Question

question 17 of 20
read this passage from \the city without us\ by alan weisman:

in a future that portends stronger and more - frequent
hurricanes striking north americas atlantic coast,
ferocious winds will pummel tall, unsteady structures.
some will topple, knocking down others. like a gap in the
forest when a giant tree falls, new growth will rush in.
gradually, the asphalt jungle will give way to a real one.
which statement best explains how the structure of the passage supports the
authors purpose?

a. the passage traces several events in the order that they will occur
to highlight how nature conquers human civilization.

b. the passage identifies how two forces are alike — nature and
human creativity — to show how both interact to build human
civilization.

c. the passage shows the effect of natural forces such as
hurricanes to prove that laws protecting the environment are a
necessary evil.

d. the passage shows the effect of natural forces, such as
hurricanes, to highlight how nature, over time, will erode artifacts
of urban civilization.

Explanation:

The passage first describes hurricanes (a natural force) pummeling structures (urban civilization artifacts). Then it shows the sequence of events: structures toppling, new growth (nature) coming in, and the asphalt (urban) jungle giving way to a real (natural) one. This sequence of events (hurricanes - structure damage - nature taking over) shows how nature erodes urban civilization over time.

Answer:

A. The passage traces several events in the order that they will occur to highlight how nature conquers human civilization.
D. The passage shows the effect of natural forces, such as hurricanes, to highlight how nature, over time, will erode artifacts of urban civilization.

Let’s analyze each option:

• Option A: The passage does trace events in order (hurricanes strike, structures topple, new growth comes, asphalt jungle gives way). And the overall theme is nature (new growth, real jungle) “conquering” (asphalt jungle gives way) human civilization (tall structures, asphalt jungle). This option is correct.
• Option B: The passage does not show nature and human creativity as alike to build human civilization. It shows nature eroding human - made structures. So this option is incorrect.
• Option C: The passage does not mention laws protecting the environment. So this option is incorrect.
• Option D: While it is correct that it shows the effect of natural forces (hurricanes) and nature eroding urban civilization (asphalt jungle gives way), it does not emphasize the sequence of events as strongly as Option A. But both A and D have some merit. However, if we consider the structure (tracing events in order) which is a key part of the question (how the structure supports the author’s purpose), Option A is more accurate as it specifically mentions the order of events. But if we consider the overall idea of nature eroding urban civilization artifacts (asphalt jungle is an artifact of urban civilization), Option D is also correct. But in a test - like setting, usually, the option that most closely follows the structure (tracing events in order) as described in the question (how the structure supports the author’s purpose) is Option A. But there is a bit of ambiguity. If we assume that the “structure” refers to the narrative structure (sequence of events), then A is better. If it refers to the overall logical structure (cause - effect of natural forces on urban artifacts), then D is also valid. But in standard test interpretations, when it says “the structure of the passage” in a narrative - like text, the sequence of events (narrative structure) is often what is meant. So A is the better answer.