Question

built to last
how roman harbors have stood the test of time
1 the circular harbor at caesarea, which sits on the coast of israel, was constructed in less than 10 years, from roughly 23 to 15 b.c., on the order of king herod, ruler of the roman province of judaea. the site chosen was an unobstructed length of coastline with no natural geographic features to break the waves rolling into shore or protect ships. the port’s construction was nothing short of a roman engineering marvel, comparable to the colosseum or the aqueducts.
2 much of the vast structure, which includes two breakwaters, three underwater piers that once held large statues, and a 660 - foot - wide entrance for ships, stands today. the scholar josephus’s description, written nearly 2,000 years ago, still rings true: “herod contended with the difficulties so well that the sea could not overcome the solidity of the construction.”
3 the trick to caesarea’s longevity was the concrete used to build the harbor. for more than a decade, john oleson, a classical archaeologist at the university of victoria in british columbia, has pursued the secrets of roman harbors and their impressive durability. “people have been studying roman concrete for 500 or 600 years, but they haven’t done much with the concrete in the sea because it’s more difficult to access. also, until recently, people thought it was not as important as what you find on land,” says oleson.
4 as head of the roman maritime concrete study (or romacons), oleson, along with university of colorado boulder maritime archaeologist bob hohlfelder, and british architect chris brandon, examined samples from several ancient roman ports. they found that there was, in fact, a key ingredient that made the material uniquely suited to hold up to the underwater environment.
5 the romans started building with concrete regularly beginning in the
how do the author’s references to ancient writings by josephus and vitruvius help develop important ideas in the passage?

1. they show the pride romans felt in the sophisticated structures that resulted from roman engineering.
2. they show that modern researchers are part of a long history of individuals puzzled by roman engineering.
3. they show the commitment romans had to future civilizations that might benefit from the concrete they invented.
4. they show that romans were well aware of the unique nature of the concrete they used for underwater construction.

reset benjamin manuel diaz vargas, id#**08 growth: reading 6+ ma 2017 1.1 question # 8

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

1. Option 1: The passage focuses on the durability and engineering of Roman harbors, not Roman pride. Eliminate.
2. Option 2: The text discusses the longevity of Roman concrete/harbors, not modern researchers’ puzzlement over individual history. Eliminate.
3. Option 3: The passage emphasizes the durability of Roman harbor construction, not a “commitment to future civilizations” or invention for future use. Eliminate.
4. Option 4: The passage states researchers found a “key ingredient that made the material uniquely suited to the underwater environment,” showing Romans understood the concrete’s unique properties for underwater use. This matches.

Answer:

1. They show that Romans were well aware of the unique nature of the concrete they used for underwater construction.