2 . How to improve your home’s energy efficiency

Ensuring that your home is energy-efficient possibly keeps your bills right down and helps you play your part in the fight against climate change.     1    .

Insulate (使隔热) your loft

Most of your home’s wasted energy will attempt to escape through your roof. To stop it in its tracks, you must invest in having your loft insulated.    2    , but it will be sure to save you over £100 a year.

    3    

By investing in a top-of-the-line boiler, you’ll no doubt tap into an extra of savings. What’s more, making this kind of investment will also be sure to lower your home’s carbon emissions. When choosing a new boiler, give precedence (优先) to those that fall in or near the “A” category. Whatever you do, just don’t slip towards the lower end of the scale.

Fit double glazing (双层玻璃)

    4    . This is because double-glazed windows and doors trap more heat than regular ones, ultimately meaning they will stop you from having to put your heating on as much or as high. The initial investment demanded in this instance can be costly, which is why you should consider making use of the Help to Buy Windows Scheme.

Keep an eye on your energy consumption

Only when you know how much energy you use can you take action with regards to being less wasteful and more resourceful. This means that you should make a conscious effort to keep an eye on your energy consumption.    5    , you might want to consider fitting an energy monitor in your home. Generally, this type of technology will cost between £25 and £40.

A．Update your boiler

B．Maximize the boiler

C．To assist you in rising to this challenge

D．Taking such action may demand some cost in advance

E．Double-glazed windows will increase your energy consumption

F．Take these steps, and you’ll be living in an energy-efficient home

G．Double glazing will make a massive difference to your annual energy bills

7 . Visiting a science museum is a highly underrated leisure activity. Many people believe that museums are where you go to see the remains of dinosaurs and learn more about the origin of man.     1     Science museums offer much more educational activities and other fun-filled activities. Below are some benefits of making a trip to a science museum.

Gain learning resources.     2     At any science museum, you can find tons of materials. They’re offered to promote science literacy (科学素养) of people of various ages, education levels and backgrounds. Kids can even get involved in lessons to gain scientific knowledge.

Take professional development courses. If you think science museums aren’t for you because you’re not a child, you are mistaken. They also offer a number of development courses for specialists. Teacher training is such a course where educators can be given a better understanding of tour of a city’s culture, history, arts, and science.     3    

Attend fun-filled summer camps. Most people don’t know this, but some science museums have summer camp programs for kids of all ages.     4     Kids can not only gain some useful life skills but also make new friends there. In addition, abilities like independence can be developed.    5     It’s very likely that you will engage in some interactive program sand exhibitions when you visit a science museum. Exhibition halls like planetariums (天文馆) show explorers the wonders of the universe. Some other halls also encourage visitors to actively participate in the exploration of scientific concepts (概念) and phenomena by allowing them to touch, handle, and experiment with various objects and exhibits according to the proper procedure.

A．Go on field research in large groups.

B．This makes them become better educators.

C．Experience plenty of hands-on exhibits.

D．A science museum is an educational center.

E．However, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

F．If you’ve ever been to one, you know the benefits.

G．They give you the freedom to explore a topic in depth.

8 . A supermarket express lane (通道) is a cashier checkout designed for a limited number of items, such as a little snack or a little handful of goods. Having an express lane allows the shopper with a few items to get out of the store quickly.     1    

The express checkout lane usually has a smaller counter area than the regular checkout lanes. It’s also narrower since it is not made for grocery carts to go through.     2     Shoppers that need only one or two items may not even use a basket and instead just carry the items in their hands to the express checkout.

    3     Even if you’re not the first one in line, if the people in front of you have 10 itemsor less, it should take less time than if you have people with cartloads full of items in front of you. Yet, sometimes it may be faster to check out a small number of items in a regular lane if there are many people lined up in the express lane, but only one or two in the regular lane.

In determining if the express checkout would be the fastest, focus on the number of items ahead of you rather than going by the number of people in line.     4     Sometimes, the line may come to a stop if a customer is questioning the price of something or needs to exchange an item.

The self-checkout system may replace the express lane. Some customers appreciate being able to check out their items themselves.     5     If a supermarket doesn’t have an express lane of some kind, shoppers may be tempted to pay a bit more and buy their extra milk or other items at a convenience store.

A．Follow the rules of the express lane.

B．Some cashiers are quicker and more experienced.

C．Many supermarkets have a 10 items or less express lane.

D．Only the hand held baskets are used by express shoppers.

E．This may test your patience, especially if you’re in a rush.

F．However, many people prefer having the cashier put their items through.

G．Using the express lane often saves time waiting in line at the supermarket.

9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下两个小题。
1. What is the main topic of the talk?

A．The future of the planet.

B．The introduction of new houses.

C．The ways to protect the environment.

2. Where is the talk being given?

A．In an office.

B．In a garden.

C．In a house.

3. Why does the speaker ask the listeners to put up their hands?

A．To hear about their questions.

B．To count the number of people present.

C．To see how many people have made a decision.

4. What are the neighbors encouraged to do?

A．Pick flowers.

B．Grow vegetables.

C．Relax in the garden.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the rent price of a room with a city view?

A．120.

B．130.

C．175.

2. What does the man think of the rent price of the hotel?

A．Reasonable.

B．Ridiculous (荒唐的).

C．Just so-so.

3. What can we know according to the dialogue?

A．The woman cares about the type of the room.

B．The man likes being in quiet surroundings all night.

C．The woman wants a room on the ground floor.

4. What will the woman probably do in the end?

A．Give up the choice of the hotel room.

B．Choose the penthouse (楼顶) room for 400 a night.

C．Go to visit the Great Wall of China.