2012-02-13 09:00:00
One of the key figures in the creation of Modernism in architecture was the Austrian architect Adolf Loos. However, despite his import, some critics have accused him of hypocrisy. Specifically, they argue that the man who became famous for attacking the elaborate ornateness of the Art Nouveau movement typically utilized in his own designs the very decorative elements he railed against in his essays. Yet, a closer inspection of his writings reveals that Loos was not as anti-decoration as some have assumed. In fact, Loos believed that “architecture arouses certain feelings” and that select parts of a building must be ornate to arouse those feelings in the public. This is best exemplified in his Goldman and Salatsch building, in which the lower level is ornate, while the upstairs, the functional part of the building that is free from the public’s view, is rather severe.
The main purpose of the passage is to
(A) defend an approach taken by historians of Adolf Loos
(B) examine conflicting viewpoints on Adolf Loos and his work
(C) summarize the import of Adolf Loos to the field of Modernism
(D) provide the history of Adolf Loos’ most famous building
(E) argue that a criticism of Adolf Loos is unfounded
The correct answer is E
Explanation: This question asks about the main idea and purpose of this passage. The best approach to a question like this is to eliminate wrong answers, but you might want to summarize the passage in your own words too. The key sentences in this passage are the ones that begin with “however” (in line 2) and “yet” (in line 5). The two sentences that follow “however” provide an accepted reading of Adolf Loos’ career, while the sentences that follow the “yet” provide the author’s viewpoint, one that contradicts the accepted view of “some critics.” Thus, the main purpose of the passage is to introduce and refute a view of Adolf Loos. This is closest to what choice E states.
Additionally, if you wanted to try process of elimination, here is why each other answer is wrong:
A is incorrect because the author spends most of the passage arguing against the views of “some critics” of Loos, not defending the approach taken by them.
B is incorrect because the author does not examine conflicting viewpoints, as instead, she alleges that a certain view of Loos is wrong and introduces one that she alleges is correct.
C is incorrect because the author only states that Loos was “one of the key figures in the creation of Modernism” (line 1) and does not state nor summarize why Loos was important to the field of Modernism.
D is incorrect because the author provides no information about the history of the Goldman and Salatsch building, nor allege that it is Loos’ most famous building.