Question

Difficulty: MediumSentence Addition and Deletion Decisions

[1] In the mid-1980s, French botanist Patrick Blanc revolutionized urban architecture by popularizing the *mur végétal*, or vertical garden. [2] Unlike traditional ivy-covered walls, which can damage brickwork with their roots, Blanc's design uses a structural frame, a PVC layer, and a felt lining that supports plants without soil. [3] The felt is continuously irrigated with nutrient-rich water, allowing a diverse array of species to thrive. [4] Today, his towering green walls cover the facades of museums, shopping centers, and private residences worldwide, offering both aesthetic beauty and natural insulation.

The writer is considering adding the following sentence to the end of the paragraph (after sentence [4]):

'Some of these plants, such as certain species of ferns and mosses, require high levels of humidity to survive.'

Should the writer make this addition?

  1. A
    Yes, because it provides necessary details about the specific types of vegetation most commonly utilized in Blanc's structural design.
  2. B
    Yes, because it supports the explanation of the irrigation system described in sentence [3].
  3. No, because it interrupts the paragraph's discussion of the structural design and benefits of the vertical gardens with a tangential detail about the care of specific plants.Answer
  4. D
    No, because it contradicts the information in the paragraph regarding the soil-free environment of the green walls.

Answer

The paragraph should not be added because it deviates from the main focus on structural design and general benefits of vertical gardens by introducing minor, specific requirements of certain plants.
The correct option correctly identifies that the proposed sentence should not be added because it interrupts the paragraph's discussion with a tangential detail. The paragraph focuses on the structural innovation and global success of Patrick Blanc's vertical gardens, and details about humidity requirements for specific plants are off-topic.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the main focus of the existing paragraph.
The paragraph describes Patrick Blanc's structural design for vertical gardens and their aesthetic and insulating benefits.
Understanding the paragraph's core topic is essential to determine if the proposed addition is relevant.
2
Evaluate the function of the proposed sentence.
The proposed sentence introduces a specific detail about the humidity needs of ferns and mosses.
This helps determine whether the sentence adds value or distracts from the paragraph's main theme.
3
Determine if the sentence should be added and select the correct option.
The sentence should not be added because it is a tangential detail that interrupts the discussion of structure and benefits. The option stating this is the correct choice.
Matching this reasoning to the choices yields the correct answer.

Key Concept

Evaluating whether a proposed sentence adds relevant support or introduces a tangential distraction to the paragraph's core focus.
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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