The passage is primarily concerned with

Shiyi-Zhang January 29, 2019

Could someone explain this question to me? Thanks!

Ravi February 13, 2019

@Shiyi-Zhang,

Happy to help.

The question says, "The passage is primarily concerned with..."

We're looking for an answer choice that expresses the main point of
the passage. Ideally, after reading the passage we'll have anticipated
what the main point was.

In reading the passage, we see that the author is primarily concerned
with providing support for her conclusion that the failures of modern
architecture cannot be blamed on the ideals of founders by describing
the details that Otto Wagner's seminal text on modern architecture
(called Modern Architecture) embodied. This is lines 8 through 12 of
the text, and this is what the whole passage works to support.

Throughout the passage, the author analyzes the various beliefs that
Wagner presents in Modern Architecture to show that modern
architecture was not only concerned with utility and cost-efficiency
but also had aesthetic concerns to it.

(E) says, "supporting an assertion by discussing an important work."
This is a very general way of stating exactly what the author's
primary concern in the passage is; the author's intention with this
passage is to support her overall conclusion by discussing in detail
an important work, which is exactly what (E) says, so this is the
correct answer.

You asked about (B) as well.

(B) says, "explaining a traditional argument." The problem with this
answer choice is that the author does not address a traditional
argument anywhere in this passage. Rather, the author addresses a
contemporary argument on modern architecture and a very specific
argument raised by Otto Wagner. However, none of the arguments the
author addresses would be considered "traditional" arguments, so (B)
can be eliminated.

Does this make sense? Let us know if you have any more questions!

Fatima November 6, 2020

Hi! What is the "important work" meaning here? Wagner's seminal text?

augustinesalgado December 7, 2021

Hello! I would like to know why " (c) describing and evaluating a recent approach" is wrong.

Jay-Etter January 30, 2022

Hi @augustinesagaldo,
C is wrong here because the passage is primarily concerned with arguing that we can't blame the failings of modern architecture on the ideals of its founders. I'm guessing that you were thinking that the "recent approach" mentioned in C would be the failings of modern architecture? If that's the case then I'd reply by pointing out that mostly the passage is focusing on Wagner, not describing in detail the failures of modern architecture. Feel free to follow up if you still have questions!