题目内容：

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. Before Hugo, many new houses built along South Carolina’s shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement of building rules wasn’t strict, according to architect Ray Huff, who created the cleverly-designed beach house. Soon after Hugo, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced rules. The new beach house on Sullivan’s Island should be able to withstand a Level 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 misleading. 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 pilings－long, slim wood pieces anchored deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also raise the house above storm waves. The pilings allow the waves to run under the house instead of running into it. ‘These waves come ashore at terrible speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings,” said Huff.

Huff designed the timber 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 (裤腿) pulled up,” said Huff. In the event of a storm, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained.

1.After the Hurricane Hugo, new houses built along South Carolina’s shore line are required       .

A. to be easily reinforced    B. to meet stricter building standards

C. to look smarter in design    D. to be designed in the shape of cubes

2.Why is the award-winning beach house strong and hurricane-proof?

A. It is in the shape of a shell.    B. It is made of redwood.

C. It is strengthened by steel rods.    D. It is built with timber and concrete.

3.What’s the purpose of Huff raising the house 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings?

A. To anchor stronger pilings deep in the sand.

B. To prevent water from rushing into the house.

C. To withstand peak winds of about 200 km/hr.

D. To make the house look more hurricane-proof.

4.According the last paragraph, the main function of the shell is      .

A. to give the house a better appearance

B. to strengthen the pilings of the house

C. to protect the wooden frame of the house

D. to slow down the speed of the big waves