throughanarrowvillagestreetlinedwiththatchedcottagespaintedpinkorwhite;thesightoverthe

rollinghillsofaprettycollectionofthatchedfarmbuildings__thesearestillcommonsightsinpartsof

England.MostpeoplewillagreethatthethatchedroofisanessentialpartoftheattractionoftheEnglish

countryside.

ThatchingisinfacttheoldestofallthebuildingcraftspracticedintheBritishIsles.Althoughthatch

hasalwaysbeenusedforcottageandfarmbuildings,itwasonceusedforcastlesandchurches,too.

Thatchingisasolitary(独自的)craft,whichoftenrunsinfamilies.Thecraftofthatchingasitis

practicedhastodaychangedverylittlesincetheMiddleAges.Over800full-timethatchersare

employedinEnglandandWalestoday,maintainingandrenewingtheoldroofsaswellasthatching

newerhouses.Manypropertyownerschoosethatchnotonlyforitsbeautybutbecausetheyknow

itwillkeepthemcoolinsummerandwarminwinter.

Infact,ifwelookatdevelopingcountries,overhalftheworldlivesunderthatch,buttheyalldo

itindifferentways.Peopleindevelopingcountriesareoftenunwillingtogobacktotraditionalmaterials

andwouldprefermodernbuildings.However,theymaylackthemoneytoallowthemtoimportthe

necessarymaterials.Theirtemporarymudhutswiththatchedroofsofwildgrassesoftenonlylastsix

months.ThatchwhichhasbeendonetheBritishwaylastsfromtwentytosixtyyears,andisaneffective

defenceagainsttheheat.

B.Rollinghillswithprettyfarmbuildings.

C.Cottageswiththatchedroofs.

D.churcheswithcottagesaroundthem.

B.ItispractisedonfarmsalloverEngland.

C.Itisquitediff