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Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
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 Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:21 am Post subject: some questions |
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| Nuclear energy, the supposedly "perfect" energy source of the mid-70s, has priced itself out of existence because of its inherent inability to be cost-efficient. The dangerous aspects of nuclear reactor accident has had to be eliminated, and the only way to achieve this has been to spend vast sums of money on safety systems. This is as it shoud be: if an energy source presents a serious danger to the population at large, then these dangers must be accounted for and eliminated, regardless of cost. |
Question1: I think 'its inherent inability to be cost-efficient' is wrong and instead 'its inherent inability not to be cost-efficient' is right. What do you think of it?
Question2: 'to spend vast sums of money on safety systems' means 'in order to spend vast sums of money on safety systems' or 'spending vast sums of money on safety systems' or 'the only way to spend vast sums of money on safety systems'?
Question3: What does 'This is as it shoud be' mean?
Especially, what's 'This' and what's 'it' in the context?
Thanks. |
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Meadowlark
Joined: 19 Feb 2006
Posts: 73
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| Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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Quote:
Nuclear energy, the supposedly "perfect" energy source of the mid-70s, has priced itself out of existence because of its inherent inability to be cost-efficient. The dangerous aspects of nuclear reactor accident has had to be eliminated, and the only way to achieve this has been to spend vast sums of money on safety systems. This is as it should be: if an energy source presents a serious danger to the population at large, then these dangers must be accounted for and eliminated, regardless of cost. |
Question1: I think 'its inherent inability to be cost-efficient' is wrong and instead 'its inherent inability not to be cost-efficient' is right. What do you think of it?
It is correct as written. Is it possible that you are mistaking inability for ability?
Nuclear power plants are not able to supply the public with an inexpensive source of energy. The cost of the necessary safety systems is so great that the price consumers must pay for energy from nuclear power plants is equal to or greater than what they pay for energy from other sources. It is therefore correct to say that nuclear energy has an inherent inability to be cost-efficient.
Question2: 'to spend vast sums of money on safety systems' means 'in order to spend vast sums of money on safety systems' or 'spending vast sums of money on safety systems' or 'the only way to spend vast sums of money on safety systems'?
The second one. The safety systems required by nuclear power plants cost vast sums of money.
Question3: What does 'This is as it should be' mean?
Especially, what's 'This' and what's 'it' in the context?
The writer is saying that it is appropriate that the safety of the public be the primary concern.
"This" refers to the policy of giving public safety the highest priority, specifically spending money, even vast sums, on safety systems to ensure the safety of the public.
"It" refers to the underlying value system or policy which governs the making of such choices. |
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