2 . When it comes to keeping buildings energy efficient, windows certainly pose a challenge. It was with this problem in mind that a British scientist has created a new type of window—one that’s filled with water.

In terms of conventional windows, most of them allow heat to escape during cold weather, causing the building’s boiler to run more frequently. Besides, they allow sunlight to stream in during hot weather, creating heat that causes the air conditioning to kick in. Dr. Matyas Gutai, a lecturer in architecture at Loughborough University, believes that his “water-filled glass (WFG)” windows may address these limitations.

Each window contains a vertical sheet of water, sealed between two sheets of glass. As sunlight passes through the glass, it heats the water, thus keeping the room itself from getting as hot as it would otherwise. Once it reaches a high enough temperature, that sun-warmed water is pumped out of the window, traveling through pipes in the wall to a storage tank elsewhere in the building. Cooler water is simultaneously (同时地) pumped into the WFG to replace what was pumped out. When the outdoor temperature drops later on, the stored warm water is pumped back out of the tank and into the pipes, warming the room by radiating heat through the walls. Alternatively, it can also be used in the building’s taps, reducing the need to run the water heater.

Although some electricity is required to pump the water back and forth, Gutai claims that his setup still uses substantially less electricity than the heating system and air conditioners that would be required to maintain the same room temperatures under the same condition. In fact, it is estimated that a WFG-equipped building would use up to 72 percent less energy that a similar building equipped with double-glass windows and traditional heating systems.

“WFG turns glass into an opportunity for sustainable construction. It shows us that thinking holistically (整体地) and building components leads to a more efficient and sustainable build environment,” says Gutai.

1. What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about?

A．The creation of WFG windows.

B．The functions of WFG windows.

C．The advantages of newly-created windows.

D．The disadvantages of traditional windows.

2. How does WFG react to cold weather?

A．It stores sun-warmed water in a tank.

B．It pumps water out to prevent it freezing.

C．It pumps sun-warmed water from a storage tank.

D．It prevents cold water travelling through pipes.

3. What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Warm water in the tank.	B．Cool water in the pipes.
C．Water in the water heater.	D．Water in the sealed glass.

4. What advantage does WFG have over the heating and cooling system?

A．It costs less to set up.	B．It is more power-saving.
C．It is easier to operate.	D．It is steadier in keeping temperature.

3 . 根据课文内容，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Today, we have to use switches for our lights, knobs for our appliances,     1     remote controls for our TVs and air conditioners. In the future, we will be using     2     (advance) technology every day for automatic control of just about everything in our home. The future home will use integrated sensors to tell     3     you leave home each morning, and then go into     4     energy-efficient mode all by itself. You will no longer have to think about     5     (turn) switches on and off yourself. Your home will also learn your daily routine and     6     (prefer), so everything will be ready for you when you get home each evening. Your lights will come     7     the instant you enter the door along with your favourite music or TV programmes, and you will find your dinner already     8     (prepare) for you. All controls will respond to voice commands, so     9     you want to change your routine, you just say aloud what you want and the home system     10     (obey).

7 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. address；B. emerged；C. harmoniously；D. withdrew E. complex； F. fashion；G. troublesome；H. understandably I. initial；J. harvest；K. novel

With the rapid growth of the aging population in China, the installation of elevators in old communities has gradually become an inevitable issue. A lot of neighborhoods are living no longer     1     due to the living ills of their six-story, elevator-less buildings.

Recently, a residential     2     in Hangzhou has come up with an initiative designed to     3     the problem as to how to raise funds for facilities much-needed by elderly residents, which are called “public transit elevators.” Pay one yuan, and you can take the ride once, just like taking a bus. The price remains unchanged whether you take the lift by yourself or with your whole family. From my perspective, this     4     solution is quite necessary, but still needs improvement.

The greatest concern is the price. Residents in old communities have been at odds with one another regarding how to most effectively distribute the necessary money with which to pay for the installation of elevators. Most residents living on lower floors are     5     reluctant to pay for an elevator to be installed given that it will likely end up occupying their common area of public space. For those living on higher floors, however, the lack of elevator can often be quite     6    , especially for the elderly. Therefore, although the installation charge has been cut down to a very low level by adding pay-to-use elevators, how to properly allocate(分配) the     7     costs involved remains to be negotiated. Another problem has     8     concerning who’ll ultimately pay for the ride, suppose two families share one elevator at the same time.

Much easier as it is to work things on paper, it requires a considerable investment of financial and material resources in its initial stage, and it will only be able to     9     subtle returns, at least in the short run, making it challenging for whatever authority to carry out the proposal.

Still we have to place ourselves in the position in which we can best serve the greater society and by this, treat the issue in a more reasonable     10     so as to minimize any potential losses.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What do the speakers agree on?

A．Decreasing taxes.

B．Improving the sports center.

C．Giving the local government more power.

2. Which place does the man probably live next to?

A．A shopping mall.

B．A park.

C．A police station.

3. What is the woman’s main concern?

A．Increasing safety.

B．Improving education.

C．Increasing the number of large businesses.

4. What does the woman believe will happen in the town in the future?

A．Public spaces will decrease.

B．More people will move into the town.

C．People will have better employment opportunities.