Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumRhetorical Functions of Sentences and Paragraphs

While nineteenth-century Gothic Revival architects in England sought to restore medieval spiritual values through soaring spires and pointed arches, their contemporary John Ruskin argued that true architecture was inseparable from the moral state of the society that built it. In his treatise *The Stones of Venice*, Ruskin did not merely praise the aesthetics of Gothic buildings; he analyzed the physical marks left by the medieval stonemasons on the blocks. To Ruskin, the unevenness of the hand-carved stone was not a flaw but a testament to the freedom and individuality of the worker, contrasting sharply with the soul-crushing uniformity of modern industrial manufacturing. By focusing on the labor behind the ornament, Ruskin shifted the debate from stylistic imitation to social critique.

What is the primary rhetorical function of the third sentence ('To Ruskin... manufacturing') in the context of the passage as a whole?

  1. It demonstrates how a physical characteristic of Gothic buildings supports Ruskin's argument regarding the moral condition of laborers.Answer
  2. B
    It details the historical techniques used by medieval stonemasons to shape stone.
  3. C
    It contrasts the durability of hand-carved stone with that of modern industrial materials.
  4. D
    It introduces a concession that hand-carved stones were aesthetically inferior to manufactured ones.

Answer

The sentence connects a specific physical attribute of Gothic architecture—the unevenness of hand-carved stone—to Ruskin's larger social critique regarding the moral value of human labor compared to mechanical uniformity.
The passage states that Ruskin believed true architecture is inseparable from the moral state of society. The target sentence supports this argument by showing how a specific architectural feature—the unevenness of hand-carved stone—is not just an aesthetic detail, but a reflection of the worker's freedom and individuality. This connects the physical design of the building to the moral condition of the labor force.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the target sentence in the context of the surrounding sentences.
The target sentence discusses how Ruskin interpreted the unevenness of hand-carved stone as a sign of worker freedom, contrasting it with industrial uniformity.
This establishes what the sentence literally says and sets up the evaluation of its function.
2
Determine the author's overall purpose in the passage.
The passage outlines how Ruskin linked architecture to the moral state of society, shifting architectural debate into social critique.
Understanding the main thesis is necessary to see how the target sentence contributes to the author's development of ideas.
3
Evaluate how the target sentence supports the overall purpose.
By showing that a physical feature of the building reflects the social condition of its makers, the sentence provides the concrete illustration of Ruskin's core philosophy.
This links the specific details in the target sentence directly to its rhetorical function in the broader argument.

Key Concept

Identifying the rhetorical function of a sentence within an argument.
Rate this question

Topics

Rhetorical Functions of Sentences and Paragraphs

More questions from this topic