TOEFL Practice Test

Reading Test

Reading Passage with Multiple Choice Test

Reading Passage

Economic Implications of Electric Vehicle Adoption

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently introduced a new standard for carbon-dioxide emissions, which hinges on the widespread voluntary adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by consumers. The agency is optimistic that EVs will soon become affordable, reliable, and convenient to charge. Critics, however, argue that this standard forcibly mandates the use of EVs, as it can only be achieved if EVs constitute a significant majority of new vehicle sales by 2032.

Currently, EVs remain a niche product, primarily utilized by affluent urban consumers with access to garages. In the previous year, EVs accounted for less than 8% of new automobile sales and significantly impacted automakers' profits due to the high costs in establishing new manufacturing facilities for these vehicles. While EV enthusiasts anticipate increased market penetration as technology advances and potentially low-cost Chinese EVs enter the market, the speed of this transition and the potential impact on American car manufacturers remain uncertain.

A critical challenge in the EPA's strategy is the extensive and costly expansion of local electrical grids required to support widespread EV adoption. This includes a substantial increase in the production of electrical transformers due to decades of insufficient spending on infrastructure and the rapid deterioration of this equipment due to high acidity in rainwater. Furthermore, the reasons for the construction of additional power plants and transmission lines are that national power usage is predicted to rise by 300% over the next 10 years and that 60% of current production equipment is near the end of its 40-year operational lifecycle. The upgrade must encompass the local grid distribution systems of approximately 3,000 electric utilities nationwide, involving the replacement of millions of distribution transformers and utility poles to accommodate higher power levels and more frequent use.

On an individual level, millions of homes and apartment complexes will require electrical upgrades to support at-home EV chargers. This will entail significant financial investments from consumers and taxpayers, either through taxes or increased utility rates. Electricians will need to install new circuits, and many older homes will require new power panels to handle the increased demand. Moreover, on-road fueling infrastructure will need to be developed to cater to consumers without garages. Replicating the nation's approximately 195,000 retail gasoline stations will necessitate far more than the 4,000 charging facilities proposed by the Federal Highway Administration. Each charging station will have a power demand comparable to that of an entire town, necessitating further upgrades to higher-voltage grid systems and the installation of thousands of new, large transmission-level transformers.

While EV proponents believe that these challenges can be addressed with sufficient funding, they may underestimate the scale of the task. A study by the Energy Department estimated that supporting EVs constituting 10% of all on-road vehicles would require $50 billion to $125 billion in infrastructure upgrades. Achieving the EPA's goal will likely necessitate over $1 trillion in grid upgrades by 2035.The availability of transformers poses a significant bottleneck. Delivery times for the largest utility transformers can already span several years, and costs have risen by 70% since 2018. Replacing tens of millions of distribution transformers will require vast quantities of copper, much of which must be imported, and will exceed the production capabilities of American manufacturers. The U.S. relies heavily on imports for large substation transformers, particularly from Asia, raising national security concerns.

Additionally, the specialized electrical steel required for transformers and electric motors is in short supply, with only one major producer, Cleveland Cliffs. New Energy Department regulations aimed at improving transformer efficiency will necessitate the use of even more specialized and costly amorphous steel. Compounding these issues is a shrinking labor force capable of building and installing this specialized hardware. The EPA's architects appear to believe that market forces will address these challenges, a theory that remains unproven. Behavioral changes, such as rationing access to EV charging or reducing the number of cars, may offer some relief. However, the EPA's implicit EV mandate represents a significant gamble on the future of green technology.

Question 1

According to the author, in paragraph 1, what do detractors of the new standard for CO2 emissions assert?

  • The widespread adoption of EVs will happen soon.
  • The EPA’s carbon dioxide emissions specification requires that electric vehicles be utilized.
  • The adoption of electric vehicles is not a consumer choice.
  • The majority of new vehicle sales will be EVs by 2032 only if this new technology is a non-requirement.

Question 2

In paragraph 3, what two reasons are given for the substitution of a large quantity of electrical equipment?

  • The critical challenge of the EPA and the widespread EV adoption
  • the lack of expenditure on infrastructure and the corrosion of equipment because of acid in rainwater
  • the increase in both recurrent usage and levels of power
  • a forecasted major increase in electrical usage over the next decade and the near expiration date of current equipment

Question 3

In paragraph 2, what does the word "affluent" in the passage most nearly mean?

  • Wealthy
  • Technologically inclined
  • Educated
  • Overemployed

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a requirement for widespread EV adoption?

  • Construction of additional power plants
  • Expansion of local electrical grids
  • Reduction in the number of cars
  • Increase in the production of electrical transformers

Question 5

In paragraph 5, what does the word "bottleneck" in the passage most nearly mean?

  • Small opening
  • Obstacle
  • Container
  • Confusion

Question 6

In paragraph 6, what can be inferred about the EPA's belief in market forces addressing the challenges of EV adoption?

  • The EPA is certain that market forces will solve all challenges.
  • The EPA's belief has not been confirmed.
  • The EPA has already seen market forces solve similar challenges.
  • The EPA believes that architecture will address the challenges.

Question 7

How does the author organize the information in the passage?

  • By comparing and contrasting different viewpoints
  • By presenting a series of challenges and the astronomical costs of potential solutions
  • By narrating a historical timeline of EV adoption
  • By describing a single new energy standard and its benefits

Question 8

What is the primary purpose of the passage?

  • To argue against the use of electric vehicles
  • To explain the economic implications of EV adoption
  • To describe the EPA’s energy policy on electric vehicles
  • To promote the benefits of electric vehicles

Question 9

What method does the author use to support the argument about the challenges of EV adoption?

  • Providing statistical data and expert opinions
  • Using historical economic data on energy usage
  • Applying the challenge and response theory of energy usage
  • Presenting scientific theories and supporting them with laboratory data
Question 10

Summary Question

Question 10

Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor details from the passage. This question is worth 2 points.

The passage discusses the economic implications and challenges of adopting electric vehicles (EVs) as proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

  • Electric vehicle implementation necessitates that there be a massive increase in the number of charging facilities, which entails upgrading voltage grid systems.
  • EVs currently account for less than 8% of new automobile sales and are primarily used by affluent urban consumers.
  • The expansion of local electrical grids and the production of electrical transformers are critical challenges for supporting widespread EV adoption.
  • The EPA's strategy includes reducing the number of gasoline stations and increasing the number of charging facilities.
  • The availability of specialized electrical steel and a shrinking labor force are significant obstacles to the production of necessary infrastructure for EVs.
  • The scarceness of producers of particular steel for electrical purposes, as well as diminishing blue collar personnel, is a major challenge to EPA’s plan for electrical vehicle adoption.