The view over a valley of a tiny village with thatched (草盖的) roof cottages around a church, a drive through a narrow village street lined with thatched cottages painted pink or white, the sight over the rolling hills of a pretty collection of thatched farm buildings―these are still mon sights in parts of England. Most people will agree that the thatched roof is an essential part of the attraction of the English countryside.
Thatching is in fact the oldest of all the building crafts（工艺）practised in the British Isles. Although thatch has always been used for cottage and farm buildings, it was once used for castles and churches, too.
Thatching is a solitary（独自的）craft, which often runs in families. The craft of thatching as it is practised toady has changed very little since the Middle Ages. Over 800 full-time thatchers are employed in England and Wales today, keeping and renewing the old roofs as well as thatching newer houses. Many property owners choose thatch not only for its beauty but because they know it will keep them cool in summer and warm in winter.
In fact, if we look at developing countries, over half the world lives under thatch, but they all do it in different ways. People in developing countries are often unwilling to go back to traditional materials and would prefer modern buildings. However, they may lack the money to allow them to get the necessary materials. Their temporary mud huts with thatched roofs of wild grasses often only last six months. Thatch which has been done the British way lasts from twenty to sixty years, and is an effective defiance against the heat.
【小题1】Which of the following remains a special feature of the English countryside?A．Narrow streets lined with pink or white houses.B．Rolling hills with pretty farm buildings.C．Cottages with thatched roofs.D．Churches with cottages around them.【小题2】What do we know about thatching as a craft?A．It is a collective activity.B．It is practised on farms all over England.C．It is quite different from what it used to be.D．It is in most cases handed down among family members.【小题3】Thatched houses are still preferred because of .A．their style and fortB．their durabilityC．their easy maintenance D．their cheap and ready-made materials【小题4】People in developing countries also live under thatch because .A．thatched cottages are a big tourist attractionB．thatched roof houses are the cheapest C．thatch is an effective defense against the heatD．they like thatched houses better than other buildingsC
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(答案→)C
解析：本文介绍英国乡村的魅力中最重要的一部分茅草顶的房子，和它的制作是由单个的家庭来制作的，带茅草顶的房屋依然受到青睐的原因。
【小题1】辨认事实题。本题询问下面的哪一项保留着英国乡村的独一无二的特征。由第1段最后一句“Most people will agree that the thatched roof i an essential part of the attraction of the English countryside．大多数人认为茅草顶是英国乡村的魅力中最重要的一部分”，我们可以得知，C为正确答案。
【小题1】事实推理题。本题询问关于制作茅草顶这一门艺术，我们可以了解什么。由第3段第1句“Thatching is a solitary craft，which often runs in families．茅草顶制作是一门独自的艺术，通常由单个的家庭来制作。”可以推断出D为正确答案。
【小题1】事实推理题。本题询问带茅草顶的房屋依然受到青睐是因为 。由第3段最后一句“Many property owner choose thatch not only for its beauty but because they know it will keep them cool in summer and warm in winter．许多业主选择茅草顶不仅因为它美丽而且因为他们知道它会使他们冬暖夏凉。”我们可以得知A为正确答案。
【小题1】事实推理题。本题询问发展中国家的人民也住在茅草顶下是因为 。第4段第2和第3句提到，发展中国家的人民更喜欢现代的建筑物，但他们没有钱来进口必要的原料，因此我们可以推断B为正确答案。