The part of the environmental movement that draws my firm’s attention is the design of cities’ buildings and products. When we designed America’s first so-called “green” office building in New York two decades __1__, we felt very alone. But today, thousands of people come to green building conferences, and the __2__ that buildings can be good for people and the environment will be increasingly influential in years to __3__.
Back in 1984 we discovered that most manufactured products for decoration weren’t designed for __4__ use. The “energy-efficient” sealed commercial buildings constructed after the 1970s energy crisis __5__ indoor air quality problems caused by materials such as paint, wall covering and carpet. So far 20 years, we’ve been focusing on these materials __6__ to the molecules, looking for ways to make them __7__ for people and the planet.
Home builders can now use materials-such as paints that release significantly __8__ amounts of organic compounds-that don’t __9__ the quality of the air, water, or soil. Ultimately, __10__, our basic design strategy is focused not simply on being “less bad” but on creating __11__ healthful materials that can be either safely returned to the soil __12__ reused by industry again and again. As a matter of __13__, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer has already __14__ a carpet that is fully and safely recyclable (可循环用的).
Look at it this way: No one __15__ out to create a building that destroys the planet. But our current industrial systems are __16__ causing these conditions, whether we like it or not. So __17__ of simply trying to reduce the damage, we are __18__ a positive approach. We’re giving people high-quality, healthful products and an opportunity to make choices that have a __19__ effect on the world. It’s not just the building industry, either. __20__ cities are taking these environmentally positive approaches to design, planning and building. Portland, Seattle and Boston have said they want to be green cities. Chicago wants to be the greenest city in the world.
1. A) ago B) off C) before D) away
2. A) practiceB) outlookC) ideaD) scheme
3.A) goB) comeC) arriveD) continue
4. A) indoorB) inwardC) relevantD) flexible
5. A) displayedB) discoveredC) exhibitedD) revealed
6. A) backB) downC) nextD) near
7. A) comfortableB) cautiousC) safeD) stable
8. A) reducedB) revisedC) descendedD) delayed
9. A) denyB) depressC) dissolveD) destroy
10. A) besidesB) howeverC) anyhowD) anyway
11. A) partiallyB) exactlyC) completelyD) superficially
12. A) orB) andC) butD) nor
13. A) interestB) factC) principleD) course
14. A) sketchedB) constructedC) researchedD) developed
15. A) startsB) pullsC) looksD) makes
16. A) basicallyB) originallyC) traditionallyD) inevitably
17. A) becauseB) outC) insteadD) regardless
18. A) adjustingB) admittingC) adoptingD) adapting
19. A) functionalB) beneficialC) preciousD) sensible
20. A) EntireB) TotalC) FullD) Complete