生活在中國黃河中上游的黃土高原(the loess Plateau)上的人們，利用哪里的黃土層建造了一種獨(dú)特的住宅—窯洞(cave-dwelling)。窯洞分為土窯、石窯、磚窯等幾種。土窯是靠著山坡挖掘成的黃土窯洞，這種窯洞冬暖夏涼，保溫和隔音效果最好。石窯和磚窯是先用石塊或者磚砌成拱形洞，然后在上面蓋上厚厚的黃土，即堅(jiān)固又美觀。由于建造窯洞不需要鋼材和水泥，所以窯洞的造價(jià)較低。隨著社會(huì)的發(fā)展，人們對(duì)窯洞的建造不斷改進(jìn)，黃土高原上冬暖夏涼的窯洞越來越舒適美觀了。

　　【參考譯文】

　　People living in the Loess Plateau which lies in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River make use of the solid to build unique residences called cave-dwellings. These can be further divided into earthen, rock-walled and brick-walled types. Earthen cave-dwellings are hollowed out of mountain slopes; they are warm in winter and cool in summer, and are also sound-proof. Stones or brick-walled carve-dwellings are usually built with stones or bricks first into arch-shaped house and then covered with a thick layer of earth. Since there is no need for steel and cement, the building cost is low. As society progresses, construction of cave-dwelling keeps improving, and today, such houses are more comfortable inside and more pleasant in appearance.