In the 1970s, the idea of building so-called New Towns to absorb

Question

In the 1970s, the idea of building so-called “New Towns” to absorb growth was considered a potential cure-all for urban problems in the United States. It was erroneously assumed that by diverting residents from existing centers, current urban problems would at least get no worse. It was also wrongly assumed that, since European New Towns had been financially and socially successful, the same could be expected in the United States.

However, the ill-considered projects not only failed to relieve pressures on existing cities, but also weakened those cities further by drawing away high income citizens. This increased the concentration of low-income groups—who were unable to provide the necessary tax base to support the cities. Taxpayers who remained were left to carry a greater burden, while industry and commerce sought to escape.

As it turned out, the promoters of New Towns were the developers, builders, and financial institutions, all whose main interest was financial gain. Not surprisingly, development occurred in areas where land was cheap and construction profitable rather than where New Towns were genuinely needed. Moreover, poor planning and legislation produced not the sort of successful New Towns seen in Britain but rather nothing more than sprawling suburbs. Federal regulations designed to promote the New Town concept failed to consider social needs as the European plans did. In fact, the regulations specified virtually all of the ingredients of the typical suburban community.    1  
 1. The author’s primary concern in the passage is to

(A) describe the characteristics of American New Towns that made them unsuccessful.
(B) trace the development of the New Town concept in the United States.
(C) list the differences between New Towns in the United States and those in Europe.
(D) explain why New Towns in the United States failed to meet general expectations.
(E) analyze the impact of New Towns on urban centers in the United States.

2  
 2. Based only on the information in the passage, with which of the following statements about New Towns in the United States would the author most likely agree?

(A) They helped dissuade businesses in urban centers from relocating to other areas.
(B) They provided a thriving social center away from the problems of the older city.
(C) They helped reduce air pollution by relocating workplaces to suburbs, where most workers lived.
(D) They thwarted economic redevelopment plans for decaying urban centers.
(E) They provided affluent urban residents an escape from the city.

3  
 3. Which of the following phenomena is most closely analogous to the New Towns established in the United States?

(A) A business that fails as a result of insufficient demand for its products or services
(B) A new game that fails to attain widespread popularity because its rules are unfair
(C) New utility software that solves one computer problem but creates another
(D) A new drug whose side effects are severe enough to discourage people from using it
(E) A scientific theory that lacks supporting empirical evidence

dave13 · Accepted Answer

the passage is mainly about

- development of New towns in the U.S - reasons why this project not only failed but also compounded current situation in the U.S. 1. The author’s primary concern in the passage is to (A) describe the characteristics of American New Towns that made them unsuccessful. characteristics are not mentioned in the passage so out of scope. (B) trace the development of the New Town concept in the United States. tracing development is like going through stages, but in the passage the project failed at its first stage lol (C) list the differences between New Towns in the United States and those in Europe. (D) explain why New Towns in the United States failed to meet general expectations. Correct the first paragraph introduces the project that turned out to be unsuccessful, and the last two paragraphs provide explanations as to why the project failed. (E) analyze the impact of New Towns on urban centers in the United States. The impact is mentioned but not analyzed. 2. Based only on the information in the passage, with which of the following statements about New Towns in the United States would the author most likely agree? (A) They helped dissuade businesses in urban centers from relocating to other areas. Nah. that`s False. Didnt attempt even lol it is clearly mentioned that "industry and commerce sought to escape." (B) They provided a thriving social center away from the problems of the older city. FALSE out of scope (C) They helped reduce air pollution by relocating workplaces to suburbs, where most workers lived. OUT OF SCOPE (D) They thwarted economic redevelopment plans for decaying urban centers. FALSE (E) They provided affluent urban residents an escape from the city. CORRECT. Cause the passage provides info about rich residents leaving the city. 3. Which of the following phenomena is most closely analogous to the New Towns established in the United States? (C) New utility software that solves one computer problem but creates another CORRECT. it is like going to doctor to treat your headache. you say hey Doc i have a headache. Doc takes a hummer and hits hard on your ankle. Voila: now you forgot about headache and pain moved on to your ankle and your current situation even worsened

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. Which of the following phenomena is most closely analogous to the New Towns established in the United States?

Explanation

According to the first sentence of the passage, New Towns were originally conceptualized as a way to absorb growth. Based on other information in the passage, it appears that U.S. New Towns achieved this objective—at least to some extent—since city residents who could afford to move away from urban centers did so. At the same time, however, the cities were left with new problems, such as an insufficient tax base to support themselves and to retain businesses. Thus, like the phenomenon that  choice (C)  describes, New Towns were an innovation that served to solve one problem but created another along the way.

The correct answer is (C).

Hope it helps

bM22 · Answer

1. The author’s primary concern in the passage is to

(A) describe the characteristics of American New Towns that made them unsuccessful.
(B) trace the development of the New Town concept in the United States.
(C) list the differences between New Towns in the United States and those in Europe.
 (D) explain why New Towns in the United States failed to meet general expectations.
 (E) analyze the impact of New Towns on urban centers in the United States.

Correct Answer - D
 Explanation - The passage mentions the development of New Towns, in the US, and that it was unsuccessful and the reasons behind it failing, the corruption and ignorance of social needs of the people.
Option A - incorrect, close one but choosing D as it seems more appropriate as the primary purpose of the passage.
Option B - incorrect, as only development is the primary purpose of the passage.
Option C - incorrect, as no differences have been mentioned.
Option E - incorrect, as the primary purpose of the passage is to analyze why the New Towns failed in the US.

2. Based only on the information in the passage, with which of the following statements about New Towns in the United States would the author most likely agree?

(A) They helped dissuade businesses in urban centers from relocating to other areas.
(B) They provided a thriving social center away from the problems of the older city.
(C) They helped reduce air pollution by relocating workplaces to suburbs, where most workers lived.
 (D) They thwarted economic redevelopment plans for decaying urban centers.
 (E) They provided affluent urban residents an escape from the city.

Correct Answer - D
 Explanation - as D most closely resembles the lines mentioned in the passage: "As it turned out, the promoters of New Towns were the developers, builders, and financial institutions, all whose main interest was financial gain. Not surprisingly, development occurred in areas where land was cheap and construction profitable rather than where New Towns were genuinely needed. "
Option A, B, C, E - incorrect, as they might have, but its not explicitly mentioned, it might have happened but was not the direct intention of creating the New Towns.

3. Which of the following phenomena is most closely analogous to the New Towns established in the United States?

(A) A business that fails as a result of insufficient demand for its products or services
 (B) A new game that fails to attain widespread popularity because its rules are unfair
 (C) New utility software that solves one computer problem but creates another
(D) A new drug whose side effects are severe enough to discourage people from using it
(E) A scientific theory that lacks supporting empirical evidence

Correct Answer - B,
 Explanation - what we need to compare about New Towns is that: New Towns were created but the plan could not work because of poor planning and ignorance of social ignorance.
Option B, provides the best analogous example as compared to New Towns in the U.S.
Optiona A, C, D, E - are incorrect as they are not analogous in any way to the New Towns example of US.

Gowtham91 · Answer

This explains why Option C is correct and does not address why other options are wrong. Can you please post further explanation.  SajjadAhmad

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Just have read your explanation and i can say now, you took this question in the wrong direction, A has never been (even a little) close to the official answer. Only option D makes a bit of sense but C is better than D.

(A) A business that fails as a result of insufficient demand for its products or services

In the passage it is clear that there was a definite need of New Towns in United States, The plan of New Towns in United states was rather implemented in the wrong direction. Option A says that the product and services of a business were made perfectly but the demand of these product and services was none. If option A would rather states, for example, A Business failed due to wrongly made products, It would have been a perfect example.

Hope it helps

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. Based only on the information in the passage, with which of the following statements about New Towns in the United States would the author most likely agree?

Explanation

In the  second paragraph , the author states that one of the effects of New Towns was to draw high-income citizens away from the cities— essentially what  choice (E)  indicates.

The correct answer is (E).

Thank you

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. The author’s primary concern in the passage is to

Explanation

In the  first paragraph , the author cites certain erroneous assumptions upon which the U.S. New Town concept was based. Then, in the next two paragraphs, the author describes how and why New Towns in the United States failed to solve urban problems and to provide the sort of social environment hoped for.  Choice (D)  provides a good recapitulation of this entire discussion.

The correct answer is (D).

In the 1970s, the idea of building so-called New Towns to absorb

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In the 1970s, the idea of building so-called New Towns to absorb

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