Q: 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 them fell off their chairs," Gerner says.

Gerner manages school facilities 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 ; 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 ," 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.

Answer the following questions:
1. WHat new type of school design is being explored?
2. Where are they being tried?
3. Is location causing a problem for this type anywhere?
4. Where?
5. Why is it a problem there?
6. What is a benefit of the new school type?
7. Who asked for school designs featuring energy savings and cheaper building plans?
8. Did his specifications surprise anyone?
9. How many schools does he need to build?
10. How many new pupils will be coming into the school system?
11. Whay can't they squeeze into the current buildings?
12. Are all of the new schools built already?
13. How many are done then?
14. How many teams are currently working on designs?
15. How many will have their designs used for other schools?
16. Is everyone a hug fan of the new ecological based building philosophy?
17. Who has doubts?
18. WHay?
19. Does he think there is anything good about the trend?
20. What subjects in particular?
A: 1. Green schools
2. all over
3. yes
4. Clark County
5. desert climate
6. teaching students about the process of harvesting wind and solar power.
7. Paul Gerner
8. yes
9. 73
10. 143,000
11. they are already crowded
12. no
13. unknown
14. Four
15. three
16. no
17. Gerner
18. Some of the building technologies are impractical.
19. Some green features might inspire students.
20. math and science

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Dubai is the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf and is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up the country. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the only two emirates to have veto power over critical matters of national importance in the country's Federal Supreme Council. The city of Dubai is located on the emirate's northern coastline and heads the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area. Dubai will host World Expo 2020.

Dubai emerged as a global city and business hub of the Middle East. It is also a major transport hub for passengers and cargo. By the 1960s, Dubai's economy was based on revenues from trade and, to a smaller extent, oil exploration concessions, but oil was not discovered until 1966. Oil revenue first started to flow in 1969. Dubai's oil revenue helped accelerate the early development of the city, but its reserves are limited and production levels are low: today, less than 5% of the emirate's revenue comes from oil.

The Emirate's Western-style model of business drives its economy with the main revenues now coming from tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services. Dubai was recently named the best destination for Muslim travellers by Salam Standard. Dubai has recently attracted world attention through many innovative large construction projects and sports events. The city has become iconic for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, in particular the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Dubai has been criticised for human rights violations concerning the city's largely South Asian and Filipino workforce. Dubai's property market experienced a major deterioration in 200809 following the financial crisis of 200708, but the emirate's economy has made a return to growth, with a projected 2015 budget surplus.

1. What city's economy came to rely on trade in the 1960s?
2. When was oil discovered there?
3. when did it start making money from that commodity?
4. is it still making lots of money from it?
5. about how much of its money comes from it now?
6. it is the biggest city in the what?
7. where is its location?
8. what is it the capital of?
9. can it veto things?
10. along with what other entity?
11. how many other emirates are there besides those two?
12. does it have an Eastern style of business?
13. what kind then?
14. what is an area where it now gets its money from?
15. is it a cruddy place to travel to?
16. who said it's a good place to go to for Muslims?
17. what is it an icon for?
18. is there a notable one?
19. why is it notable?
20. has the city been criticized?

Numbered answers:

A:
1. Dubai
2. 1966
3. 1969
4. No
5. less than 5%
6. United Arab Emirates
7. southeast coast of the Persian Gulf
8. Emirate of Dubai
9. Yes
10. Abu Dhabi
11. Five
12. No
13. Western-style
14. tourism
15. no
16. Salam Standard
17. skyscrapers and high-rise buildings
18. Yes
19. world's tallest building
20. yes