Question
ost major American cities have had a brush with a large-scale fire in the past. Cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago sprang up almost overnight, and the architectural planning of these cities was often unreliable. Because the great majority of the buildings were built from wood, rather than stone or brick, disaster was always close at hand. If one or more buildings caught fire in a densely populated area, then a volunteer fire department was usually no match for the quickly spreading flames.
Fortunately, early inhabitants of these cities were hardy, unlike the wooden structures in which they lived. No sooner did the smoke clear than these citizens began working to rebuild their homes and business. The new buildings were built from brick and stone. Not only were these structures more architecturally sound than before—they were also more ornate. That's because cities were often given federal aid after a fire, which allowed them to hire talented architects from all over the country. Thus, in a sense, the destruction of a fire presented an opportunity for a new start.
What does the word unreliable connote or suggest about the initial planning of cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago?
A.
The planning was intelligent.
B.
The planning was hasty.
C.
The planning was slow.
D.
The planning was effective.
Fortunately, early inhabitants of these cities were hardy, unlike the wooden structures in which they lived. No sooner did the smoke clear than these citizens began working to rebuild their homes and business. The new buildings were built from brick and stone. Not only were these structures more architecturally sound than before—they were also more ornate. That's because cities were often given federal aid after a fire, which allowed them to hire talented architects from all over the country. Thus, in a sense, the destruction of a fire presented an opportunity for a new start.
What does the word unreliable connote or suggest about the initial planning of cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago?
A.
The planning was intelligent.
B.
The planning was hasty.
C.
The planning was slow.
D.
The planning was effective.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The word "unreliable" suggests that the initial planning of cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago was not dependable or trustworthy. It implies that the planning was lacking in thoughtfulness or thoroughness, indicating potential flaws and shortcomings. Therefore, the most appropriate answer is:
B. The planning was hasty.
B. The planning was hasty.