The second little pig was unlucky. He built his house from sticks. It was blown away by a wolf. His brother, by contrast, built a strong house from bricks to prevent the wolf’s attack. However, in the real world it would help reduce pollution and slow global warming if more builders copied the wood-loving second pig.
Governments in the rich world are now trying to promote greener behavior by forcing developers to build new projects to “zero carbon” standards. These standards are less green than they seem. Wind turbines (涡轮) and solar panels on top of buildings look good but are much less productive than wind and solar farms. And the standards only count the emissions from running a building, not those given out when it was made. Those are thought to account for between 30% and 60% of the total over a structure’s lifetime.
Buildings can become greener. They can be made of more recycled wood and parts of them can be prefabricated in off-site factories, greatly reducing truck journeys. But no other building material has environmental certificates as exciting and overlooked as wood. The energy required to produce a wooden beam is one-sixth of that required for a steel one of comparable strength. When a mature tree is cut down, a new one can be planted to replace it, capturing more carbon. After buildings are pulled down, old wooden beams and boards are easy to recycle into new structures. Wood is also a good insulator (隔热材料). A softwood window frame provides nearly 400 times as much insulation as a plain steel and over a thousand times as much as an aluminium (铝) frame.
Carpenters’ efforts alone will not bring the environmental cost of the world’s buildings into line. But using wood can do much more than what is appreciated. Thus, the second little pig was not wrong, just before his time.
1.Why is the story about the pigs mentioned?
A.To bring up the topic of the text.
B.To prove the author’s argument.
C.To offer background information.
D.To inspire the readers’ imagination.
2.What can we know about the “zero carbon” standards?
A.It’s impossible to make them come true.
B.They don’t mean no carbon is given out.
C.They are only fit for developed countries.
D.It’s easy for them to meet today’s needs.
3.What is paragraph 3 mainly about?
A.The ways of making buildings greener.
B.The usage of recycled steel in buildings.
C.The findings of new research about wood.
D.The advantages of wood as building materials.
4.Which can replace the underlined word “prefabricated” in paragraph 3?
A.Registered. B.Recycled.
C.Constructed. D.Compared.
After having her second child in 2012, Victoria was jobless and lost her clear direction. She found herself suffering depression. “My sister, Karen, suggested I try selling something to do with weddings on eBay,” she said, “when the children were asleep, I learned to design invitations on my laptop. Because I already had a laptop and a printer, the only startup costs were buying some cards and envelopes.”
Victoria listed what she made for sale on eBay, but weeks and months passed and she hardly had any sales. Concerned, Karen suggested she should change the designs but Victoria firmly believed that her design was good.
But in January 2013, everything changed dramatically. “I remember getting out of the bath one night and I’d made nearly ￡200 in orders in the time it had taken to have a bath. Now the demand was so huge that I had to buy a bulk-load of cards and envelopes and purchase another printer. I started to work at 7 pm each night and worked into the early hours.” Victoria believes that her affordable wedding invitations are the key.
Having something else to focus on, the fog of depression soon lifted. By the end of January she had made an impressive ￡8,000 in just one month. The business now turns over an incredible ￡80,000 a year, half of which is profit. She continued: “The money has allowed us to upgrade to a three-bedroom house and we have had some great family holidays.” In October, Victoria was one of eleven eBay sellers recognized at the eBay for Business Awards.
“I want to show to other women with little or no experience that even if you’re struggling as I did, you can be a mother and a businesswoman and do both successfully,” smiles Victoria. “I’m a one-woman band but it’s more than enough for me!”
1.What made the most contribution to Victoria’s success?
A.The advice from her sister.
B.The design of the invitations.
C.The help from buyers on eBay.
D.The low price of the invitations.
2.How much can Victoria earn by selling the invitations a year?
A.￡200. B.￡8,000.
C.￡40,000. D.￡80,000.
3.What personality does Victoria probably have?
A.Cautious. B.Sensitive.
C.Easygoing. D.Determined.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.The Cure for Depression
B.Defeating Depression with Business
C.Selling Wedding Invitations Online
D.An Unforgettable Experience
Open Hearts Language Academy (OHLA) is proud to offer a comprehensive University Pathway Program, in which foreign students will automatically gain acceptance into several university programs throughout the United States. Each year countless OHLA students move on to Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees programs upon completion of our Advanced 2 level.
Our dedicated team of experts prepares students to study at an American university or college. They guide students from their entry into the program to their final goal: successful progression to a university or college. Most universities and colleges have made agreements with OHLA. Completion of the Advanced 2 level in OHLA satisfies the English standard of the universities. No TOEFL or IELTS required!
OHLA Admission Requirements:
OHLA application form.
English test certificate.
Skype interview.
Passport copy.
Security deposit (押金) of $8,500 for Undergraduate or $6,000 for Graduate. High school students: High School Transcripts (成绩单)＆Diploma.
College students: University Transcripts.
Security deposit must be handed in and will be fully refunded at the beginning of the first term of University.
OHLA University Placement Advisors help you:
Choose the best program for you based on your goals and academic background.
Apply to a university or college program.
Receive a Conditional Acceptance Letter from the University (If applicable).
If you want more, contact us: 305-379-4027.
1.What is the main aim of OHLA?
A.To organize some social programs.
B.To push students to complete English study.
C.To help students enter an American university.
D.To guide foreigners to become American citizens.
2.Who can apply for the program of OHLA?
A.High school students in any grade.
B.American freshmen in foreign countries.
C.A Skype interviewer without a passport.
D.College students with university transcripts.
3.What is required for the applicants for OHLA?
A.Passing TOEFL exam.
B.English test certificate.
C.Security deposit of $6,000.
D.Completing Advanced 2 level.
假定你是李华，你收到英国网友Mary的一封来信，询问爱好方面的问题。请根据以下提示回信。内容包括：
1. 人人都需要有爱好；
2. 拥有良好爱好的益处；
3. 谈谈你自己的爱好及原因。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头和结尾已为你写好，不计入总词数。
Dear Mary,
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours
Li Hi
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
I was so sorry to know you’re having so a bad time at the moment. The truth is everyone will have a bad time when things seem to being wrong. The important thing is to learn to control your temper.
First, you are supposing to talk to someone you trust about how you feel. This is a good way on which you can let your anger out without hurting others or themselves. Second, playing team games with your friends as physical exercise is an effective way to get the rid of anger. And third, remain optimistically about your future. A positive attitude towards life can be of great help with your spirit.
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Dogs, just like humans, can get cold when the temperature starts to drop. We can wear coats or hats, but dogs don't really have them 1. they just refuse to wear them. If you live in a cold climate, it will be important 2. (know) your dog's limits and how you can keep them safe and warm.
Actually, when it is too cold for dogs to go outside heavily depends upon the dog's size, coat 3. (thick), color and other 4. (factor), but in general, when the temperature hits below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (华氏温度), dogs can actually start to get hurt from 5. cold.
In many parts of the world, the temperature 6. (remain) below 32 degrees for several months at a time. Since dogs 7. (obvious) can’t stay inside all day during the winter season, the most important thing to remember is to pay attention to your dogs when you take them out. They will typically let you know if they are not 8. (comfort).
If your dog isn't a breed (品种) that can bear the cold well, 9. (get) them a coat can be helpful. Make sure that the coat is warm but still allows your dog to have a full range 10. motion.
