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Difficulty: MediumPrimary Purpose of the Whole Text

In the late nineteenth century, urban architects faced a severe constraint: traditional load-bearing masonry walls had to become thicker at the base to support taller structures, effectively limiting buildings to about ten stories. The development of steel-frame construction by pioneers like William Le Baron Jenney revolutionized this paradigm. By transferring the structural load to a skeleton of steel beams, architects could design skyscrapers with thin outer walls, allowing for taller structures and much larger window areas. Rather than simply celebrating this engineering feat, however, architectural historians emphasize that steel-framing fundamentally transformed the socio-economic organization of modern cities, paving the way for high-density commercial hubs and redefining urban workplaces.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

  1. A
    To describe the mechanical process by which load-bearing masonry limits the height of traditional buildings.
  2. B
    To prove that nineteenth-century architects prioritized commercial high-density hubs over aesthetic considerations.
  3. To argue that the development of steel-frame construction had significant socio-economic impacts on urban development rather than just technical benefits.Answer
  4. D
    To demonstrate how William Le Baron Jenney collaborated with architectural historians to design the first ten-story steel skyscrapers.

Answer

The main purpose of the text is to argue that the development of steel-frame construction had significant socio-economic impacts on urban development rather than just technical benefits.
The correct option is the one stating that the main purpose is to argue that steel-frame construction had significant socio-economic impacts on urban development. The text introduces a structural limitation (masonry), presents the solution (steel framing), and concludes by emphasizing that architectural historians focus on how this change restructured urban economies and societies.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the initial focus of the passage.
The passage begins by describing the limitations of masonry and the technological shift to steel-frame construction.
Establishing the starting point helps determine how the text develops its topic.
2
Identify the transition and ultimate focus of the passage.
The passage transitions with 'Rather than simply celebrating...' to highlight the perspective of architectural historians, who emphasize the socio-economic transformations of cities.
Analyzing transitions helps locate the author's primary argument or conclusion.
3
Synthesize the main purpose of the entire passage.
The main purpose is to show that steel framing's significance lies in its urban socio-economic consequences, not just its engineering success.
The final sentence brings together the technological subject and the historical argument to define the overall purpose of the text.

Key Concept

Primary Purpose of the Whole Text
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Primary Purpose of the Whole Text

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