solar cells also re#uire
e$tended periods o sunshine to produce energy. %his energy is
stored in &atteries, which supply electricity when the sun is not
shining.
Despite these limitations, energy production rom solar cells
has dou&led every our years since 1'(). Solar cells have &ecome
increasingly eicient and less e$pensive. Solar cells have great
potential or use in developing countries, where energy
consumption is minimal and electricity networ*s are limited.
Currently, solar cells provide energy or more than 1 million
households in the developing world.
IDETI!"I# $AI IDEAS
+ne reading s*ill is the a&ility to identiy the main idea o a passage. %he main
idea is the main ocus or *ey idea. ,re#uently, a main idea is accompanied &y
supporting inormation that oers detailed acts a&out main ideas.
In the space provided% write the letter of the ter& or phrase that best co&pletes
each state&ent or best answers each question.
______ 1. Solar cells convert the suns energy into
a. light.
&. heat.
c. electricity.
d. pollution.
______ 2. -hat actor regarding solar cells has dou&led every our years since
1'()!
a. the num&er o solar cells produced
&. the amount o energy produced &y solar cells
c. the num&er o people who use solar cells
d. the price o solar cells
______ .. Solar cells have great potential or use in
a. cities. c. actories.
&. private homes. d. developing countries.
Original content Copyright / &y 0olt, 1inehart and -inston. "dditions and changes to the original content are the responsi&ility o the instructor.
Holt Environmental Science 7 Renewable Energy
Name________________________________Class____________________Date____________________
Active Reading continued
RE'(#I)I# SI$I*ARITIES AD DI!!ERE'ES
+ne reading s*ill is the a&ility to recogni2e similarities and dierences &etween
two phrases, ideas, or things. %his is sometimes *nown as comparing and
contrasting.
Read the following questions and write the answers in the space provided.
3. 0ow are solar cells dierent rom most other power sources!
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). 0ow are solar cells o today superior to solar cells o the 1'(0s!
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+('A,-*AR" DE+E*(.$ET
In the space provided% write the letter of the definition that best &atches the ter&
or phrase.
______ 4. photovoltaic cells
______ 5. solar panels
______ (. energy consumption
______ '. &atteries
RE'(#I)I# 'A-SE AD E!!E'T
+ne reading s*ill is the a&ility to recogni2e cause and eect.
Read the following questions and write the answers in the space provided.
10. 0ow are solar cells used today!
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11. -hy are solar cells particularly suita&le or developing countries!
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12. -hy arent solar cells used to meet all o our energy needs!
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Original content Copyright / &y 0olt, 1inehart and -inston. "dditions and changes to the original content are the responsi&ility o the instructor.
Holt Environmental Science 8 Renewable Energy
a. power usage
&. store energy collected &y solar cells
c. convert the suns energy into electricity
d. collections o solar cells
TEA'/ER RES(-R'E .A#E
Active Reading
SE'TI(: REE0A,*E EER#"
T(DA"
1. c
2. &
.. d
3. %hey have no moving parts and run on
nonpolluting power rom the sun.
). %odays solar cells are more eicient and
less e$pensive.
4. c
5. e
(. a
'. &
10. Solar cells supply energy to homes, space
stations, and common o&6ects
such as calculators.
11. 7n developing countries, energy
consumption is minimal and electricity
networ*s are limited.
12. Solar cells produce only a small amount
o electricity8 thus, acres o them would &e
needed to supply energy or a small city.
"lso, solar cells re#uire e$tended periods
o sunlight.
SE'TI(: A*TERATI+E EER#"
AD '(SER+ATI(
1. d
2. &
.. c
3. Energy efciency reers to using
energy without wasting it.
). 7nsulation protects homes rom energy
loss.
4. c
5. a
(. windows, doors, walls, and the roo
'. " person can hold a ri&&on up to the edges
o windows and doors. 7 the ri&&on
lutters, there is a lea*.
10. 7t is lost when heated or cooled air escapes
through gaps around windows and doors.
Map Skills
1. New 9or*, -ashington, +regon
2. less than
.. "nswers will vary depending on geo:
graphic location.
3. "nswers may vary. Students should
mention that hydroelectric power is
renewa&le energy and relatively
nonpolluting. Students should also
indicate that damming rivers may damage
ecosystems.
Qi!
SE'TI(: REE0A,*E EER#"
T(DA"
$atching $ultiple 'hoice
1. & 4. c
2. d 5. a
.. e (. a
3. a '. d
). c 10. &
SE'TI(: A*TERATI+E EER#"
'(SER+ATI(
$atching $ultiple 'hoice
1. & 4. a
2. a 5. c
.. d (. d
3. e '. c
) .c 10. &
"hapter #est $eneral
$AT'/I#
1. a
2. e
.. c
3. &
). d
$-*TI.*E '/(I'E
4. c 13. &
5. c 1). a
(. d 14. d
'. a 15. c
10. a 1(. c
11. c 1'. &
12. d 20. a
1.. d
"hapter #est Advanced
MATCHING MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. & 4. &
2. c 5. c
.. d (. a
3. e '. d
) .a 10. c
Original content Copyright / &y 0olt, 1inehart and -inston. "dditions and changes to the original content are the responsi&ility o the instructor.
Holt Environmental Science 8% Renewable Energy