Question

review the text.
wind energy
1 although the use of wind energy has flourished in the u.s. in recent y s,
people all over the world have been harnessing the power of wind for
thousands of years. as early as 5000 bce, wind energy was used to propel
boats along the nile river. by 200 bce, simple wind-powered water pumps
were used in china, and windmills with woven - reed blades were grinding
grain in persia and the rest of the middle east.
2 new ways to use wind energy eventually spread around the world. by the
eleventh century, people in the middle east were using wind pumps and
windmills extensively for food production. merchants and returning crusaders

where would recent statistics about wind energy use outside the u.s. fit best?
the first paragraphthe second paragraphthe seventh paragraph

Explanation:

The first paragraph is about the long - standing global use of wind energy (from 5000 BCE). It sets the stage for a global perspective. The second paragraph focuses on the spread of wind - energy use in history (by the eleventh century). Since the question is about recent statistics (a more contemporary global aspect), and the first paragraph already has a global scope (mentions people all over the world, Nile River, China, Persia, Middle East), recent global (outside the U.S.) statistics would fit best in the first paragraph as it is more about the global history and present (the "recent years" in the first sentence) of wind - energy use.

Answer:

the first paragraph