Given the recent interest in green buildings ...

Given the recent interest in green buildings in the media, let’s think differently. Instead of focusing on increasing the supply of energy, what if we focus on reducing demand?

Can we start with ending the open-door practice of street-front shops? While cool air from these shops is refreshing to pedestrians, it carries a cost. Energy is used in the air conditioning process.

So it must be possible to look for changes in regulations that would encourage more energy-saving designs. For instance, if we fix ceiling fans, air-conditioning homes could surely be avoided for part of the year. Ceiling fans use far less energy. They were in a year air conditioners could stay if ceiling fans were fixed.

In homes built under the small-house policy in New Territories, the ceiling may be too low for ceiling fans. If the 9-meter maximum building height regulation were relaxed, ceiling fans could be fixed to reduce energy use. Current thinking in sustainable building design and operation involves integrated(协调统一的) design, that is, bring together all parties to create a building with better performance that achieves energy reduction.

For integrated design to succeed, all parties must come together and think beyond each person’s circle of influence. Better solutions are impossible to avoid with integrated design. Buildings would no longer be engineered after the basic architecture was built. Positive project outcomes may include reduced air-conditioning load, reduced power use for electric lighting, and a reduction in the amount of materials used.

We need to ask if we are ready to look beyond our own small circles and seek an improved approach to building design. By that I mean an integrated design resulting in more sustainable buildings.

1.What's the author's attitude towards the open-door practice of the street shops?

A. Supportive.

B. Disapproving.

C. Optimistic.

D. Uncaring.

2.Why does the author suggest fixing ceiling fans?

A. To follow an old practice.

B. To help reduce energy use.

C. To completely replace air conditioners.

D. To help cut down on daily expenses.

3.What's the key to making sustainable buildings a reality?

A. All parties should get started at the same time.

B. The basic architecture should be finished first.

C. Proper design and performance to achieve energy reduction.

D. Seeking the small-house policy and some successful architects.

4.What would be the best title for the text?

A. Waste less, live better

B. Goodbye, air conditioning

C. How to reduce the energy cost

D. Green buildings call for integrated design

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

There has, in recent years, been an outpouring of information about the impact of buildings on the natural environment. Information which explains and promotes green and sustainable construction design, strives to convince others of its efficacy (功效) and warns of the dangers of ignoring the issue. Seldom do these documents offer any advice to practitioners, such as those designing mechanical and electrical systems for a building, on how to use this knowledge on a practical level.

Although there are a good many advocates of “green” construction in the architectural industry, able to list enough reasons why buildings should be designed in a sustainable way, not to mention plenty of architectural firms with experience in green design, this is not enough to make green construction come into being. The driving force behind whether a building is constructed with minimal environmental impact lies with the owner of the building; that is, the person financing the project. If the owner considers green design unimportant, or of secondary importance, then more than likely, it will not be factored into the design.

The commissioning (委任) process plays a key role in ensuring the owner gets the building he wants, in terms of design, costs and risk. At the predesign stage, the owner’s objectives and expectations are discussed and documented. This gives a design team a solid foundation on which they can build their ideas. Owners who skip the commissioning process, or fail to take “green” issues into account when doing so, often come a cropper once their building is up and running. Materials and equipment are installed as planned, and, at first glance, appear to fulfil their purpose adequately. However, in time, the owner realizes that operational and maintenance costs are higher than necessary, and that the occupants are dissatisfied with the results. These factors in turn lead to higher ownership costs as well as increased environmental impact.

In some cases, an owner may be aware of the latest trends in sustainable building design. However, firms should not take it as read that the client already has an idea of how green he intends the structure to be. Indeed, this initial interaction between owner and firm is the ideal time for a designer to outline and promote the ways that green design can meet the client’s objectives, thus turning a project originally not destined for green design into a potential candidate.

Typically, when considering whether or not to adopt a green approach, an owner will ask about additional costs or return for investment. In a typical project, landscape architects, mechanical and electrical engineers do not become involved until a much later stage. However, in green design, they must be involved from the outset, since green design demands interaction between these disciplines. This increased cooperation clearly requires additional cost. However, there may be financial advantage for the client in choosing a greener design. There are examples of green designs which have demonstrated lower costs for long-term operation, ownership and even construction.

1.What is the main reason for the lack of green buildings being designed according to the passage?

A.Few firms have enough experience in designing and constructing green buildings.

B.Construction companies are unaware of the benefits of sustainable designs.

C.Firms do not get to decide whether a building is to be constructed sustainably.

D.Firms tend to convince clients that other factors are more important than sustainability.

2.The phrase “come a cropper” probably means ________.

A.experience misfortune B.change one’s mind

C.notice the benefits D.make a start

3.Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A.Most clients have a clear idea of whether they want a green building at the beginning.

B.Green buildings are most likely to cost more money than conventional buildings.

C.The commissioning process offers a good opportunity to bring up the subject of green design.

D.Firms should avoid working with clients who reject green designs in their buildings.

4.The writer’s main purpose is to ________.

A.explain the importance of communication when a building is commissioned

B.emphasize the importance of green building design in protecting the environment

C.explain to building owners why ignoring green issues is costly and dangerous

D.inform professionals how they can influence clients to choose greener designs

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

In recent years, stressed-out urbanites have been seeking refuge in green spaces for the proven positive impacts on physical and mental health, but the benefits of “blue space” — the sea and coastline, but also rivers, lakes, canals, waterfalls, even fountains — are less well publicized, yet the science has been consistent for at least a decade: being by water is good for body and mind.

“Many of the processes are exactly the same as with green space — with some added benefits, ” says Dr Mathew White, a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter.White says there are three established pathways by which the presence of water is positively related to health and happiness. First, there are the beneficial environmental factors, such as less polluted air and more sunlight. Second, people who live by water tend to be more physically active. Third — and this is where blue space seems to have an edge over other natural environments — water has a psychologically restorative effect. When you are sailing, surfing or swimming, says White, “you’re really in tune with natural forces there.” By being forced to concentrate on the qualities of the environment, we access a cognitive state honed over millennia. Water is, quite literally, immersive.

Catherine Kelly is a wellness practitioner who teaches classes in “mindfulness by the sea”. She says the sea has a meditative quality.

“To go to the sea is synonymous with letting go, ” says Kelly. “It could be lying on a beach or somebody handing you a cocktail. For somebody else, it could be a wild, empty coast. But there is this really human sense of: ‘Oh, look, there’s the sea’ — and the shoulders drop.”

1.Why do people go to the “blue space” for a relaxation ?

A.To seek positive effect on body and mind.

B.To have a good swim in the blue sea.

C.To consider the beneficial environmental factors.

D.To tend to be more careful and active.

2.What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A.The characteristics of the beneficial and friendly environmental factors.

B.The classification of being by water is good for body and mind.

C.The importance of the beneficial and friendly environmental factors.

D.The causes of being by water are good for body and mind.

3.What does the underlined word “immersive” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A.Being interested. B.Being forced.

C.Being involved. D.Being moved.

4.What does Catherine Kelly find about “going to the sea” according to the text?

A.Trick of the lesson B.Secret of the happiness.

C.Sense of human beings D.Broadness of the sea

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

This is one of the highest buildings that _____ in our city recently.

A. has been built　　 B. build

C. have been built　　 D. have built

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The recent widespread interest in all branches of psychology has accustomed us to accepting an idea which,when first offered,seemed laughable:We all,at some level,spend most of the time on reverie(幻想）。We dream either consciously or unconsciously,awake or asleep,of a situation in which we feel we should be happier than we are in real life.Occasionally some childish ideas of happiness or success break out in to confuse or prevent us from living an adult life.Sometimes the dream is refusing to leave the safe shelter of the nursery,where all wants were met as soon as felt,where warmth and food and love were given freely and unearned.As Emerson wrote,"We do not believe there is any force in today to match or recreate that beautiful yesterday.We linger in(徘徊）the ruins of the old tent where once we had bread and shelter."To some extent this is true of all of us,but less true of the happy and successful adult than of others.

At other times,funnily enough,the life-wasting reverie is about success:The mild man is Napoleon or the ugly woman is a charming singer.If reality never broke in upon such reverie,the dreamer might be happier than if he were to find himself in a position to realize some part of it.Such reverie is in itself compensation for a life of dull routine.But,the world being what it is,the dreamer must live,for part of his time at least,in the cold atmosphere of fact.This is no Land of Cockaigne:Roast 1t pigs do not run about crying,"Eat me!"Fruit does not fall from the trees into our mouths..

The deeply rooted dreamer will struggle only just as much as he needs,and no more.He will do anything half-heartedly to get his bread and butter.Then,when his daily task is over,he will be hack to his dreams again,whether he realizes it or not. He succeeds at only one thing:in clearing away a little space,gaining each day a few hours of free time,for just one purpose-to go on wasting his life.But his

dream is happy.It is,for him,a true compensation for his failure in every other relation,and so he continues in it.Yet,since after all happiness is the true goal,he believes that the smallest success in reverie brings with it more happiness.

However,it is important to remember that failure is real,for otherwise we will not prepare ourselves to fight it.

1.People's spending most of the time on reverie is something that

A.was laughed at by people in the past

B.most people are greatly fed up with

C.psychologists are very interested in

D.psychologists have widely accepted

2.People who are living in reverie

A.are filled with fear of the future life

B.usually have a happy childhood

C.always enjoy recalling their past life

D.are happier than any successful adult

3.People living in the Land of Cockaigne______

A.think that they are the greatest of the world

B.could enjoy all they need for life without work

C.will realize life means struggle

D.usually live a life of dull routine

4.Which of the following about deeply rooted dreamers is TRUE?

A.They'll never work for life even when they're starving.

B.They admire heroes so much as to become Napoleon.b

C.They don't feel happy due to the little things they have.

D.They'll never do any more than keeping themselves alive.

5.The writer suggests in the passage that_____

A.we should stop spending most of our time on reverie

B.people can realize something vital through dreaming

C.we should prepare ourselves to fight failure

D.people can gain more happiness from reality

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

According to a recent survey, _____ 90% of the students are interested in reading after class, they spend less time on it as they suffer increasing academic pressure.

A.before B.when C.while D.unless

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Apple has given in to intense pressure from Chinese state media about its customer service practices, ________  to consumers in its second-largest market.

A．apologizing        B．apologize          C．having apologized   D．to apologize

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Apple has given in to intense pressure from Chinese state media about its customer service practices, ________  to consumers in its second-largest market.

A．apologizing        B．apologize          C．having apologized   D．to apologize

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Every weekend, Mrs Green asked her daughter to visit the museum to ______ her interest in science.

A. grow              B. develop            C. make                 D. build

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项为多余选项。

Selfie

Social media and the mobile web have given rise to a strange phenomenon called the selfie. It refers to a picture of yourself, usually shared on any social networking website.

1.　 Some selfies are extreme close-ups, and others show part of an arm held straight outward. A few of them even feature the subject standing in front of a bathroom mirror.

Everyone takes selfies, but the younger crowd seems to be especially involved in the trend.　 2. They are interested in staying connected to their friends. Social media, to some extent, is the driving force of their selfie activity.

There are also kinds of psychological factors driving people to take a selfie and upload it to a social networking site. 　 3. A quick and easy way to attract other's attention is to get “likes” and comments from friends. Secondly, it's human nature to show off your own great achievements. When you feel good about yourself or look good, it's far too easy to take out your phone and document it all through one or several selfies. 　 4.　 That's right. Sometimes people are bored at work, bored at school, bored at home and even bored on the toilet. Last but not least, social media is about being social! If that means uploading as many selfies as possible, then so be it. It's fun, and it's a cool way to sort of document your own life.

Finally, there are things to be mindful of when you're posting. It's easy to think you're sharing a photo with a few people. 　 5.　 So don't post anything online, selfie especially.

A. There are lots of selfie styles.

B. The rise of selfies has become universal.

C. Young people are relatively heavier digital users.

D. The desire to take, post and get “likes” on selfies goes back to a biological behavior.

E. But the whole world of social media is public and every individual can get access to it.

F. There are also people who will take selfies because they have nothing else better to do.

G. The leading factor is that people want to get attention from as many people as possible.

高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析