Unit 09

UNIT 09 BUILDINGS altogether adv. Altogether means completely or in every way. Eventually, they chose an altogether different house design. brick n. A brick is a hard block of baked clay used as a building material. He is building a wall made of bricks. candle n. A candle is a stick of wax with a string that you burn to give light. There are a few candles burning in the room. closet n. A closet is a cabinet in a room that holds clothes or other things. His closet is very neat and tidy. column n. A column is a long post made of steel or stone that is used as a support in a building. The old building is supported by stone columns. concrete n. Concrete is a hard building material made by cement. The worker is using concrete to build the structure. condo n. A condo (condominium) is an apartment building in which each apartment is owned by the person living in it. Most of the condos in the building have a balcony. construction n. Construction is the act or process of building something. Construction of the new bridge has started. counter n. A counter is a long flat table where customers are served. The woman behind the counter works in the coffee shop. decoration n. A decoration is something used to make an object or place more attractive. The room is filled with many Christmas decorations.

feature n. A feature is a part of something that you notice because it seems important, interesting, or typical. An interesting feature of the city is its colorful buildings. fence n. A fence is a structure like a wall built outdoors, usually of wood or metal. We have a wooden fence around our yard. hammer n. A hammer is a tool with a heavy metal part on a long handle. A hammer is used for hitting nails into wood. household n. A household is a home and the people who live in it. My household chores are cleaning my room and walking the dog. interior n. The interior is the inner part or inside of something. The old hotel still has its classic interior. lamp n. A lamp is a device that produces light. She is studying by the lamp. locate v. To locate is to put or build something in a particular place. The restaurant is located in the central part of the city. monument n. A monument is a building or statue that honors a person or event. Most researchers now agree that the pyramids were monuments for the dead. resident n. A resident is someone who lives in a particular place. The new residents are moving into their apartment. studio n. A studio is a small apartment that has a main room, a small kitchen, and a bathroom. Studios are big enough for one person to live in.

The Pyramids of Giza The Pyramids of Giza are located near the city of Cairo. They were created about 4,500 years ago. To prepare for life after death, Egypt's rulers built pyramid tombs for themselves. These tombs are now known as monuments to the dead. How these pyramids were built is one of Egypt's biggest mysteries. Even today, scientists can't be sure how construction of the pyramids happened. How the pyramids are still standing is an altogether different mystery. Exterior of the Pyramids Each of the three pyramids was built using millions of concrete blocks. Similar in shape to bricks, these blocks were heavy. Each weighed an average of 2.5 to 15 metric tons. No tools, such as hammers, were used to build them. Instead, ramps were used to haul and position the blocks as the pyramid grew taller. And they all became incredibly tall! The Great Pyramid rises about 481 feet above ground. Today, even without any decoration, the pyramids inspire wonder. When they were first completed, they were covered in white limestone. This would have made the exterior shine brightly, like a burning candle. Interior of the Pyramids The interior of the pyramids is mostly made up of passages, columns, and a burial chamber. Here the king, the main resident of the pyramid, was laid to rest after death. No other royal household members were buried here. Other features of the interior include tomb art, inscriptions, and text.