A skywell, or “tian jing” (天井) in Mandarin, is a typical feature of a     1     (tradition) home in southern and eastern China. Different from a northern Chinese courtyard, a skywell is     2     (small) and less exposed to the outdoor environment.

Skywells are     3     (common) seen in homes dating to Ming and Qing dynasties, which housed different     4     (generate) of relatives. Skywells helped cool buildings in     5     era well before air-conditioning existed. When wind blows above a skywell house, it can enter the indoor space through the opening.     6     outdoor air is often cooler than indoor air, the incoming breeze travels down the walls to the lower stories and creates airflows by replacing warmer indoor air,     7     rises and leaves through the opening.

    8     (design) to serve as a gathering space for families or communities as well, skywell buildings     9     (exist) in China for hundreds of years. Although in recent times they have often been forgotten by people     10     (prefer) modern facilities, due to a revival of traditional Chinese architecture, skywell buildings have been making a comeback.