Directions: This passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). As the world becomes increasingly populated, it is also becoming alarmingly polluted. We use more resources, produce more waste, and cause more environmental distress than ever before. Fortunately, there are many ways that you can help to counter the negative effects that we force on the environment. One of these is driving an electric car. This benefits not only the environment but also individual drivers. Electric cars produce about 80 percent less pollution than cars with gas-powered motors. In fact, the only reason that electric cars produce any pollution at all is that their electric energy is generated by power plants — electric cars themselves send out no exhaust. When energy comes from large sources such as power plants, it’s easier to regulate and monitor, so there’s less waste than if the energy is generated by many smaller sources, such as the gas engines in individual cars. In addition, electric cars are simply more efficient than gas-powered cars for several reasons. First, electric cars have regenerative breaking, which means that when you use the brakes (刹车) in an electric car, the battery has a chance to recharge. Conversely, when you brake in a gas-powered car, you actually use energy. Also, during the production of electric cars, more time and energy are spent making the design lighter and more powerful so that there will be less drag from the wind. This allows them to travel farther using less energy than a gas-powered car would use to go the same distance. Moreover, electric cars can also save people time. While gas-powered cars require visits to a mechanic every few months, the only routine maintenance required by electric cars is replacing the battery every four years. Overall, there are numerous benefits of driving an electric car. It may take a little getting used to, but in the long run, the use of electric cars can help save the environment and give people more time and money to be put to better use.