Read the article and choose the option A, B or C which best completes each blank. 0 is an example.
The science of the quieter home appliance
Whirring extractor
fans, buzzing washing machines, vibrating fridge freezers — is your home full
of electrical appliances that (0) … distracting
or loud noises? Our homes, (1) … should
be calm retreats from the frenetic world outside, are not as quiet as they used
to be because they are full of noisy appliances. These harsh sounds often
compete with (2) … —people turn up
the volume on the television, for example, if someone is vacuuming (3) … —and collectively they produce
excessive noise. Yet most of us put up with the din, unaware that we can do
something about it.
We have more home
appliances than ever but certain factors have exacerbated the problem. With
space (4) …, people are living in
smaller homes and in shared households, making it harder to escape from noise.
Conjoined spaces, (5) … an open-plan
kitchen and sitting room, are more common nowadays; these can be very noisy if
there isn’t a separate utility room.
Most of us would
struggle without household appliances but must we live with a cacophony of
daily noise? The good news is that (6) …
are beginning to stock “quiet technology” — appliances designed to be less
harmful to our ears. The initiative comes from Quiet Mark, a not-for-profit
scheme run by the UK’s Noise Abatement Society.
If products pass the
acoustic and performance tests, carried out by a team from the Association of
Noise Consultants, they are (7) … a
purple Quiet Mark symbol. Poppy Szkiler, the founder and managing director of
Quiet Mark, says: “The logo is an aid for buyers who want high-performing
products that produce softer sounds. We look at every aspect of sound to (8) … the products are not producing
painful or intrusive sounds.”
Szkiler, who is the
granddaughter of John Connell, the founder of the Noise Abatement Society, (9) … the organisation three years ago.
“Sound is central to our lives, (10) …
we’re not always aware of it and often have little power to change the sounds
that surround us,” she says. “Unfortunately, we too easily accept that noise is
the price we pay for evolution and our ever-developing society. If we don’t (11) … something about this soon, our
ability to hear the (12) ... sounds
around us will disappear.”
So far, 80 products
have been given the logo and the categories are continuing to grow. John Lewis,
a businessman that stocks Quiet Mark products, has seen a huge increase in
sales of small appliances that have been recognised for reducing their noise
emissions.
Recent research (13) … by John Lewis shows that people
are becoming more aware of how noise from appliances affects their lives.
Nearly half of the 2,004 people asked said that they (14) … sound an important factor when they choose such goods.
Szkiler adds:
“Manufacturers are putting investment into changing the sound at the design
stage. The next era of design will consider sounds and acoustics.”
0
A create
B do
C make
1
A that
B where
C which
2
A each other
B others
C themselves
3
A closely
B near
C nearby
4
A abundant
B at a premium
C plentiful
5
A as
B such as
C unlike
6
A buyers
B shoppers
C retailers
7
A accorded
B awarded
C rewarded
8
A assure
B insure
C make sure
9
A delivered
B set up
C thought up
10
A although
B despite
C however
11
A do
B invent
C make
12
A sharp
B strident
C subtle
13
A carried out
B performed
C studied
14
A consider
B regard
C see
KEY:
1C 2A 3C 4B 5B 6C
7B 8C 9B 10A 11A 12C 13A 14A
