Excerpt from the Brooklyn Bridge: New York’s Graceful Connection

In the course of the construction of the Bridge a number of lives have been lost. Does it not sometimes seem as though every work of enduring value, in the material as in the moral world, must needs be purchased at the cost of human life?

The content of this excerpt makes it clear that

• the audience was not very grateful to those who built the bridge.

• the mayor owned the company that built the Brooklyn Bridge.

• the building of the bridge was incredibly difficult and dangerous work.

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Why was the building of the Brooklyn Bridge of importance to New Yorkers?

It would bring significantly more visitors to New York City.

It simplified travel between Brooklyn and Manhattan.

It was the first major landmark of the New York City skyline.

It brought more foreign investment to New York City.

• It would bring significantly more visitors to New York City.

• It simplified travel between Brooklyn and Manhattan.

• It was the first major landmark of the New York City skyline.

• It brought more foreign investment to New York City.

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CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Which of the following events happened first?

• Washington Roebling is injured.

• A law is passed to build the bridge.

• Washington Roebling’s father dies.

  .

• Construction of the bridge begins

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CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

John Roebling, the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge,

• was a civil engineer who invented twisted wire-rope cable.

• also worked on the design of the George Washington Bridge.

• took over the building of the bridge after his father died.

• emigrated to the United States from Czechoslovakia.

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

After its construction was finished, the Brooklyn Bridge was

• the first suspension bridge in the world.

• the longest suspension bridge for its time.

• the world’s most expensive construction project.

• the first monument built with concrete and metal.

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CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge was completed in

• 1866

• 1869

• 1883

• 1887

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CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.3

CCSS.RI.7.5

No one can compute the loss of time ensuing daily from delays at the ferries to the multitudes crossing the stream. And time is not only money--it is opportunity. Brooklyn becomes available, henceforth, as a place of residence to thousands, to whom the ability to reach their places of business without interruption from fog and ice is of paramount importance. To all Brooklyn's present citizens a distinct boon is given. The certainty of communication with New York afforded by the Bridge is the fundamental benefit it confers. Incident to this is the opportunity it gives for rapid communication.

According to these details, the people of Manhattan and Brooklyn

• will no longer lose opportunities due to limited methods of crossing the river.

• will prefer to cross the river by ferry.

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CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.6.8

CCSS.RI.7.8

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

The importance of this Bridge in its far-reaching effects at once entices and baffles the imagination. At either end of the Bridge lies a great city—cities full of vigorous life. The activities and the energies of each flow over into the other. The electric current has conveyed unchecked between the two the interchanging thoughts, but the rapid river has ever bidden halt to the foot of man. It is as though the population of these cities had been brought down to the river-side, year after year, there to be taught patience; and as though, in this Bridge, after these many years, patience had had her perfect work.

What is the purpose of the subjective language of this excerpt?

• to describe the architectural beauty of the bridge to the audience

• to convince the citizens of New York that this bridge is meaningful

• to persuade the audience that another bridge should soon be built

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CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

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CCSS.RI.8.5

And yet it is distinctly an American triumph. American genius designed it, American skill built it, and American workshops made it. About 1837 the Screw Dock across the river, then known as the Hydrostatic Lifting Dock, was built. In order to construct it the Americans of that day were obliged to have the cylinders cast in England. What a stride from 1837 to 1883—from the Hydrostatic Dock to the New York and Brooklyn Bridge!

What is the purpose of the subjective language in this excerpt?

• to make the people of New York feel pride in the construction of the new bridge

• to remind the people of New Your City that they did not build the bridge

• to inspire the people of New York to build another bridge soon

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CCSS.RL.11-12.6

Which of the following sentences from "Opening Ceremonies of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge" by Hon. Seth Low, Mayor of the City of Brooklyn is an example of subjective language?

• About 1837 the Screw Dock across the river, then known as the Hydrostatic Lifting Dock, was built.

• In order to construct it the Americans of that day were obliged to have the cylinders cast in England.

• In the course of the construction of the Bridge a number of lives have been lost.

• The importance of this Bridge in its far-reaching effects at once entices and baffles the imagination.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.6