春骥 TOEFL Listening · Biomimicry Architecture

Questions

Question 1 Main Idea

What is the talk mainly about?

A How a Zimbabwe building used termite mound principles in its design B The history of air conditioning technology in developing countries C The social behavior of termites in sub-Saharan Africa D Why Mick Pearce decided to become an architect instead of a biologist

Question 2 Detail

According to the professor, how do termite mounds maintain stable internal temperatures?

A Through constant repair work performed by worker termites B By generating heat through rapid movement inside the mound C By building their mounds exclusively in shaded areas near water D By using chimneys and tunnels to control airflow

Question 3 Function

Why does the professor mention that the Eastgate Center uses "a fraction of the energy" of conventional buildings?

A To emphasize the practical success of applying biological principles to architecture B To suggest that conventional air conditioning is becoming obsolete worldwide C To criticize architects who rely too heavily on mechanical cooling systems D To prove that buildings in Zimbabwe require less cooling than buildings in Europe

Question 4 Vocabulary

The professor says that termites "fine-tune the airflow." What does "fine-tune" mean in this context?

A To ignore minor problems and focus on major defects B To completely rebuild a structure from the ground up C To make small, precise adjustments to improve performance D To measure the exact temperature at multiple locations

打开听力文本

How do you cool a large building in a hot climate when traditional air conditioning is either too expensive or unavailable? Today we'll look at an elegant solution from nature. In Harare, Zimbabwe, architect Mick Pearce faced exactly this challenge when designing the Eastgate Center. Instead of installing conventional cooling systems, he turned to termite mounds for inspiration. Now, termite mounds are remarkable structures. They maintain a stable internal temperature even when outside conditions swing dramatically. How do they do it? Through a network of chimneys and tunnels above and below ground. Warm air rises and exits through upper vents, while cooler air is drawn in from below. The termites even open and close small vents to fine-tune the airflow. Pearce applied these biological principles to his building. He used thick masonry walls to store heat during the day and release it at night, and he installed a system of ducts and adjustable vents that mimic the mound's natural ventilation. The result? The Eastgate Center uses a fraction of the energy that a conventional building would require. So what does this teach us? Sometimes the most sophisticated engineering solutions have already been tested and refined by nature over millions of years.