The construction of large-scale wind farms has been widely promoted as a key solution to global energy challenges. However, a closer examination reveals that wind power may not be as environmentally or economically beneficial as commonly claimed. Three major concerns undermine its viability.
First, wind farms pose a significant threat to bird and bat populations. Studies have shown that turbine blades kill hundreds of thousands of birds annually, including migratory species and raptors. This disruption to local ecosystems is a hidden cost often overlooked in renewable energy debates.
Second, wind energy is inherently unreliable. Electricity generation depends on wind speed, which fluctuates daily and seasonally. When winds are calm, turbines produce little or no power, forcing grid operators to rely on backup fossil-fuel plants. This intermittency undermines the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, because backup plants often operate inefficiently.
Third, the economic benefits of wind farms are often exaggerated. While they create jobs during construction, these positions are temporary. Moreover, the cost of integrating wind power into existing grids—including building new transmission lines and maintaining backup capacity—is substantial, often exceeding the savings from reduced fuel use. Consequently, consumers may face higher electricity bills rather than lower ones.
For these reasons, wind power should be viewed with caution rather than enthusiasm.
🎧 听力讲座
🎯 模拟考试环境：先点「播放讲座」听完内容，再作答。听力原文默认隐藏。
The reading presents a pessimistic view of wind power, but each of its claims is misleading when examined closely.
Regarding bird deaths, the reading fails to mention that properly sited wind farms can avoid major migratory routes. Moreover, studies show that building-related collisions and domestic cats kill far more birds annually—by orders of magnitude—than turbines do. In fact, wind farms may ultimately protect birds by reducing the habitat destruction caused by fossil fuel extraction and climate change.
Second, the intermittency problem is being rapidly solved. Modern wind farms are often paired with advanced battery storage systems that can store excess power during windy periods and release it when winds are calm. Furthermore, regional grids that connect geographically dispersed wind farms experience far less variability—when wind is weak in one area, it is often strong in another. Denmark, for instance, already obtains over 40% of its electricity from wind without suffering blackouts.
Finally, the economic argument is outdated. The cost of wind power has fallen by more than 70% over the past decade, making it one of the cheapest energy sources available. While construction jobs are temporary, ongoing maintenance creates stable, long-term employment. Moreover, grid integration costs have been overestimated, and studies show that wind power actually reduces wholesale electricity prices by displacing expensive fossil fuel generation. Consumers in wind-rich regions often see lower bills, not higher ones.
📝 Writing Prompt Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on the specific points made in the reading passage.
📊 TOEFL Integrated Writing Rubric
Content Accuracy: Accurately capture the relationship between lecture and reading
Information Completeness: Cover all key counter-arguments from the lecture
Structure & Coherence: Logical organization and progression
Language Use: Grammar, vocabulary, expression accuracy
Scored 0-30 based on holistic scoring (original 0-5, scaled to 30).
