Loading question...
You are in free guest mode. Timed Practice Revision List Attempt History Progress Tracking Create a free account to unlock these tools
Back to Questions
Prev Next
Practice Reading: Multiple Choice, Single Answer ID: #38649 Renaissance
Instructions ›
Read the text and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting the correct response. Only one response is correct.
In the early Italian Renaissance, bronze statues of horses with a raised foreleg usually had a cannonball under that hoof. This was done because the cannonball was needed to support the weight of the leg. In other words, the demands of the laws of physics, not the sculptor’s aesthetic intentions, placed the ball there. That this device was a necessary structural compromise is clear from the fact that the cannonball quickly disappeared when sculptors learned how to strengthen the internal structure of a statue with iron braces (iron being much stronger than bronze).

Sculptors in the Italian Renaissance stopped using cannon balls in bronze statues of horses because

* Click on the correct answer

Result:

AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Option 4: "the cannonballs added too much weight to the statues"

Explanation: This option is correct because the text implies that the cannonball was a structural compromise due to the weight of the raised foreleg. Once sculptors learned to strengthen the statues internally, the cannonball was no longer needed, indicating that it was indeed adding unnecessary weight.

Option 1: "they began using a material that made the statues weigh less"

Explanation: This option is incorrect because the text does not mention a change in material that reduced the weight of the statues. Instead, it focuses on the internal strengthening of the statues with iron braces, which is a different concept.

Option 2: "they found a way to strengthen the statues internally"

Explanation: While the text does state that sculptors learned to strengthen the internal structure of statues with iron braces, this option does not address why they stopped using cannonballs. The reason is more about the cannonballs being unnecessary rather than the internal strengthening itself.

Option 3: "the aesthetic tastes of the public had changed over time"

Explanation: This option is incorrect as the text does not discuss changes in public aesthetic tastes. The focus is on the structural necessity of the cannonball and its eventual removal due to advancements in statue construction.

The rest of this explanation is for members. Sign in free to read why the other options are wrong, key words and tips.

Sign in to read the full explanation

With a free account: Retry and compare every attempt.
Be the first! No community answers here yet. Submit yours and help others learn.
How difficult was this question?
Others found: 100% Easy · 0% Medium · 0% Hard
Saving...