Before the US can build the advanced nuclear power plants it can sell abroad, an issue that nuclear’ s critics have held up for

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问题     Before the US can build the advanced nuclear power plants it can sell abroad, an issue that nuclear’ s critics have held up for decades as a tremendous stumbling block—storing used nuclear fuel--must be resolved. It is not a lack of science that has held the industry back. Although scientists around the world agree that the technology exists to isolate nuclear waste from the environment in deep underground repositories, the US has lacked the political will to find a disposal site and build a facility. That could be changing, however.
    The Clinton Administration has pushed for a solution to the high-level nuclear waste problem in the US. As a former nuclear utility executive, Secretary of Energy Hazel O’ Leary has had firsthand experience with the potential storage problems of high-level radioactive waste. She has stated on several occasions that one of the department’s top priorities will be studying the feasibility of Yucca Mountain in Nevada as an appropriate site for disposal of the nation’s spent high-level commercial waste.
    O’ Leafy has not backed away from that stance now that she is in office announcing a new direction for the Department of Energy’s radioactive waste program, she indicated that "Devising an acceptable strategy for the long-term management of nuclear waste is both a national priority and an opportunity for the United States to set the standard for an international environmental initiative of overwhelming consequence."
    Today, more Americans feel that difficult issues can not be left for future generations to solve, thus condemning the nation’s children to a lower standard of living Americans must learn to use each resource at its maximum potential. As the US enjoys the benefits of these resources, though, it also must accept responsibility for disposing of their wastes, especially when from energy sources. Whether fossil fuels, nuclear power, or renewables, each has advantages, and each has limitations. That’s why the US depends on a mix of fuels to meet its electricity needs. If Americans are serious about the economy, the environment, natural resources and energy independence, nuclear power will remain a strong contender on the list of energy choices for the future.   
The phrase "stumbling block" may best refer to ______.

选项 A、obstacle
B、motivation
C、acceleration
D、deceleration

答案A

解析
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