A、It became official before President Theodore Roosevelt had it engraved upon his stationery. B、It derives the name from the col

Jassie: Wo! It’s very beautiful and I’ve dreamed of coming here a thousand times. Mr. Bond, it’s very kind of you to take us here.
Pauline: Call me Pauline after class, please.
Jassie: OK. Here is the executive mansion of the President of the United States. And from the book, it is on the south side of Pennsylvania Ave. , Washington, D. C. , facing Lafyette Square.
Panline: You’ve been here for only two weeks. And I think you know a lot about America.
Jassie: I tried to read everything about America when I knew parents would send me here to study. Pauline, would you like to tell me anything else about this building? Its design is really simple but stately.
Panline: You see. The building is constructed of Virginia freestone. The main entrance, is a portico of high lomic columns reaching from the ground to the roof pediment. The main building is four stories high. The east and west terraces, the executive office, the east wing, and a pent house and a bomb shelter have been added. In the White House, there are four state reception rooms. The East Room is the largest and most formal of them.’ Large receptions are usually held in the East Room. The elliptical Blue Room is the scene of many social, diplomatic, and official receptions.  The Red Room and the Green Room are used for private and quasi--official gatherings.
Jassie: It was designed by James Hoban, wasn’t it?
Pauline:Yes. And George Washington chose the site. It can be said to be the oldest public building in Washing- ton, and its comer stone had been laid in 1792. John Adams was the first President to live here. This buiding was restored after being burned in 1814 by British troops, and the smoke--stained gray stone walls were painted white. Despite popular myth this cognomen was applied to the building some time before it was painted. The name became official when President Theodore Roosevelt had it engraved upon his stationery. Part of the house was rebuilt on a steel--supporting frame from 1949 to 1952. The grounds cover about 18 acres.
Jassie: With broad lawns, fountains, trees, and gardens, they are more attractive. Eh! Look, Pauline.  Nora and Michael are taking photos. Let’s go and join them. I figure, this way of teaching is much better than we stay in the classroom reading American Geography.