Part Ⅳ Reading Comprehension(Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)

　　Section A

　　The first time anybody knew about Dutchman Frank Siegmund and his family was when workmen tramping through a field found a narrow steel chimney protruding through the grass. Closer inspection revealed a chink of sky-light window among the thistles and when amazed investigators moved down the side of the hill they came across a pine door and a brass knocker set into an underground building. The Siegmunds had managed to live undetected for six years outside the border town of Breda, in Holland. They are the latest in a clutch of individualistic homemakers who have burrowed underground in search of tranquility.

　　Most, falling foul of strict building regulations, have been forced to dismantle their individualistic homes and return to more conventional lifestyles. But subterranean suburbia Dutch- style, is about to become respectable and chic. Seven luxury homes cosseted away inside a high earth-covered noise embankment next to the main Tilburg city road recently went on the market for $ 296,500 each. The foundations had yet to be dug, but customers queued up to buy the unusual part-submerged houses.

　　Building big commercial buildings underground can be a way to avoid disfiguring or threatening a beautiful or environmentally sensitive landscape. Indeed many of the buildings which consume most land such as cinemas, supermarkets, theatres, warehouses or libraries have no need to be on the surface since they do not need windows. There are big advantages, too, when it comes to private homes. A development of 194 houses which would take up 14 hectares of land above ground would occupy 2.7 hectares below it, while the number of roads would be halved. Under several meters of earth, noise is minimal and insulation is excellent.

　　In Europe, the obstacle has been conservative local authorities and developers who prefer to ensure quick sales with conventional mass-produced housing. But the Dutch development was greeted with undisguised relief by South Limburg planners because of Holland's chronic shortage of land. In the US, where energy-efficient homes became popular after the oil crisis of 1973, 10,000 underground houses have been built. A terrace of five homes, Britain's first subterranean development, is under way in Nottinghamshire. Italy's outstanding example of subterranean architecture is the Olivetti residential centre in Ivreg.

　　Not everyone adapts so well, and in Japan scientists at the Shimizu Corporation have developed "space creation" system which mix light, sound, breezes and scents to simulate people who spend long periods below ground. Underground offices in Japan are being equipped with virtual windows and mirrors, while underground departments in the University of Minnesota have periscopes to reflect views and light.

　　Frank Siegmund and his family love their hobbit lifestyle. Their home evolved when he dug a cool room for his bakery business in a hill he had created. During a heat-wave they took to sleeping there. "We felt at peace and so close to nature," he says, "Gradually I began adding to the rooms. It sounds strange but we are so close ro the earth we draw strength from its vibrations. '

　　47. Why have some underground houses been pulled down?

　　48. What are the advantages of constructing private homes underground?

　　49. Many developer prefer mass-produced houses because they ______.

　　50. Japanese scientists are helping people ______ underground life.

　　51. Frank Siegmund's first underground room was used for ______.

　　Section A

　　47. Because they fell foul of strict building regulations. /Because they violated strict building regulations.

　　48. Taking up less land, minimal noise and excellent insulation. /Saving land, saving energy and tranquility.

　　49. ensure quick sales/are sold quickly

　　50. adapt to

　　51. his bakery business

　　Section A

　　47.第一段最后一句说明Siegmund一家是为了寻求宁静而到地下建住所。由文章第二段第一句“Most，falling foul of strict building regulations，have been forced to dismantle their individualistic homes and return to more conventional lifestyles.”可知地下住所被拆除的原因是违背了严格的建筑法规。因此答案为“Because they fell foul of strict building regulations.”或者“Because they violated strict building regulations.”。

　　48.第三段作者说“There are big advantages，too，when it comes to private homes.A development of 194 houses which would take up 14 hectares of land above ground would occupy 2.7 hectares below it，while the number of roads would be halved.Under several meters of earth，noise is minimal and insulation is excellent.”，由此可见，如果在地下建居室，可以节省土地，比较安静，绝缘(insulation)好，省能源。所以答案可用句中原词：“Taking up less land，minimal noise and excellent insulation.”或者概括为“Saving land，energy and tranquility.”。

　　49.由第四段第一句“In Europe，the obstacle has been conservative local authorities and developers who prefer to ensure quick sales with conventional mass-produced housing.”可知在欧洲，在地下建住房的障碍主要来自保守的地方政府和开发商。他们更喜欢建造大批量传统的房子来保证快速销售。可见，正确答案为“ensure quick sales”或“are sold quickly”。

　　50.第五段第一句作者说“Not everyone adapts so well...”，接着讲到日本的科学家如何在地下加入声、光、气味等等来模拟地上的自然环境，帮助长时间待在地下的人适应环境。可见题目中要填的词是“适应”。adapt为不及物动词，所以正确答案为“adapt to”。

　　51.文章最后一段呼应全文开头，讲述了Siegmund一家是如何想到建造地下住所的。第二句“Their home evolved when he dug a cool room for his bakery business in a hill he had created.”说明他们最初是为自己的烘烤生意挖了个冷却室，后来在天气热的时候，睡到里面，发现了住在地下的好处。然后开始增加房间，建成了一个家。因此，正确答案是“his bakery business”。