Cuba's Model Prison: A Study of Surveillance and Control

What was the primary purpose of constructing Presidio Modelo in Cuba during the 1920s?

• To maintain political control through surveillance

• To rehabilitate prisoners through education

• To serve as a tourist attraction

• To provide employment for local citizens

Which architectural feature of Presidio Modelo was key to its surveillance strategy?

• A large courtyard

• A central observation tower

• Multiple entry gates

• Underground tunnels

How did the design of Presidio Modelo affect the behavior of its inmates?

• It promoted social gatherings

• It enforced self-policing due to constant surveillance

• It led to frequent escapes

• It encouraged artistic expression

What was the 'Hall of the 3,000 silences' in Presidio Modelo?

• A dining area where speaking was prohibited

• A recreational area

• A solitary confinement cell

• A library for inmates

What legend surrounded the perimeter of Presidio Modelo?

• It was haunted by ghosts

• A hidden treasure was buried there

• Crocodiles inhabited the surrounding waters

• It was built on sacred ground

How did Fidel Castro utilize Presidio Modelo after coming to power?

• He used it to imprison political opponents

• He turned it into a museum

• He converted it into a school

• He demolished it

What was one of the main reasons for the closure of Presidio Modelo?

• Overpopulation and unsanitary conditions

• A natural disaster destroyed it

• A new prison was built nearby

• It became too expensive to maintain

What was the capacity of Presidio Modelo, and how many inmates did it eventually house?

• 10,000 capacity, housed 15,000

• 3,000 capacity, housed 3,000

• 5,000 capacity, housed 10,000

• 3,000 capacity, housed 6,000 to 8,000

What was the ultimate fate of Presidio Modelo after its closure?

• It was repurposed as a community center

• It was left abandoned and decayed

• It was converted into a wildlife sanctuary

• It was transformed into a luxury hotel

What does the story of Presidio Modelo demonstrate about architectural design?

• It is irrelevant to political power

• It can shape human behavior and reveal limits of social reform

• It can only influence physical behavior

• It has no impact on social reform