Buildings That Bend, Not Break

Lexile: 1050 | Grade: 10

Passage

In earthquake-prone regions, strength alone is not enough. Engineers have learned that buildings designed to resist shaking by being rigid often suffer more damage. The key to surviving seismic activity is not resisting force—but absorbing it.

This principle has guided the development of flexible architecture—structures that move with the earth instead of against it. Skyscrapers in Tokyo and San Francisco, for instance, are built with special shock absorbers and deep foundations that allow controlled movement during earthquakes. Some even use pendulum-like devices near their tops to counteract sway.

Interestingly, this idea is not new. Ancient builders in Peru and Japan constructed temples and homes with interlocking wooden joints and stone blocks that could shift slightly without collapsing. These early techniques recognized that resilience meant bending, not breaking.

Today, this thinking has expanded beyond earthquakes. Architects are rethinking how buildings respond to wind, water, and rising temperatures. Green roofs help absorb stormwater. Buildings with rotating facades adjust to the sun’s angle to save energy. Some designs even use natural materials that expand or contract with the weather.

At its core, flexible architecture is a response to a changing world. It reflects the understanding that survival—whether for buildings or people—depends not just on strength, but on the ability to adapt.

Questions

Q1: What central idea is developed throughout the passage?

  • A. Earthquakes are impossible to predict or prepare for.
  • B. Ancient builders had no understanding of structural engineering.
  • C. Adaptability is a key feature of modern and ancient architectural resilience.
  • D. Tall buildings are always more dangerous during earthquakes.

Q2: How does the author support the claim that flexible architecture is not a new idea?

  • A. By describing skyscrapers in major cities
  • B. By explaining how ancient builders used movable joints and shifting stones
  • C. By comparing building materials from different regions
  • D. By citing current environmental policies

Q3: Which sentence from the passage best expresses the author’s viewpoint?

  • A. 'In earthquake-prone regions, strength alone is not enough.'
  • B. 'Some designs even use natural materials that expand or contract with the weather.'
  • C. 'Skyscrapers in Tokyo and San Francisco… allow controlled movement during earthquakes.'
  • D. 'Survival—whether for buildings or people—depends not just on strength, but on the ability to adapt.'

Q4: What is the tone of the passage?

  • A. Informative and forward-thinking
  • B. Humorous and sarcastic
  • C. Critical and pessimistic
  • D. Scientific and detached

Q5: Which abstract concept is most central to the passage?

  • A. Strength is always more important than design.
  • B. Buildings should never move.
  • C. Adaptability is essential in the face of change.
  • D. Nature cannot be planned around.

Printable Comprehension Practice

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What central idea is developed throughout the passage?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The passage shows how both ancient and modern designs rely on flexibility to withstand environmental forces.

Q2: How does the author support the claim that flexible architecture is not a new idea?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The author points to ancient builders in Peru and Japan as examples of early flexible design strategies.

Q3: Which sentence from the passage best expresses the author’s viewpoint?

✅ Correct Answer: D

💡 Reasoning: This sentence directly states the author's broader perspective that adaptability is essential to survival.

Q4: What is the tone of the passage?

✅ Correct Answer: A

💡 Reasoning: The passage explains concepts clearly while also suggesting innovation and progress in the field of architecture.

Q5: Which abstract concept is most central to the passage?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The passage uses architecture as a metaphor and example of how flexibility and adaptation lead to resilience.