In 1983, when oil process were till high in my area, I installed a ground-source heat pump in my brand-new, and insulated 1,600-square-foot house. It cost several thousand dollars more than comparable systems that use oil, gas, or wood, but I figured I’’d recover my higher initial expense in a few years through lower energy bills. True, my heat pump runs on electricity-an expensive commodity where I live. But most of its energy comes from the earth: a propylene-glycol solution circulates through 1,200 feet of two-inch-diameter plastic pipe buried three feet deep in a field next to my house. As it travels, the solution absorbs heat from the surrounding soil, even when soil temperature drops below freezing. My ground-source heat pump also offers important benefits that have nothing to do with economics. *Minimal fire hazard-no chimney, firebox, or heating elements-only pumps, fans, and a compressor. *Cleanliness-no combustion products, thus no chance of my heating system polluting the indoor air, leaving scummy deposits on walls and furniture. *Reliability-solid-state electronic controls and sealed beatings almost eliminate breakdowns. *No maintenance-no wood to cut, ashes to haul, or chimney to clean. *Convenience-The system runs automatically, even switching from heating to air conditioning as needed. I can simply lock the door and go away for a day, week, or month. Not only did I expect to start saving on energy costs immediately, but I also expected those savings to grow over the years as oil process continued to soar. Since I was wrong about oil prices, the big dollar savings I’’ d hoped for haven’’ t materialized. Nevertheless, I am satisfied, all things considered. The best title for the passage is ______.
A. Preparing the Ground for a Pump System
B. Pros and Cons of the Ground-Source Heat Pump
C. The Ground-Source Heat Pump
D. It Works for Me!
Researchers have established that when people are mentally engaged, biochemical changes occur in the brain that allow it to act more effectively in cognitive areas such as attention and memory. This is true regardless of age. People will be alert and receptive if they are faced with information that gets them to think about things they are interested in. And someone with a history of doing more rather than less will go into old age more cognitively sound than someone who has not had an active mind. Many expert are so convinced of the benefits of challenging the brain that they are putting the theory to work in their own lives." The idea is no necessarily to learn to memorize enormous amounts of information, "says James Fozard, associate director of the National Institute on Aging." Most of us don’’t need that kind of skill. Such specific training is of less interest than being able to maintain mental alertness." Fozard and others say they challenge their brains with different mental skills, both because they enjoy them and because they are sure that their range of activities will help the way their brains work. Gene Cohen, acting director of the same institute, suggests that people in their old age should engage in mental and physical activities individually as well as in groups. Cohen says that we are frequently advised to keep physically active as we age, but older people need to keep mentally active as well. Those who do are more likely to maintain their intellectual abilities and to be generally happier and better adjusted." The point is, you need to do both," Cohen says," Intellectual activity actually influences brain-cell health and size." What is the passage mainly about
A. How biochemical changes occur in the human brain.
B. Why people should keep active not only physically but also mentally.
C. How intellectual activities influence brain-cell health.
D. Why people should receive special mental training as they age.