For many years, a small percentage of homeowners have fixed solar panels (太阳能板) on their rooftops. Those panels collect some of the sun’s energy and either change it into electricity or use it to heat water. Until recently, the panels were too expensive for average homeowners, and their designs were not attractive. Thanks to new advances, however, solar panels for homes are becoming cheaper and less large and heavy. Now more homeowners are considering using them.
Stores begin to sell Solar panels
Last fall furniture retailer(零售商) IKEA began selling solar panels in its U.K. stores. IKEA has brought the DIY solar choice to the public. While shopping for furniture, shoppers could not add a box or two of solar panels to their shopping cart (购物车). IKEA is partnering with a company. The company deals with fixing and servcing of the solar panels on the roofs. So it is easy for customers to change from old energy system to solar system. If all goes well, IKEA plans to begin selling the panels in other countries soon.
Stylish solar panels
SolTech, a Swedish company, offers a really great solar-power solution. Instead of flat panels, SolTech covers the panels with a special glass tile. And the shape of the glass tile fits traditional tiled roof designs. SolTech recently offers solar systems that heat the home’s air or water. And it also offers one solar system that produces electricity.
______________
New technology has turned windows into solar panels. SolarWindow technology enables see-through windows to produce electricity after the glass surface is added with a special coating. Amazingly, SolarWindow can produce electricity in low-light conditons and can even turn indoor, man-made light into electricity! Since buildings are getting taller and about 60 percent of an office building’s surface is covered with windows, solar window could become a very popular way for people to produce energy and save money.
Turning your home –business-into a solar-powered one is a choice that’s becoming a lot more attractive these days!
1.This passage mainly talks about ______.
A.fashion shows B.life in the UK
C. a technology D.different opinions
2.The reason why only a few homeowners used solar panels is that they are __________.
A.cheap but heavy B.attractive but expensive
C.light and small D.dear and not attractive
3..The DIY solar choice has been brought to the public so that _______.
the IKEA stores can sell more furniture in the U.K.
it is possible to make more panels in other countries.
more people will choose to use a new energy system.
people can get solar panels for free after buying furniture.
4..The best title for the fourth paragraph is __________.
A.Making new kinds of windowns B.Turning windows into solar panels
C.Changing our homes into panels D.Adding electricity to the windows
5..The author’s attitude towards solar panels is _________.
A.positive B.negative
D.uncertain D.questioning
You know that eating a suitable diet and getting plenty of exercise help make your body healthy and strong. But did you know that there are ways to make your brain healthier and smarter?
Studies show that when the brains is forced to do something new, it creates new neural (神经元) pathways. The more pathways you have, the faster you can think and the better memory you will have. Wonderful steps towards a smarter brain are as follows:
Choose proper TV programs
Watching an average TV show needs very little brain power and brings the same result as giving no care to physical exercise. Your brain will become weak just as your muscles do,if you watch TV, choose something educational and full of information.
Travel
Traveling to a new country forces you to see and do things in a new way, making your brains more active.
Learning a new language
A new language learner usually uses different learning methods. Learning a language sharpens your brain and helps you prevent memory problems in later years.
Master a new subject
Each week, choose an animal, a bird or a fish, and read everything you can about it. Go on learning unitl you become an expert on the subject.
Use your non-dominant hand
If you are right-handed,use your left hand for everyday activities, or use your right hand if you are left-handed. Doing familiar things in a new way will cause your brain to create new neural networks.
Read often
As you read, take the time to look up people or places that aren’t familiar. Reading can enlarge your vocabulary if you search for words and expressions that you don’t know.
Calculate while you shop
As you put things in your shopping bag, total everything in your head. See how close you get to the actual total.
Play video games
Studies have found that some video games force you to use critical decision-making skills and can even improve students’ math grades.
So get into the habit of challenging your brain, and make yourself smarter!
1.The passage can most probably be found in a _____book.
A.history B.travel C.science D.story
2..The underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refers to _________.
A.the brain B.the study
C.the neural pathway D.something new
3..According to the passage,there are _____ ways to make your brain smartr besides traveling and reading often.
A.five B.six C.eight D.ten
4..While you are reading, you should _______.
A.read as loudly as possible B.look up something unfamiliar
C.read as quickly as you can D.read from the beginning to the end
5..Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
Playing video games is bad for your study and your health.
Using calculators a lot can make you smarter when you are a child.
Watching something educational on TV needs very little brain power.
Writing with the right hand can make the left-handed smarter.
—If I speak this way, could you hear me clearly? --__________
A.Go ahead. B.Never mind.
C.I hope not. D.What for?
You can’t imagine ______ when you read it in the newspaper.
A.the story is how moving B.how is the story moving
C.how moving is the story D.how moving the story is
Pushy parents are _____ new, but now parents seem to push their children a lot more.
A.something B.nothing
C.anything D.everything
He said that he had waited for ________.
A.one and a half hours B.one and half hour
C.one and the half hour D.one and half an hour
