1Wuthering Heights is in the midst of the desolate English moors. 2Outside the gates of this solitary dwelling, the landscape expands into dreary shades of brown and gray, with only the craggy cliffs on the distant horizon to break the monotony. 3Wildlife and foliage are scarce. 4The few trees that do live must eke out their existence: the north wind blows constantly. 5The house itself, built to withstand the tumults of wind and rain, is cold and forbidding. 6The stone walls and earthen floors offer no relief from the bone-chilling dampness of northern England. 7In sharp contrast to Wuthering Heights is Thrushcross Grange. 8Situated in a sheltered valley, Thrushcross Grange is calm and peaceful, and is surrounded by lush flower gardens. 9The refined elegance of Thrushcross Grange differs as much from Wuthering Heights as the rose differs from the thorn. 10The contrast between these two settings is symbolic of the ultimate conflicts in Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights. Select the number of the topic sentence.