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A few years ago, Paul Gerner began to gather a group of architects in Las Vegas to ask them what it
would take to design a public school that used 50 percent less energy, cost much less to build and obviously
improved student learning. "I think half of then fell off their chairs," Gerner says.
Gerner manages school facilities (设施) for Clark county, Nevada, a district roughly the size of
Massachusetts. By 2018, 143, 000 additional students will enter the already crowded public-education system.
Gerner needs 73 new schools to house them. Four architecture teams have nearly finished designing primary
school prototypes (样品); They plan to construct their schools starting in 2009. The district will then assess
how well the schools perform, and three winners will copy those designs in 50 to 70 new buildings.
Green schools are appearing all over, but in Clark County, which stands out for its vastness, such
aggressive targets are difficult because design requirements like more natural light for students go against the
realities of a desert climate. "One of the biggest challenges is getting the right site orientation (朝向)," Mark
McGinty, a director at SH Architecture, says. His firm recently completed a high school in Las Vegas. "You
have the same building, same set of windows, but if its orientation is incorrect and it faces the sun, it will be
really expensive to cool."
Surprisingly, the man responsible for one of re most progressive green-design competitions has doubts
about ideas of eco-friendly buildings. "I don't believe in the new green religion," Gerner says. "Some of the
building technologies that you get are impractical. I'm interested in those that work." But he wouldn't mind
if some green features inspire students. He says he hopes to set up green energy systems that allow them to
learn about the process of harvesting wind and solar power." "You never know what's going to start the
interest of a child to study math and science," he says.
1. How did the architects react to Garner's design requirements?
A. They lost balance in excitement.
B. they showed strong disbelief.
C. they expressed little interest.
D. they burst into cheers.
2. Which order of steps is followed in carrying out the project?
A. Assessment－Prototype－Design－Construction.
B. Assessment－Design－Prototype－Construction.
C. Design－Assessment－Prototype－Construction.
D. Design－Prototype－Assessment－Construction.
3. What makes it difficult to build green schools in Clark County?
A. The large size.
B. Limited facilities.
C. The desert climate.
D. Poor natural resources.
4. What does Gerner think of the ideas of green schools?
A. They are questionable.
B. They are out of date.
C. They are advanced.
D. They are practical.
