AsmanyasonethousandyearsagointheSouthwest,theHopiandZuniIndiansofNorthAmericawerebuildingwithadobe－sunbakedbrickplasteredwithmud.Theirhomeslookedremarkablylikemodernapartmenthouses.Somewerefourstorieshighandcontainedquartersforperhapsathousandpeople,alongwithstoreroomsforgrainandothergoods.Thesebuildingswereusuallyputupagainstcliffs,bothtomakeconstructioneasierandfordefenseagainstenemies.Theywerereallyvillagesinthemselves,aslaterSpanishexplorersmusthaverealizedsincetheycalledthem“pueblos”,whichisSpanishfortown.

　　Thepeopleofthepueblosraisedwhatarecalled“thethreesisters”-corn,beans,andsquash.Theymadeexcellentpotteryandwovemarvelousbaskets,somesofinethattheycouldholdwater.TheSouthwesthasalwaysbeenadrycountry,wherewaterisscarce.TheHopiandZunibroughtwaterfromstreamstotheirfieldsandgardensthroughirrigationditches.Waterwassoimportantthatitplayedamajorroleintheirreligion.Theydevelopedelaborateceremoniesandreligiousritualstobringrain.

　　Thewayoflifeoflesssettledgroupswassimplerandmorestronglyinfluencedbynature.SmalltribessuchastheShoshoneandUtewanderedthedryandmountainouslandsbetweentheRockyMountainsandthePacificOcean.Theygatheredseedsandhuntedsmallanimalssuchassmallrabbitsandsnakes.IntheFarNorththeancestorsoftoday'sInuithuntedseals,walruses,andthegreatwhales.Theylivedrightonthefrozenseasinshelterscalledigloosbuiltofblocksofpackedsnow.Whensummercame,theyfishedforsalmonandhuntedthelordlycaribou.

　　TheCheyenne,Pawnee,andSiouxtribes,knownasthePlainsIndians,livedonthegrasslandsbetweentheRockyMountainsandtheMississippiRiver.Theyhuntedbison,commonlycalledthebuffalo.Itsmeatwasthechieffoodofthesetribes,anditshidewasusedtomaketheirclothingandcoveringoftheirtentsandtipis.

　　1.Whatdoesthepassagemainlydiscuss?

　　A.ThearchitectureofearlyAmericanIndianbuildings.

　　B.ThemovementofAmericanIndiansacrossNorthAmerica.

　　C.CeremoniesandritualsofAmericanIndians.

　　D.ThewayoflifeofAmericanIndiantribesinearlyNorthAmerica.

　　2.ItcanbeinferredfromthepassagethatthedwellingsoftheHopiandZuniwere______.

　　A.verysmall

　　B.highlyadvanced

　　C.difficulttodefend

　　D.quicklyconstructed

　　答案解析：

　　1.D）根据阅读短文可知,作者主要描述了北美地区不同印第安部落的不同的生活方式.故选项D为正确答案.

　　2.B）此题为推断题.根据文章第一段可知,早在一千年前Hopi和Zuni两支北美印第安部落就用一种砖坯“adobe”来建造房屋,高可达四层楼高,有居住室还有储藏室,颇像现代的公寓,故选项B（高度发达）为正确答案.