15 passage 12
kitchen design
over the years economic, social and technological factors have influenced the design of kitchens. since it is often used simultaneously by both family members as well as guests, the kitchen requires not only a glamorous look but a practical one. also, the design elements must meet the needs of the modern family.
environmental concerns have had an enormous impact on kitchen design. this concern includes recycling of house hold material, as well as energy efficient appliances and the purity of both water and air. research shows that up to 85 percent of the population is concerned about what might be in their drinking water. they are also often dissatisfied with the taste and odor of what comes out of their tap. this is why it s important to consider adding a water filter system.
the character of today s kitchen is very different from the way it was thirty years ago. there s more sophistication in food preparation, and more technological help with cooking and clean-up.
when choosing cabinets, first consider the style. use the architectural style of your house as a guide. because cabinets are a big investment, it is best to choose quality. popular styles in kitchen cabinets are framed panel doors with raised or recessed panels of wood, cabinet fronts with glass panes, or simple slab doors in a rich painted or laminated finish. cabinet pulls, don t be afraid to mix and match styles.
because many of today s kitchens consist of two of more cooks sharing in the meal preparation, there is a need for more counter space, cooktops and sinks. although lifestyles are changing, the primary function of the kitchen as an area for preparing food has remained unchanged. the sink remains one of the most used areas in the kitchen as well as an important decorative statement.
appliance technology is moving at a very fast pace. choosing what type of appliances as well as how many will depend on several factors such as how often and how much you cook and the size of your kitchen.
don t limit yourself to one of each kind of appliance. you can have a refrigerator in one place and a freezer in a separate area or two sets of cooktops, one on the counter next to the wall oven and one on an island. you can even have two dishwashers if size and budget require and permit---think of it as saving time in the long run.
1. a well-designed kitchen should be modern, beautiful and practical at the same time.
a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned
2. being harmless to the environment is the top priority in kitchen design.
a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned
3. quality matters the most when you are choosing kitchen cabinets.
a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned
4. more counter space, cooktops and sink are needed in today s kitchens because food preparation is more complicated than it used to be.
a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned
5. the design of the sink is indicative of a kitchen designer s intelligence
a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned
6. means of saving labor, appliances should be replaced whenever new models come out
a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned
7. it is the amount of time you can spend in the kitchen that decides how many appliances of the same kind you should buy
a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned
key: acabacb
passage 13
the first settlement in north america
it is very difficult to say just when colonization began. the first hundred years after christopher columbus s journey of discovery in 1492 did not produce any settlement on the north america continent but rather some spanish trading posts further south, a great interest in gold and adventure, and some colorful crimes in which the english had their part. john cabot, originally from genoa but a citizen of venice, was established as a trader in bristol, england, when he made a journey in 1497. but his ship, the matthew, with its crew of eighteen, did no more than see an island (probably off the new england coast) and return home. he and his son made further voyages across the north atlantic which enabled the english crown to claim a "legal" title to north america. but for a long time afterwards the europeans interest in america was mainly confined to the spanish activities further south.
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