SAT English Practice Question

Although many people regard the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. as a symbol of democracy and American power, the building was originally intended to showcase the strength and resilience of the newly formed nation. The Capitol Building’s design reflects the neoclassical architecture that was popular in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. However, the building’s design features—such as its dome, which was added in the mid-nineteenth century—were also inspired by the architecture of ancient Rome. According to historians, the architects who designed the Capitol Building believed that referencing ancient Roman architecture would help to show that the new nation was capable of greatness and would one day rival the Roman Empire in its power. What is the main idea of the passage?

1. A.The Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., is a symbol of American democracy and power.
2. B.The design of the Capitol Building was inspired by neoclassical architecture and ancient Roman architecture.
3. C.The architects who designed the Capitol Building believed that the new nation would one day rival the Roman Empire in its power.
4. D.The Capitol Building’s design reflects the power and resilience of the newly formed United States.