共用题干
Natural Gas
1 Natural gas is produced from reservoirs deep beneath the earth's surface. It is a fossil fuel（矿物燃
料）,meaning that it is derived from orgaiiic material buried in the earth millions of years ago.The main corn-
ponent of natural gas is methane（甲烷）.
2 The popularity and use of clean natural gas have increased dramatically over the past 50 years as
pipeline infrastructure（基础设施）has been installed to deliver it conveniently and economically to millions
of residential,commercial and industrial customers worldwide.Today,natural gas service is available in all 50
states in the U.S.,and is the leading energy choice for fueling American homes and industries.More than 65
million American homes use natural gas.In fact,natural gas is the most economical source for home energy
needs,costing one-third as much as electricity.In addition to heating homes,much of the gas used in the
United States is used as a raw material to manufacture a wide variety of products,from paint,to fibers for
clothing,to plastics for healthcare,computing and furnishings.Natural gas is also used in a significant number
of new electricity-generating power plants.
3 Natural gas is one of the safest and cleanest fuels available. It emits（发出）less pollution than other
fossil fuel sources. When natural gas is burned , it produces mostly carbon dioxide（二氧化碳）and water va-
por一the same substances emitted when humans breathe.Compared with some other fossil fuels,natural gas
emits the least amount of carbon dioxide into the air when combusted（燃烧）一making natural gas the clea-
nest burning fossil fuel of all.
4 The United States consumes about one一third of the world's natural gas output,making it the largest
gas-consuming region in the world.The U.S.Department of Energy Information Administration forecasts that
natural gas demand will grow by more than 50 percent by 2025.
5 There are huge reserves of natural gas beneath the earth's surface.The largest reserves of natural
gas can be found in Russia , West and North Africa and the Middle East. LNG（液化天然气）has been pro-
duced domestically and imported in the United States for more than four decades.Today,the leading import-
ers of LNG are Japan,Korea,France and Spain.
When manufacturing many different products,people commonly use natural gas_________.
A:over the past 50 years
B: beneath the earth' s surface
C: by more than 50 percent
D:for more than four decades
E:as a raw material
F:for home energy needs
