Some of the biggest and most successful companies are opening new offices, and their trendiest feature is focused on plants and insects. After moving to Seattle, Microsoft began to build its work spaces outdoors - and more specifically, in the trees, which are now comprised of 125 buildings.
This style of biophilic (亲自然的) design-an integration of natural materials, natural light, views of nature and other experiences of the natural world into the built environment - sounds pretty and good for the planet. But that hardly seems like enough of a reason for big companies to pay billions for biophilic designs. In fact, they are motivated by economics.
A study with employees of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District Call Center revealed that workers who had a view of the natural environment handled about 7% more calls than those who did not. The cost of reforming offices to give each employee an outdoor view was about $1, 000 per employee, while their increased productivity added up to $2,900 in increased income per employee per year.
Another study by the Think Wood campaign concludes that nature can have a beneficial effect on creativity, concentration and well-being. Not only do cool-looking biophilic offices help companies recruit (招聘) talent in an incredibly tight labor market, but they also nudge the new talent to perform better at work.
“Being more creative and flexible with our workspace allows us to be more creative and productive in our work and the products we create. It’s like a little getaway,” said Bret Boulder, Head of Capital Assets.
Of course, small companies don’t have a spare couple of billion to spend on “park-like” outdoor offices. But the good news is that biophilic design is not necessarily expensive. Even just staring at a neighboring green roof for less than a minute has been shown to boost productivity.
1. Where can you find the definition of biophilic design?| A．In paragraph 1. | B．In paragraph 2. | C．In paragraph 3. | D．In paragraph 4. |
| A．Encourage. | B．Anticipate. | C．Remind. | D．Promise. |
| A．Reduced building cost. | B．Competitive atmosphere. |
| C．Limited workplace flexibility. | D．Increased productivity. |
| A．Putting Nature to Work | B．A Trend to Open New Offices |
| C．Living Naturally and Simply | D．A Natural Building Designer |
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【推荐1】With so many NYC museums to choose from, it’s hard to begin. The good news is, you’re in the right place. Below is a highly selective list of museums in New York City.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Occupying two million square feet, with a permanent collection of over two million works of art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (founded in 1870) is one the largest galleries in the world. This famous fine arts museum in NYC possesses works from classical antiquity (古物), ancient Egypt, Asia, Byzantium, and Europe, with nearly all of the European masters represented.
American Museum of Natural History
Originally founded in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest museums in the world. Located in park-like grounds across the street from Central Park, the museum complex consists of 28 interconnected buildings housing 45 permanent exhibition halls. As a popular family-friendly NYC attraction, the American Museum of Natural History is as fun as it is educational.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
One of the mid-twentieth century’s most important architectural landmarks, the iconic Solomon R. Museum was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright spent 15 years designing the building and gave up 700 sketches and six sets of working drawings in the process. He died six months before the doors were opened.
New York City Fire Museum
The New York City Fire Museum (set up in 1934) is a charming alternative to the more expensive museums of New York. Here you will find art and artifacts that celebrate the history of firefighting and the New York City Fire Department, including modern-day firefighting equipment and real New York fire equipment from 1790.
1. What do you know about the American Museum of Natural History?| A．It consists of 28 exhibition halls. | B．It lies in the middle of Central Park. |
| C．It is fit for parents and their kids. | D．It is the largest museum in the world. |
| A．The New York City Fire Museum | B．The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum |
| C．The Metropolitan Museum of Art | D．The American Museum of Natural History |
| A．In a guidebook | B．In a history book |
| C．In an art review | D．In an official report |
Museum of the Moving Image (MMI) (Monday Closed) As the best museum in New York City and with a balance of hands-on (实际操作的) activities and information, it’s the rare bird that can entertain and educate people of difference ages. It’s a perfect destination for a family trip of a couple of hours. Pros — Excellent movie screenings. Easy subway access. Cons — Difficult to reach by car. |  |
New York Hall of Science (NYHS) (Monday Closed) Being New York City’s only hands-on science and technology center, it is an interactive science museum targeting children. It has the most hands-on exhibits in an NYC museum, and it’s a fun destination for five-year-olds and above. Older folks might take great interest in the NASA rockets outside the museum, but don’t bother unless you have kids to keep you company. Pros — Cool interactive science exhibits, the rockets. Cons — Hard to reach by public transportation. |  |
Queens County Farm Museum (QCFM) (Year-round 7 days a week) It is an actual farm in New York City and home to animals your kids can feed and a yard full of a climbing plant whose fruits can be made into wine. Good chance to meet sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and cows! The animals are mostly readily accessible to visitors. And the museum sells feed for young hands willing to get licked by sheep and goats. Pros — Outdoor fun. Cons — Expensive festivals, long bus ride, no subway. |  |
Queens Museum of Art (QMA) (Monday and Tuesday Closed) Opened in 1972 to serve as a cultural center for the borough(行政区), it exhibits artworks by local and international artists. Its best exhibits are on the two World’s Fairs, and of course, the Panorama of New York City, a giant, highly detailed diorama (透视画) of all five New York City boroughs. Pros — The Panorama, great gift shop. Easy subway access. Cons — Not much for kids. |  |
| A．MMI | B．NYHS | C．QMA | D．QCFM |
| A．All the museums mentioned above lie in New York City. |
| B．No other museum in New York City is better than MMI. |
| C．Lucky visitors can see grapes in one of the museums. |
| D．NYHS has the most hands-on activities in America. |
| A．people can visit only one of the museums any time and any day |
| B．visitors can pay a visit to all the museums by subway |
| C．there is often a rare bird flying in the sky above MMI |
| D．the Panorama is, as a matter of fact, a great gift shop |
| National Geographic Museum | The Newseum | |
| Where: | At 1145 17th St. NW. The nearest Metro stops are Archives (Yellow and Green lines) and Judiciary Square (Red line). | At 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The nearest Metro stops are Archives (Yellow and Green lines) and Judiciary Square (Red line). |
| When: | Open from 10 am to 6 pm daily and till 8 pm on Wednesdays. Closed Dec 25. The warriors exhibition is on until March 31. | Open from 9 am to 5 pm daily but closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. |
| How much: | Timed tickets are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors, students and the military; $6 for ages 2 to 12. | Adults (19 to 64): $19.95 Youth (7 to 18): $12.95 Children (6 and younger): free |
| For more information: | call 202-857-7700 or visit http://www.warriorsdc.org | http:// www.newseum.org or 888-639-7386 |
1. Which of the following statements about National Geographic Museum is TRUE?
| A．It’s open from 10 am to 6 pm each day. |
| B．It’s near the Judiciary Square stop on the Yellow line. |
| C．It is closed on Thanksgiving day, Christmas and New Year’s Day. |
| D．You have to go there before April 1 to see the exhibition of warriors. |
| A．$18 | B．$32.8 | C．$19.95 | D．$32 |
| A．call 202-857-7700 |
| B．call 888-699-7386 |
| C．log onto http://www.warriorsdc.org |
| D．log onto http://www.newseum.org |
【推荐1】This year a group called Teach For America (TFA) saw an increase in applications by 36 percent. The organization recruits (招聘) college graduates to help fill a teacher shortage in less developed areas of America. The organization’s leaders say some college graduates prefer to take the positions in public service during the economic (经济的) downturn but many feel a renewed spirit of public service.
“Teaching is much harder than I expected. Changing the world is never easy,” says Loren Heinbach. She has made up her mind to become a teacher to address the imbalance in education that exists between rich and poor communities.
Heinbach is one of over 6,000 TFA members, recent college graduates who volunteer to teach children in poor inner cities and rural public schools. She gives up possible work in medicine or law which will pay much more later on. Instead, she takes a teaching job at the KIPP Academy.
The school is in a neighborhood of Washington, DC. The students there traditionally perform (表现) in the lowest 25% of national standards. Vice Principal Kristy Ochs says the school is working hard to improve the quality of education, but it is difficult to find teachers willing to do the hard work.
Ochs also gets her start in TFA. Two-thirds of members stay in education after their two-year service ends. She says these new teachers make every effort to teach school.
Heinbach’s students say she has high standards and expectations. One student says, “You have to really pay attention. The questions may seem easy, but if you make the wrong decision on a question, it’s like you really messed up.” “She also likes us to take notes. And I do thank her because she is getting us ready for college,” another student adds.
1. What’s the purpose of TFA recruiting college students?| A．To send more teachers to poor areas. | B．To create well-paid jobs. |
| C．To grow its business. | D．To earn high praise from the government. |
| A．She will get an increase in pay soon. | B．She failed to get into the public service. |
| C．She tries to live up to her parents’ expectation. | D．She wants to change the imbalanced education. |
| A．Its teachers are experienced. | B．Its teachers dislike schooling. |
| C．Its students perform badly in study. | D．Its students are from rich families. |
| A．Strict. | B．Regretful. | C．Lucky. | D．Stressed. |
First, the researchers mixed some of these cells with antigens found in the amino acid(氨基酸). Antigens help the body react to infection. Then the scientists added some bacteria. Within twenty-four hours, the cells produced a lot of interferon, a substance that fights infection. Cells not mixed with the antigens did not produce interferon.
In the second part of the study, eleven people drank five to six cups of black tea every day. Ten other people drank the same amount of instant coffee. That is dried coffee mixed with hot water.
Two weeks later, and again two weeks after that, the researchers tested the blood of all twenty-one people. They also looked at what happened when they added bacteria to the blood cells. They found that the tea drinkers produced five times more interferon after they started drinking tea. The coffee drinkers did not produce interferon.
Doctor Jack Bukowski led the study. He says the antigens added to the gamma delta T cells were responsible for the increased reaction to the bacteria. He says that the study also showed that the cells were able to remember the bacteria and fight them again the next time.
Earlier research already has found that tea can help prevent heart disease and cancer. Doctor Bukowski says the new study must be repeated by more people. “If the findings prove to be true,” he says, “then tea drinking might also help protect against bacterial infections.” He says the amino acid L-theanine could be removed from the tea and used as a drug to strengthen the body’s defenses.
1. We may know from the text that ______ can be found in different kinds of tea.
| A．L-theanine | B．Gamma delta T cells |
| C．interferon | D．bacteria |
| A．to add some bacteria to the blood cells |
| B．the body to produce more gamma delta T cells |
| C．the body to produce more interferon |
| D．to mix antigens with some of the cells in the body |
| A．the findings of the study have already proved to be true |
| B．further study is needed to prove the findings true |
| C．he has taken some amino acid L-theanine from tea and made a drug with it |
| D．he is not sure whether tea help prevent heart disease and cancer |
| A．Tea Is Better than Coffee | B．Our Body Needs Tea |
| C．Tea Can Help Prevent Cancer | D．Tea May Help Fight Infection |
【推荐3】Scientists have come up with a new way of identifying animals in an area by testing DNA taken in from the air. The researchers believe their new method could help scientists keep track of animals that are hard to spot, including endangered animals.
Two teams of scientists—one in Denmark and one in the United Kingdom (UK)—came up with the same question at about the same time: Could they identify the animals in an area from DNA that was simply floating in the air?
Testing for eDNA isn’t a new idea, but most of the time, scientists look for eDNA in water. DNA in the air is usually so small that it would take a microscope to see it. The scientists didn’t have high hopes for their experiment. Neither team knew that the other group was working on a similar experiment. One collected samples from different locations at Denmark’s Copenhagen Zoo, and the other at Hamerton Zoo Park in the UK. The scientists used slightly different methods to collect their samples. But basically, both teams collected extremely tiny bits of DNA onto very high quality filters.
In the laboratory, they got the DNA from the filters and made copies of it to study. By comparing their samples with examples of DNA from different animals, the scientists were able to identify many different animals at the zoos.
Each team only discovered about the other experiment after they had written a paper about their own results. Instead of competing, the two decided to combine their results and publish a paper together.
Both teams are excited about the ways this new method could be used in the wild. Scientists have been looking for better ways to track endangered animals without interfering with them. If researchers know where animals live, they can do a better job of protecting them. “The next step is to figure out how to take this method into nature,” says Dr. Bohmann , one of the scientists on the Copenhagen team.
1. What’s the task of the scientists from different countries?| A．To recognize animals by DNA in the open air. |
| B．To improve what the other team have achieved. |
| C．To look for eDNA in water for some rare animals. |
| D．To save endangered animals by copying their DNA. |
| A．The two teams collected DNA from the same zoo. |
| B．Neither team made correct treatment on the study. |
| C．The two teams used completely different techniques. |
| D．Scientists didn’t think highly of the two teams’ methods. |
| A．Eventful. | B．Competitive. | C．Promising. | D．Complicated. |
| A．People’s efforts in saving endangered animals. |
| B．New methods of recognizing animals by DNA. |
| C．Ways of studying animals without disturbing them. |
| D．Different countries’ cooperation in saving animals. |
