Reading Related

Review Reading related questions and content

Manhattan seems to sprout shiny new skyscrapers as easily as a garden grows weeds, but despite the modern appearance of the concrete jungle at the heart of New York City, every engineer knows that before breaking ground, they need to step back in time, with the help of Viele's map.

In 1865, Egbert Viele, a civil engineer and Civil War veteran who surveyed the land for Central Park and later served in Congress, published a map that is still crucial almost 160 years later. His map showed all the original marshes and waterways of Manhattan. Even today, engineers rely on his work to determine soil conditions and any underground water that still flows through a building site, potentially undermining foundations.

Which of the following pieces of evidence from the text supports the conclusion that Viele's work had an impact on the development of Manhattan island?

  • A. Builders must analyze potential sites for stability, which affects the building type and zoning options.
  • B. Central Park continues to flood, which Viele set out to prevent with his map.
  • C. Central Park continues to flood, which Viele set out to prevent with his map.
  • D. Residents of Manhattan Island find it easy to grow gardens due to the well-established water map.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Viele's map is crucial for engineers to determine soil conditions and underground water flow before construction begins. This impacts builders as they need to analyze potential sites for stability, which in turn affects the type of buildings that can be constructed and zoning options. Option B is incorrect as Central Park flooding is not directly related to the impact of Viele's work on the development of Manhattan. Option D is also incorrect as the ease of growing gardens for residents is not mentioned in relation to Viele's map in the text.