Question
Read the selection from the section "The Argument."
Los Angeles is giving owners of potentially at-risk buildings as long as 25 years to make improvements. San Francisco is letting its buildings grow taller and hold more people, even though one of the city's skyscrapers is sinking and leaning. There is also lingering doubt that high-rise buildings can be made quake-proof. In India, efforts to improve engineering and building laws have mostly stalled, leading one expert to regret the lack of "champions for seismic safety."
What conclusion is BEST supported by this selection?
A
Cities are unlikely to put a high value on physically reinforcing buildings as a way to protect people in an earthquake.
B
Most buildings in California's cities will collapse immediately in the event of a major earthquake in the near future.
C
Buildings that are not reinforced for seismic safety by the end of the decade will need to be torn down.
D
Los Angeles and San Francisco are less likely to experience a major earthquake in the near future than India.
Los Angeles is giving owners of potentially at-risk buildings as long as 25 years to make improvements. San Francisco is letting its buildings grow taller and hold more people, even though one of the city's skyscrapers is sinking and leaning. There is also lingering doubt that high-rise buildings can be made quake-proof. In India, efforts to improve engineering and building laws have mostly stalled, leading one expert to regret the lack of "champions for seismic safety."
What conclusion is BEST supported by this selection?
A
Cities are unlikely to put a high value on physically reinforcing buildings as a way to protect people in an earthquake.
B
Most buildings in California's cities will collapse immediately in the event of a major earthquake in the near future.
C
Buildings that are not reinforced for seismic safety by the end of the decade will need to be torn down.
D
Los Angeles and San Francisco are less likely to experience a major earthquake in the near future than India.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The conclusion that is BEST supported by the selection is:
A. Cities are unlikely to put a high value on physically reinforcing buildings as a way to protect people in an earthquake.
The text provides examples of cities (Los Angeles and San Francisco) taking limited actions regarding building safety in the face of earthquakes, indicating a lack of urgency or importance placed on reinforcement. Furthermore, the mention of stalled efforts in India supports the idea that there is a general reluctance or inability to prioritize seismic safety.
A. Cities are unlikely to put a high value on physically reinforcing buildings as a way to protect people in an earthquake.
The text provides examples of cities (Los Angeles and San Francisco) taking limited actions regarding building safety in the face of earthquakes, indicating a lack of urgency or importance placed on reinforcement. Furthermore, the mention of stalled efforts in India supports the idea that there is a general reluctance or inability to prioritize seismic safety.