Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers- Reading Answer Explanations
Here are the Explanations of the answers of the Passage named ‘Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers’ which is from the Official Cambridge 17 book. Students must consider that they must solve ‘Yes, No, Not Given; first and then MCQs. Summary with Box should be dealt at last.
Note- The keywords of the questions are ‘underlined’
| Question | Answer |
| 27 | D |
| 28 | B |
| 29 | C |
| 30 | D |
| 31 | C |
| 32 | NO |
| 33 | YES |
| 34 | NOT GIVEN |
| 35 | NO |
| 36 | H |
| 37 | D |
| 38 | I |
| 39 | B |
| 40 | F |
Questions 27-31
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.
27 What point does Shester make about Barr’s book in the first paragraph?
A It gives a highly original explanation for urban development.
B Elements of Barr’s research papers are incorporated throughout the book.
C Other books that are available on the subject have taken a different approach.
D It covers a range of factors that affected the development of New York.
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘Barr’s helps to locate the answer in the first line of the paragraph. Here the writer says, ‘book combines geology, history, economics ….., ‘early decision of workers and firms…’these are the range of factors affected the development of New York. Therefore, the best option is D
Answer: D
28 How does Shester respond to the information in the book about tenements?
A She describes the reasons for Barr’s interest.
B She indicates a potential problem with Barr’s analysis.
C She compares Barr’s conclusion with that of other writers.
D She provides details about the sources Barr used for his research.
Location: 3rd paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘tenements’ helps to locate the answer in the third line of the paragraph as it is exactly in the passage and also visible as ‘slum’ in the fourth line. ‘Barr makes the claim that depth of bedrock was not a limiting….’has been in the paragraph. Thus, this makes it very clear that answer is D.
Answer: D
29 What does Shester say about chapter six of the book?
A It contains conflicting data.
B It focuses too much on possible trends.
C It is too specialised for most readers.
D It draws on research that is out of date.
Location: 6th paragraph
Explanation: The Main keyword ‘chapter six’ helps to locate the answer in the middle line of the paragraph.The line starts as ‘Chapter six then…’ This passage statement means chapter 6 is more technical so general people cannot understand the technical language only building specialist can understand. Thus, this makes the answer very clear.
Answer: C
30 What does Shester suggest about the chapters focusing on the 1920s building boom?
A information should have been organised differently.
B More facts are needed about the way construction was financed.
C The explanation that is given for the building boom is unlikely.
D Some parts will have limited appeal to certain people.
Location: 8th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the first line of the paragraph. The main keyword ‘1920s building boom’ is exactly in the passage. ‘Distraction to readers…’is in the paragraph. This means some parts have limited appeal.
Answer: D
31 What impresses Shester the most about the chapter on land values?
A the broad time period that is covered
B the interesting questions that Barr asks
C the nature of the research into the topic
D the recommendations Barr make for the future
Location: Last paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the first line of the paragraph.The main keyword ‘land values’ is as it is in the passage. The another keyword ‘impress’ is rephrased as ‘impressive…’The data work is impressive and it is the nature of research.
Answer: C
Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers- Reading Answer Explanations
Questions 32-35
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3?
In boxes 32-35 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
32 The description in the first chapter of how New York probably looked from the air in the early 1600s lacks interest.
Location: 2nd Paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword of the question ‘early 1600s’ in the question is as ‘1609’ that helps to locate the answer in the first line of the paragraph. ‘Looked from the air’ is visible as ‘looked from the sky’ in the paragraph. But the information in the question is opposite to the passage. Here, in the question it is ‘lacks interest’ which is opposite to ‘fascinating account’
Answer: No
33 Chapters two and three prepare the reader well for material yet to come.
Location: 3rd paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘Chapters two and three’ in the question is exactly in the first line of the passage. The information in the question and passage is same as ‘prepare the reader well ‘in the question is as ‘set the stage…’ in the passage. ‘Material yet to come’ is as ‘analysis that comes later…’
Answer: Yes
34 The biggest problem for many nineteenth-century New York immigrant neighbourhoods was a lack of amenities.
Location: 4th paragraph (first and second line)
Explanation: The main keyword of the question ‘amenities’ is as same in the passage. Though the amenities are visible but there is no information related to the ‘ biggest problem of immigrants’. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
35 In the nineteenth century, New York’s immigrant neighbourhoods tended to concentrate around the harbour.
Location: 4th paragraph (Last line)
Explanation: The main keyword ‘New York’s immigrant neighbourhoods’ of the question is exactly that helps to locate the answer in the 4th paragraph. The Question statement contradicts with the statement of the passage as it is that ‘concentrate around the harbour’ but in the passage it is clearly as that ‘between the industries located on the waterfront and the wealthy…’
Answer: No
Questions 36-40
Complete the summary using the list of phrases, A-J, below.
Write the correct letter, A-J, in boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet.
The bedrock myth
In chapter seven, Barr indicates how the lack of bedrock close to the surface does not explain why skyscrapers are absent from 36 ……………………
Location: 1st line of the 7th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘skyscrapers’ is exactly in the passage. ‘Lack of bedrock…’in the question is as ‘absence of bedrock…’in the paragraph’. Moreover, ‘Downtown and Midtown New York’ is in the passage.
Answer: H (Specific areas)
He points out that although the cost of foundations increases when bedrock is deep below the surface, this cannot be regarded as 37 ……………………,
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The Main keyword ‘cost of foundations’ helps to locate the answer in the second line of the paragraph. The another Keyword ‘bedrock is deep’ is visible as ‘ deeper bedrock’ in the passage. The writer says, ‘neither prohibitively high’ in the passage, thus makes it very clear to find the answer.
Answer: D (Excessive expense)
Especially when compared to 38 …………………….A particularly enjoyable part of the chapter was Barr’s account of how foundations are built.
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The main Keyword ‘compared’ is as it is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘Foundations are built…’has been paraphrased as ‘building a skyscraper…’it must be noted that writer says, ‘compared to the overall cost…in the paragraph. Here, overall cost makes the answer very clear.
Answer: I (total expenditure)
He describes not only how 39 …………………… are made possible by the use of caissons,
Location: 4th line of the 7th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘use of caissons’ in the question is exactly in the passage. ‘Made possible’ in the question has been rephrased as ‘enable’ in the paragraph. Furthermore, the writer says, ‘dig down for considerable changes’ in the same line.
Answer: B (deep excavations)
But he also discusses their 40 ……………………. The chapter is well researched but relatively easy to understand.
Location: Last line of the 7th paragraph
Explanation: Firstly, The statement of the question ‘chapter is well researched’ is as ‘chapter references empirical research’ in the passage. ‘Easy to understand’ in the question has been written as ‘easy read’ in the passage. Secondly, the writer says, ‘but also the dangers involved’. Therefore the answer is easy to understand
Answer: F (associated risks)
A development plans B deep excavations
C great distance D excessive expense
E impossible tasks F associated risks
G water level H specific areas
I total expenditure J construction guidelines
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