Question

how roman harbors have stood the test of time 1 the circular harbor at caesarea, constructed in less than 10 years, was built by king herod, ruler of the roman province of judaea. the site chosen was an unobstructed length of coastline from 23 to 15 b.c., on the order of 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 60 - foot - wide entrance for ships, stands today. the scholar josephus’ 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 this question has two parts. answer part a, and then answer part b. part a select two statements that best express central ideas of the passage. 1. romans used locally available materials to produce concrete for constructing large buildings. 2. romans are often credited with inventing concrete when in fact it was already in use much earlier. 3. romans were able to capitalize on their use of concrete to build a port system that greatly benefited their society. 4. scientists have been examining roman concrete for many years but have focused on concrete found aboveground. 5. scientists have discovered that romans created a type of concrete that ensured the survival of structures built in the sea. part b select two excerpts from the passage that together

Explanation:

Part A

To solve Part A, we analyze each option:

1. Option 1: The passage focuses on the durability of Roman concrete (especially underwater) and its use in construction, not just "locally available materials" for large buildings. Eliminate.
2. Option 2: The passage does not discuss Romans being "credited with inventing concrete" or its timing relative to others. Eliminate.
3. Option 3: The passage explains how Roman concrete (e.g., in harbors) supported their society (trade, infrastructure). This aligns with the central idea of concrete’s societal impact. Keep.
4. Option 4: The passage states scientists “haven’t done much with the concrete in the sea because it’s more difficult to access” and only recently studied it, contradicting “focused on aboveground” concrete. Eliminate.
5. Option 5: The passage highlights a “key ingredient” in Roman concrete that “ensured the survival of structures built in the sea” (e.g., harbors). This aligns with the central idea of concrete’s durability in marine environments. Keep.

Part B

For Part B, we select excerpts supporting the central ideas (from Part A: concrete’s societal benefits and marine durability):

• Excerpt for Option 3 (Part A): “The circular harbor at Caesarea... was nothing short of a Roman engineering marvel, comparable to the Colosseum or the aqueducts.” This shows concrete’s role in impactful infrastructure (societal benefit).
• Excerpt for Option 5 (Part A): “They found that there was, in fact, a key ingredient that made the material uniquely suited to hold up to the underwater environment.” This directly supports the marine durability idea.

Final Answers

Part A

1. Romans were able to capitalize on their use of concrete to build a part system that greatly benefited their society.
2. Scientists have discovered that Romans created a type of concrete that ensured the survival of structures built in the sea.

Part B

• Excerpt 1 (supporting Option 3): “The circular harbor at Caesarea... was nothing short of a Roman engineering marvel, comparable to the Colosseum or the aqueducts.”
• Excerpt 2 (supporting Option 5): “They found that there was, in fact, a key ingredient that made the material uniquely suited to hold up to the underwater environment.”

Answer:

Part A

To solve Part A, we analyze each option:

1. Option 1: The passage focuses on the durability of Roman concrete (especially underwater) and its use in construction, not just "locally available materials" for large buildings. Eliminate.
2. Option 2: The passage does not discuss Romans being "credited with inventing concrete" or its timing relative to others. Eliminate.
3. Option 3: The passage explains how Roman concrete (e.g., in harbors) supported their society (trade, infrastructure). This aligns with the central idea of concrete’s societal impact. Keep.
4. Option 4: The passage states scientists “haven’t done much with the concrete in the sea because it’s more difficult to access” and only recently studied it, contradicting “focused on aboveground” concrete. Eliminate.
5. Option 5: The passage highlights a “key ingredient” in Roman concrete that “ensured the survival of structures built in the sea” (e.g., harbors). This aligns with the central idea of concrete’s durability in marine environments. Keep.

Part B

For Part B, we select excerpts supporting the central ideas (from Part A: concrete’s societal benefits and marine durability):

• Excerpt for Option 3 (Part A): “The circular harbor at Caesarea... was nothing short of a Roman engineering marvel, comparable to the Colosseum or the aqueducts.” This shows concrete’s role in impactful infrastructure (societal benefit).
• Excerpt for Option 5 (Part A): “They found that there was, in fact, a key ingredient that made the material uniquely suited to hold up to the underwater environment.” This directly supports the marine durability idea.

Final Answers

Part A

1. Romans were able to capitalize on their use of concrete to build a part system that greatly benefited their society.
2. Scientists have discovered that Romans created a type of concrete that ensured the survival of structures built in the sea.

Part B

• Excerpt 1 (supporting Option 3): “The circular harbor at Caesarea... was nothing short of a Roman engineering marvel, comparable to the Colosseum or the aqueducts.”
• Excerpt 2 (supporting Option 5): “They found that there was, in fact, a key ingredient that made the material uniquely suited to hold up to the underwater environment.”