Therearetwomeninimportantpositionsinmyoffice---Mr.ThompsonandMr.White.EveryoneenjoysworkingwithMr.Thompson,butnoonelikesMr.White.Mr.Thompsonisalwaysthoughtfulandconsiderate.Whenhewantssomethingdone,he’llask,”Wouldyoumindgettingthisinformationforme,please?”Mr.Whiteisjusttheopposite.Heusuallyshoutsacrosstheroom,“Getmethismemorandum,andhurryup.”Mr.Whitesurprisedusthismorning.Though..Atfirstwethoughthemustbesick.Hewaskindandagreeable.“MissErickson.”Heasked,“ifitisn’ttoomuchtroubleforyou,couldyoupleasemakethesetelephonecallsforme?”JuneEricksonwasastonished.Rightafterthat,Mr.Whitesaid,“MissReed,wouldyoubesokindastoopenthewindow?It’squitwarminhere.”Thenhetalkedtome.“I’dappreciateitverymuchifyou’dmailtheselettersforme.”Wecouldn’timaginewhyhewasbehavingsostrangely.Shouldweofferhimaspirins?OrhadMr.Whitechangedhispersonality?Thesituationwassoonclearedup.“Ladies,”Mr.Thompsonsaid,“I’vebeentoldthatthepresidentofthecompanywillbeheresoon.He’sveryinterestedinthewelfareofhisemployeesandwillhavesomequestionstoaskyouaboutyourworkingconditionshere.”26.WhatkindofpositionsdoMr.ThompsonandMr.Whitehave?
Somepeopleliketoliveinhouseofthepast.Theymaychoosetoliveinawoodenhouse.Theysaytheseofhousesareeasytobuildandwarminwinter.Othersliketoliveinhousesofthefuture.Theymayliveinahousewhichgetsitsenergyfromthesun.Afewotherpeopleliketoliveinhousesthathavecharacteristics(特征)ofboththepastandfuture.Thesepeoplemayliveinahouseundertheground.Manypeoplethinkundergroundhousesarecoldanddark,butthatisnottrue.Thesehouseshavespecialwindowsintherooforlargewindowsononeside.Thesewindowsgivethehousesalotoflight.Theideaofundergroundhousesisveryold.PeopleinthepastlivedinundergroundhousesandundergroundcitiesinChina,JapanandCanada.Somecountriesalsobuildundergroundfactoriesandstore-houses(仓库)toholdthings.Intheunitedstates,morepeoplearebeginningtobuildundergroundhousessincetheysaveopenlandforparks,gardensandsportfields.Undergroundhousesalsosaveenergy.Theyuseonlyalittleenergytostaywarmorcool.Ownersofthesehouseslikethem.JohnBoardisanarchitect(建筑师)whobuiltanundergroundhouseinNewYork.Hiswife,Barbaraisanoutdoorperson,butshelikesherundergroundhome.“It’sperfect.Iloveit.”shesays.31.Oneexampleofhousesofthepastis______houses.