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We may think we're a culture that gets rid of our worn technology at the first sight of something shiny and new, but a new study shows that we keep using our old devices (装置) well after they go out of style. That's bad news for the environment — and our wallets — as these outdated devices consume much more energy than the newer ones that do the same things. To figure out how much power these devices are using, Callie Babbitt and her colleagues at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York tracked the environmental costs for each product throughout its life — from when its minerals are mined to when we stop using the device. This method provided a readout for how home energy use has evolved since the early 1990s. Devices were grouped by generation. Desktop computers, basic mobile phones, and box-set TVs defined 1992. Digital cameras arrived on the scene in 1997. And MP3 players, smart phones, and LCD TVs entered homes in 2002, before tablets and e-readers showed up in 2007. As we accumulated more devices, however, we didn't throw out our old ones. The living-room television is replaced and gets planted in the kids' room, and suddenly one day, you have a TV in every room of the house, said one researcher. The average number of electronic devices rose from four per household in 1992 to 13 in 2007. We're not just keeping these old devices — we continue to use them. According to the analysis of Babbitt's team, old desktop monitors and box TVs with cathode ray tubes are the worst devices with their energy consumption and contribution to greenhouse gas emissions (排放) more than doubling during the 1992 to 2007 window. So what's the solution (解决方案)? The team's data only went up to 2007, but the researchers also explored what would happen if consumers replaced old products with new electronics that serve more than one function, such as a tablet for word processing and TV viewing. They found that more on-demand entertainment viewing on tablets instead of TVs and desktop computers could cut energy consumption by 44%. 32.What does the author think of new devices?A.They are environment-friendly.B.They are no better than the old.C.They cost more to use at home.D.They go out of style quickly.33.Why did Babbitt's team conduct the research?A.To reduce the cost of minerals.B.To test the life cycle of a product.C.To update consumers on new technology.D.To find out electricity consumption of the devices.34.Which of the following uses the least energy?A.The box-set TV.B.The tablet.C.The LCD TV.D.The desktop computer.35.What does the text suggest people do about old electronic devices?A.Stop using them.B.Take them apart.C.Upgrade them.D.Recycle them. We've all been there: in a lift, in line at the bank or on an airplane, surrounded by people who are, like us, deeply focused on their smartphones or, worse, struggling with the uncomfortable silence. What's the problem? It's possible that we all have compromised conversational intelligence. It's more likely that none of us start a conversation because it's awkward and challenging, or we think it's annoying and unnecessary. But the next time you find yourself among strangers, consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say it's an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits. Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy, but we can't forget that deep relationships wouldn't even exist if it weren't for casual conversation. Small talk is the grease(润滑剂) for social communication, says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast, Almost every great love story and each big business deal begins with small talk, he explains. The key to successful small talk is learning how to connect with others, not just communicate with them. In a 2014 study, Elizabeth Dunn, associate professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to seek out an interaction(互动) with its waiter 'the other' to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their server reported significantly higher positive feelings and a better coffee shop experience. It's not that talking to the waiter is better than talking to your husband, says Dunn. But interactions with peripheral(边缘的) members of our social network matter for our well-being also. Dunn believes that people who reach out to strangers feel a significantly greater sense of belonging, a bond with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk. Small talk is the basis of good manners, he says. 32.What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?A.Addiction to smartphones.B.Inappropriate behaviours in public places.C.Absence of communication between strangers.D.Impatience with slow service.33.What is important for successful small talk according to Carducci?A.Showing good manners.B.Relating to other people.C.Focusing on a topic.D.Making business deals.34.What does the coffee-