When restoring the crumbling foundations of a historic cathedral, the preservation committee faced a rigorous debate over construction materials. Purists argued for the exclusive use of original stone, despite its known structural vulnerabilities. However, the lead architect successfully contended that strategically incorporating hidden steel reinforcements would not compromise the architectural integrity of the medieval design, but would rather guarantee its physical stability against modern seismic threats.
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the meaning of the word "compromise" as it is used in the passage above?
- Asettle a prolonged debate through mutual concessions
- Bguarantee the physical stability against modern threats
- damage or impair the fundamental quality ofCevap
- Dfundamentally and irreparably alter the aesthetics of
- Efail to comply with standard municipal building codes
Cevap
damage or impair the fundamental quality of
In the context of the passage, the architect is arguing that using steel reinforcements will not harm or diminish the 'architectural integrity' of the design. Therefore, the word is used in its secondary sense, meaning to expose to danger, impair, or damage the fundamental quality of something. Substituting this definition perfectly maintains the sentence's logical contrast: the steel will not damage the design, but rather protect it.
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Vocabulary in Context