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Question

Difficulty: MediumComprehending Explicit Comparisons and Contrasts

Passage:
Unlike the Roman Appian Way, which was designed primarily to facilitate the rapid movement of heavy wheeled carts and military legions across flat, paved plains, the Incan Qhapaq Ñan was constructed specifically for foot traffic and pack animals. Since the Incas did not use the wheel, their roads did not require smooth, graded surfaces; instead, they featured steep stone staircases and suspension bridges engineered to scale the vertical climbs of the Andes Mountains. While the Roman highway system relied on centralized stone milestones to mark distance from Rome, the Incan network utilized tambos—roadside stations placed a day's travel apart to provide shelter and supplies to state messengers.

According to the passage, which of the following describes an explicit difference in design between the Appian Way and the Qhapaq Ñan?

  1. The Appian Way featured smooth, graded surfaces, whereas the Qhapaq Ñan incorporated steep stone staircases and suspension bridges.Answer
  2. B
    The Appian Way was constructed with steep stone climbs to scale mountains, whereas the Qhapaq Ñan was built entirely on flat, paved plains.
  3. C
    The Appian Way was designed to accommodate foot traffic and pack animals, whereas the Qhapaq Ñan was built for heavy wheeled carts.
  4. D
    The Appian Way utilized roadside tambos for shelter, whereas the Qhapaq Ñan relied on centralized stone milestones to mark distances.

Answer

The Appian Way featured smooth, graded surfaces, whereas the Qhapaq Ñan incorporated steep stone staircases and suspension bridges.
The correct answer is correct because it directly matches the passage's description: the Roman road had smooth, graded surfaces, whereas the Incan road had staircases and suspension bridges to handle steep mountain terrain.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the description of the Appian Way's physical design and surface structure in the passage.
The passage states that the Appian Way was designed to cross flat, paved plains and did not require the steep staircases of the Qhapaq Ñan.
This establishes the design of the Appian Way.
2
Locate the description of the Qhapaq Ñan's physical design and surface structure.
The passage states that the Qhapaq Ñan featured steep stone staircases and suspension bridges due to the lack of wheeled transit.
This establishes the design of the Qhapaq Ñan.
3
Identify the option that correctly represents these explicit descriptions.
The correct answer accurately contrasts the smooth, graded surfaces of the Roman road with the staircases and bridges of the Incan road.
This matches the literal comparison made in the passage.

Key Concept

Comprehending Explicit Comparisons and Contrasts
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Topics

Comprehending Explicit Comparisons and Contrasts

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