When Hurricane Phailin hit India in late 2013, it became the largest storm to strike the subcontinent in over a decade. The storm affected more than 12 million people in India and neighboring countries, and damaged or destroyed many houses. However, good news is that cleverly-designed beach house created by architect Ray Huff can survive such strong winds and storm waves.
Located on the shore of an Indian island, Huff’s award-winning cube-shaped beach house was built to replace one smashed to pieces by Hurricane Phailin.
Huff pointed out that many houses built along shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement(执行) of building codes wasn’t strict. After Phailin’s attack, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes. The new beach house should be able to stand a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 179 to 209 kilometers per hour.
At first sight, Huff's house looks anything but hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell makes it resemble “a large party lantern” at night, according to one observer. But looks can be misleading. The house’s wooden frame is reinforced(加固) 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 pilings---long columns of wood anchored(固定) deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also balance the house above storm waves. The pilings allow the waves to run under the house instead of running into it. “These swells of water e ashore at great speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings,” said Huff.
Huff designed the wooden pilings to be partially hidden 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 case of a storm wave, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained.
【小题1】After Hurricane Phailin, new houses built along shore line are required . A．to be easily reinforced B．to look smarter in designC．to meet stricter building standardsD．to be designed in the shape of cubes【小题2】The award-winning beach house is quite strong because . A．it is made of redwood B．it is in the shape of a shellC．it is strengthened by steel rods D．it is built with wood and stones【小题3】Huff raised the house 2.7 meters off the ground on wooden pilings in order to . A．support the weight of the houseB．allow the waves to run through the houseC．anchor stronger pilings deep in the sandD．prevent water from rushing into the house【小题4】The main function of the shell is .A．to give the house a better appearance B．to strengthen the pilings of the houseC．to protect the wooden frame of the house D．to slow down the speed of the swelling waterC
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(答案→)C
解析：
试题分析: 本文讲述在2013年的飓风中建筑师Ray Huff造的房子经受考验，对他所建造的房子进行分析。
【小题1】C 细节理解题。根据第三段提到After Phailin’s attack, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes所有新的海岸线的房屋必须符合严格的，更好的强制执行的代码标准，所以选C项。
【小题2】C 细节理解题。根据第四段提到The house’s wooden frame is reinforced(加固) with long steel rods to give it extra strength.房子的木框架钢筋（加固）长钢筋给予额外的力量 所以选C项。
【小题3】D 细节理解题。根据第五段提到To further protect the house from hurricane damage, Huff raised it 2.7 meters off the ground on pilings---long columns of wood anchored(固定) deep in the sand.得出为了抵御飓风，所以选D项。
【小题4】A 细节理解题。根据最后一段提到The shell masks the pilings so that the house doesn’t look like it’s standing with its pant legs pulled up这个壳掩盖了桩，使房子看来不象站着，让房子看起来更好看，所以选A项。