A
Exploit your parking space
An unused parking space or garage can make money. If you live near a city center or an airport, you could make anything up to £200 or £300 a week. Put an advertisement for free on Letpark or Atmyhousepark.
Rent a room
Spare room? Not only will a lodger ( 房 客 ) earn you an income, but also, thanks to the government-backed “rent a room” program, you won’t have to pay any tax on the first £4500 you make per year. Try advertising your room on Roomspare or Roommateeasy.
Make money during special events
Don’t want a full-time lodger? Then rent on a short-term basis. If you live in the capital, renting a room out during the Olympics or other big events could bring in money, Grashpadder can advertise your space.
Live on set
Renting your home out as a “filmset” could earn you hundreds of pounds a day, depending on the film production company and how long your home is needed. A quick search on the Internet will bring up dozens of online companies that allow you to register your home for free—but you will be charged if your home gets picked.
Use your roof
You need the right kind of roof, but some energy companies pay the cost of fixingsolar equipment (around￡14,000), and let you use the energy produced for nothing. In return, they get paid for unused energy fed back into the National Grid. However, you have to sign a 25-year agreement with the supplier, which could prevent you from changing the roof.
21.If you earn ￡5000 from renting a room in one year, the tax you need to pay will be based on ____.
A.￡800 B.￡500 C.￡4500 D.5000
22. If you want to use energy free, you have to_____.
A.sign an agreement with the government B.pay around ￡14,000 for the equipment
C.sell the roof to some energy companies D.keep the roof unchanged for 25 years
23. For whom the text most probably written?
A. Lodgers. B. Advertisers. C. House owners. D. Online companies
B
If you see a problem, you should find a solution. That is what Alex Knoll, a 13-year-old boy from Post Falls, Idaho, believes. When he noticed a man struggling to open a heavy door from his wheelchair, Alex started thinking. “I wondered if there was a resource available to him to show which business had automatic doors, so he could actually access them,” Alex told Time for Kids. “I couldn’t find anything, so I created it.”
That was four years ago. The idea is Ability App. Alex’s website says the app will help people with disabilities and their caregivers find the exact position of public spaces and find safe, reliable services and employment opportunities. Talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres liked Alex’s idea so much that she had him on her show and surprised him with a $25,000 check. “I think it’s really going to help me get going,” Alex says.
Worldwide, there are more than a billion people with some kind of disability, according to The World Health Organization. A disability can make it hard to do everyday activities and find a Job. Tara Miller is a friend of Alex’s family. She uses a wheelchair. She helps Alex with his app by sharing her experience of what it is like to live with a disability. “We all want to be able to be in the same establishments (机构) as any able-bodied person,” Miller says. It’s about little things like low tables in restaurants and automatic doors, which can make a huge difference, she says. Alex has yet to set a launch (发布) date for Ability App. But he is determined to meet his goal. “I’m going to work as hard as I can and as fast as I can,” he says.
24. What made Alex create Ability App?
A. The desire to make money. B. The idea of a friend of his family.
C. The inconvenience to a disabled man. D. The encouragement of a well-known host.
25. How does Tara Miller help Alex?
A. By sharing her experience as a disabled girl. B. By collecting employment information.
C. By lending him some money. D. By looking after his family.
26. How do the disabled benefit from the App?
A. They can get donations.
B. They are offered discounts in restaurants.
C. They are invited to a talk show to raise public attention.
D. They enjoy easy access to public services and job opportunities.
27. What is Alex like?
A. Generous and honest. B. Brave and easy-going.
C. Creative and determined. D. Confident and energetic.
