Nowadays, scientists are focusing more and more on green inventions. These are devices that promote the idea of using less fossil fuel1 and being less harmful to the environment. Some of these green inventions will probably become very popular. Some may even fail to get off the ground. Others are just strange. Such is the case with meat-eating furniture. A team of British inventors designed a digital2 wall clock that is powered not by a battery or electrical plug, but by dead flies.

　　The clock has a strip of flypaper3 that revolves. After a fly lands and gets stuck on the paper, it is scraped off by a metal blade4 and drops into a special fuel cell5. There, the fly's body is transformed into energy. Time may have run out for the fly, but not for the person looking at the clock.

　　Of course, living bodies can create electricity as well, thanks to Orange Power Wellies6. These are specially designed rubber boots that will convert the heat from a person's feet into an electrical current7. In turn, the current can be used via a cable at the top of the boot to power a cellphone. It takes 12 hours of walking to charge a phone for one hour of use, but wearers can produce more energy just by making their feet hotter. Just think, you can walk and talk without having to worry about the battery dying on you.

　　The best designed homes leave nothing out. From the mailboxes to the sink drains, no attention to style or detail is _(1)_. When a bathroom needs an update, how do you give your toilet a makeover? This interesting question has an even more intriguing answer.
　　In the realm of home decor, Toilet Tattoos are now being praised as a _(2)_alternative to an old idea, and they really stand out from the others. They allow anyone to add a personal touch to a very personal space. This is made possible _(3)_ a reusable toilet lid decoration. Toilet Tattoos look like giant stickers for your toilet lids. They are applied _(4)_ a similar fashion but can be easily removedand need no special attention when it comes to cleaning, which makes them convenient and hygienic.
　　The mastermind behind this idea is Celeste Massullo, a fashion designer and the owner of Lena Fiore', Inc., the company that produces Toilet Tattoos. Massullo, whose clothing has been worn by celebrities _(5)_ Mariah Carey and Brooke Shields, is no amateur when it comes to designing. Yet, it was only in 2003 that she was inspired to find a new way to decorate the throne in the bathroom. _(6)_ started as a home remodeling project grew into two years of research and development and a new field of design. Toilet Tattoos _(7)_numerous styles, with custom designs also available. Whether they give your family a laugh or make you the envy of the neighborhood, Toilet Tattoos are thefinishing touches your bathrooms have been waiting for.

1. (A) noticed　　 (B) overlooked 　　　(C) adopted 　　(D) frustrated
2. (A) regular 　 (B) scarce 　　　 (C) novel (D) doubtful
3. (A) on behalf of(B) for the sake of (C) by means of (D) at the risk of

　　Known as the Beautiful Island, Taiwan is filled with spectacular landscapes, unique wildlife, and also amazing people. There are roughly 70 species of mammals1, 90 species of reptiles2, 400 species of butterflies, 500 species of birds, and more. Some of these incredible creatures can only be found in Taiwan. These consist of the Formosan black bear, the Formosan landlocked salmon3, and the Mikado pheasant4. However, it is the unexpected creatures that are presenting some unexpected benefits to the world.

　　National Geographic Channel's "Taiwan to the World 4: Taiwan's Amazing Creatures" changes our view of the world. It shows experts working to unlock the secrets and the potential of creatures commonly found in Taiwan like cockroaches and horseshoe crabs5.

　　Not only is Taiwan's wildlife amazing, but so are its people. In the episode "Star Trackers6", NGC's cameras follow two stargazers7 chasing their dreams in the night sky. One is attempting to discover a new comet, while the other is working on building the world's most powerful radio telescope. Produced by Taiwanese filmmakers, NGC's "Taiwan to the World 4" will open your hearts and minds to all that is Taiwan.

　　After its brutal War of Independence ended in 1995 with a decisive victory over Yugoslavia, Croatia began the task of rebuilding a nation that was torn apart. While this process is still ongoing, tourism has soared due to the country'sexpansive coastline with many islands, inlets, and well-preserved Renaissancetowns. As a matter of fact, Croatia has been near the top of many travel bloggers' must-visit lists for the past few years. It seems as though the more people go to Croatia, the more their friends want to do the same after hearing about what a wonderful time they had.
　　Crystal-clear waters and numerous waterfalls can be found at the 16 lakes of the Plitvice Lakes National Park. This is the largest park in Croatia and has many breathtaking views to take in. One of the most distinctive features of these lakes is that they are always evolving because they are all interconnected. This means that in some places, new waterfalls can spring up, while in others, they dry up. Each time a tourist visits Plitvice, the scenery is different. The beauty of Croatia is also prevalent in Dubrovnik, a city British poet Lord Byron dubbed"the pearl of the Adriatic." The shapes and scents, along with the friendly locals, make visiting this walled city truly unforgettable.
　　Croatia is also known for the Moreska sword dance, being the country whereDalmatians originated, and neckwear that soldiers wore before the fashionablecrowd in France took notice and popularized cravats around the world. There is no better time than right now to visit Croatia.

1. Which of the following statements is true about Croatia?

　　Whistler, British Columbia is a skiing and snowboarding paradise. This resort1 town is surrounded by incredible snowy peaks2 in western Canada's Coast Mountain Range3. It is a huge playground for anyone with skiis or a snowboard. People come from Australia, Europe, and all over the world to enjoy its soft powder4. Located 120 kilometers north of Vancouver, the town of Whistler has a population of less than 10,000 permanent residents, but there are always a lot more people than that visiting.

　　Young people come and stay for weeks, months, years, or longer. When they are not working, they are hitting the perfect conditions on the slopes since Whistler gets an average annual snowfall5 of nearly 11 meters. Even non-skiers know about the town because many events at the 2010 Winter Olympics werestaged in Whistler, which made for a beautiful backdrop6 to all the sporting events. In recent years, Whistler constructed a new gondola7 that runs between two of its biggest mountains. It is over four kilometers in length and the longest unsupported gondola in the world. For winter-lovers, this just adds to all of Whistler's magical attractions..

　　Who would have thought that those small, sticky Post-it notes could be used so creatively? In what's being called Post-it wars, office workers in Paris have been trying to _(1)_ each other in coming up with the biggest and the best Post-itartwork.
　　The first shot in this raging war was in the spring of 2011, _(2)_ employees at French video game company Ubisoft stuck a small space invader, an aliencreature from a popular video game from the late 1970s, on its windows. Employees at a bank that faced the video company responded by creating a much larger, more elaborate Post-it creation. Ubisoft countered with another even more epic Post-it window _(3)_ , and the battle was on. Soon, workers at other companies across Paris decided to get in on the fun. Post-it fever has _(4)_ spread to other French cities and even other countries.
　　The subjects of all these artistic Post-it creations are _(5)_ and can be anything from celebrities, such as Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson, to iconicvideo game figures, including Pac-Man and Super Mario. The more intricatecreations are a few stories high and _(6)_ of thousands and thousands of colorful pieces of paper. A website showing photos of many of the pixelated images was created by a French digital communications agency. You can _(7)_ at www.postitwar.com. The site is in French, but the pictures are worth a thousand words in any language.

1. (A) ignore　　(B) outdo　　(C) remove　　(D) distort
2. (A) what　　(B) which　　(C) when　　(D) where