Question

text 1
the outside of notre-dame cathedral in paris is lined with strange stone creatures that both catch the eye and serve a practical purpose. these famous creatures, called gargoyles, are monstrous looking with long necks, pointy ears, and animal-like heads. besides providing striking decoration, some of these statues also have an important task: drainage. they have spouts that direct water away from the roof and sides of the cathedral.

text 2
flying buttresses are one of the most distinctive features in the architecture of paris’s famed notre-dame cathedral. these buttresses, or exterior braces, resemble half-arches that help hold up notre-dame’s exterior walls. this extra support allows the structure to devote more wall surface to windows, many of them stained glass, which makes the cathedral’s interior brighter and more colorful.

which sentence best combines the main, or central, ideas of both texts?

the striking stained glass windows of notre dame cathedral are the perfect complement to the terrifying gargoyles that line the structures exterior.

the flying buttresses on the exterior of notre-dame cathedral provide support and allow for water drainage.

notre-dame in paris is a cathedral known for its flying buttresses and monstrous gargoyles that support the exterior walls of the structure.

notre-dame cathedrals gargoyles and flying buttresses are two striking visual features that also serve useful purposes.

Explanation:

• Analyze Text 1: It focuses on gargoyles of Notre - Dame, which are visually striking (strange stone creatures, monstrous looking) and have a practical purpose (drainage).
• Analyze Text 2: It focuses on flying buttresses of Notre - Dame, which are a distinctive visual feature and have a practical purpose (support exterior walls, allow more window space).
• Analyze each option:
• Option 1: Talks about stained glass and gargoyles' complementarity. Stained glass is only a result of flying buttresses' function, not a main idea of both texts. Eliminate.
• Option 2: Flying buttresses don't do drainage (that's gargoyles' job). Misrepresents the functions. Eliminate.
• Option 3: Says gargoyles support exterior walls, but gargoyles' function is drainage, not support. Flying buttresses support walls. Misrepresents gargoyles' role. Eliminate.
• Option 4: States that gargoyles and flying buttresses are striking visual features (matches their descriptions in texts) and serve useful purposes (gargoyles for drainage, flying buttresses for support). This combines the main ideas of both texts.

Answer:

Notre-Dame Cathedral's gargoyles and flying buttresses are two striking visual features that also serve useful purposes.