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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 |
When you are at odds with someone close to you, the One-Minute Drill can show you how to express your feelings effectively – and how to listen more skillfully. All it requires is two individuals who are committed to improving their relationship.
Set aside at least ten minutes, and then sit facing each other. Decide who will be the Talker and who will be the Listener. It makes no difference, because later you will change roles.
How to perform the One-Minute Drill
For approximately 30 seconds, the Talker can say anything he or she wants. Your job will be to express your thoughts and feelings. You can discuss problems you've had a hard time talking about. Remember to limit yourself to about 30 seconds. When the Talker finishes, the Listener will summarize what the Talker just said, as well as how the Talker was feeling inside, as accurately as possible.
The Talker now gives the Listener a grade between 0 and 100 per cent to indicate how accurate the summary was. If the rating is 95 per cent or more, you can change roles; the new Talker can continue with the same topic or move on to something entirely new.
However, if the grade is below 95 per cent, the Talker should point out what the Listener missed or got wrong, and repeat the process until the overall rating is 95 per cent or more. Then you can change roles and repeat the exercise for as long as you both like.
How it works
Thirty seconds of emotionally charged information is sufficiently challenging for anyone. Express your feelings in strong, clear, direct language, but as your partner will be listening attentively, you won't need to shout, exaggerate or put your partner down.
The Listener should sit and listen respectfully without interrupting. Look into your partner's eyes, but avoid using negative body language. If you like, take a few notes.
So the Talker might say: "When I come home from work, I feel tired and I need some quiet time. But you tell me I'm supposed to spend time with the kids. This makes me feel frustrated. I work hard and I'm exhausted at the end of the day. I feel like I deserve a little time to relax, not listen to more demands."
In response, the Listener might summarize like this: "You just told me that you feel exhausted when you come home at night because you've been working hard all day. When I tell you I want you to spend time with the kids, you feel frustrated and ticked off because you're tired and you need time to relax. You see me as very demanding, and you're probably feeling like I don't appreciate you."
The first time you attempt the One-Minute Drill, you may get a low score. Don't worry, because you'll get up to speed quickly. Once you've tried this exercise a few times, you'll find that you can nearly always get ratings of 95 per cent or better on the first or second try. Who is the One-Minute Drill intended for?
| A．Those who are to act some roles in a certain play for the first time in their life. |
| B．Those who are preparing for the interview in order to make a good first impression. |
| C．Those who have difficulty communicating with their colleagues or family members. |
| D．Those who have troubled relationships with their friends or family members and try to improve them. |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．In the One-Minute Drill, the Talker and the Listener change roles in the process. |
| B．The Talker should talk about his / her thoughts and feelings in a brief way. |
| C．The Listener should listen carefully, respectfully and later summarize accurately. |
| D．After the Talker finishes talking, the Listener is to give him / her a grade. |
From the example given in “How it works,” we can guess that the talk might be between _____.
| A．husband and wife | B．father and son | C．mother and daughter | D．sister and brother |
What does the underlined part “ticked off” probably mean in this reading?
| A．fast asleep | B．very angry |
| C．burst into tears | D．marked with a symbol |
Four out of ten women who diet end up heavier than when they started watching their waistline（腰围）, a study revealed today. The research also showed that a large percentage of women start noticing the pounds creeping back on just 21 days after reaching their ideal weight.
Yesterday, Dr Ian Campbell of the Jenny Craig weight management program said: 'In the UK 61.4 per cent of adults are overweight or obese. Successful weight management requires a long-term commitment in order to lose weight successfully and for good. Dieting can be a real challenge so setting realistic goals and remaining focused on them is important. Otherwise as this research shows, women could end up heavier than when they started.'
The 'Food: Body: Mind' report was publicized by Jenny Craig who quizzed 2000 women aged between 18 and 65 who diet regularly on their attitudes, beliefs and behaviors around weight loss. Six in ten said they are currently on a diet and one in five women said they are on a 'continuous diet'.
It found the most common triggers to start dieting was seeing their 'reflection in the mirror', preparing for a summer holiday or unflattering photos posted on social networking sites. Other popular reasons include comments by friends or relatives or their other half.
However, the study showed that one in ten give up within one day, while almost a fifth manage to make it to a week or more. The average is ten days. Many blamed pressure they put on themselves to lose weight too quickly for the weight gain, which leaves them with a bigger appetite than normal. Others blamed colleagues, who tuck into fatty lunches and snacks unaware of the effect it has on the dieter, while mothers who polish off their children's leftovers was another common cause of weight gain.Which of the following might be the best title for this article?
| A．Three reasons to fail in dieting | B．Important things for successful diet |
| C．Four in ten women gain weight on diets | D．Obesity: problem for 61.4% adults in UK |
In the UK, women who go on a diet __________.
| A． are all overweight or obese |
| B． all fail because they are not persistent enough |
| C． are likely to gain weight again after reaching their ideal weight |
| D． end up heavier than when they start to diet |
The underlined word “triggers” in Paragraph 4 probably means_________.
| A．effects | B．causes | C． examples | D．imagination |
Which of the following is NOT the reason why many people quit dieting very soon?
| A．The pressure they put on themselves to lose weight quickly. |
| B．Colleagues who give them fatty lunches and snacks. |
| C．Leftovers of children’s taken by their mothers. |
| D．Reflections they see in the mirror. |
Spanish men will have to learn to change diapers and do dishwashing under the terms of a new law designed to strike a blow.
The law, due to be passed this month, is likely to cause a revolution in family affairs in a country where 40% of men reportedly don’t do housework at all. It will oblige men to “share domestic responsibilities and the care and attention” of children and elderly family members, according to the draft approved by the Spanish parliament’s justice commission.
“This will be a good way of reminding people what their duties are. It is something feminists (女权主义者) have been wanting for a long time,” said Margarita Uria, of the Basque Nationalist Party, who was behind what is an amendment to a new divorce law.
Failure to meet the obligations will be taken into consideration by judges when determining the terms of divorces. Men who refuse to do their part may be given less frequent contact with their children.
Spanish women spend five times longer on housework than husbands. Even when both have jobs outside the home, Spanish women still do three times as much work in the house.
“It is not just about housework, though,” said Ms. Uria.
A study five years ago by Spain’s Center for Sociological Investigation concluded that fathers spent an average of 13 minutes each day looking after their children.
Only 19 % of Spanish men thought it was right for mothers of school-age children to have a full-time job. More than a third thought mothers should not work outside the home at all.
The Change to the Spanish legal code will see domestic obligations added to a list of marital(婚姻的) duties that currently includes fidelity, living together and helping one another.
That should guarantee that, when the law—which will also make divorce proceedings faster and easier—is voted on in parliament in the next few weeks, the obligation to share domestic chores will be added to the statute books. What is the percentage of Spanish men who don’t do any housework?
| A．19% | B．40% | C．60% | D．80% |
About the new law, which of the following is NOT true?
| A．Men are obliged to do housework. |
| B．Men will have to take care of children. |
| C．Women have to have full-time jobs. |
| D．Men will have to take care of the elderly. |
According to the fourth paragraph, which of the following is TRUE?
| A．If a man fails to fulfill the obligation, he will get a divorce. |
| B．If a man fails to fulfill the obligation, he will be thrown to the jail. |
| C．If a man fails to fulfill the obligation, he will be in an unfavorable condition in a divorce. |
| D．If a man fails to fulfill the obligation, he will not be allowed to see the child any more. |
What is the general topic of the passage?
| A．Spain will pass a new law to oblige men to share domestic responsibilities. |
| B．Men have to share more domestic responsibilities. |
| C．There will be a revolution by provoked (被激怒的) feminists. |
| D．Marital laws in Spain are not enough yet. |
The other day at the supermarket, I saw a naughty child of about six crying loudly, falling to the floor and refusing to move. All the while the troubled mother was trying to persuade him to behave well but failed. A little smack (掴打) on his bottom would have done the job, I thought.
Teenagers also cause discipline problems. As a teacher I had a 16-year-old student who had fallen in love with a waiter at a fast-food restaurant. In fact, she had left home to stay with him. So we decided to put her in the school hostel. She refused. When she heard her mother begging her to stay in the hostel she turned round and said: “Why don’t you stay in the hostel if you like it so much?”
My palms were itching to slap her for being so rude but the poor mother continued to cajole her, hoping that gentle persuasion would work wonders. It did not. The last I heard, she had run away from home again.
The list goes on and on. Could it be that today’s parents are softer and believe that they must not rod (棍棒惩罚) their children for fear of the bad result? Or do they actually believe that the children will get rid of the bad habits and behave well naturally as they grow older? I beg to disagree. I believe it is the parents’ duty to discipline the children even at a young age.
My children who are now adults will prove the fact that I used the rod when I thought it necessary. Later when they went abroad, they related to their British university friends on how they were disciplined. Their friends abroad were filled with horror and told my daughter that I could be charged for child abuse (虐待). However, my daughter paid me the greatest complimentwhen she told them that she would not be where she was today if not for my strict discipline. According to the passage, the author would probably _______.
| A．beat the children every day | B．punish the children when necessary |
| C．1eave the children as they are | D．treat the children in a softer way |
The underlined word “to cajole” (in Paragraph 3) probably means _______.
| A．to persuade | B．to scold | C．to forgive | D．to punish |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The naughty boy’s mother hit him on the bottom at last. |
| B．The teenager’s mother lived together with her daughter in the school then. |
| C．The author was charged for child abuse by her daughter’s friends abroad. |
| D．The author’s daughter was very thankful for her parent’s strict discipline. |
Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?
| A．Respect Parents | B．Spoil Kids | C．Value Discipline | D．Protect Kids |
Few people would question the value of taking part in sports for young people . With proper training , supervision , protective equipment and techniques , and a proper emphasis on winning , sports can develop a healthy body and spirit and a life-long interest in being active and fit . Without such measures , childhood sports can lead to injuries and even paralysis or death .
Even in the best conditions , no activity can be risk-free. But most serious hazards are preventable. Cyclists and football players can reduce their risks by wearing helmets, hockey players by wearing masks；basketball and tennis players by wearing eye guards； baseball players by wearing batting helmets .
Besides, risks to individual players can often be found , and thus prevented , through a properly performed medical exam before a child plays . For accidents that cannot be preventable , having an emergency plan and first-aid equipment , and someone trained to use the equipment, can be lifesaving .
Still , each year , according to the American College of Sports Medicine , more than 775,000 children under 14 are treated in emergency rooms for sports injuries , nearly half of them preventable . An estimated 300,000 athletes experience exercise-related head illnesses each year , and almost all of them should have been avoided .
Further , from half to three-fourths of sports-related concussions（脑震荡）are never even diagnosed ; the injured are often sent back to play too soon and put a risk of another more serious brain-damaging concussion . To help reduce these risks , the National Center for Sports Safety , with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association , offers a three-hour online safety course for coaches for ＄28 at www.SportsSafety.org. Which of the following is true according to the passage ?
| A．All the accidents can be prevented . |
| B．All the accidents cannot be prevented . |
| C．Lives can be saved so long as there is proper equipment . |
| D．Lives cannot be saved even if there is proper equipment . |
What does the underlined word “hazards”（in paragraph 2）mean ?
| A．mistakes. | B．diseases. | C．dangers. | D．situations. |
It is implied in the passage that .
| A．prevention of injuries is not paid enough attention to |
| B．children under 14 are more easily hurt in sports |
| C．most head illnesses are related with exercise |
| D．none of the head illnesses should have happened |