Non-Fiction: Feature Articles & Magazines Quiz

Castles

Palaces are known for their beauty and splendor, but they offer little protection
against attacks. It is easy to defend a fortress, but fortresses are not designed with the
comfort of a king or queen in mind. When it comes to structures that are both majestic
and well-fortified, the classic European castle is the pinnacle of design. Across the
ages, castles changed, developed, and eventually fell out of use, but they still
command the fascination of our culture.

Castles were originally built in England by Norman invaders in 1066. As William the
Conqueror advanced through England, he fortified key positions to secure the land he
had taken. The castles he built allowed the Norman lords to retreat to safety when
threatened by English rebellion. Castles also served as bases of operation for
offensive attacks. Troops were summoned to, organized around, and deployed from
castles. In this way castles served both offensive and defensive roles in military
operations.

Not limited to military purposes, castles also served as offices from which the lord
would administer control over his fiefdom. That is to say, the lord of the land would
hold court in his castle. Those that were socially beneath the lord would come to
report the affairs of the lands that they governed and pay tribute to the lord. They
would address disputes, handle business, feast, and enjoy festivities. In this way
castles served as important social centers in medieval England. Castles also served as
symbols of power. Built on prominent sites overlooking the surrounding areas, castles
constantly loomed in the background of many peasants’ lives and served as a daily
reminder of the lord’s strength.

The first castles constructed in England were made from earth and timber. Those who
constructed them took advantage of natural features, such as hills and rivers, to
increase defenses. Since these castles were constructed from wood, they were highly
susceptible to attacks by fire. Wooden castles were gradually replaced by stone, which
greatly increased the strength of these fortifications; however, being made from stone
did not make these castles entirely fireproof. Attackers could hurl flaming objects into
the castle through the windows or ignite the wooden doors. This led to moving the
windows and entrances off of the ground floor and up to the first floor to make them
more difficult to access. Castles served many purposes during the Middle Ages.

As the nobility accumulated wealth, England became increasingly attractive to those
who sought to plunder. Raids by Vikings and other marauders increased in regularity.
In response to these attacks, castle defenses were updated and improved. Arrow-slits
were added. These were small holes in the castle, large enough for an arrow to fit
through, which allowed defenders to fire from nearly invulnerable positions. Towers
were built from which defenders could provide flanking fire. These towers were
connected to the castle by wooden bridges, so that if one tower fell, the rest of the
castle was still easy to defend. Multiple rings of castle walls were constructed, so that
even if attackers made it past one wall, they would be caught on a killing ground
between inner and outer walls. Advances such as these greatly increased the defense
of castles.

The demise of castles can ultimately be attributed to gunpowder. Gunpowder was first
introduced to Europe during the 14th century, but the first gunpowder weapons were
unreliable, inaccurate, and weak by later standards. During the 15th century, artillery
became powerful enough to break through stone walls. This greatly undermined the
military role of castles. Castles were then replaced by artillery forts that had no role in
civil administration, and country houses that were indefensible. Though castles no
longer serve their original purposes, remaining castles receive millions of visitors
each year from those who wish to experience these majestic vestiges of a time long
passed.

Which of the following is not a function of castles as expressed in the text? 

Castles

Palaces are known for their beauty and splendor, but they offer little protection
against attacks. It is easy to defend a fortress, but fortresses are not designed with the
comfort of a king or queen in mind. When it comes to structures that are both majestic
and well-fortified, the classic European castle is the pinnacle of design. Across the
ages, castles changed, developed, and eventually fell out of use, but they still
command the fascination of our culture.

Castles were originally built in England by Norman invaders in 1066. As William the
Conqueror advanced through England, he fortified key positions to secure the land he
had taken. The castles he built allowed the Norman lords to retreat to safety when
threatened by English rebellion. Castles also served as bases of operation for
offensive attacks. Troops were summoned to, organized around, and deployed from
castles. In this way castles served both offensive and defensive roles in military
operations.

Not limited to military purposes, castles also served as offices from which the lord
would administer control over his fiefdom. That is to say, the lord of the land would
hold court in his castle. Those that were socially beneath the lord would come to
report the affairs of the lands that they governed and pay tribute to the lord. They
would address disputes, handle business, feast, and enjoy festivities. In this way
castles served as important social centers in medieval England. Castles also served as
symbols of power. Built on prominent sites overlooking the surrounding areas, castles
constantly loomed in the background of many peasants’ lives and served as a daily
reminder of the lord’s strength.

The first castles constructed in England were made from earth and timber. Those who
constructed them took advantage of natural features, such as hills and rivers, to
increase defenses. Since these castles were constructed from wood, they were highly
susceptible to attacks by fire. Wooden castles were gradually replaced by stone, which
greatly increased the strength of these fortifications; however, being made from stone
did not make these castles entirely fireproof. Attackers could hurl flaming objects into
the castle through the windows or ignite the wooden doors. This led to moving the
windows and entrances off of the ground floor and up to the first floor to make them
more difficult to access. Castles served many purposes during the Middle Ages.

As the nobility accumulated wealth, England became increasingly attractive to those
who sought to plunder. Raids by Vikings and other marauders increased in regularity.
In response to these attacks, castle defenses were updated and improved. Arrow-slits
were added. These were small holes in the castle, large enough for an arrow to fit
through, which allowed defenders to fire from nearly invulnerable positions. Towers
were built from which defenders could provide flanking fire. These towers were
connected to the castle by wooden bridges, so that if one tower fell, the rest of the
castle was still easy to defend. Multiple rings of castle walls were constructed, so that
even if attackers made it past one wall, they would be caught on a killing ground
between inner and outer walls. Advances such as these greatly increased the defense
of castles.

The demise of castles can ultimately be attributed to gunpowder. Gunpowder was first
introduced to Europe during the 14th century, but the first gunpowder weapons were
unreliable, inaccurate, and weak by later standards. During the 15th century, artillery
became powerful enough to break through stone walls. This greatly undermined the
military role of castles. Castles were then replaced by artillery forts that had no role in
civil administration, and country houses that were indefensible. Though castles no
longer serve their original purposes, remaining castles receive millions of visitors
each year from those who wish to experience these majestic vestiges of a time long
passed.

The main idea in paragraph 2 best describes

Castles

Palaces are known for their beauty and splendor, but they offer little protection
against attacks. It is easy to defend a fortress, but fortresses are not designed with the
comfort of a king or queen in mind. When it comes to structures that are both majestic
and well-fortified, the classic European castle is the pinnacle of design. Across the
ages, castles changed, developed, and eventually fell out of use, but they still
command the fascination of our culture.

Castles were originally built in England by Norman invaders in 1066. As William the
Conqueror advanced through England, he fortified key positions to secure the land he
had taken. The castles he built allowed the Norman lords to retreat to safety when
threatened by English rebellion. Castles also served as bases of operation for
offensive attacks. Troops were summoned to, organized around, and deployed from
castles. In this way castles served both offensive and defensive roles in military
operations.

Not limited to military purposes, castles also served as offices from which the lord
would administer control over his fiefdom. That is to say, the lord of the land would
hold court in his castle. Those that were socially beneath the lord would come to
report the affairs of the lands that they governed and pay tribute to the lord. They
would address disputes, handle business, feast, and enjoy festivities. In this way
castles served as important social centers in medieval England. Castles also served as
symbols of power. Built on prominent sites overlooking the surrounding areas, castles
constantly loomed in the background of many peasants’ lives and served as a daily
reminder of the lord’s strength.

The first castles constructed in England were made from earth and timber. Those who
constructed them took advantage of natural features, such as hills and rivers, to
increase defenses. Since these castles were constructed from wood, they were highly
susceptible to attacks by fire. Wooden castles were gradually replaced by stone, which
greatly increased the strength of these fortifications; however, being made from stone
did not make these castles entirely fireproof. Attackers could hurl flaming objects into
the castle through the windows or ignite the wooden doors. This led to moving the
windows and entrances off of the ground floor and up to the first floor to make them
more difficult to access. Castles served many purposes during the Middle Ages.

As the nobility accumulated wealth, England became increasingly attractive to those
who sought to plunder. Raids by Vikings and other marauders increased in regularity.
In response to these attacks, castle defenses were updated and improved. Arrow-slits
were added. These were small holes in the castle, large enough for an arrow to fit
through, which allowed defenders to fire from nearly invulnerable positions. Towers
were built from which defenders could provide flanking fire. These towers were
connected to the castle by wooden bridges, so that if one tower fell, the rest of the
castle was still easy to defend. Multiple rings of castle walls were constructed, so that
even if attackers made it past one wall, they would be caught on a killing ground
between inner and outer walls. Advances such as these greatly increased the defense
of castles.

The demise of castles can ultimately be attributed to gunpowder. Gunpowder was first
introduced to Europe during the 14th century, but the first gunpowder weapons were
unreliable, inaccurate, and weak by later standards. During the 15th century, artillery
became powerful enough to break through stone walls. This greatly undermined the
military role of castles. Castles were then replaced by artillery forts that had no role in
civil administration, and country houses that were indefensible. Though castles no
longer serve their original purposes, remaining castles receive millions of visitors
each year from those who wish to experience these majestic vestiges of a time long
passed.

The original castles were first made from earth and timber because

Castles

Palaces are known for their beauty and splendor, but they offer little protection
against attacks. It is easy to defend a fortress, but fortresses are not designed with the
comfort of a king or queen in mind. When it comes to structures that are both majestic
and well-fortified, the classic European castle is the pinnacle of design. Across the
ages, castles changed, developed, and eventually fell out of use, but they still
command the fascination of our culture.

Castles were originally built in England by Norman invaders in 1066. As William the
Conqueror advanced through England, he fortified key positions to secure the land he
had taken. The castles he built allowed the Norman lords to retreat to safety when
threatened by English rebellion. Castles also served as bases of operation for
offensive attacks. Troops were summoned to, organized around, and deployed from
castles. In this way castles served both offensive and defensive roles in military
operations.

Not limited to military purposes, castles also served as offices from which the lord
would administer control over his fiefdom. That is to say, the lord of the land would
hold court in his castle. Those that were socially beneath the lord would come to
report the affairs of the lands that they governed and pay tribute to the lord. They
would address disputes, handle business, feast, and enjoy festivities. In this way
castles served as important social centers in medieval England. Castles also served as
symbols of power. Built on prominent sites overlooking the surrounding areas, castles
constantly loomed in the background of many peasants’ lives and served as a daily
reminder of the lord’s strength.

The first castles constructed in England were made from earth and timber. Those who
constructed them took advantage of natural features, such as hills and rivers, to
increase defenses. Since these castles were constructed from wood, they were highly
susceptible to attacks by fire. Wooden castles were gradually replaced by stone, which
greatly increased the strength of these fortifications; however, being made from stone
did not make these castles entirely fireproof. Attackers could hurl flaming objects into
the castle through the windows or ignite the wooden doors. This led to moving the
windows and entrances off of the ground floor and up to the first floor to make them
more difficult to access. Castles served many purposes during the Middle Ages.

As the nobility accumulated wealth, England became increasingly attractive to those
who sought to plunder. Raids by Vikings and other marauders increased in regularity.
In response to these attacks, castle defenses were updated and improved. Arrow-slits
were added. These were small holes in the castle, large enough for an arrow to fit
through, which allowed defenders to fire from nearly invulnerable positions. Towers
were built from which defenders could provide flanking fire. These towers were
connected to the castle by wooden bridges, so that if one tower fell, the rest of the
castle was still easy to defend. Multiple rings of castle walls were constructed, so that
even if attackers made it past one wall, they would be caught on a killing ground
between inner and outer walls. Advances such as these greatly increased the defense
of castles.

The demise of castles can ultimately be attributed to gunpowder. Gunpowder was first
introduced to Europe during the 14th century, but the first gunpowder weapons were
unreliable, inaccurate, and weak by later standards. During the 15th century, artillery
became powerful enough to break through stone walls. This greatly undermined the
military role of castles. Castles were then replaced by artillery forts that had no role in
civil administration, and country houses that were indefensible. Though castles no
longer serve their original purposes, remaining castles receive millions of visitors
each year from those who wish to experience these majestic vestiges of a time long
passed.

Which of the following is not a true statement according to the text?

Castles

Palaces are known for their beauty and splendor, but they offer little protection
against attacks. It is easy to defend a fortress, but fortresses are not designed with the
comfort of a king or queen in mind. When it comes to structures that are both majestic
and well-fortified, the classic European castle is the pinnacle of design. Across the
ages, castles changed, developed, and eventually fell out of use, but they still
command the fascination of our culture.

Castles were originally built in England by Norman invaders in 1066. As William the
Conqueror advanced through England, he fortified key positions to secure the land he
had taken. The castles he built allowed the Norman lords to retreat to safety when
threatened by English rebellion. Castles also served as bases of operation for
offensive attacks. Troops were summoned to, organized around, and deployed from
castles. In this way castles served both offensive and defensive roles in military
operations.

Not limited to military purposes, castles also served as offices from which the lord
would administer control over his fiefdom. That is to say, the lord of the land would
hold court in his castle. Those that were socially beneath the lord would come to
report the affairs of the lands that they governed and pay tribute to the lord. They
would address disputes, handle business, feast, and enjoy festivities. In this way
castles served as important social centers in medieval England. Castles also served as
symbols of power. Built on prominent sites overlooking the surrounding areas, castles
constantly loomed in the background of many peasants’ lives and served as a daily
reminder of the lord’s strength.

The first castles constructed in England were made from earth and timber. Those who
constructed them took advantage of natural features, such as hills and rivers, to
increase defenses. Since these castles were constructed from wood, they were highly
susceptible to attacks by fire. Wooden castles were gradually replaced by stone, which
greatly increased the strength of these fortifications; however, being made from stone
did not make these castles entirely fireproof. Attackers could hurl flaming objects into
the castle through the windows or ignite the wooden doors. This led to moving the
windows and entrances off of the ground floor and up to the first floor to make them
more difficult to access. Castles served many purposes during the Middle Ages.

As the nobility accumulated wealth, England became increasingly attractive to those
who sought to plunder. Raids by Vikings and other marauders increased in regularity.
In response to these attacks, castle defenses were updated and improved. Arrow-slits
were added. These were small holes in the castle, large enough for an arrow to fit
through, which allowed defenders to fire from nearly invulnerable positions. Towers
were built from which defenders could provide flanking fire. These towers were
connected to the castle by wooden bridges, so that if one tower fell, the rest of the
castle was still easy to defend. Multiple rings of castle walls were constructed, so that
even if attackers made it past one wall, they would be caught on a killing ground
between inner and outer walls. Advances such as these greatly increased the defense
of castles.

The demise of castles can ultimately be attributed to gunpowder. Gunpowder was first
introduced to Europe during the 14th century, but the first gunpowder weapons were
unreliable, inaccurate, and weak by later standards. During the 15th century, artillery
became powerful enough to break through stone walls. This greatly undermined the
military role of castles. Castles were then replaced by artillery forts that had no role in
civil administration, and country houses that were indefensible. Though castles no
longer serve their original purposes, remaining castles receive millions of visitors
each year from those who wish to experience these majestic vestiges of a time long
passed.

Wooden castles were converted to stone castles because

Castles

Palaces are known for their beauty and splendor, but they offer little protection
against attacks. It is easy to defend a fortress, but fortresses are not designed with the
comfort of a king or queen in mind. When it comes to structures that are both majestic
and well-fortified, the classic European castle is the pinnacle of design. Across the
ages, castles changed, developed, and eventually fell out of use, but they still
command the fascination of our culture.

Castles were originally built in England by Norman invaders in 1066. As William the
Conqueror advanced through England, he fortified key positions to secure the land he
had taken. The castles he built allowed the Norman lords to retreat to safety when
threatened by English rebellion. Castles also served as bases of operation for
offensive attacks. Troops were summoned to, organized around, and deployed from
castles. In this way castles served both offensive and defensive roles in military
operations.

Not limited to military purposes, castles also served as offices from which the lord
would administer control over his fiefdom. That is to say, the lord of the land would
hold court in his castle. Those that were socially beneath the lord would come to
report the affairs of the lands that they governed and pay tribute to the lord. They
would address disputes, handle business, feast, and enjoy festivities. In this way
castles served as important social centers in medieval England. Castles also served as
symbols of power. Built on prominent sites overlooking the surrounding areas, castles
constantly loomed in the background of many peasants’ lives and served as a daily
reminder of the lord’s strength.

The first castles constructed in England were made from earth and timber. Those who
constructed them took advantage of natural features, such as hills and rivers, to
increase defenses. Since these castles were constructed from wood, they were highly
susceptible to attacks by fire. Wooden castles were gradually replaced by stone, which
greatly increased the strength of these fortifications; however, being made from stone
did not make these castles entirely fireproof. Attackers could hurl flaming objects into
the castle through the windows or ignite the wooden doors. This led to moving the
windows and entrances off of the ground floor and up to the first floor to make them
more difficult to access. Castles served many purposes during the Middle Ages.

As the nobility accumulated wealth, England became increasingly attractive to those
who sought to plunder. Raids by Vikings and other marauders increased in regularity.
In response to these attacks, castle defenses were updated and improved. Arrow-slits
were added. These were small holes in the castle, large enough for an arrow to fit
through, which allowed defenders to fire from nearly invulnerable positions. Towers
were built from which defenders could provide flanking fire. These towers were
connected to the castle by wooden bridges, so that if one tower fell, the rest of the
castle was still easy to defend. Multiple rings of castle walls were constructed, so that
even if attackers made it past one wall, they would be caught on a killing ground
between inner and outer walls. Advances such as these greatly increased the defense
of castles.

The demise of castles can ultimately be attributed to gunpowder. Gunpowder was first
introduced to Europe during the 14th century, but the first gunpowder weapons were
unreliable, inaccurate, and weak by later standards. During the 15th century, artillery
became powerful enough to break through stone walls. This greatly undermined the
military role of castles. Castles were then replaced by artillery forts that had no role in
civil administration, and country houses that were indefensible. Though castles no
longer serve their original purposes, remaining castles receive millions of visitors
each year from those who wish to experience these majestic vestiges of a time long
passed.

Which of the following best describes the structure of the text in the fifth paragraph? 

Castles

Palaces are known for their beauty and splendor, but they offer little protection
against attacks. It is easy to defend a fortress, but fortresses are not designed with the
comfort of a king or queen in mind. When it comes to structures that are both majestic
and well-fortified, the classic European castle is the pinnacle of design. Across the
ages, castles changed, developed, and eventually fell out of use, but they still
command the fascination of our culture.

Castles were originally built in England by Norman invaders in 1066. As William the
Conqueror advanced through England, he fortified key positions to secure the land he
had taken. The castles he built allowed the Norman lords to retreat to safety when
threatened by English rebellion. Castles also served as bases of operation for
offensive attacks. Troops were summoned to, organized around, and deployed from
castles. In this way castles served both offensive and defensive roles in military
operations.

Not limited to military purposes, castles also served as offices from which the lord
would administer control over his fiefdom. That is to say, the lord of the land would
hold court in his castle. Those that were socially beneath the lord would come to
report the affairs of the lands that they governed and pay tribute to the lord. They
would address disputes, handle business, feast, and enjoy festivities. In this way
castles served as important social centers in medieval England. Castles also served as
symbols of power. Built on prominent sites overlooking the surrounding areas, castles
constantly loomed in the background of many peasants’ lives and served as a daily
reminder of the lord’s strength.

The first castles constructed in England were made from earth and timber. Those who
constructed them took advantage of natural features, such as hills and rivers, to
increase defenses. Since these castles were constructed from wood, they were highly
susceptible to attacks by fire. Wooden castles were gradually replaced by stone, which
greatly increased the strength of these fortifications; however, being made from stone
did not make these castles entirely fireproof. Attackers could hurl flaming objects into
the castle through the windows or ignite the wooden doors. This led to moving the
windows and entrances off of the ground floor and up to the first floor to make them
more difficult to access. Castles served many purposes during the Middle Ages.

As the nobility accumulated wealth, England became increasingly attractive to those
who sought to plunder. Raids by Vikings and other marauders increased in regularity.
In response to these attacks, castle defenses were updated and improved. Arrow-slits
were added. These were small holes in the castle, large enough for an arrow to fit
through, which allowed defenders to fire from nearly invulnerable positions. Towers
were built from which defenders could provide flanking fire. These towers were
connected to the castle by wooden bridges, so that if one tower fell, the rest of the
castle was still easy to defend. Multiple rings of castle walls were constructed, so that
even if attackers made it past one wall, they would be caught on a killing ground
between inner and outer walls. Advances such as these greatly increased the defense
of castles.

The demise of castles can ultimately be attributed to gunpowder. Gunpowder was first
introduced to Europe during the 14th century, but the first gunpowder weapons were
unreliable, inaccurate, and weak by later standards. During the 15th century, artillery
became powerful enough to break through stone walls. This greatly undermined the
military role of castles. Castles were then replaced by artillery forts that had no role in
civil administration, and country houses that were indefensible. Though castles no
longer serve their original purposes, remaining castles receive millions of visitors
each year from those who wish to experience these majestic vestiges of a time long
passed.

Which is not described in the text as an improvement in castle defenses? 

Castles

Palaces are known for their beauty and splendor, but they offer little protection
against attacks. It is easy to defend a fortress, but fortresses are not designed with the
comfort of a king or queen in mind. When it comes to structures that are both majestic
and well-fortified, the classic European castle is the pinnacle of design. Across the
ages, castles changed, developed, and eventually fell out of use, but they still
command the fascination of our culture.

Castles were originally built in England by Norman invaders in 1066. As William the
Conqueror advanced through England, he fortified key positions to secure the land he
had taken. The castles he built allowed the Norman lords to retreat to safety when
threatened by English rebellion. Castles also served as bases of operation for
offensive attacks. Troops were summoned to, organized around, and deployed from
castles. In this way castles served both offensive and defensive roles in military
operations.

Not limited to military purposes, castles also served as offices from which the lord
would administer control over his fiefdom. That is to say, the lord of the land would
hold court in his castle. Those that were socially beneath the lord would come to
report the affairs of the lands that they governed and pay tribute to the lord. They
would address disputes, handle business, feast, and enjoy festivities. In this way
castles served as important social centers in medieval England. Castles also served as
symbols of power. Built on prominent sites overlooking the surrounding areas, castles
constantly loomed in the background of many peasants’ lives and served as a daily
reminder of the lord’s strength.

The first castles constructed in England were made from earth and timber. Those who
constructed them took advantage of natural features, such as hills and rivers, to
increase defenses. Since these castles were constructed from wood, they were highly
susceptible to attacks by fire. Wooden castles were gradually replaced by stone, which
greatly increased the strength of these fortifications; however, being made from stone
did not make these castles entirely fireproof. Attackers could hurl flaming objects into
the castle through the windows or ignite the wooden doors. This led to moving the
windows and entrances off of the ground floor and up to the first floor to make them
more difficult to access. Castles served many purposes during the Middle Ages.

As the nobility accumulated wealth, England became increasingly attractive to those
who sought to plunder. Raids by Vikings and other marauders increased in regularity.
In response to these attacks, castle defenses were updated and improved. Arrow-slits
were added. These were small holes in the castle, large enough for an arrow to fit
through, which allowed defenders to fire from nearly invulnerable positions. Towers
were built from which defenders could provide flanking fire. These towers were
connected to the castle by wooden bridges, so that if one tower fell, the rest of the
castle was still easy to defend. Multiple rings of castle walls were constructed, so that
even if attackers made it past one wall, they would be caught on a killing ground
between inner and outer walls. Advances such as these greatly increased the defense
of castles.

The demise of castles can ultimately be attributed to gunpowder. Gunpowder was first
introduced to Europe during the 14th century, but the first gunpowder weapons were
unreliable, inaccurate, and weak by later standards. During the 15th century, artillery
became powerful enough to break through stone walls. This greatly undermined the
military role of castles. Castles were then replaced by artillery forts that had no role in
civil administration, and country houses that were indefensible. Though castles no
longer serve their original purposes, remaining castles receive millions of visitors
each year from those who wish to experience these majestic vestiges of a time long
passed.

Gunpowder ended the role of traditional castles due to

Castles

Palaces are known for their beauty and splendor, but they offer little protection
against attacks. It is easy to defend a fortress, but fortresses are not designed with the
comfort of a king or queen in mind. When it comes to structures that are both majestic
and well-fortified, the classic European castle is the pinnacle of design. Across the
ages, castles changed, developed, and eventually fell out of use, but they still
command the fascination of our culture.

Castles were originally built in England by Norman invaders in 1066. As William the
Conqueror advanced through England, he fortified key positions to secure the land he
had taken. The castles he built allowed the Norman lords to retreat to safety when
threatened by English rebellion. Castles also served as bases of operation for
offensive attacks. Troops were summoned to, organized around, and deployed from
castles. In this way castles served both offensive and defensive roles in military
operations.

Not limited to military purposes, castles also served as offices from which the lord
would administer control over his fiefdom. That is to say, the lord of the land would
hold court in his castle. Those that were socially beneath the lord would come to
report the affairs of the lands that they governed and pay tribute to the lord. They
would address disputes, handle business, feast, and enjoy festivities. In this way
castles served as important social centers in medieval England. Castles also served as
symbols of power. Built on prominent sites overlooking the surrounding areas, castles
constantly loomed in the background of many peasants’ lives and served as a daily
reminder of the lord’s strength.

The first castles constructed in England were made from earth and timber. Those who
constructed them took advantage of natural features, such as hills and rivers, to
increase defenses. Since these castles were constructed from wood, they were highly
susceptible to attacks by fire. Wooden castles were gradually replaced by stone, which
greatly increased the strength of these fortifications; however, being made from stone
did not make these castles entirely fireproof. Attackers could hurl flaming objects into
the castle through the windows or ignite the wooden doors. This led to moving the
windows and entrances off of the ground floor and up to the first floor to make them
more difficult to access. Castles served many purposes during the Middle Ages.

As the nobility accumulated wealth, England became increasingly attractive to those
who sought to plunder. Raids by Vikings and other marauders increased in regularity.
In response to these attacks, castle defenses were updated and improved. Arrow-slits
were added. These were small holes in the castle, large enough for an arrow to fit
through, which allowed defenders to fire from nearly invulnerable positions. Towers
were built from which defenders could provide flanking fire. These towers were
connected to the castle by wooden bridges, so that if one tower fell, the rest of the
castle was still easy to defend. Multiple rings of castle walls were constructed, so that
even if attackers made it past one wall, they would be caught on a killing ground
between inner and outer walls. Advances such as these greatly increased the defense
of castles.

The demise of castles can ultimately be attributed to gunpowder. Gunpowder was first
introduced to Europe during the 14th century, but the first gunpowder weapons were
unreliable, inaccurate, and weak by later standards. During the 15th century, artillery
became powerful enough to break through stone walls. This greatly undermined the
military role of castles. Castles were then replaced by artillery forts that had no role in
civil administration, and country houses that were indefensible. Though castles no
longer serve their original purposes, remaining castles receive millions of visitors
each year from those who wish to experience these majestic vestiges of a time long
passed.

Which of the following statements is an opinion?

Castles

Palaces are known for their beauty and splendor, but they offer little protection
against attacks. It is easy to defend a fortress, but fortresses are not designed with the
comfort of a king or queen in mind. When it comes to structures that are both majestic
and well-fortified, the classic European castle is the pinnacle of design. Across the
ages, castles changed, developed, and eventually fell out of use, but they still
command the fascination of our culture.

Castles were originally built in England by Norman invaders in 1066. As William the
Conqueror advanced through England, he fortified key positions to secure the land he
had taken. The castles he built allowed the Norman lords to retreat to safety when
threatened by English rebellion. Castles also served as bases of operation for
offensive attacks. Troops were summoned to, organized around, and deployed from
castles. In this way castles served both offensive and defensive roles in military
operations.

Not limited to military purposes, castles also served as offices from which the lord
would administer control over his fiefdom. That is to say, the lord of the land would
hold court in his castle. Those that were socially beneath the lord would come to
report the affairs of the lands that they governed and pay tribute to the lord. They
would address disputes, handle business, feast, and enjoy festivities. In this way
castles served as important social centers in medieval England. Castles also served as
symbols of power. Built on prominent sites overlooking the surrounding areas, castles
constantly loomed in the background of many peasants’ lives and served as a daily
reminder of the lord’s strength.

The first castles constructed in England were made from earth and timber. Those who
constructed them took advantage of natural features, such as hills and rivers, to
increase defenses. Since these castles were constructed from wood, they were highly
susceptible to attacks by fire. Wooden castles were gradually replaced by stone, which
greatly increased the strength of these fortifications; however, being made from stone
did not make these castles entirely fireproof. Attackers could hurl flaming objects into
the castle through the windows or ignite the wooden doors. This led to moving the
windows and entrances off of the ground floor and up to the first floor to make them
more difficult to access. Castles served many purposes during the Middle Ages.

As the nobility accumulated wealth, England became increasingly attractive to those
who sought to plunder. Raids by Vikings and other marauders increased in regularity.
In response to these attacks, castle defenses were updated and improved. Arrow-slits
were added. These were small holes in the castle, large enough for an arrow to fit
through, which allowed defenders to fire from nearly invulnerable positions. Towers
were built from which defenders could provide flanking fire. These towers were
connected to the castle by wooden bridges, so that if one tower fell, the rest of the
castle was still easy to defend. Multiple rings of castle walls were constructed, so that
even if attackers made it past one wall, they would be caught on a killing ground
between inner and outer walls. Advances such as these greatly increased the defense
of castles.

The demise of castles can ultimately be attributed to gunpowder. Gunpowder was first
introduced to Europe during the 14th century, but the first gunpowder weapons were
unreliable, inaccurate, and weak by later standards. During the 15th century, artillery
became powerful enough to break through stone walls. This greatly undermined the
military role of castles. Castles were then replaced by artillery forts that had no role in
civil administration, and country houses that were indefensible. Though castles no
longer serve their original purposes, remaining castles receive millions of visitors
each year from those who wish to experience these majestic vestiges of a time long
passed.

People stop building castles after the middle ages because