160 PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR READING

EXERCISE 68: Classification-Arts/Architecture

In some questions in the Reading Section on the Internet-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to recall
and relate information and content from classification passages found in college textbooks. Choose the
best answer for multiple-choice questions. For computer-assisted questions, follow the directions on
the screen.

Classical Architecture
There are three different types or styles of order (column) in
Greek architecture: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. The relative
proportions of base, shaft and capital varied in the different types of
order. The Romans adapted the Greek orders for their own
purposes, but in general Roman orders were lighter, and more
heavily decorated.

Doric
The Doric order is the most massive of the three. It is the
only style in which the column has no base and the shaft is placed
directly on the platform. The shaft itself is grooved and the grooves
meet in a sharp edge. The capital can be described as a plain convex
moulding. The architrave can be plain or decorated with intermittent
rows of small triangular carvings. The frieze is decorated with a
series of tablets with vertical flutings, alternating with square spaces
which were either left plain or decorated with relief carvings.

Ionic
In the Ionic order, the shaft is taJJer and more slender. The
grooves on the shaft are separated by flat bands. Occasionally the
shafts are replaced by female figures (caryatids). According to
legend, they represent the women from an ancient tribe whom the
Greeks captured and enslaved. The capital has two sets of spirals,
rather like a roll of paper with its ends curled towards each other.
The architrave is made up of three horizontal planes, each projecting
slightly beyond the one below. The frieze can be plain or sculptured.
The cornice in the Ionic order is often decorated with rows of small
blocks, which look like teeth and are called dentals.

Corinthian
The Corinthian order is similar to the Ionic. The main difference
is in the capital, which is much more richly decorated. A Corinthian
capital is like an inverted bell. Some of them are decorated with
acanthus leaves surmounted by four symmetrical scrolls. In others,
lotus or palm leaves replace the scrolls.

Mathematical Rules in Greek Architecture

The Greeks never used more than one style for the whole of a
building. The only exception to this rule was to have one order for
the exterior and another for the interior. As a result it is relatively
easy to decide the style of any Greek building, even one in ruins, by
looking at a capital, a segment of a column or part of an entablature.
 READING SECTION: EXERCISE 68 161

All the measurements used by the architects, such as the height

of a column, were expressed in multiples of the diameter at the base
of the shaft. Each order had its own rules concerning the size of its
component parts. For example, the height of a Doric column is
between four and six times the diameter of its base. The height of an
Ionic column is nine times, and the height of a Corinthian column is
ten times the diameter of its base. Similar rules governed even the
smallest component of a building.
The system had many advantages. One was that while only a
man of great talent could build a masterpiece, even a mediocre
architect, working within the rules, could produce a passable result.
Although little of ancient Greek architecture remains in its
original form, its influence has been enormous. The ancient Greeks
took their styles to the lands which they colonized-for example
Sicily and much of the Mediterranean littoral-and when Greece
itself became a Roman colony in the second century B.C., the
Romans happily adopted the styles of what they instinctively
recognized as fine art. Greek influence on Roman architecture was
profound, particularly after Greece became a Roman province in the
second century B.C. Many of Rome's outstanding buildings were
indeed built by Greeks.

Roman Orders
The Romans had five different styles or orders. Three were
borrowed directly from the Greeks: Doric-the plainest and sturdiest;
Ionic-with fluted capitals; and Corinthian-in which the capital is
decorated with acanthus leaves. This last order was the most popular
among the Romans.
The two styles which the Romans added were Tuscan-an even
simpler form of Doric, and Composite-a richer form of Corinthian.
In Roman buildings of more than one story, the orders were placed
one above the other and usuaJly in a prescribed sequence. The lowest
would be the Doric, above it the Ionic, and above that the Corinthian.

Doric Corinthian

Glossary
architrave: a base support for a column
capital: the feature on top of a column
r/,,nft• thP rnJ11mn he.tween the base and the capital
162 PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR READING

Classical Architecture (Question References)

There are three different types or styles of order (column) in
Greek architecture: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. The relative
proportions of base, shaft and capital varied in the different types of
order. [!!The Romans adapted the Greek orders for their own
purposes, but in general Roman orders were lighter, and more
heavily decorated. [g

Doric
[[) The Doric order is the most massive of the three. It is the
only style in which the column has no base and the shaft is placed
directly on the platform. The shaft itself is grooved and the grooves
meet in a sharp edge. The capital can be described as a plain convex
moulding. The architrave can be plain or decorated with intermittent
rows of small triangular carvings. The frieze is decorated with a
series of tablets with vertical flutings, alternating with square spaces
which were either left plain or decorated with relief carvings.

Ionic
In the Ionic order, the shaft is taller and more slender. The
grooves on the shaft are separated by flat bands. Occasionally the
shafts are replaced by female figures (caryatids). According to
legend, they represent the women from an ancient tribe whom the
Greeks captured and enslaved. The capital has two sets of spirals,
rather like a roll of paper with its ends curled towards each other.
The architrave is made up of three horizontal planes, each projecting
slightly beyond the one below. The frieze can be plain or sculptured.
The cornice in the Ionic order is often decorated with rows of smaJI
blocks, which look like teeth and are called dentals.

Corinthian
The Corinthian order is similar to the Ionic. The main difference
is in the capital, which is much more richly decorated. A Corinthian
capital is like an inverted bell. Some of them are decorated with
acanthus leaves surmounted by four symmetrical scrolls. In others,
lotus or palm leaves replace the scrolls.

Mathematical Rules in Greek Architecture

The Greeks never used more than one style for the whole of a
building. The only exception to this rule was to have one order for
the exterior and another for the interior. As a result it is relatively
easy to decide the style of any Greek building, even one in ruins, by
looking at a capital, a segment of a column or part of an entablature.
All the measurements used by the architects, such as the height
of a column, were expressed in multiples of the diameter at the base
of the shaft. Each order had its own rules concerning the size of its
component parts. For example, the height of a Doric column is
between four and six times the diameter of its base. The height of an
Ionic column is nine times, and the height of a Corinthian column is
 READING SECTION: EXERCISE 68 163

ten times the diameter of its base. Similar rules governed even the
smallest component of a building.
The system had many advantages. One was that while only a
man of great talent could build a masterpiece, even a mediocre
architect, working within the rules, could produce a passable result.
Although little of ancient Greek architecture remains in its
original form, its influence has been enormous. The ancient Greeks
took their styles to the lands which they colonized-for example
Sicily and much of the Mediterranean littoral-and when Greece
itself became a Roman colony in the second century B.C., the
Romans happily adopted the styles of what they instinctively
recognized as fine art. Greek influence on Roman architecture was
profound, particularly after Greece became a Roman province in the
second century B.C. Many of Rome's outstanding buildings were
indeed built by Greeks.

Roman Orders
The Romans had five different styles or orders. Three were
borrowed directly from the Greeks: Doric- the plainest and sturdiest;
Ionic- with fluted capitals; and Corinthian-in which the capital is
decorated with acanthus leaves. This last order was the most popular
among the Romans.
The two styles which the Romans added were Tuscan-an even
simpler form of Doric, and Composite-a richer form of Corinthian.
In Roman buildings of more than one story, the orders were placed
one above the other and usuaJly in a prescribed sequence. The lowest
would be the Doric, above it the Ionic, and above that the Corinthian.

1. What does this passage mainly discuss? 3. The word passable in the passage is closest
© Classical columns in architecture in meaning to
CD Greek influence on Roman columns © recognized
© Mathematical rules for columns CD similar
(]) Fine art in ancient buildings © satisfactory
(]) correct
2. What is the rule for the height of a
Corinthian column? 4. The word enormous in the passage is
© Six times the diameter of the base closest in meaning to
<ID Nine times the diameter of the base © very good
© Ten times the diameter of the base <ID very large
<ID Twelve times the diameter of the base © very beautiful
(]) very strong
164 PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR READING

5. The word another in the passage refers to 9. It can be inferred from the mathematical
© exterior rules that
® order © the Ionic column is the heaviest
©rule ® the Corinthian column is the slimmest
® exception © the Doric column is the tallest
<ID the Tuscan column is the most ornate
6. According to paragraph l 0, which new
orders did the Romans add to the l 0. Four squares (0 ) indicate where the
architectural styles of the Greeks? following sentence can be added to the
passage.
Click on 2 answers.
Both the Greek and the Roman orders
0 Doric have inspired a number of classical
[fil Composite
revivals, and many examples are evident
@] Tuscan
in modern buildings.
@] Corinthian
Where would the sentence best fit into the
7. Which of the sentences below best passage?
expresses the information in the 0
highlighted statement in the passage? The [fil
other choices change the meaning or leave @]
out important information. @]
© Buildings were designed with several
styles. 11. Complete the table below by classifying
® The styles in a building complimented each of the answer choices under the order
it. to which it refers. One of the answer
© Only one style was used in each choices will not be used.
building. © Various leaves and scrolls decorate the
® There is one style of Greek column.
architecture. ® The column is often painted in bright
colors.
8. The author mentioned all of the following © A column without a base, it sits on the
characteristics of the Corinthian order platform.
EXCEPT <ID The largest, widest style of the Greek
@ It was the Greek style that the Romans columns.
preferred. <D The column is nine times as high as
® It included a heavily decorated capital. the diameter of the base.
© It was a design that fust appeared in <D Female figures are sometimes
Corinth. substituted for the shaft.
<ID It was often used as the top story ® Four symmetrical scrolls grace the
above the Doric and Ionic. column.

Doric Ionic Corinthian

. • •
. • •
 READING SECTION : EXERCISE 68 165

12. Complete a summary of the passage by selecting THREE answer choices that express the most
important ideas. The other three sentences do not belong in the summary because they express
ideas that are not in the passage or they do not refer to the major ideas. This question is worth
2 points.
Classical styles have exercised a great influence on architecture.
© The Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders can be distinguished by the style of their columns.
CD It is possible to determine the style of a Greek building by looking at a ruin.
© Roman architects supplemented the Greek orders with two more, the Tuscan and the
Composite.
® The Egyptians had also used several types of columns to construct and decorate buildings.
CD The sturdy Doric order is used as a foundation for large, multi-story buildings.
<D Greek architecture had rules concerning the relative size of component parts in a structure.

Refer to pages 439-440 for the Explanatory Answers.