1 . Future living: what will the home of tomorrow look like?
What will our homes be like in the future? Growing cities, shrinking living spaces, and climate change are major challenges
Energy efficient and carbon neutral
One of the greatest challenges for homes of the future is our increasing energy consumption, something that cannot be covered by fossil fuels going forward.
The trend to downsizing
Living more efficiently not only means improving energy use and reducing one’s own carbon footprint, but also building to save space. Rooms
Trends for living and working under one roof
Over the last few months, the office
Today, we have to use switches for our lights, knobs for our appliances, and remote controls for our TVs and air conditioners. In the future, we will be using a
3 . A huge, 12-pointed star has been fixed on top of one of the towers of Antoni Gaudí’s famous Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona. This means the construction work, begun 139 years ago, nears completion. It is scheduled to be completely finished in 2026 — marking 100 years since the architect’s death.
When Gaudí died in 1926, less than a quarter of the exterior was complete. Since then construction has been stopped every now and then for various reasons from Spanish civil wars to funding problems. Though in 2005 the church was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the construction work was claimed to be illegal in 2016, and regained its building permit in 2019.
Born in 1852, Gaudí grew up fascinated by geometry and the natural wonders of the countryside. After studying architecture in school, he eventually formed his own style. In his opinion, form and function were inseparable: Beauty should be part of structure, which rules the natural world. “Nothing is art,” he concluded, “if it does not come from nature.” On his graduation ceremony, his director said the words that became famous later: “I do not know if we have awarded this degree to a madman or to a genius; only time will tell.”
Time has obviously given the answer. In fact, Gaudí’s work over the years has permanently influenced Barcelona architecture like none other before or after. The city is considered the best outdoor modernist Museum of Europe mostly because of Gaudí.
On the 10th of June 1926, Gaudí was knocked down by a tram (有轨电车) while he was doing his usual evening walk. He lost consciousness, and nobody recognized that this disheveled (蓬乱的) old man was the famous architect until he was taken to the hospital. He was buried two days later in the unfinished Sagrada Familia, following a funeral attended by thousands of people: most of the citizens of Barcelona came out to bid a final-farewell to the most universal architect that the city had ever known.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．A 12-pointed star was set on a Gaudí’s church. |
| B．Barcelona is well known for Gaudí’s architecture. |
| C．Gaudí’s famous church will be finished at last. |
| D．The 100h anniversary of Gaudí’s death will come. |
| A．It was to memorize Gaudí. | B．It suffered frequent delays. |
| C．It was a World Heritage Site. | D．It didn’t get its building permit. |
| A．His style was too special in his time. | B．He was not qualified for the degree. |
| C．His attitude to others was crazy. | D．He was too talented to be taught. |
| A．Sagrada Familia — Gaudí’s Unfinished Work |
| B．Barcelona — a City of Antoni Gaudí |
| C．Antoni Gaudí — a Genius Architect |
| D．Gaudí’s Architecture — the Beauty of Nature |
4 . In today’s fast-paced world, comfort and relaxation are keys to a happy daily life. People want to have their tasks finished as quickly and as efficiently as possible. We all search for convenience.
Improved home security, safety, and privacy
Voice-assistant smart technology
Voice-assistant innovative technology helps users do a lot like turning on music, computers, TVs and other devices inside their homes!
You can also use Smart Home technology to help you with everyday household chores! You can stay in bed in your pyjamas while your AI vacuum cleaner does all the work for you!
Smart healthcare technology
| A．Smart home cleaning |
| B．Smart touchless technology |
| C．We all want our homes to look nice and bright |
| D．That’s why more and more people are interested in Smart Home |
| E．These are always the most important things for every homeowner |
| F．It also helps in making a cosy atmosphere by adjusting temperature and lighting |
| G．Smart devices allow fast communication with medical professionals over the internet |
5 . While traveling, there are chances that you stay at a hotel or a family member's house. But have you ever thought about staying in a stranger's
This might sound
Lodging rental companies like Airbnb are helping people look for cheap ways to
Created by young American men Brian Chesky, Joe Cebbia and Nathan Blecharczyk, Airbnb is a good example of a
A man in New York named Jonathan Powley even rents out his
But Airbnb does have some problems. Sometimes it is not as
In China, Airbnb operates in eight cities including Beijing and Shanghai. The country has seen a major
| A．office | B．camp | C．home | D．garden |
| A．great | B．powerful | C．influential | D．strange |
| A．travel | B．play | C．walk | D．drive |
| A．new | B．normal | C．spare | D．separate |
| A．shops | B．hotels | C．restaurants | D．markets |
| A．sharing | B．different | C．fresh | D．commercial |
| A．objects | B．rooms | C．resources | D．experiences |
| A．Hosts | B．Travelers | C．Guests | D．Sellers |
| A．company | B．website | C．clinic | D．park |
| A．phone | B．cafe | C．apartment | D．taxi |
| A．ordinary | B．comfortable | C．definite | D．horrible |
| A．outside | B．inside | C．size | D．shape |
| A．nice | B．cheap | C．bad | D．anxious |
| A．Also | B．Instead | C．Though | D．Therefore |
| A．decrease | B．symptom | C．standard | D．increase |
It doesn’t impress like George Washington’s plantation on the Potomac, but Lincoln’s home in downtown Springfield, Illinois,
When the house was built, it was much
Although Mary loved flowers,
7 . Home fires can happen quickly, destroying lives and property, but unlike other disasters, most home fires can be prevented. Read on to learn 4 unexpected home fire dangers.
Having old smoke alarms
An effective smoke alarm can make much difference when it comes to surviving a house fire. It's not enough to change the batteries twice a year, you also need to replace your alarms every decade. "You should test your smoke alarms every month, "says Lorraine Carli, vice president of the National Fire Protection Association. "But also don't forget to check the dates and replace an alarm that is more than10 years old."
Leaving the kitchen while you cook
One in five Americans admitted leaving food cooking unattended on the stove, found an American Red Cross survey. Walking away from food cooking in the kitchen is a serious fire risk." The leading cause of home fires is cooking and the leading cause of those fires is unattended cooking," says Carli. If you need to use the stove or oven, be sure to keep an eye on it.”
Turning the heat too high when you cook
Turning up the heat too high can be deadly, even if you're in the kitchen while you cook. Kevin Kelley, senior director of the American Red Cross, recommends paying close attention and turning off the burner if you see smoke or grease(油脂)starting to boil while frying food.
Having a dirty stove while you cook
If your stove is covered with grease, a small kitchen fire can get out of hand quickly. Clean and clear the area around the stove before turning on the heat, or the result will be dangerous.
1. How long should you have a new smoke alarm?| A．2 years. | B．10 years. | C．12 years. | D．8 years. |
| A．Having a dirty stove. |
| B．Turning the heat too high. |
| C．Having an old alarm. |
| D．Walking away from food cooking. |
| A．Some home fire dangers can be prevented. |
| B．It is advisable to change the batteries of smoke alarms twice a year. |
| C．Kevin Kelley suggests paying close attention to fried food. |
| D．Having a dirty stove is dangerous while you cook. |
8 . These beautiful reading spots are best enjoyed with no one for company but the inhabitants of your favorite fictional worlds ...
---By Anna Walker Women's Library, Glasgow
Rows of books on women's issues throughout history line the shelves of the only official museum in the UK dedicated to women's lives, histories and achievements and a number of events across the year transform this library into a living social hub, with creative writing classes, performance groups, craft sessions and more.
The library's key aim is to support women, with services teaching literacy, calculations, and handling a range of issues including poverty, and surviving violence.
Visit womenslibyaryore.ukSir Duncan Rice Library, Aberdeen
The outside of the modern facility is a huge glass structure - made of 760 glass panels and 2,200 tons of steel.
The Sir Duncan Rice is also conscious of its carbon footprint; designed to collect rainwater which is reused to flush its toilets, harvesting power through solar cells on the roof and using timers to control the use of its fluorescent lighting.
Visit abdn.ac.uk/libraryJohn Ryland, Manchester
Created over 100 years ago as a gift to Manchester and its people, the John Ryland welcomes over 250,000 visitors through its doors each year. The project began as a honor by Enriqueta Ryland to her late husband John Ryland, and has grown to become the third largest academic library in the UK, home to over a million manuscripts （手稿）
Modern extensions to the building added since the 2000s create a breath-taking collision （冲突）of historic and modern architecture. Regular events planned with the whole family in mind make this library one to visit time and time again.
Visit library.manchesterac. uk/rylmdsWellcome Reading Room, Lo
Spend an afternoon studying in the Reading Room of London's Wellcome Museum and you may just find yourself enjoying a side of people-watching with your literature. With drawing classes, pop-up exhibitions and artistic displays accompanying rows of educational books, it's an enjoyable spot to visit, revisit and declare your number one study spot. The impressive stairway and desks are allowing you the perfect spot to pause and reflect, whatever your library mission.
Visit wellcomecollection.org/visit-us1. What do we know about Women's Library in the passage?
| A．It is a good place for women to survive violence. |
| B．People can learn how to earn a better life in classes. |
| C．Women can promote their relationship and education in the library. |
| D．Only books on women's issues in modern times can be found in the library. |
| A．It has environmental-friendly design. |
| B．The library is only made of 760 glass panels. |
| C．People can take writing courses in the library. |
| D．The outside of the modern facility is a huge steel structure. |
| A．The library has been rebuilt since the 2000s. |
| B．The library was built in memory of John Ryland. |
| C．Over a million manuscripts were donated from homes in the UK. |
| D．It was the third largest academic library in the UK when it was built. |
| A．It is hardly worth revisiting. |
| B．People can buy artworks by attending drawing classes. |
| C．Those coming with different purposes are also admitted to it. |
| D．Visitors can extend their understanding of the benefit of reading. |
| A．John Ryland |
| B．Women's Library |
| C．Sir Duncan Rice Library |
| D．Wellcome Reading Room |
1.公寓的位置;2.可以免费上网;3. 你期待的月租费用.
注意:1.词数80左右,开头与结尾已经为你写好;
2.可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯;
3. 参考词汇:租金(rent)
Dear Alex,
I’m going to study in Bay House School as an exchange student next term.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
10 . A building seemingly built out of 21 blocks of LEGOs will greet those on flights landing in Billund, Denmark. The newly built LEGO House now shares the city with LEGOLAND. But like the theme park, the LEGO House offers the community more public spaces and a hands-on way of communicating with one of the world's most favorite toys.
The LEGO House is both a playhouse and a display of excellent pieces of LEGO artwork. The Masterpiece Gallery shows the fan-made art of the plastic bricks, including impressive （印象 深刻的）models of many real-life objects. The History Collection describes the rise of the LEGO Group. But the guests won't be stuck admiring sculptures （雕刻作品）,and they get to build their own pieces brick by brick too.
There are four play areas inside the building which are in different colors. Each stands for important developmental skills in children. Red is for creativity; blue is for cognitive （认知）skills; green is for social skills; yellow for emotions （情绪）.These areas, as well as the gallery and history collection, require guests to prebook a $31 ticket.
Instead of being just a tourist attraction, the LEGO Group wants the place to become a sort of meeting place for the company's hometown. Other areas in the LEGO House are free to enter. These include the 2,000-square-meter LEGO Square, outdoor play areas, the LEGO store, and three restaurants.
In one of the LEGO House's restaurants, visitors order food by putting blocks together and scanning them. While real humans do the cooking, cool LEGO robots deliver the food to the crowd and answer questions.
Third generation owner of the LEGO Group has this to say: "When children play, they learn the basic skills that they need, such as creativity, collaboration （合作）and problem-solving abilities."
1. What is the LEGO House like?| A．It has the same function as the theme park. |
| B．It is actually built out of 21 blocks of LEGOs. |
| C．It can be described as a playhouse and an art gallery. |
| D．It will be a place where locals greet guests flying there. |
| A．Search for real-life objects. |
| B．Display the fan-made artwork. |
| C．Describe the rise of the LEGO Group. |
| D．Build their own artwork with bricks. |
| A．They stand for different ticket prices. |
| B．They stand for different age groups. |
| C．They stand for different skills that children need. |
| D．They stand for children from different countries. |
| A．Cook meals by themselves. |
| B．Order food by scanning blocks. |
| C．Get LEGO robots to order food. |
| D．Cooperate with other visitors. |
