The White House began to be built in 1792, but it
was not completed until ten years later. Every American
president lived in it except for George Washington, 【S1】______
although he did have a majority part in designing it. 【S2】______
The government held a competition to choose the best.
design for the president's house. The winner was a young
man of South Carolina, James Hoban. His design was a 【S3】______
three-level house of stone. And President Washington
made some changes in the winning design. He made the
house long and wider, and changed it into a two-storied 【S4】______
house instead of three.
The second president, John Adams, was first to live 【S5】______
in the White House. When he and his wife moved onto the 【S6】______
new house in November, 1800, work Was still going on,
although the main live area was completed. The whole 【S7】______
work did not finish until the administration of the 3rd
president, Thomas Jefferson.
Twelve years later, the British army invaded
Washington and burned the White House. The fire
completely destroyed the inside of the building and experts
said the White House was so dangerous to live in. Later 【S8】______
on workers rebuilt the inside of the White House. More
offices were added, most of which underground. 【S9】______
None of the work, however, changed the appearing of 【S10】______
the building. Many people asked why the president's
house is called the White House. Historians say it has
been so called simply because it was painted white.
【S1】