What are the key
words in this question? (why,
author , pointing out, height)
What is this question asking me to do?
(consider the author's purpose
in starting with information about the designer's height).
Which choices can you eliminate right
away, and which are possibly correct answers? Remember
the "YES, NO, MAYBE"tool.
Before we look at the answer choices, do you have an
idea of why the author chooses to share Maya Lin's height
right at the beginning of the article?
Multiple Choice Answers:
Yes
No
Maybe
Answers
A.
To point out something she had to overcome to
become an architect
Is this true? Does she have to overcome her height
in order to draw designs for architecture?
Logically,
this does not make sense. It is not supported by the
text either. The text says, "But when it comes
to monument-making, Lin is a giant among designers."
This seems to say she is a giant in spite of her
physical height. Eliminate this answer.
B.
To contrast her height with the height of her
most famous design
In the second paragraph, the text says her designs,
"do not tower over people or intimidate them."
This seems to contradict the statement in this answer.
Her designs are not tall, rather they are like her,
not intimidating. Eliminate this answer. We have two
to go!
C.
To explain how her height influenced her choice
of careers Referring
back to the text, there is no evidence that her height
had much to do with her choice of career. We can eliminate
this answer also. Hopefully the next answer will make
sense!
D.
To contrast her height with her stature as an
architect What
does "stature" mean? We can use the context
and what we know from the article to figure it out.
It is something that is in contrast (different from)
her height. It might have something to do with height
- or maybe with standing, status, or reputation. From
the text we know that, "Lin is a giant amont
designers," which seems to mean her small height
is in contrast to her height as an architect where
she is a giant. This answer makes sense. She might
be small, but she is a giant as an architect.
