Addis Ababa University

Department of Foreign Languages and Literature

Home Take Assignment(1)
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow
1. Lots of people spend time coming up with budgets so they can improve their finances.
Then, they spend additional time tracking their finances and comparing them to their
budget. After that, they may tweak one or the other, and sometimes both, as they balance
their spending and income.
2. Sticking to a budget and doing financial planning goes a long way toward reaching your
money goals. But have you ever thought about time in a similar way? After all, you can
always make more money. However, once spent, you cannot make more time. That is
why you should budget your time like you budget money.
3. There are many activities to spend on time. We could mention several ways of budgeting
our time, but let us focus on some of the major ones.
4. Getting organized is one important thing to do. Although getting organized and staying
organized takes time, it is worth budgeting your time for it. Think of these two ideas
like different budgets. You can choose either one or both to budget your time.
5. Utilizing a calendar application is one way to budget your time. To truly budget your
time like you budget money, you need to allocate a certain amount of time for
everything. Something that can greatly help with that task is to utilize a calendar
application. With a calendar application, you can set up appointment reminders, block
your schedule for important projects, and more.
6. Putting tasks in a work list is also advisable. If you have never used a scheduling
application, using one is another way to help you budget your time. What is more, you
may even be able to replace that paper “to do” list to carry around. Like other
applications, most can be used from your phone as well as from laptops or from other
devices. This allows you to update projects effortlessly as needed throughout the day. It
is also easy to see your list and work in order of priority with a scheduling application.
That helps you focus on those that are important or are nearer deadlines. What is more,
scheduling applications are great when you have a team of people to direct. You can
keep a work list for each person and quickly see how they are doing on it at a glance.
7. Creating routines will also help you to budget your time better. Use the ideas below to
save time so that you can use it elsewhere in your time budget.
8. One of the routines is making meals ahead. When you take breakfast or lunch to work
each day, it takes time to prepare. Starting at home during the evenings makes getting
ready in the morning, taking less time. Using a little bit of time the night before can
really pay off in the mornings when you are in a rush.
9. Another routine is to choose clothing. A smart idea is to budget a bit of time to choose
clothing each evening for work the next day. That way you will quit spending time
sifting through your closet for the perfect outfit.
10. The other point to mention is how to stay healthy. Something else you should budget
your time for is getting and staying healthy. This includes not only eating right but
drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest. You will also want to exercise to get
fit. It will be hard for you to avoid being tired if you do not budget enough time for
sleep. Lack of sleep is a common issue for many that can lower your productivity both at
work and at home. Get plenty of rest so you can be at your best each day.
11. Learning shortcuts is one of the routines. Just like spending money on what is important,
you should also spend time on what is important. That is why you need to learn as many
shortcuts as possible. Using shortcuts and hacks at home and work lets you work faster
and be more productive. To do this, you have to schedule time for emails and use
templates.
12. Training and teaching others is also another important thing. Budgeting time for training
and teaching others can give you more time later. It also promotes teamwork. For
example, teaching your kids to do housework chores can free up some of your time at
home for other things. An added bonus is that it also helps them become responsible
adults. Training and teaching people at work is also worth budgeting your time to do.
13. Relaxing and recharging also need time budgeting. If you want to continue working
productively and at your best, you need to relax and recharge occasionally. That is why
you need to budget your time for it just like you would budget money for it, too. But that
does not mean you must take an expensive vacation. Instead, you could have many
alternatives.
 14. Setting goals is another thing that you should add to your time budget. Both personal
and work goals are important. They inspire and motivate you to work hard so you can

Addis Ababa University

Department of Foreign Languages and Literature
Home Take Assignment (2)
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow

1. The green building movement is changing the way buildings are constructed. This
movement started in the 1970s as people began to see that modern life was destroying the
environment we all share. Natural resources were being destroyed, energy and water
consumption were rising, and so was pollution of all kinds. The environmental destruction
has continued and one important factor has been the way buildings have been constructed. In
fact, energy use in buildings represents about 32 percent of all energy use in the United
States.
2. In the early years, green builders were a small minority, and their goals of reducing the
environmental impact of buildings were considered unrealistic. Now, however, the green
building movement is growing, as builders have been able to take advantage of new
technology and as the costs of this technology have gone down. Environmental building
methods are now practical enough to save money for building owners, even as they reduce
damage to the environment.
3. First, green builders try to make use of recycled materials as much as possible. In fact, vast
amounts of materials such as steel, cement, and wood are used in construction. Nowhere are
companies that specialize in gathering old materials, processing them, and selling them to
builders for new buildings. States and cities are encouraging these companies, as the reuse of
materials also means less waste in dumps. For large builders or individual homeowners, it is
possible to find everything from steel and cement to doors, windows, sinks tubs, brick and
hardware.
4. Another way that builders can reduce environmental impact is to reduce the energy
requirements of a building. This can be done in several ways. One is to provide an
alternative, nonpolluting source of energy. The first alternative energy source to be
 developed was solar power. With solar panels- wide, flat sheets of special material- it is
possible to produce electricity from the rays of the sun. Builders can install solar panels on
the roofs of buildings and connect them to cooling or lighting systems. Once the panels are
installed, they provide energy at no cost and with no pollution. In addition, a nonpolluting
solution for reducing energy use is a technology known as geothermal heating. To obtain
geothermal heat, builders place special pipes below the ground, where temperatures remain
constant all year. In the winter, the earth’s natural heat can be collected in these pipes, and
then transferred into the building’s heating system. In the summer, heat in the building can be
collected and sent to the pipes underground.
5. A different kind of solution to the energy problem is for builders to reduce the amount of
energy required in a building. For example, it is possible to cut electricity use noticeably just
by improving natural lighting and installing low-energy bulbs. To reduce the amount of fuel
that is needed for heating or cooling, builders can also add installations to the walls so that
the building stays warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Theycan also consider the
position of the building to take advantage of natural heating and cooling effects of the sun,
the wind, and the other buildings nearby. Furthermore, builders can plant trees that help
reduce energy use by providing shade in sunny weather and protection from cold wind.
6. One of the best examples of advanced green building design in the United States is the
Genzyme center for Cambridge. Massachusetts. In 2000, the Genzyme company decided to
build the most environmentally responsible office building ever made in America. Every
aspect of the design and building had to take into account two things: the need for a safe and
pleasant workplace for employees and the need to lessen the negative environmental impact.
7. First, in constructing the building, 75 percent of the building materials were recycled
materials. Furthermore, at least half of the building materials came from nearby to use less
energy in transporting them. Now, special mirrors on the roof bring the sunlight into the
center of the building so that most of the employees can work under natural light. The
windows in the building can be opened-unlike windows in many American office buildings-
so that people can get fresh air. Indoor gardens make the place more pleasant and also help
clean the air of pollutants. Above all, the energy use in it has been reduced by 43 percent
and water use by 32 percent, compared with other buildings of the same size.
8. In other parts of the world, several large-scale projects have recently been developed
according to green building principles. One of these is in the town of Vauban, Germany, in
an area that was once the site of army housing. This site has been completely rebuilt with
houses that require 30 percent less energy than conventional houses. These houses are also
heated by special nonpolluting systems that run on wood chips, and they are equipped with
solar energy panels.
9. An even larger project is underway in China. The first phase of this project will include
houses for 400 families built with solar power, nonpolluting bricks, and recycled wall
installation. In a second phase, entire neighborhoods in six cities will be built according to
green building principles. And if all goes well, the Chinese government plans to copy these
ideas in new neighborhoods all across China. Whether on a small scale or large scale, green
building ideas are spreading.
10. For many, they were viewed as a costly option for the wealthy, but now individuals,
companies, and governments are building to see their benefits. In addition to the fact that
they are environmentally friendly, green buildings improve living and working conditions
and also save money in the long run.