Passage IV

   Vaulting played a great part—perhaps the greatest, though certainly not the only part in developing Gothic architecture; but it will not do to define it as simply the expression of scientific vaulting. The Romans were masters of the art of vaulting long before; they used—probably invented—the cross-vault, and understood the concentration of thrusts on isolated points. It was from them, and from the Eastern Rome as well, that the Romanesque builders learned how to make their stone roofs, and they in their turn passed the art on to their Gothic successors, who improved and developed it in their own way, making in the end almost a new art of it. But it must be remembered that most of the problems of scientific vaulting had presented themselves before their time, and had been partially at all events solved by their predecessors, though not so completely.

   Nor is it correct to regard vaulting as an essential feature of the style, however great its influence may have been on the structure of great churches. In England except on a grand scale it is exceptional; and yet if Westminster Hall with its stupendous timber covering, and the Fen churches with their glorious wooden roofs, and the splendid ceiling of the nave at St David’s are not Gothic what are they? And what else can we call the countless village churches, gems of modest art, that stud our country far and wide, and constitute one of its greatest charms, though it is only here and there that they aspire to the dignity of a vaulted ceiling?

   Again if the test of Gothic is to be the logical expression of a vaulted construction what becomes of domestic architecture both here and abroad, in which vaulting certainly does not play an important part? Are the townhalls of Brussels, Ypres, and Louvain not Gothic, nor the Broletto of Como, the pontifical palace at Viterbo, or that of the popes at Avignon, or the ducal palace at Venice?

   Still less is Gothic architecture, as it has appeared to the ordinary layman, a matter of quatrefoils and trefoils, of cusps and traceries, of crockets and finials, pinnacles and flying buttresses. These are but the accidents of the style, though no doubt they resulted naturally from the application of certain principles behind them. But they might all fly away and yet leave a Gothic building behind them. Many an old tithe barn of rough timber framework is as truly a piece of Gothic architecture as York Minster or Salisbury Cathedral.

   If then none of these attempted definitions are really coextensive with the Gothic style of architecture, for a building may be Gothic and yet have none of these characteristics, how are we to define it?

   The true way of looking at Gothic art is to regard it not as a definite style bound by certain formulas—for it is infinitely various—but rather as the expression of a certain temper, sentiment, and spirit which inspired the whole method of doing things during the Middle Ages in sculpture and painting as well as in architecture. It cannot be defined by any of its outward features, for they are variable, differing at times and in different places. They are the outward expression of certain cardinal principles behind them, and though these principles are common to all good styles—Gothic among them—the result of applying them to the buildings of each age, country, and people will vary as the circumstances of that country, that age, and that people vary.

From Sir Thomas Graham Jackson, Gothic Architecture in France, England & Italy.

 

31. 

Which statement is most accurate?

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

D.

 

 

32. 

The author believes that

 

A.

is an essential feature of Gothic architecture.

 

B.

 

C.

 

D.

 

 

33. 

Gothic art

I. is to be regarded as a definite style bound by certain formulas.
II. is the expression of a certain temper, sentiment, and spirit which inspired sculpture and painting.
III. cannot be defined by any of its outward features since they are variable.

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

D.

 

 

34. 

The writer believes that Gothic art

 

A.

a thing of the past.

 

B.

be applied to buildings of each age and country exactly as in the past.

 

C.

be applied with some variation to buildings of each age and country.

 

D.

not follow the principles common to all good styles.

 

 

35. 

The central purpose of the article is to

 

A.

Gothic architecture.

 

B.

the characteristics of Gothic architecture.

 

C.

"the true way of looking at Gothic."

 

D.

Gothic architecture.

 

36. 

"Vaulting" in this article refers to

 

A.

way of leaping high, as in popularity.

 

B.

way of styling similar to that of vaults, or places where bodies are interred.

 

C.

way of producing high ceilings without visible support.

 

D.

way of drawing and producing plans on paper.

 

 

37. 

A "pontifical place" may be best interpreted as

 

A.

place of happiness and merriment.

 

B.

place of rest and relaxation.

 

C.

place which seems friendly.

 

D.

place which seems dignified.

 

 

38. 

Quatrefoils, according to the article, are

 

A.

accidents of style.

 

B.

results of applications of principles.

 

C.

to Gothic buildings.

 

D.

of the natural application of certain principles.

 

 

39. 

The author regards Gothic art as

 

A.

definite style bound by certain formulas.

 

B.

styles which are similar in all expressions.

 

C.

expression of infinitely various temper, sentiment, and spirit.

 

D.

by outward features.

 

 

40. 

The author says Gothic art is NOT

 

A.

whole method of doing things during the Middle Ages.

 

B.

influence on architecture, painting, and sculpture.

 

C.

by its features.

 

D.

outward expression of certain cardinal principles.

 

 

ANSWER KEY

31. 

Which statement is most accurate?

 

 

 

A.

 

 

 

B.

 

 

 

C.

 

 

 

D.

 

Explanation:

Since the Romanesque builders had partially solved many of the problems of scientific vaulting before their Gothic successors, (C) is the best answer. Since the Romanesque builders were predecessors to the Gothic forms (not the other way around), (A) is false. The Romanesque builders were predecessors (not successors) to the Gothic builders; therefore, (B) should not be chosen. Vaulting played a great part in Gothic architecture; (D) is false.

 

Section:

ACT Reading Test II

Subsection:

Arts/Literature

 

32. 

The author believes that

 

 

 

A.

is an essential feature of Gothic architecture.

 

 

 

B.

 

 

 

C.

 

 

 

D.

 

Explanation:

Gothic architecture might still exist even without quatrefoils, trefoils, cusps, traceries, pinnacles, flying buttresses, crockets, and finials; therefore, (C) is the best answer. Since vaulting is not essential to Gothic architecture, (A) is false. Gothic architecture had an influence in churches even if only here and there the village churches "…aspire to the dignity of a vaulted ceiling." (B) should not be chosen. Gothic architecture cannot be described as a definite style with certain formulas; (D) is incorrect.

 

Section:

ACT Reading Test II

Subsection:

Arts/Literature

 

33. 

Gothic art

I. is to be regarded as a definite style bound by certain formulas.
II. is the expression of a certain temper, sentiment, and spirit which inspired sculpture and painting.
III. cannot be defined by any of its outward features since they are variable.

 

 

 

A.

 

 

 

B.

 

 

 

C.

 

 

 

D.

 

Explanation:

(C) is the best answer since it includes both II (Gothic art is the expression of a certain temper, sentiment, and spirit which inspired sculpture and painting) and III (Gothic art cannot be defined by any of its outward features since they are variable). Both II and III are correct, but I, which states that Gothic art is bound by certain formulas, is not true. Since (A), (B), and (D) all include I, only (C) is correct.

 

Section:

ACT Reading Test II

Subsection:

Arts/Literature

 

34. 

The writer believes that Gothic art

 

 

 

A.

a thing of the past.

 

 

 

B.

be applied to buildings of each age and country exactly as in the past.

 

 

 

C.

be applied with some variation to buildings of each age and country.

 

 

 

D.

not follow the principles common to all good styles.

 

Explanation:

The best answer is (C); it states that the writer believes Gothic art will be applied with some variation to buildings of each age and country. (A), which states that Gothic art is a thing of the past, is false. Choice (B) states that Gothic art will be applied to buildings of each age and country exactly as in the past; (B) is inaccurate due to the inclusion of the words "exactly as in the past." Gothic art follows the principles common to all good styles; (D) states that Gothic art does not follow the principles common to all good styles. Since (D) is refuted by the last sentence of the passage, it is incorrect as an answer.

 

Section:

ACT Reading Test II

Subsection:

Arts/Literature

 

35. 

The central purpose of the article is to

 

 

 

A.

Gothic architecture.

 

 

 

B.

the characteristics of Gothic architecture.

 

 

 

C.

"the true way of looking at Gothic."

 

 

 

D.

Gothic architecture.

 

Explanation:

The best choice is (A); it states that the central purpose of the article is to define Gothic architecture, which is an accurate statement. Since the characteristics of Gothic architecture vary so much, (B) should not be chosen since a comprehensive analysis of the article does not give characteristics of Gothic architecture. (C) is incorrect since there is no true way of viewing Gothic architecture. (D) is inaccurate since the writer seems to value Gothic architecture and this answer suggests the opposite.

 

Section:

ACT Reading Test II

Subsection:

Arts/Literature

 

36. 

"Vaulting" in this article refers to

 

 

 

A.

way of leaping high, as in popularity.

 

 

 

B.

way of styling similar to that of vaults, or places where bodies are interred.

 

 

 

C.

way of producing high ceilings without visible support.

 

 

 

D.

way of drawing and producing plans on paper.

 

Explanation:

Since vaulting is a way of producing high ceilings without visible support, (C) is the correct answer by inference from the reading passage. (A) is incorrect since no mention of leaping is made in the passage. (B) is also incorrect since vaulting is part of a style rather than a style. (D) is incorrect since neither drawing nor producing plans on paper is mentioned or alluded to in the reading passage.

 

Section:

ACT Reading Test II

Subsection:

Arts/Literature

 

37. 

A "pontifical place" may be best interpreted as

 

 

 

A.

place of happiness and merriment.

 

 

 

B.

place of rest and relaxation.

 

 

 

C.

place which seems friendly.

 

 

 

D.

place which seems dignified.

 

Explanation:

(D) is the best answer since "pontifical" is used to describe palaces in this reading passage; "pontifical" means dignified. Such a place is not necessarily a happy, merry place; (A) should not be chosen. A "pontifical palace" is not necessarily a place of rest and relaxation; (B) should not be selected. (C) should not be chosen since it suggests that a "pontifical palace" necessarily involves a place which is friendly.

 

Section:

ACT Reading Test II

Subsection:

Arts/Literature

 

38. 

Quatrefoils, according to the article, are

 

 

 

A.

accidents of style.

 

 

 

B.

results of applications of principles.

 

 

 

C.

to Gothic buildings.

 

 

 

D.

of the natural application of certain principles.

 

Explanation:

Quatrefoils are the result of the natural application of certain principles; (D) is the best answer. By referring to the passage, it can be ascertained that (A), (B), and (C) are all opposites of what the author writes; therefore, all are incorrect.

 

Section:

ACT Reading Test II

Subsection:

Arts/Literature

 

39. 

The author regards Gothic art as

 

 

 

A.

definite style bound by certain formulas.

 

 

 

B.

styles which are similar in all expressions.

 

 

 

C.

expression of infinitely various temper, sentiment, and spirit.

 

 

 

D.

by outward features.

 

Explanation:

Gothic art is the expression of infinitely various temper, sentiment, and spirit; (C) is the best choice. It is perhaps easier to define, first of all, what Gothic architecture is not. It is not bound by formulas (A); it is not characterized by similar styles (B); and it is not defined by outward features (D).

 

Section:

ACT Reading Test II

Subsection:

Arts/Literature

 

40. 

The author says Gothic art is NOT

 

 

 

A.

whole method of doing things during the Middle Ages.

 

 

 

B.

influence on architecture, painting, and sculpture.

 

 

 

C.

by its features.

 

 

 

D.

outward expression of certain cardinal principles.

 

Explanation:

Choice (C)—Gothic art is not defined by its features—is not mentioned in the passage. Since the reader is searching for a statement which is not true, (C) should be selected. In perusing the passage, statements (A), (B), and (D) will be found; the author says that Gothic art is a whole method of doing things during the Middle Ages (A), an influence on architecture, painting, and sculpture (B), and an outward expression of certain cardinal principles (D). None of these answers should be chosen.

 

Section:

ACT Reading Test II

Subsection:

Arts/Literature