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Imagine a house that keeps itself warm in the wintertime. Think of the savings in terms of fuel bills and unfriendly emissions. Such houses in fact exist, called “passive houses”. The concept of these highly energy-efficient buildings took root in the 1990s, before slowly consolidating as a niche construction (生态位构建) concept in the 2000s. Are passive houses now actively moving into the mainstream as sustainable buildings?
For Brian McGarry, an economics lecturer who built a family house based on passive housing criteria in the Pyrenees this year, the arguments look convincing. As his first full winter in the low energy house draws in, we asked him to keep us informed. Do passive houses work?
I had never heard of a passive house in February 2012, when I purchased a plot of land. Nor did I expect that I would be persuaded to build a pre-constructed, custom-designed house based on energy-efficient passive house criteria. It promised to be easier and quicker to build, cheaper to run, and more comfortable to live in. The objective was to incorporate the fundamental concepts of passive energy management into my project: an airtight and highly insulated building envelope; large southfacing double or triple-glazed windows (if possible, filled with argon gas) that passively capture the energy of the sun; a heat recovery ventilation system to provide fresh air; and a simple, low-cost heating system consisting of a modern wood-burning stove, a bathroom heater and a portable radiator backup for when the sun doesn’t shine and temperatures decline. No significant
limitations were placed on the design, and it had excellent environmental credentials. Moreover, the cost was no more than a conventional build.
After six months in use, the house is proving to be both cheap to run and remarkably comfortable–staying cool in the hot summer was effortless, as long as the windows were shuttered or shaded from the sun. Nowstaying warm in the cold, high-altitude December climate also seems easy, so far.
Winter arrived in force in the Pyrenees in November, with abundant snowfalls and temperatures as low as minus 8° Celsius. Though early days, the house has responded well: the stove is lit during cold evenings but the portable radiator has not yet been needed. This type of construction seems not only to make economic andenvironmental sense, but to enhance our quality of life, too.We can learn from Paragraph one that passive houses __________.
| A．consume extra energy to keep warm in winter and cool in summer |
| B．had been introduced for a decade before the birth of the theory |
| C．appeal to both the self-builders and those constructors |
| D．refer to a certain house comfortable, costly and also pleasing |
Regarding the passive energy management, the houses have characteristics EXCEPT _______
| A．using south-facing windows to take in solar energy |
| B．Providing energy for taking a shower when it’s rainy |
| C．supplying fresh air with a special heat recovery system |
| D．placing more demands and restrictions on the design |
How did Brian McGarry find his self-built passive house?
| A．very unaffordable |
| B．Energy-consuming |
| C．comfortable to live in |
| D．Awkward to use |
What is the writer’s attitude towards the passive housing?
| A．supportive | B．critical |
| C．oppositive | D．doubtful |
Andy rode slowly on his way to school, day-dreaming about the fishing trip that his father had promised him. He was so busy dreaming about all the fish he would catch that he was unaware of everything else around him.
He rode along until a strange sound drew him to the present. He came to a stop and looked curiously up to the heavens. What he saw shocked and terrified him. A huge swarm(群) of bees filled the sky like a black cloud and seemed to be heading angrily towards him.
With no time to waste, Andy sped off in the opposite direction, without knowing how to escape the swarm. With a rapidly beating heart, he sped down the rough road. As the bees came closer, his panic increased. Andy knew that he was allergic to bee stings(蜇). The last sting had landed him in hospital —and that was only one bee sting! He had been forced to stay in bed for two whole days. Suddenly, his father’s words came to him. “When you are in a tight situation, don’t panic. Use your brain and think your way out of it.”
On a nearby hill, he could see smoke waving slowly skywards from the chimney of the Nelson family home. “Bees don’t like smoke,” he thought. “They couldn’t get into the house.” Andy raced towards the Nelson house, but he knew he could not reach the house in time. The bees would catch up with him soon.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted a small dam used by Mr. Nelson to water his vegetable garden. He got off his bike and into the cool water, disappearing below the surface. After holding his breath for as long as he could, Andy came up for air and noticed the bees had gone. Dragging himself out of the dam, he struggled up the hilly slope(坡) and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Nelson took him inside and rang his mother.
“You’ll really need that fishing break to help you recover,” laughed his mother with relief. “Thank goodness you didn’t panic!” But Andy did not hear her. He was dreaming once again of the fish he would catch tomorrow. Why did Andy fail to notice the swarm of bees earlier?
| A．He was riding to school. |
| B．He was listening to a strange sound. |
| C．He was going fishing with his father. |
| D．He was lost in the thought of the fishing trip. |
How did Andy avoid the bees in the end?
| A．He asked Mr. Nelson for help. | B．He hid himself under the water. |
| C．He rushed into the Nelson house. | D．He rode off in the opposite direction. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the swarm of bees in the passage?
| A．They crowded like a black cloud. | B．They shocked and terrified Andy. |
| C．They made Andy stay in hospital. | D．They were coming towards Andy. |
Which of the following can best describe Andy’s escape from the bees?
| A．No pains, no gains. | B．Once bitten, twice shy. |
| C．Where there is a will, there is a way. | D．One’s mind works faster in an emergency. |
Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses（球场） in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?
| A．Cycling around a lake. | B．Motor racing in the desert. |
| C．Playing basketball in a gym. | D．Swimming in a sports center. |
What do we know about golf from the passage?
| A．It is popular in Portugal and Spain. |
| B．It causes water shortages in some areas. |
| C．It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes. |
| D．It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green. |
The author writes the passage to_______.
| A．show us the function of major sports |
| B．introduce different types of environment-friendly sports |
| C．discuss the major influence of popular sports |
| D．encourage us to go in for green sports |
LIPITOR
ABOUT LIPITOR
Lipitor is a prescription medicine．Along with diet and exercise, it lowers（降低）"bad" cholesterol（胆固醇）in your blood．It can also raise "good" cholesterol．
Lipitor can lower the risk of heart attack in patients with several common risk factors, including family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure, age and smoking．
WHO IS LIPITOR FOR?
Who can take LIPITOR:
●People who cannot lower their cholesterol enough with diet and exercise
●Adults and children over 10
Who should NOT take DIPITOR:
●Women who are pregnant, may be pregnant, or may become pregnant．Lipitor may harm your unborn baby．
●Women who are breast-feeding．Lipitor can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby．
●People with liver（肝脏） problems
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF LIPITOR
Serious side effects in a small number of people:
●Muscle（肌肉）problems that can lead to kidney （肾脏） problems, including kidney failure
●Liver problems．Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start Lipitor and while you are taking it．
Call your doctor right away if you have：
●Unexplained muscle pain or weakness, especially if you have a fever or feel very tired
●Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing
●Stomach pain
Some common side effects of LIPITOR are:
●Muscle pain
●Upset stomach
●Changes in some blood tests
HOW TO TAKE LIPITOR
DO：
●Take Lipitor as prescribed by your doctor．
●Try to eat heart-healthy foods while you take Lipitor．
●Take Lipitor at any time of day, with or without food．
●If you miss a dose（一剂）, take it as soon as you remember．But if it has been more than 12 hours since your missed dose, wait．Take the next dose at your regular time．
Don't:
●Do not change or stop your dose before talking to your doctor．
●Do not start new medicines before talking to your doctor．Taking Lipitor is helpful for _______________.
| A．women who are pregnant | B．teenagers with liver problems |
| C．breast-feeding women | D．adults having heart disease |
If it has been 7 hours since you missed a dose, you should ____________.
| A．eat more when taking your next dose |
| B．have a dose as soon as you remember |
| C．take the next dose at your regular time |
| D．change the amount of your next dose |
Which of the following is a common side effect of taking Lipitor?
| A．Throat swelling． | B．Upset stomach. |
| C．Kidney failure. | D．Muscle weakness． |
What is the main purpose of the passage?
| A．To teach patients ways for quick recovery． |
| B．To show the importance of a good lifestyle． |
| C．To give information about a kind of medicine． |
| D．To present a report on a scientific research． |
答对三题以上（含三题）才给予加分；请在完成前五部分的前提下完成该部分
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Honesty may well be the policy, but it often deserts us when no one is watching, psychologists report today. Experiments with an honesty box to collect payments for hot drinks show that people are better at paying up when under the gaze of a pair of eyes. The surprise was that the eyes were not real, but photographed.Researchers at Newcastle University set up the experiment in secret. They attached a poster to a cupboard of mugs above an honesty box alongside a kettle, with tea, coffee and milk. Over 10 weeks, they alternated (轮流替换) each week between images of eyes and pictures of flowers.Dr. Bateson, a behavioral biologist and leader of the study, said that even though the eyes were not real they still seemed to make people behave more honestly. The effect may result from behavioral characteristics that developed as early humans formed social groups that increased their chances of survival. Individuals had to co-operate for the good of the group, rather than act selfishly.
“If nobody is watching us it is in our interests to behave selfishly. But when we think we’re being watched we should behave better, so people see us as co-operative and behave the same way towards us,” Dr. Bateson said.
“We thought we’d get a slight effect with eyes, by it was quite striking how much difference they made. Even at a subconscious level, it seems people respond to eyes, and that might be because eyes send a strong biological signal we have evolved(进化) to respond to.”
The finding, which researchers believe sheds light on our evolutionary past, could be turned to practical use. The psychologists say images of eyes could increase ticket sales on public transport and improve monitor systems to prevent antisocial behavior.This passage is mainly about ____________.
| A．the policy of honesty | B．an honesty box to collect money |
| C．evolution on honesty | D．an experiment on honesty |
The reason for doing the experiment secretly is that the researchers __________.
| A．wanted to get a comparatively more exact result |
| B．had known they wanted to do something illegally |
| C．meant to get the co-operation of their colleagues |
| D．intended to sell the hot drinks at a higher price |
People behave honestly under watchful gaze of eyes because ____________.
| A．they want to leave a good impression |
| B．they fear to be laughed at by others |
| C．they’ve got the nature through evolution |
| D．they take the photo for a real pair of eyes |
The underlined phrase “sheds light on” in the last paragraph means _________.
| A．causes somebody to become cheerful |
| B．makes something easier to understand |
| C．comes upon something by accident |
| D．brings something into the broad daylight |
Images of a pair of eyes can be applied to all except ________.
| A．ticket sales on public transport |
| B．cold drink sales in public places |
| C．places with “No spitting!” signs |
| D．electrical appliances(电器) used at home |
Ten Chinese PhD students are demanding that Beijing Normal University Professor Yu Dan be away from her television show on CCTV10. They argue that her on-air explanations of Confucius’s Analects (孔子《论语》) are “incorrect and misleading”.
Yu is known for explaining Confucius’s Analects to a TV audience. But some complain that her explanations are unfaithful to Chinese tradition.
But Yu doesn’t seem to worry too much about her critics, saying, “It’s a matter of personal choice. Some like KFC, while others like McDonalds.”
STEALING some online gamer’s password might seem less harmful than credit card theft. It does keep the victim from wearing himself out all night playing. But it is not all that nice, says 19-year-old Zhang Qiwen, in Shanghai.
Last August, Zhang accidentally downloaded a Trojan while playing Warcraft. The Trojan is a type of virus used by hackers to steal people’s passwords. Overnight the Trojan transferred all the “gold” (game credits) from Zhang’s private account to an unknown account. Zhang hopes the police will find and punish the thief, who can also pocket some cash since the stolen “gold” can go on sale online.
New England’s largest indoor public garden has opened here in a historic park, and officials expect it to become a center for learning about plants as well as a top attraction for visitors.
The glass-walled Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, which opened on March 2, offers a tropical garden, an orchid garden, and a Mediterranean room with a collection of citrus trees. The center also has two classrooms and will offer gardening classes provided by the University of Rhode Island.
Roger Williams Park, named for the city’s 17th-century founder, also has a zoo. The park already attracts more than 2 million visitors a year, and Providence Mayor David Cicilline said that he expects the new center will attract more and more visitors to Providence. Which of the following statements is true?
| A．Confucius’s Analects is like KFC or McDonalds in China now. |
| B．19-year-old Zhang was angry because a hacker stole his “gold”. |
| C．The Trojan is a new online game. |
| D．The garden is run by a university. |
We can learn from the passage that ______.
| A．there are four gardens in Roger Williams Park Botanical Center. |
| B．No one likes Yu Dan’s explanation of Confucius’s Analects. |
| C．Yu Dan won’t show up on CCTV any more for explanations of Confucius’s Analects. |
| D．Some people make money by stealing online gamers’ game credits and selling them. |
Where is Roger Williams Park?
| A．It’s in England. | B．It’s in Providence. |
| C．It’s in a botanical center. | D．It’s in a famous zoo. |
You are very likely to read the passage in ______.
| A．a biology textbook | B．a fashion magazine |
| C．a newspaper | D．a book review |