Question VIII. Choose the most suitable heading from the list A - F for each paragraph from 1 - 5 of the article. Write them in the numbered blanks.
A. An easy life
B. Less money; less waste
C. Home’s like people
D. Not all good news
E. Starting to take control
F. Everything under control
INTELLIGENT HOUSING
1
Have you ever thought about how your body works? Everyday, you make your body do lots of different actions, such as when you walk, talk, or dance. But at the same time, your body automatically does many other things that are essential for everyday life. For instance, when you blink or yawn or breathe, you don’t have to think about what you doing; your body simply carries out these task for you. You might think this is strange, but the latest houses are like this, too.
2
Now, thanks to the work of some far- sighted architects and designers, houses have become “more intelligent”. It isn’t quite true to say that houses are starting to think for themselves, but some modern homes are now using sophisticated technology to control many of the routine jobs that up to now have always been our responsibility.
3
For years, architects and builders have been trying to find ways to make houses more economical and comfortable to live in, as well as trying to reduce the amount of damage that houses do to the environment. “Intelligent” houses seem to be the ideal solution. Clever use of building materials and techniques has brought us houses that are easier and cheaper to keep warm than traditional housing. Modern water systems, together with the recycling of washing water from bathrooms and kitchens, means that “intelligent” houses use 30% less water than convetional homes.
4
“Intelligent” homes might look a little unusual from the outside. This is because the builders use a lot of glass and wood to make the walls. Some of the houses even have a grass roof because it is kinder to the atmosphere! But, inside, they are comfortable and bright. The technology, which is similar to that of your TV remote control, makes sure of this. There are always enough lights on in every room and the windows close when it starts to rain. The water is always at the correct temperature whenever you want to have a shower and the house doesn’t allow you to use more water than you need. You can even watch TV in every room, or use the close- circuit cameras to see what’s happening in the garden.
5
Until recently, we have always had to think about everything we want our houses to do. If we have wanted it to be warmer or cooler, lighter or darker, we had to turn the heating or lighting on or off. However, for some families already live in “intelligent” houses, daily life has changed in many ways. They don’t worry about turning off the light or locking the door before they go out. The house does all this for them. Families in “intelligent” houses don’t have to do as much work to keep their home clean and comfortable- and the hi-tech kitchen means it isn’t difficult to prepare family meals.
