Central Park
Although the name central park suggests that it has a clear
organizing feature, New York’s City’s famous green space has no
official center. There is no formal walkway that cuts through the
park or monuments that marks its middle. Instead of symmetry,
central park contains widened parks and an ever-changing landscape
that appears random and rustic. Despite appearances, the park is an
achievement of planning and engineering. Years of citizens
campaigning for a park on New York City’s Manhattan island
convinced the state to purchase 750 acres of land in 1853. After a
chance meeting with the project organizer, Frank Law Olmstead who
was raised in Connecticut and had been deeply impressed by the
public parts of England applied for the job of Park Superintendent
in 1857. Olmstead was appointed Superintendent and workers began
clearing the land for construction. The park now needed a design.
Calvert Vaux, a British architect, who had helped to design the
grounds of the White House and the Smithsonian Institution asked
Olmstead to collaborate with him. The two developed a plan that
would give city dwellers a tranquil growing space. After a vote by
park commissioners, Vaux and Olmstead became the official designers
of Central Park. Creation of the park required years of
construction. Thanks in part to the use of 166 tons of gunpowder,
the swampy land was transformed into gentle slopes, scenic vistas
by the movement of 2.5 million cubic yards of earth. By the time
construction finished, the park included 58 miles of walking paths
and 7 land made bodies of water. Today, Olmstead and Vaux’s work of
art welcomes about 40 million visitors each year. Without itself
having a single orientation, central park’s natural and open
designs made it a central escape from the noise and unyielding grid
of the city that surrounds it.
The following questions are based on this passage
19. Which of the following paragraphs accurately summarizes
the key points of this passage?
a. New York City is home to many of the nation’s most famous
landmarks. This is thanks in part to the active role of New York
citizens take in preserving important spaces.
b. Central Park is one of the best-known historical attraction
because its parks, ponds and plant-like allows visitors to combine
peacefulness and exercise. Central park is one of the only growing
spaces in New York City. The land has been preserved because
citizens persuaded the state to purchase acreage in order to
protect its natural beauty. The park has provided a peaceful escape
to environmentalists to this day.
c. The beginning stages of the creation of central park
occurred in 1850. Superintendent Frank Law Olmstead and architect
Calvert Vaux teamed up and took the lead in designing and
overseeing the construction of the park. Central park is now one of
New York City’s most famous and often visited landmarks.
d. There is no logical reasoning behind the name for Central
Park as it has no distinguishing features in the center and it is
also not located in the geographical center of the city. English
parts are typically much more organized. The same people design all
United States landmarks in the 1800’s.
20. Which of the following sentences is the main idea of the
passage?
a. Famous parks like Central Park in New York City take a
great amount of work and planning in order to grow from swamp land
to landmarks.
b. Olmstead and Vaux are American heroes who have not received
the recognition for their achievement in planning and
engineering
c. The distinctive history of central park, its birth, its
design and its function make the park an important and treasured
New York City landmark.
d. The citizens of New York have played a major role in the
creation and maintenance of Central Park since before its creation
until present.
21. Which of the following contains the author’s
opinion?
a. After a vote by park commissioners, Vaux and Olmstead
became the official designers of Central Park
b. Olmstead was appointed Superintendent and workers began
clearing the land for construction.
c. Olmstead and Vaux’s work of art welcomes about 40 million
guests each year.
d. Calvert Vaux, a British architect who helped to design the
grounds of the White House and Smithsonian Institution asked
Olmstead to collaborate with him.
22. According to the passage, which of the following factors
caused New York State to purchase that land that is now called
Central Park?
a. New York citizens had been campaigning for years for a
public park in Manhattan
b. The state needs someone to oversee the construction of the
park and Frank Law Olmstead volunteered.
c. The city was growing quickly and the state government was
worried about running out of land.
d. The state government recognized the need for a peaceful
space in a chaotic city
23. Which of the following has the same meaning as the word
“rustic” as used in the passage?
a. Conventional
b. Complex
c. Asymmetrical
d. Natural
24. Which of the following describes the author’s main purpose
in the passage?
a. To inform
b. To analyze
c. To persuade
d. To entertain
25. Which of the following statements is a logical conclusion
a reader could draw from this passage?
a. Central park appeals to both New York City and residents
and tourists
b. The writer of this passage is from New York City
c. Central park meets a single orienting feature to more
appealing to visitors
d. Central park will be a great place for a family camping
trip