王迈迈英语

      In a hot and dry country such as Arabia, the houses are often box-shaped. They have thick stone walls which are painted white. White surfaces radiate heat while dark surfaces absorb it. The houses have no windows, only gaps with shutters over them. Even the door openings are very small and narrow. It is cool inside such houses. The roofs are also flat, so that when the sun goes down, one can sit on the roof and catch any cool breeze that is blowing. Sometimes,a water tank may be placed on the roof to catch the little rain that falls.

      In cold regions, where there is heavy snow, the roofs,of the houses slope steeply so that the snow can slide off easily. If the roofs were flat, the snow would build up and the roofs might cave in under the weight. The houses also have thick stone walls so that the cold is kept out.

      Some countries are more likely to be affected by earthquakes. In such places, the houses are made of light building materials. If the houses collapse in an earthquake, few people will get hurt and less damage is caused.

      In some parts of the world, people take their homes along with them as they travel. These people are called nomads. The Bedouins of Arab lands wander over the desert, setting up tents wherever they stop to rest.

26.Houses in equatorial countries _______.

     A.are light and airy                   B.have steep roofs

     C.are always built on stilts             D.are built to shelter from the harsh elements

27.Houses in Arabia _______.

     A.have thin walls painted white          B.are box-shaped

     C.have many windows                 D.always have water tanks on the roof

28.In cold countries roofs slope steeply ______.

     A.so that people can build caves under it

     B.so that the roofs won't become so heavy

     C.because people do not need snow to build the house

     D.so that the snow can slide off easily

29.In earthquake-affected countries, light building materials are used because _____.