4 From the standpoint of real estate developers, the purpose of skyscrapers was to increase rental space in valuable urban locations. But to create usable high-rise buildings, a number of technical challenges needed to be solved. One problem was getting people to the upper floors, since after five or six stories it becomes exhausting to climb stairs. Updated and electrified versions of the freight elevator that had been introduced by Elish Graves Otis in 1853 (several decades before skyscraper construction) solved this problem. Another issue was fire safety. The metal supporting buildings became soft when exposed to fire and collapsed relatively quickly. (They could melt at 2,700 Fahrenheit, whereas major fires achieve temperatures of 3,000 degrees) . However, when the metal is encased in fire-retardant materials, its vulnerability to fire is much decreased . In Chicago, a system was developed for surrounding the metal components with hollow tiles made from brick-like terra-cotta . Such tiles are impervious to fire . The terra-cotta tiles were used both to encase the supporting members and as flooring. A structure built with steel beams protected by terra-cotta tiles was still three times lighter than a comparably sized building that used masonry construction, so the weight of the tiles was not a problem.
1. The word “pervasive” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to A. innovative B . skilled C. eventual D. widespread 2. The word “eliminate” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to A . get rid of B . avoid C. minimize D. replace
3 . In paragraph 1, why does the author mention that Le Corbusier included “photographs of American factories and grain storage silos, as well as ships, airplanes, and other industrial objects” in Toward a New Architecture? A . To argue that Le Corbusier should be considered more of a builder or an engineer than an architect B. To support the claim that modern architecture was influenced by practical structures and the ways they were built C. To provide evidence that modern architects were more concerned with practicality than with aesthetics D. To document how architects moved from designing only buildings to designing vehicles and industrial objects 4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 1 as distinguishing the two kinds of buildings in the United States at the end of the nineteenth century? A. Function B . Cost C. Materials D. Ornamentation
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