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Question

Difficulty: EasyComprehending Explicit Comparisons and Contrasts

Passage:
Early twentieth-century aviation saw the development of two distinct types of lighter-than-air craft: rigid airships and non-rigid airships. Rigid airships, commonly known as Zeppelins, relied on an internal structural framework—typically constructed from lightweight aluminum alloys—that maintained the vessel's shape regardless of the gas pressure inside. In contrast, non-rigid airships, or blimps, possessed no internal metal framework; their envelope maintained its aerodynamic shape entirely through the internal pressure of the lifting gas. Consequently, while rigid airships could be built significantly larger to carry heavy payloads, blimps were lighter, easier to deflate, and far simpler to store when not in service.

According to the passage, how did rigid airships explicitly differ from non-rigid airships in maintaining their shape?

  1. Rigid airships used an internal metal framework, whereas non-rigid airships depended entirely on internal gas pressure.Answer
  2. B
    Rigid airships maintained their shape using gas pressure, whereas non-rigid airships relied on internal aluminum frames.
  3. C
    Rigid airships maintained their shape through outer fabric tension, whereas non-rigid airships used deflatable wooden beams.
  4. D
    Rigid airships were designed primarily for heavy payloads, whereas non-rigid airships were designed for simple storage.

Answer

Rigid airships used an internal metal framework, whereas non-rigid airships depended entirely on internal gas pressure.
The correct option directly reflects the literal comparison made in the passage: rigid airships maintained shape via an internal aluminum framework, whereas non-rigid airships relied on internal gas pressure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the specific detail requested by the question stem.
The question asks for the explicit difference in how rigid and non-rigid airships maintain their shape.
Focusing on the exact point of comparison prevents confusing structural mechanisms with storage or payload characteristics.
2
Locate the explicit statements regarding shape maintenance in the passage.
The passage states rigid airships 'relied on an internal structural framework... constructed from lightweight aluminum alloys' to maintain shape, while non-rigid airships 'maintained its aerodynamic shape entirely through the internal pressure of the lifting gas.'
Direct literal comprehension requires matching stated facts without altering their meanings or relationships.

Key Concept

Identifying explicitly stated differences between two items in a text.
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Topics

Comprehending Explicit Comparisons and Contrasts

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