Building The Skyline: The Birth And Growth Of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers — IELTS Reading Answers

What point does Shester make about Barr’s book in the first paragraph?

1. AIt gives a highly original explanation for urban development.
2. BElements of Barr’s research papers are incorporated throughout the book.
3. COther books that are available on the subject have taken a different approach.
4. DIt covers a range of factors that affected the development of New York.correct

“The first is primarily historical and addresses New York’s settlement and growth from 1609 to 1900; the second deals primarily with the 20th century and is a compilation of chapters commenting on different aspects of New York’s urban development.”

Shester notes the book's second part is 'a compilation of chapters commenting on different aspects of New York's urban development', a range of factors, so D.

How does Shester respond to the information in the book about tenements?

1. AShe describes the reasons for Barr’s interest.
2. BShe indicates a potential problem with Barr’s analysis.correct
3. CShe compares Barr’s conclusion with that of other writers.
4. DShe provides details about the sources Barr used for his research.

“At first glance, it is not obvious why slum clearance would be limiting, while more expensive foundations would not.”

Shester questions Barr's reasoning: 'it is not obvious why slum clearance would be limiting, while more expensive foundations would not', indicating a potential problem, so B.

What does Shester say about chapter six of the book?

1. AIt contains conflicting data.
2. BIt focuses too much on possible trends.
3. CIt is too specialised for most readers.correct
4. DIt draws on research that is out of date.

“While less technical than the research paper on which the chapter is based, it is probably more technical than would be preferred by a general audience.”

Chapter six, though 'less technical' than the paper, is 'probably more technical than would be preferred by a general audience', so it is too specialised, C.

What does Shester suggest about the chapters focusing on the 1920s building boom?

1. AThe information should have been organised differently.
2. BMore facts are needed about the way construction was financed.
3. CThe explanation that is given for the building boom is unlikely.
4. DSome parts will have limited appeal to certain people.correct

“Chapter eight contains lengthy discussions of urban economic theory that may serve as a distraction to readers primarily interested in New York.”

Chapter eight's 'lengthy discussions of urban economic theory' may be 'a distraction to readers primarily interested in New York', limited appeal for some, so D.

What impresses Shester the most about the chapter on land values?

1. Athe broad time period that is covered
2. Bthe interesting questions that Barr asks
3. Cthe nature of the research into the topiccorrect
4. Dthe recommendations Barr makes for the future

“In the final chapter (chapter 10), Barr discusses another of his empirical papers that estimates Manhattan land values from the mid-19th century to the present day. The data work that went into these estimations is particularly impressive.”

Shester is most impressed by 'the data work that went into these estimations' of Manhattan land values, the nature of the research, so C.

The description in the first chapter of how New York probably looked from the air in the early 1600s lacks interest.

“Barr begins chapter one by taking the reader on a ‘helicopter time-machine’ ride – giving a fascinating account of how the New York landscape in 1609 might have looked from the sky.”

Barr gives 'a fascinating account of how the New York landscape in 1609 might have looked from the sky', so the description is interesting, not dull, so NO.

Chapters two and three prepare the reader well for material yet to come.

“Both chapters are informative and well researched and set the stage for the economic analysis that comes later in the book.”

Chapters two and three 'are informative and well researched and set the stage for the economic analysis that comes later', so they prepare the reader, YES.

The biggest problem for many nineteenth-century New York immigrant neighbourhoods was a lack of amenities.

“Chapter four focuses on immigration and the location of neighborhoods and tenements in the late 19th century. Barr identifies four primary immigrant enclaves and analyzes their locations in terms of the amenities available in the area.”

Chapter four analyses enclaves 'in terms of the amenities available', but the passage never says amenities were the biggest problem, so NOT GIVEN.

In the nineteenth century, New York’s immigrant neighbourhoods tended to concentrate around the harbour.

“Most of these enclaves were located on the least valuable land, between the industries located on the waterfront and the wealthy neighborhoods bordering Central Park.”

Most enclaves lay 'between the industries located on the waterfront and the wealthy neighborhoods bordering Central Park', not concentrated around the harbour, so NO.

“the assumption that the absence of bedrock close to the surface between Downtown and Midtown New York is the reason for skyscrapers not being built between the two urban centers.”

The gap needs the mistaken belief about bedrock; the 'assumption that the absence of bedrock close to the surface ... is the reason for skyscrapers not being built' fits H.

“Barr argues that while deeper bedrock does increase foundation costs, these costs were neither prohibitively high nor were they large”

The gap needs Barr's point about deeper bedrock; it 'does increase foundation costs' but they were 'neither prohibitively high nor ... large', so D.

“compared to the overall cost of building a skyscraper”

The gap needs the comparison making foundation costs minor; they were small 'compared to the overall cost of building a skyscraper', so I.

“He describes the use of caissons, which enable workers to dig down for considerable distances, often below the water table, until they reach bedrock.”

The gap needs the technique letting workers dig down to bedrock; 'caissons, which enable workers to dig down for considerable distances' fits B.

“Barr’s thorough technological history discusses not only how caissons work, but also the dangers involved.”

The gap needs what Barr's technological history includes besides how caissons work; 'the dangers involved' supplies F.