2026年沪教牛津版（2012）九年级中考【时文阅读训练】英国晴朗周末或可免费用电-UK could get free electricity on sunny weekends

UK could get free electricity on sunny weekends  (16th April 2026)

People in the UK could get discounted or even free electricity this summer. This is because energy companies may have too much energy. They do not want to waste it. In summer, people use less electricity because they turn on lights less. There is also more energy coming from solar panels. Power companies say that on sunny days, "weather conditions result in excess supply". This means electricity companies could allow houses and businesses to use electricity for free on sunny weekends. Energy suppliers say households could use appliances like washing machines or dishwashers and charge electric vehicles at no cost during periods of excess supply.

The idea for discounted or free power came from the National Energy System Operator (NESO). Its website says it is "responsible for planning and delivering the energy of today and the future". The operator also says it will "deliver what is needed to reach a zero-carbon future". A NESO spokeswoman explained the benefits of the new idea. She said it would "not only reward consumers and businesses for flexible electricity use," but also make Great Britain's electricity network stronger and more efficient. A spokesman from National Gas believes there could be free summer power even with the war in the Middle East. He said: "The market has the capacity to deliver sufficient supply."

1.Vocabulary Matching

Paragraph 1

1.	discounted	a.	The amount of something that is available.
2.	waste (verb)	b.	To cause something to happen.
3.	result in	c.	To use something badly or throw it away when it can still be used.
4.	excess	d.	Things used to carry people or goods, like cars or trucks.
5.	supply	e.	Cheaper than the usual price.
6.	appliances	f.	More than what is needed.
7.	vehicles	g.	Machines used at home, such as a fridge or washing machine.

 

Paragraph 2

8.	responsible	h.	Good results or helpful effects.
9.	delivering	i.	Working well without wasting time or energy.
10.	zero-carbon	j.	To give someone something good for useful action.
11.	benefits	k.	Taking something to a place.

12.	reward (verb)	l.	Enough for what is needed.
13.	efficient	m.	Having the duty to take care of something.
14.	sufficient	n.	Not adding carbon pollution to the air.

 

【答案】

1.e  2.c  3.b  4.f  5.a  6.g  7.d 8.m  9.k  10.n  11.h  12.j  13.i  14.l

2. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if “1-8” below are true (T) or false (F).

1. Electricity in the UK will be free all summer.         T / F

2. People in the UK use electricity more in the summer.        T / F

3. The article says all the UK's power is from solar panels in the summer.      T / F

4. People in the UK could use their dishwasher for free in the summer.      T / F

5. The idea came from the National Energy System Operator.        T / F

6. NESO said people will be rewarded for flexible electricity use.       T / F

7. A spokesman said war in the Middle East would stop free electricity.       T / F

8. The spokesman said the UK's energy market has enough capacity.       T / F

【答案】

1.F  2.F  3.F  4.T  5.T  6.T  7.F  8.T

 

3. SYNONYM MATCH: (The words in bold are from the news article.)

1.	discounted	a.	lead to
2.	energy	b.	conflict
3.	result in	c.	in charge of
4.	excess	d.	provide
5.	appliances	e.	too much
6.	responsible for	f.	reduced
7.	deliver	g.	well organized
8.	efficient	h.	power
9.	war	i.	enough
10.	sufficient	j.	machines

 

【答案】

1.f  2.h  3.a  4.e  5.j 6.c  7.d  8.g  9.b  10.i

4. READING COMPREHENSION: MULTIPLE CHOICE

1)  Why might people in the UK get discounted or free electricity?

a) They have eco-friendly appliances. b) climate change

c) They have UK passports. d) energy companies have too much energy

2)  What do people in the UK not turn on so often in summer?

a) air conditioners b) lights

c) cold-water taps d) the charm

3)  What does the UK get more energy from in the summer?

a) nuclear energy b) the European Union

c) biofuels d) solar panels

4)  What did power companies say sunny days result in?

a) more flowers b) more days in the park

c) excess supply d) an increase in picnics

5)  What appliance was mentioned besides washing machines?

a) rice cookers b) air conditioners

c) kettles d) dishwashers

6)  What idea did the National Energy System Operator (NESO) have?

a) using air conditioners less b) more eco-friendly appliances

c) cut-price or free power d) how to live without oil

7)  What does NESO want to deliver the necessary things for?

a) a zero-carbon future b) pizza delivery drivers

c) eco-friendly appliances d) Amazon

8)  Who did NESO say the free electricity plan would reward?

a) gardeners and farmers b) nuclear power companies

c) consumers and businesses d) appliance makers

9)  What will flexible electricity use make Great Britain's electricity network?

a) faster and more powerful b) stronger and more efficient

c) cheaper and better value d) more convenient

10)  What did a National Gas spokesman say would not affect free electricity?

a) war in the Middle East b) climate change

c) rainy weather d) more spending on appliances

【答案】

1.d  2.b  3.d  4.c  5.d  6.c  7.a  8.c  9.b  10.a

5. Comprehension questions