Inupiat houses were made of sod and partly underground.

• A. Wooden frame above ground
• B. Ice blocks stacked into igloo
• C. Sod and partly underground
• D. Stone masonry on stilts

Answer: (C)

In Arctic Alaska, insulation and conserving heat are the guiding principles for traditional homes. Building with sod and sinking part of the dwelling into the ground uses the earth as a natural thermal mass, keeping warmth from escaping and shielding the interior from biting winds. A wooden frame with an above-ground exterior is less efficient in such extreme cold, while ice blocks (an igloo) are excellent temporary winter shelters but aren’t the same kind of permanent dwelling adaptation, and stone on stilts isn’t a typical resource-based solution in that region. So, sod with partial underground placement reflects the practical way Inupiat communities used available materials to create warm, stable living spaces.