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
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.
What is the mean number of people who became legal residents of the United States during this five-year period?
- A. 1,119,823
- B. 223,504
- C. 5,599,113
- D. 1,107,126
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
To determine the mean number of legal residents over the five-year period, one must sum the total number of residents and divide by five. The correct calculation yields a mean of 1,119,823, reflecting the average annual influx. Option B (223,504) represents a miscalculation, likely reflecting a single year's data rather than an average. Option C (5,599,113) incorrectly totals the residents without division, suggesting a cumulative number rather than an average. Option D (1,107,126) is close but does not accurately reflect the mean, indicating a minor arithmetic error.
To determine the mean number of legal residents over the five-year period, one must sum the total number of residents and divide by five. The correct calculation yields a mean of 1,119,823, reflecting the average annual influx. Option B (223,504) represents a miscalculation, likely reflecting a single year's data rather than an average. Option C (5,599,113) incorrectly totals the residents without division, suggesting a cumulative number rather than an average. Option D (1,107,126) is close but does not accurately reflect the mean, indicating a minor arithmetic error.
What basic assumption behind Marshall's remarks is not behind Reagan's remarks?
- A. The framers of the U.S. Constitution have received more credit than they deserve for the governmental protections Americans enjoy.
- B. The framers of the U.S. Constitution have been credited with creating a document that protects all free people around the world.
- C. The U.S. Constitution created a government whose promises are yet to be realized by many around the world.
- D. The U.S. Constitution created a government based on the principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Marshall's remarks imply a critical view of the framers' contributions, suggesting they may not deserve as much credit for governmental protections as commonly believed. This contrasts with Reagan's perspective, which typically emphasizes the positive legacy of the framers. Option B incorrectly assumes that both figures share the belief in the global impact of the Constitution, which Reagan often highlighted. Option C suggests an acknowledgment of unrealized promises, aligning with both perspectives, while option D reinforces a foundational agreement on principles that both figures would likely support. Thus, A stands out as the unique assumption absent in Reagan's remarks.
Marshall's remarks imply a critical view of the framers' contributions, suggesting they may not deserve as much credit for governmental protections as commonly believed. This contrasts with Reagan's perspective, which typically emphasizes the positive legacy of the framers. Option B incorrectly assumes that both figures share the belief in the global impact of the Constitution, which Reagan often highlighted. Option C suggests an acknowledgment of unrealized promises, aligning with both perspectives, while option D reinforces a foundational agreement on principles that both figures would likely support. Thus, A stands out as the unique assumption absent in Reagan's remarks.
Based on the excerpt, which conclusion can be drawn about the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights?
- A. Ratification of the Bill of Rights was completed before the Constitution was drafted.
- B. Ratification of the Constitution was dependent on the passage of the Bill of Rights.
- C. Most leaders were worried that the Bill of Rights would weaken the ruling class protected by the Constitution.
- D. Many leaders were concerned that the Bill of Rights would upset the balance of powers outlined in the Constitution.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
The conclusion that ratification of the Constitution was dependent on the passage of the Bill of Rights is supported by historical context, as many states required assurance of individual rights to approve the Constitution. Option A is incorrect because the Bill of Rights was introduced after the Constitution was drafted. Option C misrepresents the intent of the Bill of Rights; leaders were primarily concerned with protecting individual liberties rather than preserving the ruling class. Option D is also inaccurate, as the Bill of Rights aimed to safeguard citizens' rights without disrupting the balance of powers established by the Constitution.
The conclusion that ratification of the Constitution was dependent on the passage of the Bill of Rights is supported by historical context, as many states required assurance of individual rights to approve the Constitution. Option A is incorrect because the Bill of Rights was introduced after the Constitution was drafted. Option C misrepresents the intent of the Bill of Rights; leaders were primarily concerned with protecting individual liberties rather than preserving the ruling class. Option D is also inaccurate, as the Bill of Rights aimed to safeguard citizens' rights without disrupting the balance of powers established by the Constitution.