How to Make Your House More Energy-efficient

Using less energy around the home is easier than you might think, saving your money while creating a healthier, more comfortable living space for you and your family. Changing a few old habits can make an impact on your energy bill, your comfort and the environment. Here are some handy tips to make your house more energy-efficient.

1 If your home has adjustable central heating, lowering the room temperature even slightly can make a difference. You may not feel it, but your wallet will. It is even more advisable to control temperatures at different times of the day.

2 If the weather allows it, head outside and dry your laundry on a clothesline. The sunlight will help eliminate bacteria and dust. While clothes dryers get the job done faster, they also use up energy. By hanging your clothes out you’ll be cutting greenhouse gases by about three kilograms per load.

3 Installing large windows on the northern side of your house can help you make use of sunlight’s natural warmth. To stay cool indoors on hot summer days, install blinds（百叶窗）to block the heavy sun. Put your desk near the window, then you don’t need a lamp in the daytime.

4 Be sure your hot-water pipes are properly wrapped. In an average home heating water accounts for more than one-quarter of the energy bill. Why let warmth go to waste before it reaches you?

5 When the time comes to replace appliances, select those that are both energy-efficient and of the appropriate size for your needs. Don’t buy bigger ones just because you can.

Task 1 16. Paragraph①（ ）

17. Paragraph②（ ）

18. Paragraph③（ ）

19. Paragraph④（ ）

20. Paragraph⑤（ ）

A: Wrap your pipes

B: Lower the heat

C: Take advantage of natural light

D: Hang clothes out to dry

E: Choose the right size for appliances

F: Buy more appliances

 

Task 2

21. Changing a few old habits can ___.

22. It is advisable to control temperatures ___..

23. When you dry the laundry on a clothesline, sunlight will help ___..

24. If the windows are installed on the northern side of the house, you can ___..

25. When choosing the appliances, you should___.

A: eliminate bacteria and dust

B: affect your energy bill

C: at different times of the day

D: make use of sunlight’s natural warmth

E: select those that are energy-efficient

F: on rainy days

Planning is 41___ (importance) in almost anything you do. No matter what you are doing, taking the time to plan ahead can help you reach your goal. The purpose of insurance is to help you plan for 42___ (expected), costly emergencies. Probably, the most important kind of insurance is 43___ (medicine) insurance. Medical insurance can be very expensive. The cost for this kind of insurance is going up. Like most people, you may not be 44___ (ability) to afford all of the insurance you might need. Many people think that if you could only 45___ (affordable) one kind of insurance, you should buy health insurance. If you can afford only a small quantity of health insurance, it is best to 46___ (insurance) yourself against the big unexpected costs and pay the smaller common 47___ (bill) yourself. There are different kinds of insurance you can get. Hospital Expense insurance will pay for any costs you get while having to be in a hospital. Surgical Expense insurance will pay for the doctor to 48___ (operation) on you. 49___(regularity) Medical insurance will pay for any non-surgical  50___(treat). 

I was unhappy with my life three years ago.（）

• A、true

• B、False

• C、Not Given