54. The main function of the shell is ________.

A. to strengthen the pilings of the house

B. to give the house a better appearance

C. to protect the wooden frame of the house

D. to slow down the speed of the swelling water

53. Huff raised the house 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings in order to __________ .

A. withstand peak winds of about 200 km / hr　 B. anchor stronger pilings deep in the sand

C. break huge sea waves into smaller ones　　　 D. prevent water from rushing into the house.

52. The award-winning beach house is quite strong because_______.

A. it is strengthened by steel rods 　　　　　　　　　 B. it is made of redwood

C. it is in the shape of a shell　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. it is built with timber and concrete

51. After the tragedy caused by. Hurricane Hugo, new houses built along South Carolina's shore line are required________.

A. to be easily reinforced　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. to look smarter in design

C. to meet stricter building standards　　　　　　　　　　 D. to be designed in the shape of cubes

50. The passage most probably is _____.

A. an official document　　　　　 B. a news story ,

C. an advertisement　　　　　　 D. a research report

C

Some houses are designed to be smart. Others have smart designs. An example of the second type of house won an Award of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects.

Located on the shore of Sullivan's Island off the coast of South Carolina, the award-winning cube-shaped beach house was built to replace one smashed to pieces by Hurricane (飓风) Hugo 10 years ago. In September 1989, Hugo struck South Carolina, killing 18 people and damaging or destroying 36,000 homes in the state.

Before Hugo, many new houses built along South Carolina's shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement of building codes wasn't strict, according to architect Ray Huff, who created. the cleverly-designed beach house. In Hugo's wake, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes. The new beach house on Sullivan's Island should be able to withstand a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 179 to 209 kilometers per hour.

At first sight, the house on Sullivan's Island looks anything but hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell makes it resemble "a large party lantern (灯笼)" at night, according to one observer. But looks can be deceiving. The house's wooden frame is reinforced with long steel rods to give it extra strength.

To further protect the house from hurricane damage. Huff raised it 2.7 meters off the ground on timber(7(木头) pilings (屋基)-long, slender columns of wood anchored deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also elevate the house above storm surges. The pilings allow the surges (波涛汹涌) to run under the house instead of running into it. "These swells of water come ashore at tremendous speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings," said Huff.

Huff designed the timber pilings to be partially concealed(隐藏)by the house's ground-to-roof shell. "The shell masks the pilings so that the house doesn't look like it's standing with its pant legs pulled up," said Huff. In the event of a storm surge, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained.

49. What does Bud Cook mean by "having a local presence". (Line 1, Para. 5)?

A. Financial contributions from local business leaders.

B. Consideration of the interests of the local residents.

C. The establishment of a wildlife protection foundation in the area.

D. The setting up of a local Nature Conservancy branch in the Pocono area.

48. What is important in protecting the Poconos according to Gook?

A. The setting up of an environmental protection website.

B. Support from organizations like The Nature Conservancy.

C. Cooperation with the local residents and business leaders.

D. Inclusion of farmlands in the region' s protection, program.

47. We learn from the passage that________.

A. the population in the Pocono area is growing

B. wildlife in the Pocono area is dying out rapidly

C. the security of the Pocono residents is being threatened

D. farmlands in the Pocono area are getting smaller fast

46. The purpose in naming the Poconos as one of America's "Last Great Places" is to_____.

A. gain support from the local community

B. protect it from irresponsible development

C. make it a better home for black bears

D. provide financial security for future generations

45. The best title for this passage is likely to be________.

A. We Can Make a Difference　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Building a School

C. Helping Child Laborers　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. The Kielburger Brothers

B

Two hours from the tall buildings of Manhattan and Philadelphia live some of the world's largest black bears. They are in northern Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, a home they share with an abundance of other wildlife.

The streams, lakes, meadows(草地), mountain ridges and forests that make the Poconos an ideal place for black bears have also attracted more people to the region. Open spaces are threatened by plans for housing estates and important habitats(栖息地) are endangered by highway construction. To protect the Poconos' natural beauty from irresponsible development, the Nature Conservancy(大自然保护协会) named the area one of America's "Last Great Places" .

Operating out of a century-old schoolhouse in the village of Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the conservancy's Bud Cook is working with local people and business leaders to balance economic growth with environmental protection. By forging partnerships with people like Francis Altemose, the Conservancy has been able to protect more than 14,000 acres of environmentally important land in the area.

Altemose's family has fanned in the Pocono area for generations. Two years ago Francis worked with the Conservancy to include his farm in a county farmland protection program. As a result, his family's land can be protected from development and the Altemoses will be better able to provide a secure financial future for their 7-year-old grandson.

Cook attributes the Conservancy's success in the Poconos to having a local presence and a commitment to working with local residents. "The key to protecting these remarkable lands is connecting with the local community," Cook said. "The people who live there respect the land. They value quiet forests, clear streams and abundant wildlife. They are eager to help with conservation effort."

For more information on how you can help the Nature Conservancy protect the Poconos and the world's other "Last Great Places," please call 1-888-564 6864 or visit us on the World Wide Web at www.tnc.org.