"Keeping the City of Venice Afloat" - STAAR Bootcamp, Day 1

1. Read this quotation from paragraph 5.

Their method of pounding was similar in principle to modern pile drivers. Using pulleys, the builders hoisted a heavy weight into position above the stake, or post, and then let it drop. Foot by foot, the stake was pounded into place.

The author includes this information most likely in order to -

• 1. contradict the assumption that early inhabitants of Venice were unskilled 

• 1. illustrate the unique building method in a way people today can understand

• 1. explain the importance of the wooden stakes in building a secure foundation

• 1. support the key idea that Venice was a wealthy city with many grand palaces

2. Which quotation best supports the thesis of the article?

• 1. Venice's natural strategic position on the sea, along with its special design, helped make it a wealthy city. (paragraph 7)

• 1. The centerpiece was the S-shaped Grand Canal, which served, as it still does, as Venice's main "boulevard." (paragraph 8)

• 1. What had once been a lowly marsh had become a masterpiece of urban development and an example of how humans can depend on, benefit from, and modify the natural environment at the same time. (paragraph 8)

• 1. Those ancient pilings still provide firm support for Venice's beautiful buildings, which in turn support Venice's tourist industry. (paragraph 10)

3. What is the most likely reason the author organizes the sections "From Marsh to Masterpiece" and "Then and Now" using comparison?

• 1. To emphasize Venice's transformation and the many challenges it has overcome over time

• 1. To entertain the reader with the dramatic story of Venice's founding and the people who inhabit the city today

• 1. To inform the reader about historical developments in engineering and urban planning that work effectively with nature

• 1. To discuss the historical significance of the city and place it in a larger context

4. How do the phrases "marvel of architecture" and "magnet for Renaissance artists" in paragraph 8 contribute to the tone of the article?

• 1. They highlight the author's skepticism about the cultural life of the city. 

• 1. They underscore the author's academic background and commitment to objectivity.

• They suggest the author's amazement and enthusiasm for the topic.

• 1. They show that the author approaches this technical subject from a poetic standpoint.

5. Which key idea about the inhabitants of Venice in the 1920s is supported by the details in paragraph 11?

• 1. They lacked knowledge of the newest technology.

• 1. They depended on nearby cities for basic necessities.

• 1. They did not understand why parts of the city began to flood.

• 1. They needed to adapt to their environment.

6. Which quotation from the article shows that the area that became Venice was a good place to take refuge from invaders?

• 1. Instead of car-filled streets, the city of Venice in Italy has a system of winding canals. (paragraph 1)

• 1. The islands had long been used by fishermen but were inhospitable and mostly uninhabited. (paragraph 3)

• 1. Although many of the refugees eventually returned to the mainland, some people remained on the islands. (paragraph 4)

• 1. Even so, Venice's natural-turned-urban setting has special challenges. (paragraph 11)

7. Based on the article, what can the reader infer about Venice's geography?

• 1. Tidal effects have remained relatively constant over the history of the city.

• 1. Flooding in the city can be predicted by the MOSE system.

• 1. The location provided unexpected opportunities for developing the city.

• 1. The boundaries of the city will continue to shrink.

8. Which of these is the best summary of the article?

• Venice is a beautiful city with famous artwork on display almost everywhere. This includes the Santa Maria Della Salute church and numerous other buildings, especially the palaces that were built by wealthy inhabitants when the city was at its height. Today, it is a popular destination for tourists, who come from all over the world to see its canals and sit at the cafes.

• 1. Venice is a beautiful city with unique geography. Built on a network of islands, it has at least 150 canals. Early inhabitants constructed buildings atop wooden stakes, including grand palaces and marble churches during the Renaissance. These stakes lasted hundreds of years because of chemical transformations under the water. Nevertheless, the city still floods regularly.

• 1. Venice is a World Heritage Site, celebrated for its architecture. Located on 118 islands, the city is organized around waterways or canals. The islands had weak silt and sand that would not support large buildings, so stakes had to be pounded down to reach solid clay for building to begin.

• 1. Venice is sometimes called the Floating City. Instead of streets, it has more than a hundred canals. The buildings, many from the Renaissance, are supported on wooden stakes driven deep into the clay below the surface. In order to preserve this historic city from flooding, engineers over time have developed creative solutions, a process that continues to this day.