The earthen homes were typically built beneath a large rock overhang to take advantage of the shelter from winter rains and the hot desert sun. An additional advantage of this carefully chosen location was the ability to maintain steady internal temperatures through contact with the thermal mass of solid rock along the rear walls.
In the earliest times, the exteriors were made of sandstone blocks. Since this material was relatively soft, it was easy to cut slabs from the mountains and build thick walls mortared with mud from a nearby stream. In areas where the stone was either too difficult to cut, or where there was a short supply of suitable material, the blocks could be built from mud mixed with dried grass and small sticks, this product was known as "adobe."
Ingenious techniques were involved in the construction of the roofs. Although there were few trees available int eh desert regions, the men of the ribe would collect any lumber long enough to cover the span between the walls. These flexible poles were then interlaced with smaller sticks, and finally with small wigs and leaves. Once the covering was strong enough to walk on, river mud and dried grasses wer eapplied in several layers until a sufficient thickness had been accumulated to give the final rigid form.
The second storywas typically set back a dozen meters alowing a "front yard" for cooking, basket weaving and tanning animal skins. This teeraced effect created a spacious living environment and allowed both an organized area for domestic activities as well as an easy method of passage from one house to another.
21. What is the primary topic of the passage?
(A) The southwestern American Indians
(B) The ancient uses of Sandstone blocks
(C) The architecture of the southwestern Indian
(D) The most practial ancient housing
22. What can be inferred about the buildings from the fact they were named "pueblos" ?
(A) They were only built near a city.
(B) They could contain many people.
(C) They style was created by the Spanish.
(D) They were built of local materials.
23. In line 4, the word "feats" is colosest in meaning to
(A) accomplishments
(B) destinies
(C) exertions
(D) celebrations
24. It can be inferred that the interior section of the pueblo with the most regular temperature would be
(A) the front
(B) the terrace
(C) the left side
(D) the rear section
25. What were the original pueblos built of?
(A) Sticks and grass
(B) Adobe
(C) River mud
(D) Carved blocks
26. What ethod was used in areas where it was too difficult to cut stone?
(A) Softer stones were used.
(B) River rocks were used.
(C) Mud was molded into bricks.
(D) Sticks were used.
27. According to the passage, what aspect of pueblo construction was most interesting?
(A) The cuttign of rocks
(B) The mixing of mud
(C) The building of roofs
(D) The terraced patios
28. In line 24, the word "terraced" is closest in meaning to?
(A) Stepped
(B) Opened
(C) Enclosed
(D) Noteworthy
29. Which of the following was not mentioned as an activity performed as an activity performed on the front section of the pueblo?
(A) Cooking
(B)Sun tanning
(C) Making leather
(D) Weaving
30. It can be inferred that every level of the pueblo had a terrace
EXCEPT
(A) the second story
(B) the top story
(C) the first story
(D) the tird story
Questions 31-42
Hydroponics, the science of growing plants in water or inert substances, represents one of the most innovative practices in moden agricultural development. Not only does it allow greater precision of the plant growth process, it permits the production of crops in hostile in fertile environments.

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