[单项选择] A breakthrough in the provision of energy from the sun for the European Economic Community could be brought forward by up to two decades, if a modest increase could be provided in the EEC’’ s research effort in this field, according to the senior EEC scientists engaged in experiments in solar energy at EEC’’ s scientific laboratories at Ispra, near Milan. The senior West German scientist in charge of the community’’ s solar energy program, Mr. Joachim Gretz, told journalists that at present levels of research spending it was most unlikely that solar energy would provide as much as three percent of the Community’’ s energy requirements even after the year 2000. But he said that with a modest increase in the present sums, devoted by the EEC to this work it was possible that the breakthrough could be achieved by the end of the next decade. Mr. Gretz calculates that if solar energy only provided three percent of the EEC’’ s needs, this could still produce a saving of about a bil
A. less than 3% of the EEC’’ s needs before the year 2000
B. 3% of the EEC’’s needs before the year 2000
C. a little more than 3% of the EEC’’ s needs after the year 2000
D. only 3% of the EEC’’ s needs even after the year 2000

[单项选择] A breakthrough in the provision of energy from the sun for the European Economic Community could be brought forward by up to two decades, if a modest increase could be provided in the EEC’’ s research effort in this field, according to the senior EEC scientists engaged in experiments in solar energy at EEC’’ s scientific laboratories at Ispra, near Milan. The senior West German scientist in charge of the community’’ s solar energy program, Mr. Joachim Gretz, told journalists that at present levels of research spending it was most unlikely that solar energy would provide as much as three percent of the Community’’ s energy requirements even after the year 2000. But he said that with a modest increase in the present sums, devoted by the EEC to this work it was possible that the breakthrough could be achieved by the end of the next decade. Mr. Gretz calculates that if solar energy only provided three percent of the EEC’’ s needs, this could still produce a saving of about a bil
A. The desired breakthrough could be obtained by the end of the next decade if investment were increased.
B. At the present level of research spending, it is difficult to make any significant progress in the provision of energy from the sun.
C. The EEC spends one billion pounds on imported energy each year.
D. The total yearly spending of the EEC on solar energy research amounted to almost 6 million dollars.