[1] In the early twentieth century, the Chicago school of architecture revolutionized urban design by pioneering the use of steel-frame construction. [2] Before this innovation, buildings relied on thick, load-bearing masonry walls, which severely limited their height. [3] By replacing heavy stone with a lightweight steel grid, architects could build much taller structures while maximizing interior space and window area. [4] Chicago's population grew rapidly during this era, driving demand for dense commercial real estate. [5] Consequently, this engineering breakthrough laid the foundation for the modern skyscraper and transformed city skylines across the globe.
The writer is considering deleting Sentence 4 from the passage. Should the sentence be kept or deleted?
- AKept, because it explains the economic factors that motivated the development of the Chicago school of architecture.
- BKept, because it provides supporting evidence for the claim that steel-frame construction maximized interior space.
- Deleted, because it interrupts the technical explanation of steel-frame technology with details about population and real estate demand.Answer
- DDeleted, because it contradicts the assertion that masonry walls were the primary limiting factor for building height.