Question 2·Medium·Text Structure and Purpose
The following text is from a mid-twentieth-century speech by an urban planner.
At first, we imagined the metropolis of tomorrow as a panorama of glass: highways curled like ribbons, towers glittering above the clouds, every convenience arriving at the press of a button. Yet as the models multiplied, we discovered another picture behind the gleam: neighborhoods sliced apart by elevated roads, parks shrunk to token lawns, children hemmed in by traffic. If we are to build wisely, we must let that second image guide the first.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
For structure questions, label what each sentence (or chunk) is doing and track the order of moves, especially around transition words like “Yet.” Then choose the option that matches the full sequence of ideas (setup → shift → conclusion), not just the opening description.
Hints
Look for transition signals
Pay attention to shifts like “At first” and “Yet,” which often mark changes in direction or emphasis.
Summarize each sentence in a few words
Try labeling the sentences as something like: “idealized vision,” “problems with that vision,” and “what we should do next.”
Match the sequence (not just one part)
The correct option should account for the opening, the pivot to negative effects, and the concluding advice—don’t choose an option that describes only the first sentence.
Step-by-step Explanation
Map the passage’s sequence
The passage moves in three clear stages:
- An appealing, futuristic vision (Sentence 1).
- A contrast that reveals negative consequences (Sentence 2, signaled by “Yet”).
- A recommendation about what should guide future planning (Sentence 3).
Choose the option that matches that sequence
Pick the choice that describes vision → harms → recommendation. The matching choice is: The speaker outlines a futuristic ideal, then reveals its harms, and ends by urging planners to let those harms guide decisions.