Levittown
1 Shortly after World War II, many changes led to the development of suburbs. Men returned home from military service, got married, and started families. They needed housing. William Levitt, an entrepreneur, started building look-alike houses in developments in rural areas using assembly-line techniques. His first site, located in Nassau County, New York, is now called Levittown.
2 William and his brother Alfred first gained experience in assembly-line techniques while building government housing for defense workers during World War II. After the war, the Levitts gambled on the belief that many veterans would want to work in the city while living in rural areas. They bought 1,000 acres of Long Island farmland 25 miles east of Manhattan. In 1947, they began construction on the first of what would eventually be 17,000 houses.
3 The operation was organized so that houses could be mass-produced. At a 20-acre facility on-site, cement was mixed and lumber cut. Carpenters, roofers, and tile layers worked in waves. There was even one team of painters for red and another for white. The Levitt brothers owned a forest, a saw mill, and a nail-making factory. This use of vertical integration, along with buying appliances directly from manufacturers, allowed them to keep costs down and maximize their profits. Houses sold for $8,000, which resulted in a $1,000 profit per house for the builders.
4 Even so, the success of Levittown depended not only on the efficiency of the Levitt brothers' process but also on the Federal Housing Administration, which guaranteed bank loans to builders. Moreover, a separate government program made low-interest mortgage loans avallable to returning military personnel. With this financing in place, more homes could be built and more veterans could afford to buy them. Thus, much of the baby-boom generation had well-constructed homes in which to grow up.
Which sentence from the passage provides evidence that the Veterans Administration was involved in the development of suburban communities?
- A. "Men returned home from military service, got married, and started families." (paragraph 1)
- B. "Moreover, a separate government program made low-interest mortgage loans available to returning military personnel." (paragraph 4)
- C. "Even so, the success of Levittown depended not only on the efficiency of the Levitt brothers' process but also on the Federal Housing Administration, which guaranteed bank loans to builders." (paragraph 4)
- D. "William and his brother Alfred first gained experience in assembly-line techniques while building government housing for defense workers during World War II." (paragraph 2)
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Option B clearly highlights the involvement of the Veterans Administration by mentioning a specific government program that provided low-interest mortgage loans to returning military personnel. This directly links the agency's actions to the development of suburban communities, as affordable housing financing is crucial for homeownership. Option A discusses the general trend of returning veterans starting families but does not specifically reference the Veterans Administration's role. Option C mentions the Federal Housing Administration, not the Veterans Administration, which makes it irrelevant to the question. Option D focuses on the Levitt brothers’ prior experience and does not address the Veterans Administration's involvement in suburban development.
Option B clearly highlights the involvement of the Veterans Administration by mentioning a specific government program that provided low-interest mortgage loans to returning military personnel. This directly links the agency's actions to the development of suburban communities, as affordable housing financing is crucial for homeownership. Option A discusses the general trend of returning veterans starting families but does not specifically reference the Veterans Administration's role. Option C mentions the Federal Housing Administration, not the Veterans Administration, which makes it irrelevant to the question. Option D focuses on the Levitt brothers’ prior experience and does not address the Veterans Administration's involvement in suburban development.
Other Related Questions
Which one statement identifies the main idea of President Johnson's speech?
- A. The federal government has the responsibility to guarantee the rights of citizens.
- B. The expansion of educational opportunities should be the next goal of the civil rights movement.
- C. The expansion of voting rights can eliminate poverty.
- D. The federal government has power over state governments.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A accurately captures the essence of President Johnson's speech, which emphasizes the government's duty to protect citizens' rights, particularly in the context of civil rights and social justice. Option B, while relevant to the civil rights movement, does not encapsulate the primary focus of the speech, which is broader than just education. Option C suggests a direct correlation between voting rights and poverty alleviation, which, though important, is not the main thrust of Johnson's address. Option D misrepresents the speech's intent, as it does not primarily discuss the federal government's authority over states but rather its role in ensuring citizen rights.
Option A accurately captures the essence of President Johnson's speech, which emphasizes the government's duty to protect citizens' rights, particularly in the context of civil rights and social justice. Option B, while relevant to the civil rights movement, does not encapsulate the primary focus of the speech, which is broader than just education. Option C suggests a direct correlation between voting rights and poverty alleviation, which, though important, is not the main thrust of Johnson's address. Option D misrepresents the speech's intent, as it does not primarily discuss the federal government's authority over states but rather its role in ensuring citizen rights.
Which historical event shaped President Wilson's point of view?
- A. the enactment of the Neutrality Acts
- B. the building of the Panama Canal
- C. the outcome of the Spanish-American War
- D. the fighting in World War I
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
President Wilson's perspective was profoundly shaped by the fighting in World War I, as it highlighted the need for a new approach to international relations and the promotion of democracy. His commitment to a peaceful resolution and the establishment of the League of Nations stemmed from the devastation of the war. Option A, the Neutrality Acts, reflects a desire to avoid conflict, but they were enacted after Wilson's initial views were formed. Option B, the Panama Canal, was significant for U.S. expansion but did not directly influence Wilson's foreign policy. Option C, the Spanish-American War, marked an earlier phase of U.S. imperialism, contrasting with Wilson's focus on self-determination and peace.
President Wilson's perspective was profoundly shaped by the fighting in World War I, as it highlighted the need for a new approach to international relations and the promotion of democracy. His commitment to a peaceful resolution and the establishment of the League of Nations stemmed from the devastation of the war. Option A, the Neutrality Acts, reflects a desire to avoid conflict, but they were enacted after Wilson's initial views were formed. Option B, the Panama Canal, was significant for U.S. expansion but did not directly influence Wilson's foreign policy. Option C, the Spanish-American War, marked an earlier phase of U.S. imperialism, contrasting with Wilson's focus on self-determination and peace.
How does the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling differ from Justice Murphy's dissent?
- A. Only Justice Murphy's dissent acknowledged the dangers to the United States of having citizens from foreign lands.
- B. Only the Court's ruling acknowledged that the actions of fearful U.S. authorities can endanger the civil rights of citizens.
- C. Only the Court's ruling contended that Korematsu was ordered held in an internment camp because he was disloyal to the United States during time of war.
- D. Only Justice Murphy's dissent contended that U.S. internment camps were a clear-cut example of racial prejudice.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Justice Murphy's dissent emphasized that the internment camps represented blatant racial prejudice, highlighting the unjust targeting of Japanese Americans based solely on their ethnicity. This perspective contrasts sharply with the majority opinion, which focused on national security concerns without addressing the racial implications. Option A is incorrect as both perspectives recognize the potential dangers of foreign nationals, albeit in different contexts. Option B misrepresents the majority's stance, which did not explicitly acknowledge civil rights violations. Option C inaccurately simplifies the Court's ruling, which did not solely attribute internment to disloyalty.
Justice Murphy's dissent emphasized that the internment camps represented blatant racial prejudice, highlighting the unjust targeting of Japanese Americans based solely on their ethnicity. This perspective contrasts sharply with the majority opinion, which focused on national security concerns without addressing the racial implications. Option A is incorrect as both perspectives recognize the potential dangers of foreign nationals, albeit in different contexts. Option B misrepresents the majority's stance, which did not explicitly acknowledge civil rights violations. Option C inaccurately simplifies the Court's ruling, which did not solely attribute internment to disloyalty.
Which statement from the passage is an opinion?
- A. "The ill-advised rush to extract new discoveries of shale oil and natural gas is a case in point."
- B. "...if the result is polluted water and ghost towns, it is not a sustainable model."
- C. “‘Sustainability' means using natural resources responsibly so that they are available to future generations."
- D. "... to achieve sustainability a business will not view profit only in terms of dollars."
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A expresses a subjective viewpoint about the extraction of shale oil and natural gas, labeling it as "ill-advised." This indicates a personal judgment rather than an objective fact. In contrast, Option B presents a consequence of unsustainable practices, framing it as a logical outcome rather than an opinion. Option C defines "sustainability" in a factual manner, outlining its meaning without personal bias. Lastly, Option D describes a business approach towards sustainability, focusing on a principle rather than expressing a personal belief. Thus, A stands out as the only statement rooted in opinion.
Option A expresses a subjective viewpoint about the extraction of shale oil and natural gas, labeling it as "ill-advised." This indicates a personal judgment rather than an objective fact. In contrast, Option B presents a consequence of unsustainable practices, framing it as a logical outcome rather than an opinion. Option C defines "sustainability" in a factual manner, outlining its meaning without personal bias. Lastly, Option D describes a business approach towards sustainability, focusing on a principle rather than expressing a personal belief. Thus, A stands out as the only statement rooted in opinion.